Page 59 of The Bodyguard

“Fifteen-minute increments of planning? We need to get a lay of the land before we check out the other beach house.”

She pursed her lips. “But…”

“But?” Sawyer knew what was happening. She was filling in every second of the day to control the narrative and ignore what she’d said. That might be possible for her. Not so much for him. “Go get dressed in something beachy. We’re going to wing this one.”

“I don’t want to waste time.”

He sighed and opted to compromise. “We’ll walk up from the beach and cut over.”

“We can look at the other house?”

“Sure. We’ll scope it out.”

Angela tapped her index finger on her pen and then relented.

Fifteen minutes later, she returned to the kitchen table, perfectly on an internal schedule. Her dark hair was tied back. A large-brimmed hat covered her face. Angela’s black one-piece curved over her figure and short-circuited his brain. This choice of clothing wasn’t the athletic bathing suit she wore for laps. A black knit cover-up dangled over her hips.

He cleared his throat. “Very beachy.”

She eyed his board shorts and flip-flops then busied herself with the paperwork on the table. Angela gathered the reports and photos and put them neatly in her beach bag. She slid her sunglasses on and returned to hiding behind the oversized sunhat; then she and Sawyer were off.

From the deck, they followed the small boardwalk, which deposited them on the beach. The early June morning hadn’t brought out sunbathers or families yet. A woman threw a Frisbee for her dogs. They galloped into the waves and fought over the toy before they raced back for another throw. The occasional lone runner loped by. An older couple walked hand in hand.

Sawyer and Angela carried their shoes while walking on the damp sand. The occasional wave lapped over their feet. Angela was very quiet. Hell, so was he. Mylene had Angela’s focus. Angela had his. He hoped the sun would bake sense into his brain as they strolled through the lapping waves.

Angela grabbed his forearm and stopped. “There it is.”

This beach house was as close to the water as theirs. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Easy, Ange. We don’t need to stare.”

But if anyone glanced their way, they might have a problem. She was stiff as a knife and stuck out like a woman who needed an escape plan. “You okay?” he asked. His hand smoothed over her hip and skimmed up the smooth swimsuit. “I’ll let you go if you need me to, but you can’t stare at the house.”

She licked her bottom lip. “No. It’s fine. You just caught me off guard.”

“Sorry…” He should have repositioned them to get a better look at the house, but he couldn’t.

Her chin dipped. “I’m—” Angela shook her head. “What I said on the plane…” She raised her eyes to his. “I wish I could take it back.”

Sawyer cinched her closer. “Regrets are no fun.”

“That’s me. Life of the party. Throwing caution to the wind.”

That was what she’d done, and he’d shot her down. Now, who was the one with the regrets? His reflection in her glasses showed his frown. Sawyer forced a grin. “Put your arms around my neck.”

That she did was the slightest balm.

“Look like you can stand me,” he said. “I’m going to get a good look at that house.”

Angela laughed, and he repositioned them.

“What do you see? Anyone staying there?”

No car sat in the driveway. “Looks like nobody’s home.” The shades were drawn. The covers for the grill and hot tub were in place. “Probably no renters right now.”

“Then can we go over and check it out?”

“Give me another minute to be sure.” Sawyer surveyed the area and moved them closer. No people were watching. No security cameras were in sight. “I think so. Let’s go.”

Angela all but yipped. Despite her control and agendas, she didn’t approach anything involving Mylene with an ounce of hesitation, and it would give him heartburn.

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