“I’d love to talk more, but I have to go,” I said. “They assigned me to a new client, and I’m leaving to meet her in a few minutes. Call me when you get back.”
“Will do. Talk later, bro.”
Shane hung up, and I sighed. Why did I dread this job already?
***
I stood at the door and knocked, holding a briefcase with all the paperwork as well as a special watch with GPS tracking. We used technology to keep an eye on clients during times they were on their own whenever possible. At least this client lived in a secure gated community with a security guard checking people in, and that would make my life substantially easier. Several moments passed, and I finally heard the sound of someone moving around inside, and then the door swung open.
It took a few seconds to register who I was looking at, but I instantly recognized the face, and my stomach dropped. No way. Seriously… Could my luck get any worse? It was the girl from Busy Bean Coffee, the one who danced all over the place because she had to use the restroom and then walked out with toilet paper stuck to her boot.
“You have got to be kidding me,” she said, a frown marring her sweet girl-next-door features. I hated admitting it, but she was very pretty. Striking, actually, especially since she wasn’t wearing those little girl braids this time. Her hair fell over her shoulders in waves, and it was so smooth and shiny I wanted to rub my fingers through it. She put a hand on her hip and gave me a irritated expression. “Please tell me you are not the bodyguard.” She pursed her lips like I’d purposely ruined her day.
“Oh, but I am.” I gave her an easy grin, liking that I’d thrown her off guard. I pulled out my I.D. so she could verify that I was indeed Troy Littman. Will had given her a call yesterday to let her know I would stop by today. “Can I come in?”
She huffed. “Is it mandatory?”
“Pretty much if you want protection.”
She rolled her eyes and then opened the door, stepping to the side so I could walk inside.
I strolled through the doorway, and she showed me to the living room where I took a seat on the couch. She sat across from me in a lounge chair and put a hand on her forehead, uneasiness clouding her features. “Look, can we start over? I’m sorry for the attitude just now. You were the last person I expected to see, and I guess it threw me off a little.”
“I understand. Of course, we can.”
“Let’s forget about the exchange we had at Busy Bean. I feel like we didn’t get off on the right foot.”
That was an understatement. I wouldn’t say that to her face, but I was already dreading working with her. At least she’d apologized for her attitude. I shrugged like none of this phased me. “I’m happy to let sleeping dogs lie. You’ll learn that I like to remain professional around my clients, so whatever happened in the past between us, stays there. I keep my personal feelings out of the equation. Your safety is all that matters.” I nodded once to make my point. “I take my job very seriously.”
She cocked an eyebrow and gave me a wry smile. “Was that a roundabout way of saying you don’t like me?”
“I have no reason to dislike you at this point. You like your drinks extra sweet and you wait too long to use the restroom. Neither of those things are a crime.” I grinned to let her know I was joking.
“And don’t forget, you think I dress like a farm-girl.”
I winced. That wasn’t one of my finest moments. “I shouldn’t have said that. It was rude.”
“So, you admit you were a jerk?”
“Yes, and I apologize.” My tone was all business.
“Thank you. I’m sorry that I wasn’t more gracious.”
I sighed. “Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we’ll get along just fine.”
She bit down on her bottom lip as if she wasn’t so sure. “I’m a little nervous about this, to be honest. I’ve never had a bodyguard.”
“That’s understandable. The main concern will be your safety, of course, but I’ll make provisions so you have your privacy as well.”
“Thank you. That’s important to me.”
I glanced at my paperwork. “A Mr. Robert Sunder is paying for the services. In the intake form it says he’s a friend of yours. Can you share a little more about him and how you two are related?”
“We’re not relatives if that’s what you’re asking. He’s a good friend who insisted I have protection.”
I nodded and looked at the intake form, noting she was waiting for law enforcement to get back to her about possible surveillance video. “Have you been in contact with the police recently regarding the men who attacked you?”
“The first guy, Gene, had a warrant out for his arrest, and from my understanding, he’s in jail. They haven’t found anything yet on the second one, but they’re still looking. It appears Gene had nothing to do with the incident in the parking lot after the show.”
The next information was sensitive in nature so I softened my voice. “The intake worker told me your husband was killed in a mugging four years ago. You were both attacked while walking from a local restaurant to your parked car. I’m sorry for your loss.”
She nodded, her eyes flickering with sadness at the mention of her late husband. “Thank you.”
I glanced at the ring on her hand, the one she’d held up to prove she was married when I’d spoken to her
