Page 85 of On a Fault Line

It does make sense, in a way, that he always has time to do whatever my brothers hire him to do. It’s not like the man really has a day off. He is always working.

I may be Collins’s current responsibility, but the dedication to my entire family is what really bonds us all together.

With so many thoughts lingering in my mind, they are quickly forgotten when the doors open and Chris is hovering like a hot air balloon waiting for us.

The man is tall and bulky with huge muscles. He looks more like a bouncer than a bodyguard. I doubt I’ll ever get used to his presence.

He tilts his head to me. “Miss Hoffman.” And then shakes hands with Collins. “Good to see you again, Redeye.”

“Why do you call him that?” I ask, finding my voice again.

“Because—”

Collins shoots him a look. “Because I used to handle a lot of the night missions and red-eye flights.”

“And he could do crazy stuff with little sleep. Best there was.”

“What constitutes crazy?” I ask, genuinely curious.

“Oh, that’s all top secret. But Collins Stone is legendary.”

“Was,” he corrects.

I frown. There’s a sadness to his voice over his discharge. He seemed to excel at that type of work, which is not surprising. When Collins has a job, he goes all-in with the challenge.

Dammit to the assholes who screwed him over.

Leaving the only thing you think you’re good at had to have been traumatic for Collins. He opened up to me during the driving lesson, but it’s now that I see his interaction with his friend that makes what he left behind all very real.

The more I get to know this man, the bigger the picture I can paint in my mind of what makes him who he is.

Collins’s gaze turns to Chris. “Keep her safe. The photoshoot should have security on-site. Touch base with them before leaving the premises for any reason.”

“Easy, man, I got this.”

Collins directs his attention to me. “Miss Hoffman?”

Oh, we’re doing the formalities now? I straighten my posture, but resist saluting. “Yes, sir?”

A smirk plays on his lips. “Please don’t advocate for a detour.”

“Not even to Twisted Shake?”

“Correct.”

“How about Scalawag’s for the dinner special?”

He shakes his head at me. “No one goes to a Gentleman’s Club for the food.”

I pout. “No fun.”

“But the food is great,” Chris points out. “Been there twice already. I found it on Google.”

Collins whips his body around to glare at him. “Shut up.”

Then I stick my tongue out at both of these men. I do it because I know my ass cheeks are safe here in the lobby of our apartment complex. I also do it because I know Collins will punish me for my sass later.

And it’s that sparkle in his eyes that tells me it will all be worth it.

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