Page 14 of Not the Bodyguard's Princess
“If you find one, I’ll get her out of here fast. She needs time with her dog.” The principal’s safety always came first. That included mental health, and this client needed dog time.
Stu frowned and walked away.
Andrew returned the ball to the backpack. Princess begged for a treat. He gave one of the tiny biscuits in the bag to Miss Lee.
Five minutes later, she stood. “I think we’re done here.”
When they reached the cars, Stu stopped them. “Miss Lee, if you will please come with us.”
“I prefer to ride with Mr. Andrew.”
“He’s not your bodyguard.”
Andrew stepped into the conversation. “Is that a standard rental car? It doesn’t look like it’s bulletproof.”
“I don’t know. The studio rented them.”
“My vehicle is fully armored. I think the choice should be Miss Lee’s.” Andrew turned to Jordan.
“I think I’d rather be in the Hastings vehicle.”
Andrew kept his bodyguard face as he assisted Miss Lee into the car under Stu’s glare.
As Andrew drove the most direct route back to the hotel, Miss Lee relaxed. “Should you have taken him on?”
“We’ll see. Your safety should be your choice—when you have one. Blake made it clear which of the two princesses I’m most responsible for. If I can offer you a safer option, I will. The choice is always yours.”
“Thank you.” Miss Lee stared out the window for the rest of the drive. Her perfume filled his car with a light, pleasant scent. One he shouldn’t be noticing. “You call me Miss Lee. Just so you know, Blake’s team calls me Jordan or Miss Jordan, and Grandma Claire Lee.Missandmissusget confusing when we are together. Most of the time, the cast and crew call me Jordan too.”
“Would you prefer I call you Jordan?”
“Yes, please. Do you mind if I call you Andrew? Since September always talks about you as Andrew, I think of you that way, without the mister in front.”
“If that’s what you’re most comfortable with.” Andrew debated the loss of formal names. Dad always said using formal names kept the client relationship in perspective. For now, he decided Miss Lee was safest.
At the hotel, to the obvious chagrin of Stu, Andrew accompanied Princess up to the third-floor suite. A florist box lay on the floor outside Jordan’s door. Stu didn’t halt the group, but the hair on the back of Andrew’s neck bristled, and Princess growled low.
“Stop!” shouted Andrew. Stu and Jordan turned to face him. “That box outside Miss Lee’s room shouldn’t be there. Aren’t you going to check it first?”
Stu muttered something before turning and continuing to the room. Jordan stayed next to Andrew. He handed Princess’s leash to her and waved her back toward the elevator.
Stu picked up the long white box and opened it. A single black rose fell to the floor.
7
Andrew was blockingJordan’s view as Stu and the other bodyguard bent over the flower and the box.
“Let me see.” Until now, she hadn’t realized how big Andrew was. It was impossible to see over his shoulder or around him the way he was standing.
Andrew ignored her attempts to move him aside. “Stu, where is your secure room?”
“My room is two doors down.”
She could see Andrew tense. “Your men are monitoring from two doors down and missed this?” Without waiting for an answer, Andrew spun around. “Miss Lee and Princess will be in 107 while you clear the area.”
The Hastings bodyguard propelled them into the elevator so fast the door was closing before Stu could react and catch it.
And missed it.
