Page 28 of Her New Bodyguard: Colton

JULIA

Ihad to get away from Colton so I could think, even though I was worried I'd twist an ankle as I ducked in and around trees, trying to stay low while I darted toward the road. I really wasn't a runner.

I'd never freaked out like this, but I'd never had everything around me be perfect in one respect and horrible in another either.

I didn't think much of my father, but I still couldn't accept that he was a serious criminal.

My mind was scrambled.

I also couldn't accept that Colton could be one of Smith's agents. That didn't feel like the truth, but with everything else happening, anything was possible.

I had to call Mom and confirm that she really sent this bodyguard. I also needed to know what the hell that photo was about.

It was an old pic of my parents and that creepy Smith guy out at some fancy dinner. Colton was at the next table with a couple of other big guys. Both tables were smiling toward the camera, so they must have known each other.

That meant that Colton knew Smith. He knew more about what was going on than he was sharing with me.

Heavy footsteps approached behind me, and I froze behind a huge fallen tree until they passed.

He was frantically calling my name, and I hoped that he would forgive me for bolting. I loved that he was in complete control, but right now, I needed to escape to make one phone call.

It was mostly farmers on this stretch of the highway, as far as I had been able to tell from the back of the motorbike. I could walk until I saw a nice family driving along and wave them down.

After a few minutes, I could hear a car going by, so I knew I was close to the road.

I was perfectly silent, listening for Colton. Once the car was gone, I heard nothing beyond the skittering of squirrels jumping around in the trees.

I stepped out of the trees and walked toward the road.

There was a rustle, and before I could even turn, I was scooped up into thick arms, as Colton drew me into his chest. His eyes were wild.

"Baby, I can explain." He began marching me back to the house. He was so strong that there was no point in attempting to wriggle free.

"You know Smith." Tears began falling down my cheeks. "Are you one of his goons?"

Colton flinched as if I'd slapped him, then softened. "Oh god, baby, no. I'm sorry – you haven't spoken with your parents, then that stupid photo. I'm so sorry."

When we reached the cabin, he set me on my feet with his arms still around my shoulders. "Where were you going?"

"To call Mom."

He nodded. "Okay. I'll take you into town."

"Really?" I sputtered.

"Yes. If you could think for even one second that I might be with Smith, then I'm making some huge mistakes that need to be corrected."

Colton drove us into town, which gave me some time to think. The lack of tension in his frame made me trust him again. Not that I'd ever stopped completely, but there were so many questions that it was hard to be sure of anything.

Once I had a fresh burner phone in my hand, Colton led us to the far edge of the hardware store parking lot. I sat on the ground under a tree, and he backed off to give me some privacy.

I called my aunt Astor's restaurant, assuming that Mom would be there helping out, as she always did when she was supposed to be on vacation.

"Astor's Diner, how may we help you today?"

"Mom, it's Julia."

Her gasp of relief made me want to cry. "Honey! Are you okay?"

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