Page 56 of Not the Bodyguard's Widow
Agent Danes nodded to Agent Garcia.
Alex reached for Kimberly’s hand.
* * *
The luxury house was far from the hotel Kimberly had pictured, her feet sinking into the soft carpet of the white-on-white living room. “How did you find this?”
Adam set two suitcases down inside the front door. “It’s a property September used on her music tour last month. It’s owned by a reputable firm that rents houses to celebrities and such. It comes with a full security package and five bedrooms. The gated community adds an extra layer of security. Too bad we probably won’t use it again.”
“Why not?” asked Elle.
“Everything is white on white or seafoam blue. Harmony is beginning to crawl, and the potential for messes stressed September out. She is thinking next tour she wants to get two tour buses and live out of them. Hopefully, we will be married by then. This was only a short tour, but Harmony made switching hotels and flying more complicated than we expected. We were both glad it was a six-week tour.”
Kimberly had only briefly met the singer Adam had proposed to. “I liked her song about postpartum depression. Because of it and because every magazine on earth has been carrying articles about postpartum depression, I feel like I am better prepared to recognize it if I get it. When are you two getting married?”
“Still to be determined. September wants to be sure she is not thinking with her hormones or anything. Back in our grandparents’ day, they might say we were pinned, or had plans to be engaged. She’s officially my girl and will probably say yes to my proposal, but—” Adam shrugged. “We don’t have a date yet.”
“Oh.”
Andrew and Alex came in with the last of the bags. “Did anyone decide rooms?”
They all looked to Adam.
“The upstairs suite in the back has a great ocean view. Kimberly should have it as it can’t be seen from the road. Elle and Alex, take the two rooms across the hall. Andrew and I can take the downstairs rooms. Does that work for everyone? The kitchen should be stocked with sandwich things, basic breakfast items, and fruit and vegetables.”
Kimberly started up the stairs with her small duffel, knowing Alex would bring her suitcase. The large suite featured a wall of french doors and windows looking out on the bay. Kimberly opened the door and let the sea breeze wash over her. The smell of sea salt tingled. Seagulls squawked high above waves that crashed against the rocky shoreline. Natures best white noise.
“Here’s your suitcase.”
Kimberly beckoned Alex closer. “This is gorgeous. Perfect. I can’t thank you guys enough for not stuffing me into some hotel room or whatever safe house the FBI had in mind.”
“Adam said it was peaceful, and even though it’s a few miles farther from the church and cemetery than we were hoping, I thought peaceful trumped a bit of inconvenience.”
“I agree. I hope the FBI releases my funds so I can pay for this.”
Alex held up a hand. “You get to fight payment out with Mrs. Og—I mean Candace.”
“It really is hard for you to use her name, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I need to distance myself from my clients.”
“So our situation must be difficult.”
Alex nodded. “Do you need a snack before you take a nap?”
“I’d better. Yogurt, if they have some. I’m not very hungry.”
When Alex left, Kimberly pulled a maternity T-shirt Abbie had given her with the wordsTired, Hungry,andBlessedacross the front and a pair of basketball shorts from her suitcase. By the time Alex returned, she’d settled into a double chaise lounge in the deck’s shade.
Alex placed a water bottle and a vanilla Greek yogurt with berries and granola on the table next to her.
Kimberly patted the space next to her. “Stay? I don’t want to be alone with my thoughts.”
“Do you want to talk about anything?”
“Anything that has nothing to do with my father-in-law.”
“How about I tell you the story of the Hastings boys’ raft that didn’t make it across Lake Michigan to Canada?”
