Page 4 of Not the Bodyguard's Princess
Wow, I’m irritable.The next face that appeared at the door helped smooth some of Jordan’s emotions. The two faces behind September explained the raised voices. Jordan recognized Adam Hastings. The other had to be one of his brothers. The arrival of new personal security would annoy every man on Stu’s team.
Rod blocked their path. “Ms. Platt is on your cleared list, but these two claim they need to come with her.”
“I don’t see a problem. They are her security, correct?”
Rod nodded but didn’t move.
“September, come in and bring your bodyguards. Rod, let them pass.”
“But I don’t have them as cleared.”
September tapped Rod on the shoulder. “You should. My contract specifies I will have my own security team, and I have been with Hastings Security for years. Now, can we pass, or shall I call Paul?”
Rod moved to the side as September entered with the Hastings men. The Hearthfire bodyguard stayed inside and closed the door.
“Rod, you don’t need to be in here.” Jordan tried to keep the irritation out of her voice while sounding firm.
Adam opened the door and waited. Something about his glare made Jordan want to leave the room too. Rod grunted and left.
“Thanks, Adam.” Jordan turned to September. “I’m sorry to have called you away from your birthday party. But thanks for coming, and you guys too. I assume you are one of the famous Hastings brothers. AllAnames. I’ve heard so much about you. Mr. Alan, Mr. Alex, or Mr. Andrew?”
“I’m Andrew, er, Mr. Andrew.” The younger guard extended his hand. Unlike Adam, he wore a navy polo with the Hastings logo above his heart. The handshake was light but firm, as if he was being overly careful not to hurt her.
“Don’t be too annoyed if I forget the mister part of your name. September talks about the brothers all the time. Have a seat. I’m so glad you came.” Jordan glanced at the door. It was more than likely that Rod was listening in. Rats. This would be easier if she could talk openly. Jordan sank into her pillow and closed her eyes, then opened them slowly. “It’s been a long day. I hope someone will tell me about Blake’s surgery soon. I still can’t believe he took a bullet for me. He’s been a part of my life since my first babyhood commercial. He always told me I’d be safe with him around, but I never thought he would prove it.”
September reached over and held Jordan’s hand. “I’m so sorry. Do you know anything?”
“Other than the bullets didn’t hit anything that would kill him quickly, like an artery, no. I’m still trying to sort through what happened. Stu was next to me. He should have been the one protecting me, not Blake. Maybe Stu had protected Paul. I don’t dare look at my phone to see what the news is saying. There were enough fans there. I’m sure some of them were live-streaming, plus the TV crews. I don’t think I could watch. I only checked long enough to verify that Paul had told me the truth and that Blake and I were the only ones injured.” Jordan wondered if she’d said the same thing twice.
September glanced at Adam, then quickly back. Too quickly. “Everything we have seen online confirms that. None of your fans were injured beyond a scrape or two.”
But?“I’m so relieved.”
“Fan injuries is one of my nightmares too.” September gave her hand a squeeze. “I always feel safer with Adam around, even if he isn’t officially on my detail.”
A flash caught Jordan’s eye. She pulled September’s hand closer. “You’re wearing a ring!”
“Yes, we made it official at my party. On the way up, we talked about getting married on Valentine’s Day.”
“I’d squeal, but I think it would make my head hurt worse.” Jordan closed her eyes again and counted to ten before opening them. “I want to hire Hastings security.”
* * *
Andrew studied the actress. Her brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail. In the videos from the morning’s shooting it had hung several inches below her shoulders. Someone must have pulled it up in the process of patching up her injuries. The clean white bandage sat above amber eyes. It could be the pain meds or residual trauma, but something was off. She was too guarded. It was as if she was holding herself together by the force of her smile while her eyes darted to the door, where Rod stood on the other side. Miss Lee seemed to distrust the bodyguard. Good. Her instincts matched his. That boded well if she became their client.
“I need to replace Blake with someone he can trust. He liked Adam when September and I worked together. Your team impressed him. Even if this had happened in some other place in the world, you would have been my first call.”
Adam stood behind September. “Where is the rest of Blake’s team?”
“There isn’t one. Just him. My last contract negotiations didn’t go as well as we would have liked. Paul doesn’t like having any spare bodyguards hanging around since Hearthfire provides their own security group. It took quite a bit of negotiating for them to make an exception for Blake. Even then they pull things like they did today, where they didn’t rent him a room.”
“Why?”
“Paul said our hotel is full but that there is one across the street. Not ideal, I get that. I’m rambling, aren’t I... Oh—Blake’s team. He’s the only one here.”
“Do you know what hotel they chose?” asked Adam.
“No. Paul said it’s an extended-stay. I guess they couldn’t find any short-term condos. I assume they’ll let Princess stay in the hotel.”
