Page 13 of Splintered Memories
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” I said, forcing politeness. That was the thing about running a business in a small town. Even though this man had made no appointment to see me, and I had no idea what he was doing here, I always erred on the side of cautious kindness. I extended my hand toward the man. “I’m August Ramsey.”
The man glanced at my hand for a beat before he took it. “Tristan Hawthorn.”
At the name, I stiffened, and not only because he shared a last name with Emersyn. “The mayor?”
Tristan picked a speck of invisible dust off his lapel. “I’m surprised you know that. I haven’t been mayor of this town for a long time.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, leaning back against my desk in front of him. “My father was fire chief for years. I remember the name.”
His eyes flicked back to mine, sharp and assessing. The look was utterly too familiar…so much like Emersyn.
“Yes, I knew Warner Ramsey well back then.” Tristan nodded.
I tilted my head to the side, studying the man. He seemed both tense and relaxed at the same time. As if he had mastered the skill of controlling his facial expressions, but not his body. His muscles were rigid in the chair, his legs crossed tight and arms too stiff to be comfortable.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Hawthorn?”
His fingers curled around the wooden chair arm. “You’re aware of the attempt on my daughter’s life.”
He said it as fact. I had a feeling there wasn’t much that happened in this town that Tristan didn’t know about.
“Your daughter being Emersyn?”
He nodded slowly. “Word is that you were there when it happened.”
“I was.” It was my turn to nod. “She was lucky.”
His knuckles blanched. “For now.” He squeezed his eyes closed as pain flashed across his features. It was gone in an instant before his eyelids snapped back open. “Which is why I’m here. It’s why I waited for you. I need you, August. I’ve had discussions with those who employ you at the college. I’ve contacted many of your past clients, and everyone I’ve spoken to speaks highly of you. Even your former military leaders had nothing but praise for you.”
My head jerked back, eyes widening with surprise. “That seems…thorough.” I wasn’t sure where this was going, but this wasn’t exactly in the realm of normal for me.
Tristan raised a brow. “Yes, well, I needed to be sure.”
“Be sure of what?”
His chest expanded with a deep breath. “I want to hire you.”
I paused. “Hire me?”
“I want you to protect my daughter.”
My forehead crinkled. “Protect her? Has there been more threats against her?” My heart rate escalated at the thought.
“I think there’s been enough threats as it is. Someone shot at her. On the street. In the middle of the day.”
My jaw clenched. He had a point. “What exactly would you like me to do, Mr. Hawthorn?” Emersyn already had the best security system I had to offer.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I want you to be her bodyguard. I want you with her at all times, keeping her safe.”
I frowned.Bodyguard.Slowly, I shook my head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t offer personal bodyguard services.” I already had enough on my plate, keeping this place running. I didn’t have time to be gone, protecting one single person while my business suffered.
“I’d be more than willing to give you a recommendation for another bodyguard.” I knew plenty of people qualified for the job. I straightened, ready to round my desk to get him contact information, but he stopped me.
“No,” he said, voice sharp. “I wantyou.”
My brow furrowed. “I’m sorry, but I’m not available—”
Tristan Hawthorn cut me off by leaping from his chair. He was taller than he’d seemed, almost as tall as I was. He was leaner than me, though, his arms and legs lanky compared to mine. Yet the stare he gave me was cold and piercing enough to send a shiver through anyone.
