Page 31 of Tempting the Player
After Grady and I catch up, we go over my schedule, then it’s time to head to campus. I really hate the idea of having someone follow me around all day. Some anonymous creep broke into my room and now I can’t even go to classes without worrying I’m in some sort of danger. It pisses me off, but I hate the idea of being alone even more.
As soon as we park, I second-guess having him here. He opens my door and tries to take my backpack.
“I got it. Just try to blend in. Could you?”
“Probably can’t manage that. Been a few years since I was your age.”
“A few?” I ask sweetly.
I feel the stares as we walk through the middle of campus. All those people who were so excited to see me a week ago keep their distance. I can’t really blame them. Grady is intimidating and I’m sure it looks weird that I now have a bodyguard tailing me around. An obvious bodyguard.
I wonder how Hendrick did it. Did he wait outside my house every morning? Did he follow me everywhere I went? The more I think about it, the more the humiliation of throwing myself at him burns like acid in my stomach. No freaking wonder he was there outside the library to catch me and at the bar...groan.
I keep my head low, avoid eye contact, and walk as quickly as I can from class to class. By the end of my third morning class, I finally start to relax. Grady is here. He sits in the back of every class. No one says anything, but it’s still awkward having him shadow me.
At least I know that he won’t let anything happen to me. He was a SEAL, I know for sure, but the rest of his background he’s pretty tight-lipped about. If I had to guess his age, I’d say he’s in his fifties now, but I have no doubt he could still take someone down if it came to that. I really hope it doesn’t come to that.
“Back to the house?” Grady asks.
“I think I want to have lunch in University Hall today.”
Without another word, he lets me lead the way. I bypass the café and head to the sandwich shop. “Want anything?”
“No.”
“You can’t just sit and watch me eat. It’s too weird,” I tell him.
“Tuna on wheat.”
I order our food and then we head to a little table in the back.
“So, what have you been up to?” I ask, trying to ease the awkwardness of having him play lookout while I eat.
He scans the area over my head as he answers, “Working. Same old, same old.”
“You got the old part right.”
He stops looking around long enough to glare at me. Or maybe not at me, but he’s definitely glaring. “Want me to tell him to get lost?”
I don’t have time to ask who before Hendrick steps up beside the table.
Even pissed at him, his presence does funny things to my insides.
“Jane?” Grady asks, standing to place himself between me and Hendrick.
I sort of like the idea of watching Grady toss him out, but I shake my head. “It’s fine. Grady, can you give us a minute?”
“I won’t be far.” He stares down Hendrick as he leaves.
I keep my gaze on my food. “What can I do for you, Mr. Holland?”
“Mr. Holland is my dad.” He slides into the seat across from me. “And I hate him.”
“Good to know you were telling the truth about something,” I grumble, then sit straighter. “What do you want? Shouldn’t you be out for your daily run by my house?” I scoff. “Oh wait, you were only doing that to keep tabs on me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For following me around without my knowledge?”
