Porsha.
She would definitely speakto her if she saw her do anything remotely inappropriate with Ryan.She shut her eyes. This wasn’t working. She was not one of thosewomen that fell for her bodyguard because she’d had them all herlife. Well, nothing to what Ryan was; handsome, sexy, and fullycapable of rescuing her from a terrorist plot, but still. Sheneeded to refocus and get back to healing.
She changed into a shortyellow print skirt and white ruffled tank top. She went into thebathroom and brushed her hair, and put on some makeup.
When she finished, she wentthrough the door into his room. He was back in a suit; light greywith a white shirt, but no tie this time. He was shoving guns intohis holsters that were strapped around his shoulders.
“Are youworried?”
He lifted his foot on thebed and slid a small gun into holster strapped to his calf. “I’mpreparing for anything Katya.”
There was the professionalagain; flat and unaffected.
“Go get something to eat.”He turned away retrieving something off his bedsidetable.
She nodded and walked byhim. He turned and gripped her wrist. She looked down at thecontact then at him in surprise.
“Here.” He pressedsomething cold and hard into her hand.
She inhaled sharply inwonder. It was a small gun, lightweight, and pink in color of allthings. It was perfect! She slowly turned it over in her hand andimmediately checked the safety. It was on.
“Good girl.” He said whenhe saw what she was doing. “It’s a 9 mm. It’s called a NighthawkLady Hawk. It’s made from lightweight metal and the grip is madesmaller for women.”
She smiled up at himthrilled with the meaningful gift.
“You like it?”
It was beautiful. Shenearly cried. “Yes. I loveit, and it’ll fit in my purse.” She stuffed it inthere elated that he got her something.
“It’s loaded Katya, soremember the rules.”
“I’ll never forgetthem.”
He handed her a slip ofpaper. “Your permit. It’s all legal.”
She saw the signature...itwas hers! “How—”
“—Don’t ask. I won’t tellyou.” He smirked.
She gaped at him, and then,at the permit again. This man was a complete mystery. “Okay.” Howon earth did he procure a permit for her to carry a firearm? Oh,this man was full of surprises!
“Good. Now don’t take itwith you, put it in your room for now. I don’t want you walkingaround town with it. I’ll take you to the gravel pit again soon soyou can get comfortable with it. Then you can take it withyou.”
She fished it back out.“Okay then.” She went back to her room and put it in the drawer ofher bedside table. She stared at it a moment and slid her fingersover the grip, caressing it, before sliding the door closed slowly.She lifted her hand and wiped the tears that started to well up inher eyes. He may not realize it, but this little gift meant a lotto her. Oh, she’d gotten things in the past but they weren’t asthoughtful as this. Her father just bought things for her becausethey were expected not something she really wanted or needed. Asfar back as she could remember, she never got anything that hadsuch thought put into it. She got really expensive things, buttruth of it is, she would have been happy with something simple,less costly.
When she came back he wasstanding there waiting.
“Thanks Ryan.” She didn’teven ask him how the heck he got it without any of her father’s menknowing. She had already figured out that he had a way of doingthings that went undetected by others. Maybe he met up with someoneon his jog. Maybe it was Jackson. Regardless, it was something he’ddone for her, and she loved it.
“You’re welcome.” He noddedtoward the door. “Go eat.”
“I will.” She smiled wider.“I do love it.” She left with a light bounce in herstep.
Porsha was a nightmare. Sheclung to Ryan the whole morning, and had her hands constantly onhim. Kat was fuming. She’d probably touched him more times in thefirst hour than Katya did since he was hired for her. What wasworse, Ivan was told to come along as Porsha’s protection. Only youwouldn’t know it by the way he insisted on helping her, or the wayPorsha stayed near Ryan. She was also wearing the tightest dresspossible without splitting the seams. It was blue to match hereyes, and she was practically spilling out of the top of it. Itdidn’t help Katya’s jealousy seeing that the woman had anincredible figure. Knowing how her father preferred them, itshouldn’t be a surprise, but it never bothered her before. She grewup around his girlfriends.
Now it did.
Ryan belonged toher.
In the car, Porsha madesure she sat directly next to him. It was so close she was almoston his lap. She also made sure her purse took up the rest of theroom near her so Kat had to sit elsewhere.
Ryan never said a word evenwhen she talked non-stop. He actually looked as though he wasinterested in what she had to say. Then here she was sitting acrossfrom him with Ivan staring at her, almost begging her for attentionwith his eyes. It was actually beginning to unnerve her. She hatedhim so much. She folded her arms across her chest and stared outthe window.
Now she knew this hadnothing to do with girl-time. Porsha wanted time with Ryan. Well,she shouldn’t have been so naïve. Of course it was and Porsha wasthe type of woman to manipulate to get what she wanted. It was allshe knew.
After the car came to astop along the curb, Katya slapped Ivan’s hand when he went to helpher out of the car. “Miss Nickolov, your father—“
“My father hired securityfor me.” She stated angrily. “I don’t want you near me.” She gotout on her own, turned and marched off. She was actually tempted touse her new gun
