Page 2 of Her New Bodyguard: Colton

COLTON

“Get yourself together, Colt,” I thought to myself as I walked around to the other side of the jeep.

I was a well-trained security expert with years in the military before I switched careers. I should not be having an intense physical reaction to the smile and brown eyes of a twenty-one-year-old girl.

I was supposed to spot threats, not notice the cinnamon highlights in her long dark hair, or the green crystal earrings that drew attention to her tender earlobes. Not speculate about what little murmurs she would make if I…dammit.

As I jumped in and started driving, my attention was riveted to the rearview mirror as I made a huge loop of five consecutive right turns to make sure we didn't have a tail.

"Not to comment on your driving," Julia said, "but are you lost or something?"

I chuckled, shooting her a grin. "It's to make sure that nobody is following us," I explained. "I'm just being extra careful."

"Where are we going?" she asked. "And why do I suddenly need a bodyguard, anyway?"

How much should I tell her? It was important to keep clients calm as well as safe. But something about those smoldering brown eyes made me want to tell her everything.

Christ, just being near her was making my heart race. I'd been alone for so long, and assumed that would continue for quite a while. I would never have expected a bright little fairy girl to trigger my lust and protective instincts at the same time.

"We're going to a safe house," I said. "Someone threatened your family, so each of you is being taken to a different location for a few days."

Julia looked toward me and raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. Dad's shady bank ticked off one of his weird 'underground' clients?"

Chuckling again, I was surprised that she amused me so much. In the space of five minutes, she had turned me from a stony-faced bastard to a man who actually laughed. I returned her arched eyebrow.

"Obviously I can't share any details," I said, daring a wink. "But you probably know your father's business quite well."

"Not really," she said, staring out the window. "I mean, I've seen clients come and go, and heard hushed, frantic phone calls. I assume that the only people who would need a private bank would be drug dealers, mafia, and other sketchy types."

She turned back to me with a heavy sigh. "But what would those people want with us?"

I shrugged. "Information. Or to cause chaos and divert attention from something else."

I needed to give her the option of assuming that this was no big deal and she wasn't actually in any danger. I didn't know how serious the threats were, but I didn't want Julia to panic.

"We're about ten minutes from the first vehicle switch," I said. "Do you want to listen to music or something?"

"Actually, I'd like to know about you," she said. "If we're going to be together for a bit, I'd like to know who I'm hanging out with."

This sweet girl continued to surprise me. Usually clients instantly put up a barrier between us, or treated me like the help. But she wanted to make the best of the situation.

I told her briefly of my time on the high school football team, my military career, and how I ended up at the Barrow Agency. How I had been working with Warren for several years, and was hoping to become his second in command.

"You want a desk job?" she asked.

"No security job is one hundred percent behind a desk," I said. "But I can't expect to be in top notch physical condition for more than another ten years."

I glanced over with a shrug. "The human body breaks down. I want to make sure I'm in a good, solid place before that happens."

Julia's eyes traced around my shoulders, my arms, studying my frame. I shouldn't have felt such a huge blast of arousal thundering through my veins. If there was any chance that my adorable new client was actually interested, the next few days were going to be extremely challenging.

Crossing professional lines was not something that I would normally consider. Especially not if I wanted to get promoted within the agency.

"You hold yourself like a military man," Julia said slowly. "It's putting unnecessary tension right here." She reached out to trail her fingers along the back of my neck where it met my shoulder. "I've been working on a yoga sequence for people hunched over computers all day. It would definitely help you."

I almost laughed out loud, but didn't want to offend her. "Thanks, but I'm not the type who wears weird shorts and sits in a pretzel shape on the floor."

Julia laughed brightly. "It's actually seated yoga. No mat, no fancy clothes. Just bending and moving your arms, spine, and neck around. You'll see."

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