“Brad and Jason should be here shortly. They’re bringing you a bag.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You had your head of security root around in my underwear drawer?”
“I had Lacey root around in your underwear drawer.”
“That’s better. It’s not as embarrassing if she found my battery-operated device.”
“I’m having her throw it out,” he stated. He got up from the bed and walked to the dresser. He pulled open a drawer and yanked out a pair of boxer briefs. “That device offends me.”
“You’re much better,” I teased. “And I haven’t used it since I started using you. Much.”
“You’d destroy a lesser man’s ego.”
“What happens when you’re not here every night? I’m going to get bored, restless.” I stalked toward him, watching his eyes heat as he looked over my naked body. I placed a hand on his bare chest and gazed up at him.
He smiled. It was slow and full of promise. “I’ll be calling you at night, Barrett. Just to make sure you remember me.” His hand slid down the length of my body, and though I was sated, I felt desire begin to pulse through me.
“There’s a robe in the bathroom,” he said with a lamenting sigh. “You can wear that until your clothes arrive.”
“When might that be?” I asked, my hand dropping from his warm skin. There was no time for lazing away in bed, sadly.
The doorbell rang and Flynn smiled. “Now, I imagine.”
I sat at the cozy kitchen table, sipping on a cup of coffee, dressed in my own jeans and a cream-colored sweater. Jason and Brad hadn’t just brought my clothes—they’d unloaded groceries. From the looks of it, I’d be here a while. I hated the idea of sitting around and waiting for news. Then again, being in the city wasn’t very appealing either.
Staring out the window, I saw trees in brilliant shades of orange and yellow. Though most of the leaves still remained on branches, there were some that had fallen to the ground. Autumn had arrived in full force.
Flynn rose from his chair. “I need to head back into the city. Malcolm is leaving today.”
“Please tell him goodbye for me,” I said.
“I will.” Flynn leaned over and kissed me quickly. “Try to relax. Pretend it’s a vacation.”
I rolled my eyes. “This is not my idea of a vacation. A real vacation involves fruity alcoholic drinks, white sand, and the ocean.”
“We’ll discuss that when this is over.”
“Promise?” I asked. I needed something to look forward to.
“Promise. While you’re here, you can’t contact anyone, Barrett. Even Ash.”
“She’s going to wonder where I am. I did just disappear from the gala,” I reminded him.
“I’ll handle it.”
“Of course you will,” I muttered.
With one final kiss, he said, “I’ll talk to you later.”
Brad and Flynn left, and I was stuck with my bodyguard who didn’t look at all like the type that played cards.
Two days later, I was ready to beat my head against a wall. I slept a lot, tried to read, but there were only so many hours in the day I could sit idly by and stew. My bodyguard was a stoic ex-Marine who was doing nothing to ease the quiet.
“Do you have any siblings?” I asked Jason.
“Younger sister.”
I tapped my fingers on the kitchen table. “That’s it? That’s all I get? Entertain me.”
