Page 6 of My Bodyguard Neighbor
"Hey."Jonah turned her to look at him."Don’t worry about that right now.Have you noticed anyone following you?Anyone who seemed out of place hanging around the building?"
The gentle way he touched her warred with the hardness in his voice, leaving Holly feeling off-balance."No.I don't think so.I mean, I'm not exactly paranoid about that stuff."
"Maybe you should be."
Jonah pulled out his phone and called the police.Holly listened as he reported the vandalism and the threatening note she received this morning. She should have done that, but she was still shaking with rage and probably fear.
"They'll be here in twenty minutes," he said after hanging up."Why don't we wait upstairs until they get here?"
Holly nodded, suddenly feeling very small and very alone.Jonah's presence beside her was solid, reassuring.As they walked back toward the building, she moved closer to him, drawn to the strength he radiated.
"I've spent three years trying to get away from my father.I changed my phone number, moved across the city, and stopped calling him and taking his calls.And still something like this happened."
"Holly—"
"No, you were right.I obviously haven't worked hard enough to distance myself."She laughed bitterly."Maybe I should just call him, let him handle this the way he handles everything else.With lawyers and threats and the full weight of the federal court system."
"Is that what you want?"
The question stopped her short."What do you mean?"
"Do you want to go running back to daddy the first time things get scary?”
"No.Hell no.I've worked too hard to get away from him."
"I can help.”
"Why?"she asked."Why do you care what happens to me?You barely know me."
Jonah was silent for a long moment, and Holly could practically see him weighing his words."Because someone should.Because you're brave and stubborn and beautiful, and you deserve better than spending your life looking over your shoulder."He paused, his hand finding hers."And because I have a feeling whoever's doing this isn't going to stop with tire slashing."
Holly's breath caught at the contact, at the way his thumb traced circles on her palm.Even in the middle of her personal crisis, her body responded to him with a willingness that should have embarrassed her.
"You think it's going to get worse?"
"I think you need to be careful.Very careful."
“What makes you say that?”
He looked conflicted, like he was battling with himself over something important.Then his phone rang, and the moment shattered.
"I should take this," he said, already stepping away from her."It's work."
He walked a few feet away, speaking in low tones she couldn't make out.But she caught enough to know he was military—or had been.The way he stood, the clipped professionalism in his voice, the automatic deference when he said "Yes, sir."
When he returned, he shook his head in apology."I have to go.Work emergency."
"Yeah, of course you do."Holly tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice."I can handle this. The police are on their way, right? I’ll keep the door locked until they get here.”
"I'll stay until they arrive," Jonah said."But after that, I want you to promise me something."
"What?"
"Don't go anywhere alone.Not until we know what we're dealing with."
Holly bristled at the command in his voice."I'm not going to become a prisoner because some psycho wants to get to me through my father."
"That’s exactly why you should always be with someone.”
