Page 24 of Not the Bodyguard's Princess
Blake cleared his throat. Had she been staring? She pretended to check her phone.
“It would have been easy for a cast or crew member to get the rose to Jordan’s room, and it would mean Stu’s team isn’t as lax as we think.” Blake took a sip of water from a huge hospital mug.
“Someone on the floor would have needed only seconds to put the box in front of the door. They could have placed it while we were on the elevator, assuming Stu received an all clear.”
Jordan thought of her costars, who were also staying on that floor. “I’ve worked with most of these actors for three years. Why would they want to hurt or scare me?”
Blake shook his head. “People are odd creatures prone to stupidity.”
Andrew smiled.
Oh, wow, she liked that smile complete with a dimple. Jordan tried to focus on something else. She didn’t need someone sabotaging her if her hormones would do that for her. Who’d given them a script and forgotten to tell her about it?
Her phone pinged. “That’s Stu. I guess I better go.” Jordan stood and leaned over Blake, giving him a kiss on the cheek. She turned and sidestepped to miss hitting the chair. Instead, she fell into Andrew. She caught herself with a hand on his chest. Oh yes, he had muscles.
He steadied her, placing a gentle yet strong hand on her waist. Jordan looked up at his blue eyes. The little flecks in them reminded her of the ocean after a storm. Part of her waited for someone to yell “Cut!” She couldn’t remember what she should say, his nearness having stolen her every thought. “Sorry?”
Andrew dropped his hand. “My fault. I was trying to get to the chair.”
Jordan nodded and checked her phone, hoping any blush would pass. “I’ll ask Stu to stop at a bookstore. That should give you time to get back to the hotel. Princess will need a walk.”
Jordan slipped out of the room before she could say anything stupid. Sorry with a question mark? That was lame. She hadn’t meant to put the blame on him. Maybe it was best if he thought she wasn’t so bright. But if he had any romantic thoughts like hers, she wasn’t sorry at all.
* * *
Andrew returned the chair to its proper place, keeping his back to Mr. Blake. He needed to be professional, even if his racing heart wasn’t. “Do you need anything before I go?”
Mr. Blake studied Andrew for what felt like hours. “No, I don’t think so. I’ve been the closest thing to a father my girl has had since she was eight. I’m trying to decide if I need to give you a fatherly lecture or not.”
“My father gives me plenty of those, sir. As the youngest, I get them every time he has to give them to an older sibling.”
“According to rumor, he’s given a few lectures about getting involved with clients and they haven’t all worked.” Mr. Blake frowned.
Andrew shifted his weight. Mr. Blake’s accusations weren’t completely true. Alex had never gotten a lecture partially because he’d fake-married his wife to protect her, then realized that there wasn’t much fake about it. Abbie had gotten a lecture, but she was undercover as a fiancée. Adam had received all the standard lectures and, well, those may have backfired a bit. “I see your point, sir.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Remember, if you act on whatever happened between you two just now, I’m watching, and I will take a bullet for my girl. So if you aren’t willing to stand between me and a bullet, then stay out of the way”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. I think we understand each other. Now, go keep my girl safe.”
Andrew drove away from the hospital knowing he wouldn’t abandon the job, yet he still wasn’t sure when he’d come to that conclusion. It could have been when he grabbed Jordan’s hand instead of the leash, although her hand placed over his rapidly beating heart had sealed the deal. Nothing would happen to her. He needed another bodyguard up here sooner than later. Preferably before Dad had a reason to give him a lecture about falling for a client.
10
Jordan inspectedthe bags under her eyes in the mirror. Nightmares had punctuated last night’s sleep. If Princess had been allowed to stay the night, she might have slept better. However, after the confrontation with Stu and Paul when Andrew had come to take Princess out for her evening bathroom break, it wasn’t worth the trouble. Paul and Stu had refused to let Andrew past the doorframe. They placed some other bodyguard in the hall that Princess hated. Which led to enough barking that someone called the front desk, who called Paul. Good thing they were not shooting today. Maria would have had an exceptionally difficult time with Jordan’s makeup, even without having to deal with the healing cut on her head.
The read-through started at ten. Perhaps she could talk Stu into another trip to the dog park before then. She needed to tell Andrew about the bug she found last night in the smaller bedroom. She wanted Blake’s advice about dealing with her new personal security, but she couldn’t call him when she knew someone had bugged her suite. If the listening devices belonged to Hearthfire, they might be in breach of her contract, which could give her the leverage to renegotiate her contract. If they hadn’t placed them, maybe someone was waiting for her to rehearse her lines, although that would be pointless since the script so closely followed the book series anyway. Or it could be some overeager paparazzi. Either way, she couldn’t keep ignoring their existence.
She should go work out. Too bad swimming was out this week. The doctor had told her to keep her head as dry as possible and to have someone help her wash her hair when needed. Dry shampoo would suffice for today if she didn’t do a sweaty workout. So stretches it was.
A quick shower and a bowl of oatmeal later, Jordan texted Andrew.If I can get Paul and Stu to agree, dog park at 8:30?
—She’s been on a jog.
Come on, read between the lines!Jordan didn’t know if willing him to understand would work or not.I’d love to see her.
—I’m sure she would like to see you too. Let me know if they agree.
