Page 21 of Twisted Hearts

As I asked, his dark brows rose on his forehead. “You want me to hire you andnotpay you?”

Getting on his payroll would make me easier to find, and I was still intent on prolonging that as long as possible. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m asking. At least for a while.”

“Why? What trouble are you in?”

“No trouble, I swear. I haven’t done anything to be in trouble for, at least not with the law or anything like that, but…” I trailed off, and my lower lip found its way between my teeth. Admitting I was scared of being found went against the new, independent, courageous streak I was attempting.

“There has to be a reason for you to want to be off the books, Adrianna.”

“Addi,” I corrected. I needed to remove even the name from my vocabulary.

“Addi…talk to me. If you’re not in trouble, what are you hiding from?”

“No one,” I said, before quickly correcting myself. “Nothing, I mean. It’s just, well…you’re a new company, I’m late to the game here, and I know you’re only talking to me to help out Shannon and the team or whatever. I appreciate it, but I don’t want to stress your expenses or anything. At least, you know, not until I prove myself. But really, never mind. Just forget it.”

I was rambling. Good gracious. Bless my heart was I rambling like a lunatic.

Malcolm, for as cool and collected and professional as he’d been, leaned forward, and those beautiful eyes of his narrowed. He pressed his lips together before pushing them out. “One month,” he stated, agreeing to my ridiculous, inappropriate, unprofessional request after inspecting me. “We’ll call it a probationary period, and I’ll keep note of what you’re owed so I can pay you in arrears.”

“You…you’d do that for me?”

“Normally I wouldn’t, but I trust Shannon wouldn’t bring me someone unless I could trust them. If you’re in trouble or are hiding for a reason I need to know, I hope you’ll tell me. Otherwise, I want you to know you can come to me and trust me with whatever you’re hiding. If you need to unload it, I can handle it.”

“That’s…wonderful,” I whispered, awed and amazed.

“Seen a lot of shit in my life, Addi. Been around a while, and working in bars and clubs you can pretty much see and hear anything, but I can tell you what I’m absolutely not okay with is men taking advantage of women, in any way, shape, or form, especially making them so terrified they need to hide when they leave.”

As he spoke, my pulse raced until I could feel my blood rushing through my veins. He’d figured everything out without me saying a word, although I probably had made it obvious enough.

“Thank you,” I whispered, swallowing down my gratefulness that wanted to express itself in the form of tears, tears, and more tears. “I really appreciate it.”

“Let’s not say another word. So, about training…”

We talked about the training schedule, the soft opening for friends, family, some other local business owners, and the breweries and wineries who made all the alcohol he’d sell, and by the time I left, our hard conversation was put in the past.

I was excited, for the first time in a long time, about my future.

7

Shawn

Hayes Security had clients that ranged from spouses who wanted proof their partners were cheating on them all the way up to senators, local athletes, and celebrities who needed bodyguards, including some of the hottest country singers on the east coast who needed private security. I met him last year when he came to Kansas. One of my buddies, Jordan, owned a golf course and was a former professional baseball player. He came up with the idea to host a celebrity golf tournament. Jaxon was there providing security for a country singer, Bethany Carlson. He and I met, and kept in touch after. When he approached me about the job here, I’d imagined a much more exciting life than I had experienced so far.

I wanted intrigue. Drama. Saving people from near-death experiences.

Instead, I’d so far provided security at a few corporate and public events like at the hotel, and I’d done paperwork. Lots of paperwork. Filing. Receipts. Gas mileage reports.

It was mind-numbing in the worst way, and I was starting to get antsy for a real damn job to start. Sure, I understood I had to earn Jaxon’s respect and trust, prove my mettle to him directly outside our conversations and my record on the police force. This was an entirely different beast.

Did I regret coming? Not yet.

But if something didn’t change soon, I might start.

A knock hit my office door as I was filing the last of the paperwork away.

“Come in,” I called out and lifted my head.

Charlie, sort for Charlotte, a former Marine and Jaxon’s assistant for years, peeked her head in. “We’re all taking off for Dreammaker’s. Are you ready?”

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