Page 7 of Protector

I follow behind drooling and grab a large white cup.

“Yes, caffeine. Please, gimme.”

“Wait, this first, then caffeine,” she says, taking the hot cup from my hand and slipping the godawful-looking green muck in a cup in its place.

I groan my displeasure, but it doesn’t taste that bad.

“Good morning to you, too, sunshine.” Stephanie is the best assistant in the world because she will hand me my ass if that’s what’s best for me. In other words, she’ll make sure I drink my veggie smoothies, have the best new styles in my wordrobe,, and book the bestgigs possible, but she’ll also call me a dumbass when I’m being one.

“Morning, mom,” I tease, sipping.

“Here,” she says, ignoring me and handing me a croissant sandwich.

“Yum. Thank you so much for this.”

“You’re so welcome. And will be billed.” She winks.

I would laugh, but the flaky pastry distracts me. It’s delicious.

“Got everything at a cute little place on the corner named Bake Love To Me,” Stephanie goes on. “Oh, and as soon as your ready, your new bodyguard is here for intro and then we need to be at Bambie’s house for the podcast interview by noon. You’ll need makeup because they’re recording. Did you want us to record it, too?”

“Yeah, grab a few videos for TikTok.”

Finally getting to the warm dark roast coffee, my brain catches up. “What new bodyguard? I thought we were having trouble finding anyone worth an interview?”

“He said you already hired him.” She pulls out her phone. “Harris Blankenship.”

I can’t help the smile that snaps across my face at the mention of his name.

“What?”

I’m confused, but then again this is Harris. From the little I know about him, he’s a man of his word. Here he is tracking me down.

“Send him in. Where is he?” I jump up, excited at the thought of seeing him.

Stephanie looks baffled by my behavior. “Don’t you want to get dressed, first?”

Her question halts me, just as I reach the suite door. Looking down, I remember it’s still early a.m., and I’m in plaid pajamas. Not the cutest look but not the worst.

Turning around, I decide to play this strategically.

“I’m going to grab a quick shower.”

Stephanie nods and sets up her laptop to work while she enjoys the buttery croissants and coffee. I mentally tell myself to stop by that place and try more treats before we drive out of town.

An hour later, I’m fresh and nervous as hell. I had entirely too long to overthink things. Is he here because he’s desperate for a job? Or does he like me? Is it childish to wish for the latter? I feel as if I’m suddenly in middle school.

“Oh my gosh, I took too long. Where is he? Is it hot outside? Is there somewhere to sit? I’m such a terrible person.”

I didn’t know what to wear, and I didn’t realize how long I had taken.

“I honestly don’t know the answer to any of those questions, but he’s on his way up now, and you can ask him,” she tells me while typing.

Eep. Instead of butterflies fluttering in my stomach, they’re strangling me. I tell myself to play it cool, but as soon as the elevator doors open and his large frame comes to view, my heart legit skips a beat. He’s so rough and masculine, and those baby blues are the perfect soft touch to make him an absolute god. Hulking muscles stretch his black button-up shirt, and my eyes travel down his firm muscular body. Built big over years of lifting impossibly heavy weight. His sinful hips are hugged by dress pants, and his dark gator shoes click through out the entryway as he approaches.

We’re set up on the couch and the loveseat, with paperwork on the coffee table and a free chair in front of him.

“Hi,” I say with an overeager smile.

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