Page 64 of Not the Bodyguard's Princess
“I’ll give Blake a call. Bye, bunny.”
“Love you.”
Jordan lay back on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Her phone rang again. Reggie. Jordan ignored the request for a video and chose audio-only.
“Where are you?”
“I’m in a safe house.”
“The police have been asking questions all morning. Did someone really kill your bodyguard? He was so hot.”
“If the police are questioning you, I don’t think I should answer. But I can say that no one is dead.”
“Oh, good. That would have been a shame if he’d died. Then what about your parents’ plane?”
“Reggie, I know you want all the tea, but I’m not up to speaking about the last few hours. How was the game?”
“Cold. I think we all had a few too many drinks at the after-party. I have such a headache this morning. Kittie was so funny last night. I think Storm might have taken her back to his place. She wasn’t here this morning.”
“I didn’t think Storm liked her.”
“Me neither. Oh, someone is knocking on my door. I better go.”
The call ended. Jordan went to the bathroom and fixed her face. Ready or not, she needed to go out and face the Hastings group and Andrew. Out of habit, her mind reached for a character her grandmother had played in a movie in 1972. The role was one Jordan often used when she needed to be stronger than she was. She stopped herself. Andrew would see through it. Maybe she should just go downstairs as herself. She was strong enough.
* * *
Andrew sat across from Jordan in the living room of Claire Lee’s condo. Even though he was no longer on duty, he found he was aware of everything, from Adam and Deidre talking quietly in the kitchen to the third car to park in the lot in a half hour. The police had released the hotel room, and Adam sent two bodyguards to pack it up. Ben and Tonie met them there to do the job.
Tonie had suffered only a mild headache and an uncalled-for case of embarrassment. She’d also sworn off bottled water for the rest of her existence.
Princess lay curled up at Jordan’s feet. According to the vet, the dog might be extra sleepy for the next day or two. Andrew refrained from asking how they could tell if a dog who spent twenty hours a day sleeping was extra sleepy. So far, the media hadn’t found Jordan, although several interview requests had come through her agent.
Jordan set her phone down. “Blake’s plane landed.”
Adam and Deidre came from the kitchen. Deidre had changed into a dark-blue suit.
“Dermott Security met Blake at the airport. He says he wants to talk with Hastings before signing a contract,” said Deidre. “Simon Dermot agreed to add me to lead his team if they are hired. Liam is up here to negotiate only. I don’t work on Liam’s details. I’ll stay in the background. That way, whoever Blake chooses to work with, I’ll be their employee. I hope Blake will jump at the chance to have a female on guard duty.”
“I know Blake isn’t going to give me much choice, but I like your plan. Andrew told me a lot about your background. You probably cringe in every show where I use martial arts,” said Jordan.
“I cringe at most shows where actors attempt to use martial arts. I haven’t seen any of yours specifically.”
“You’re lucky. I only trained through green belt, so I mostly mimic the choreographers’ moves.”
“Maybe I can teach you a few things.” A wicked smile flashed across Deidre’s face.
Adam looked just as horrified as Andrew felt.
Jordan studied all three of them. “I think I missed an inside joke.”
“As much as not one Hastings brother wants to admit. In hand-to-hand combat, Deidre can win most any day.” Adam hung his head.
“I’m going outside so I can come in after Blake gets here so it isn’t obvious whose team I’m on.” Deidre left through the back door.
Jordan rested her hands in her lap. “I feel underhanded using Deidre this way. But to have made some deal with your competitor, she must be good.”
“Dermot security would love to steal her away.” Adam sat down in the chair nearest the door.
