Page 29 of The Bombshell and the Bodyguard
Every day Jessica spent time lying on the beach or the deck in one of her vast array of micro-bikinis.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Actually I had no choice— as her bodyguard, I was supposed to keep eyesonher.
But I liked itwaytoo much.
Nights were even worse. By nature, I was a night owl, but since we’d come to the island, I was turning in earlier than my grandpa Henry. The AARP was going to track me down and start offering me early bird discounts before long.
It was a matter of self-preservation.
Seeing her curled up on the couch in a t-shirt and shorts, looking soft and warm and oh-so-right in my living room was almost worse than hell week during my SEAL training.
“Watch a movie with me?” she asked one night as she flopped onto the couch wearing a baby pink t-shirt that read:Never too old to believe in fairy tales.
She’d probably suggest a rom-com, or worse, some animated thing with animals singing showtunes. That, at least, wouldn’t be hard to turn down.
“I found Bladerunner on Netflix,” she crooned in a tempting sing-song.
Oh right.Of courseshe likes sci-fi movies and Harrison Ford, too. Somebody please just shoot me.
It was like the Universe had conjured the perfect woman and put her right in front of me—but just out of reach.
“Nah, I’m pretty beat,” I lied. “I think I’ll go on to bed.”
Where I’ll stay up for another hour or two staring at the ceiling and battling the urge to jerk off to themental images you so generously provided all day long.
Jessica shook her head and gave me a wrinkle-nosed grin. “I never would have figured you for an early birdie, Wild-man. Your high school posse would be shocked to see how tame their fearless leader has become.”
I’d been on my way out of the room, but I had to stop and face her again. “You know… I really wasn’t all that wild.”
“Are you not the same guy who jumped out of the third-story science lab window on a dare? And stole Eddie the Eagle from the roof of the school and put him in the principal’s bathtub? I mean, you were a legend—not to mention a walking, breathing cautionary tale around my house. My parents loved you, but they threatened Hap within an inch of his life if he ever started behaving like you. And the girls…”
“What about the girls?”
“There were alotof them.”
Was it my imagination, or was there a hint of jealousy in her voice?
“Not so many,” I countered. “I mean, yeah, I was flattered by the attention, and I was a teenage guy with opportunity. But I didn’t take every one that was offered. And when I got to college, it wasn’t too long before I figured out most of the girls were just interested in dating a football player. It had nothing to do with me—they didn’t evenknowme. Believe me, that got oldfast.”
She rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it. Try being a recording artist. The few guys who can get past the intimidation factor and ask me out tend to be either narcissists or fan-boys who don’t want to talk about anything other than my songs and videos.”
“You seem to do alright.” I smirked.
Unless they’d been living under a rock, pretty much everyone was aware of Jessica’s—Jade’s—reputation with celebrity men. She’d dated actors, models, other musicians, athletes, and a famous Las Vegas magician. All of them had wound up in her songs when the relationships ended.
She shrugged. “So do you. I heard you were dating that actress, Bree Steele.”
Now it was my turn to shrug. “Not really. We hung out a little after my protection detail for her ended. I see other people from time to time, but it’s all pretty casual.”
Andwhywas I telling her all this? I wasn’t sure, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself from being honest. “My job makes it hard to have anything consistent.”
“Exactly. Or anythingreal,” she said.
“I’m sure. You probably love being home with your family and the people who knew you before you were famous.”
Jessica’s eyes went very serious, and she paused a moment before answering. “Yes,” she said. “I do.”
For a moment we held electric eye contact. Neither of us said anything, but there still seemed to be some sort of communication going on, something powerful and alive passing between us like an arc of glowing light and heat.
