Page 16 of Not the Bodyguard's Widow
“Hey, Candace, thanks for calling. Sorry to interrupt your vacation.”
“No worries. It is mostly a work thing. Not much different from if we were in Chicago, only Mandy is letting the nanny help so we can go see things without little Joy trying to eat the crown jewels.”
“I shouldn’t keep you up, then.”
“Seriously? Don’t make me fly home to hit you upside the head. Now, spill. I saw the news conference. I’m assuming it’s all lies.”
Kimberly climbed the spiral staircase to the loft. Warm light from the impending sunset filled the room. “Mostly. My father-in-law wants me back, but not because he misses me. I don’t know what to do about the whole FBI-wants-to-question-me thing. I’m not running from the law, just my father-in-law. I’m afraid if I turn myself in—” There was no point in finishing.
“Have you talked to Alex about it? Abbie, his twin in case you didn’t know, said something about an uncle with the bureau, or maybe the CIA—I’m not sure.” Candace yawned.
“You need to sleep. Don’t worry about me. I think I’m in good hands. Your bodyguard is nothing like the ones I had in California. He made me dinner and asks my opinion.” Kimberly snuggled into her favorite beanbag.
“Alex cooked for you?” Candace laughed. “I know Hastings Security is the best, but I never heard of one of them cooking for a client.”
“So that is weird, then?”
“I’d say. But it goes to prove what I told you. He is a good guy.”
“The jury is still out on that. He’s a bodyguard. But since you are his client, I guess he can’t be too bad.”
“He isn’t hard to look at either.”
“Candace! What would your husband say?”
“He shook his head.” A squeak came across the phone line. “And tried to tickle me.”
“My cue to go. Night, Candace.”
Giggle. “Good night. I’ll talk to you later.”
“It can wait until you get back. Bye.” Kimberly hung up.
The colors of the sunset reflected off a cloud above the skylight. The phone in her hand vibrated, so Kimberly rolled out of the chair and went in search of Mr. Alexander to return it. He wasn’t in the kitchen or living room. A noise came from the front corner bedroom.
“Mr. Alexander?”
He came out of the bedroom. He’d changed to a plain T-shirt that was tighter than the polo he’d worn earlier. “Did you need something?”
The word caught in her throat for a second. Candace was right about the eye candy. Those muscles could protect an entire town. Kimberly held out the phone.
“Thanks.” He checked the screen but didn’t open it to whatever message he’d received.
“I meant to give you your phone after dinner.”
“My phone?”
“It’s one of the Ogilvie phones. We use them for our security, and all the C&O clients have them. It is one of many of Mr. Ogilvie’s inventions not available to the public. I left yours in the living room.” Mr. Alexander raised his arm, indicating for her to precede him down the hallway. He took a slim phone off the bookshelf. “All we need to do is program your biometrics. Full disclosure your phone will respond to my biometrics too.”
“Safety precaution?”
“Always.” Mr. Alexander guided her through the setup process.
She turned the phone over. “I expected something more complicated than my old smartphone.”
“Mr. Ogilvie puts the complicated stuff inside, not for the user to deal with. This is the Hastings app. Your login name is KIMBER. We usually use first initial and last name, but I thought you’d prefer not to use Thompson.”
He’d thought of that? “Thank you.”
