Page 43 of Elusive Surrender

“You’re welcome.”

The restaurant is starting to fill up with the lunch crowd, and as we make our way out, it’s hard not to catch the wide eyes and covert looks of all the women who are finding it pretty difficult to carry on with conversations as these two more-than-hot security guards escort me through the crowd.

The walk from the diner to the salon would have been short, but they insist that we drive, and Liam ends up finding one of the few open parking spots outside the strip of shops. Trent gets out and opens the rear door for me. “Stay close until we get to the salon door.”

If you ask me, these guys are carrying this security detail too far, but I keep my opinion to myself. Whatever I think about them, they must be damn good at what they do if they’re with the team who guards the Prestians and their family and friends.

It takes time to call the clients Mom had to cancel because every person I talk to wants to know how Jan’s doing, and all about my trip. The guards are quiet and intense, standing by the door the entire time, but to their credit, they do not rush me, and I eventually get through the list. Jan has the shop well stocked with supplies, so there’s not much to do after getting the schedule sorted, except for a quick wipe down of the stations.

I use the drive time across town to text Allie, letting her know I’ll be working an extra-long day and night tomorrow, and that we’re on our way back to the apartment. When we arrive, Liam lets us out at the curb, telling us he’ll be up shortly.

We’ve barely reached the door when he bounds up the steps and rejoins us. “Let me have your key. I’ll go in and take a look around before you and Liam come in,” Trent directs.

I fumble in my oversized bag, eventually come up with it, and hand it over. I start to follow Trent, but Liam’s hand on my shoulder stops me at the door. “What wasn’t clear about stay here? Sheldon certainly has his hands full with you.”

I close my opened mouth and narrow my eyes at the big brute, but his eyes don’t waver, and it’s clearly not a game to him. These men take this job seriously, and they probably think I’m some privileged brat who doesn’t even appreciate them. I may be annoyed at the situation I find myself in, and upset with Sheldon for not calling me, but it’s hardly their fault. I sigh and try to shake off my funk. “Look, I know I’m probably a real pain in the ass, and you guys have much better things to do than to babysit me, but I do really appreciate the work you do, and if it’s any consolation, it makes me feel much safer knowing that you’re both with me,” I say as Trent returns.

“The apartment’s clear. You can come in.”

“Thanks for checking.”

“You’re welcome, Alexis.”

“I’m going to take a nap before we go back to the hospital, so make yourselves comfortable and help yourself to anything in the refrigerator,” I state, heading to my room.

I wake feeling refreshed,checking my phone for messages from Sheldon as I stretch. We haven’t even been apart a full day, and I miss him like crazy, but he hasn’t texted in so many hours. I know it’s probably far too early in the relationship, but my heart seems to have a mind of its own where he’s concerned. Perhaps I should play it cool, be all mature and shit, but after tossing it around for only a few minutes longer, I send him a text just to make sure nothing bad has happened to him.

Me: Hope everything is okay. Text me when you can.

When we leave for the hospital, we hit late-afternoon rush-hour traffic, making our trip through bumper-to-bumper congestion slow and tedious. I send Allie a text, letting her know we’re on our way in case she wants to stop down after her shift in the ER. I flip over to Sheldon’s contact hoping I’ll see something, but there are absolutely zero new messages, and now I’m getting really concerned. Whatever he had to stay back in Italy to do was important. Chase and Katarina seem like the sweetest people, but they are connected, and those connections are why they employ bodyguards—the very reason he is still there and not with me. Protecting them is his job, and it’s dangerous, which means any number of things could have happened to Sheldon.

Liam has the car valeted when we reach the front entrance, and the guys escort me to the ICU department. As we get off the elevator and pass the monitoring station, the nurses all stop what they’re doing, openly ogling Liam and Trent, but the two men seem oblivious to the flurry of excitement they’re causing. One of the nurses gives me a conciliatory wink, and I can’t help but smile because they are incredibly handsome.

The guys take position outside the hospital door while I sit with Jan for a couple hours, reading one of her favorite novels aloud until visitation end is announced.

Allie walks into the room, with dark circles under her red-rimmed eyes while I’m getting my things together. “Sorry, Lexie, we had a ton of trauma come through the door, and it just settled down enough to leave. How’s she doing?”

“Her physician stopped in and said there was no change, but he wasn’t expecting one this soon. He thinks tomorrow will be the turning point and is hoping to give us better news in the morning,” I say, slinging my purse over my shoulder.

“He’s one of the best pulmonary and critical care specialists I’ve ever met. She seriously couldn’t be in better hands, Lexie. The hospital was really fortunate that he moved to the area.”

“I’m glad Jan has someone so highly recommended. I just wish things would turn around for her.”

“It takes time for the body to heal itself sometimes. Hey, you look as tired as I feel. We worked right through our meal break, and I’m famished. Can we grab a bite on the way home?” Allie asks.

I glance at my watch, and it’s already after six. I’m a grown woman, and if I want to go out with my friend for dinner, then I will. “My body is still screwed up from the time differences between here and Italy, but I could definitely eat.”

“Great! Let’s stop at Donovan’s. I could go for a Reuben and fries.” Allie smiles.

I laugh because my best friend has a love for the pints of Smithwick Ale that Donovan’s is famous for too.

“Sounds good. Let’s just break it easy to the security gents. We seriously don’t want them to get their undies in a bunch. You would have thought I committed a cardinal sin earlier when they heard me tell Mom I would work at the salon without clearing it with them first,” I whisper.

Allie laughs out loud. “Yeah, it’s been kind of weird being followed around by a bunch of security men since you left. I wouldn’t have stood for it if that psycho hadn’t been seen lurking around our apartment, or if they were all flirty and shit, but they’ve pretty much left me alone and have been decent all in all.”

“I wonder if a certain security guard warned them not to flirt with you,” I say, grinning as her face screws up at me. I shrug. “Just saying is all.” I lean down to give Jan a long hug, holding her close for a minute. “You should start feeling better tomorrow. I’m going to go into the shop and will take care of the clients. I don’t want you to worry about anything. All the clients who were moved this week have rescheduled, so we’re not down a dime.”

I’m rewarded with a nod and misty eyes.

---