Page 11 of Dreaming About Forever

“I called them this morning. They said yes before I finished asking.”

That was a typical response from his mom. She loved to host, and she was always looking for new friends. She’d have Alicia tucked under her wing in no time.

Nathan was right. Alicia would probably love it if she could get past the rustic vibe. His family wasn’t exactly rolling in money.

And why did he care if she liked Taylor Ranch or not? If it wasn’t a good fit for her, they could find another secluded hideaway for her.

A dark and foreboding thought pulled him back into the present, and despite Nathan’s warnings and Jordan’s assurances, he had to fortify his defenses. Any kind of personal relationship between security agents and clients was strictly forbidden, even if she was the most gorgeous woman in the world.

4

ALICIA

Alicia stared at the clothes in her suitcase. “This is ridiculous. I have multiple closets filled with clothes, but I have nothing to wear to a ranch in Colorado.”

Lillian tapped on her phone. “I’m having a wardrobe delivered for you.”

“Don’t you dare. They’ll think I’m crazy!”

Lillian looked up and quirked a brow. “But you need clothes.”

“I’ll buy some when I get there. I’m sure there are clothing stores. They have those in small towns, right?”

Lillian grinned. “Yes, you could buy something. When was the last time you went shopping for yourself?”

That was a good question, but Lillian knew the answer was never. Other people had been picking clothes for her to wear since she starred inFamily First.

She refused to be afraid of something as silly as shopping for clothes in a quaint town, but a tingle of unease rolled in her middle. Would people recognize her? Would they hound her with questions like they’d done everywhere she’d been for the last two days?

A comforting hand rested on Alicia’s shoulder. “Jordan will be with you.”

Jordan. The man she’d “met” yesterday on a video call who was now her designated bodyguard. The man who would stay within throwing distance of her for the next four weeks.

The man who’d pinned her with an intense stare from across the continent. The man who’d sent a zing up her spine without speaking a word or lifting a finger.

“Is he here?” Alicia said.

“He’s waiting in the common room,” Lillian said.

Turning on her heels, Alicia brushed her hands down the cashmere sweater she wore. “Then let’s get this over with.”

Who was she kidding? Meeting him was only the beginning. Then she had to co-exist, preferably peacefully, with him on his family ranch. She’d be living in his parents’ house for weeks. While the visit was supposed to be relaxing and restorative, she hadn’t yet wrapped her head around it. She would still have to work but without the conveniences of her penthouse.

She took a breath for courage and walked into the common room. Her penthouse was an open floor plan, allowing her to see from one side to the other as she exited the hallway.

Her new bodyguard stood tall, back straight, with one hand gripping his other wrist in front of him.

Wow. Did he have to be so handsome? He didn’t work for her directly, but the security firm he worked for did, and that made their connection strictly business.

His gaze found her as soon as she stepped into the room, and he stilled. His black hair was a little longer on the top and shaved close on the sides. Dark brows shadowed darker eyes, and the hard lines of his jaw were lifted as he greeted her.

“Miss Carver,” he said as he extended a hand to her. “I’m Jordan Taylor.”

“You can call me Alicia. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Taylor.”

“You can call me Jordan.”

One side of his lips lifted slightly, showing off a ghost of a grin, but it disappeared a half second after it appeared. She jerked her gaze from his mouth to his eyes as a cold wave rushed down her spine.

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