Page 31 of Not the Bodyguard's Princess
The first call came an hour later.
“Did you know they have a channel for dogs to watch?”
Andrew didn’t.
It turned out the humans found the show more entertaining than Princess did.
They watched an old eighties sitcom for a half hour before Jordan said she was tired enough to fall asleep.
The second call came at 2:00 a.m.
Jordan cried and hiccupped between each syllable. If it hadn’t been for caller ID, Andrew would have hung up on the incoherent babel.
Andrew wished he could climb the stairs to her room. “Bad dream?”
“Y-y-es. I dream-med I was on-n the plane with them. It’s al-ways the same.”
Them not him. Her parents and not the shooting with Blake. “What do you do to get back to sleep?”
“Hold Princess, drink hot chocolate.”
Andrew turned on the lights. “Do you have any hot chocolate?”
“No.”
From the depths of his go-bag, Andrew pulled two packets of instant cocoa. “I have two packages. It isn’t the good stuff, but you can use the coffee maker in your room to make some.”
“How can I get it?”
“Ring Stu. I’ll be up to get Princess in a minute.”
“I need her back.”
Andrew closed the door to his apartment. “I know.”
* * *
Jordan pulled a sweatshirt over her cami top and called Stu. He answered on the fourth ring.
“What?”
“Mr. Andrew is coming to take Princess out, and I need her back.”
“I’ll tell the guard.”
The line went dead.
Princess remained curled up on the bed. Jordan waited by the door for Andrew. She opened the door on the first knock, letting Andrew in but keeping Rod out. A shiver ran up her spine.
Andrew pulled two crumpled packets of hot cocoa from his back pocket. “Sorry it isn’t a better brand.”
She took them without touching him. “For the middle of the night, these are perfect.” Jordan avoided looking Andrew in the eyes, knowing that if she did, the tears would start again. A light touch on her shoulder broke her resolve, his face becoming blurry through her tears.
He opened his arms, and she fell into them, wrapping her arms around his chest. No words passed as they stood there. Someone tapped at the door, and Jordan pulled back. “Coming.”
“Are you going to be okay?”
Jordan shrugged. It was the most honest answer she could give. “This will help.”
