Page 15 of Not the Bodyguard's Princess
Jordan hugged Princess tight enough the dog squirmed. “It was just a rose. I’ve gotten those before. It isn’t a big deal.” Saying a lie out loud didn’t make it true.
“How many of those have been black?”
“One or two.” Or a dozen? Blake didn’t tell her everything.
“Did Blake let you near them?”
“Only photos.”
“You shouldn’t have seen this one either.” Andrew stepped out of the elevator first, then ushered Jordan down the hall, where he tapped his keycard on the pad, letting them into a room.
Jordan stood near the door, unwilling to step any farther into a man’s room. It was one of Grandma’s rules: ‘Never go into his hotel or bedroom.’ Andrew didn’t give her a choice. He stared her in and closed the door.
Andrew gave his room a quick check like Blake often did. “You should sit. Stu will be here any second.”
A pounding on the door drowned out any other words Andrew had to say.
Jordan sat down in the chair closest to the window, holding Princess.
Andrew opened the door, and Stu pushed passed him. “What were you thinking? Why did you leave?”
Jordan refused to crane her neck to look up at him. Instead, she scratched Princess’s ears and channeled her princess character. “I left because Andrew said to and you didn’t say no.”
“I was busy.”
According to everything she’d learned and observed, that wasn’t how bodyguards were supposed to work. Blake’s team would have evacuated her as soon as they’d seen the box. Despite her curiosity, she knew the drill. “You know I wouldn’t have seen the rose if Blake had been here. Someone put it here. Which means someone knows where I am.”
Stu’s lips formed a thin line. “The card wasn’t addressed specifically to you. You don’t know that.”
Andrew butted into the conversation before Jordan could answer. “You have what? Eight, ten, bodyguards on your team? And Hearthfire rented out the entire third floor and half of the second. No one should have been able to leave anything for her.”
Stu faced Andrew, hands clenched. “If you hadn’t removed her from the building, there wouldn’t have been a problem.”
“Instead, they could have delivered the rose to her room with her in it.”
“We were watching.”
Andrew stepped well into Stu’s personal space. “Like you did when we left the hotel? I shouldn’t have gotten Miss Lee to the elevator and definitely not in my car before you responded. Where did you guys learn your trade? Online?”
What was Andrew doing? Trying to get her in trouble with the producer? Or get himself banned? Paul said he’d been willing to get another actress to take her place if she didn’t sign the new contract, but she wasn’t willing to let Princess Sam go to someone else. She’d worked hard to build the role, and with the new Princess Sam doll and the dress-clothesline, it was the first role she’d ever taken where merchandizing paid more than acting.
Stu leaned in. “I don’t care if you are a Hastings—”
Jordan set Princess on the floor and stood, inserting herself between the men. “Hey, guys, let’s not start a war here. I’m safe. Isn’t that the point?”
Both men took a step back, though neither relaxed.
“Look, this weekend has everyone on edge, and Mr. Hastings is trying to figure out the whole guard-the-dog thing. Stu, if my room is clear, I’d like to take Princess up and have my dinner there.”
Stu pulled out his phone and dialed. “Is it clear?” He waited a moment before hanging up. “Yes. You can bring the dog, but he stays here.”
“Really?” Jordan raised an eyebrow like Grandma would and waited.
“He can come get the dog when you are done. I don’t want him interfering again tonight.”
Jordan picked up Princess’s leash. “Fine, I’m starving.” She followed Stu out of the room. She would have to worry about dealing with Andrew later. Obviously, Blake’s men in California had not given him the entire picture.
Rod was leaving her room as she arrived. He whispered something to Stu. Stu turned to Jordan. “All clear, Miss Lee. I trust you won’t leave again without informing me.”
