“No offense, like you said, but I don’t want some stranger going through my things.”
He made the sound men tended to make when they knew they were cornered, like a strangled groan.I was wearing him down.“It’s only going to take a few minutes,” I promised, holding up my folded hands.“And I’ll feel a lot better.”
“That makes one of us.”Let him scowl all he wanted, but I liked him.He was a decent person, like all of the men Vaughn paid to protect me.“Come on.Let’s get it over with.”I managed to hold back my triumphant smile until his back was turned.No sense rubbing it in.
As we rolled down the gravel driveway in Max’s big, black truck, I wondered how much money it cost to keep these security guys working in shifts around the clock.I doubted Vaughn was hurting for money, but still.He had never asked for a penny in return.It was a question that had taken up residence in the back of my mind, along with the excitement of finally going out for the first time in weeks.I missed the simple pleasure of heading to a restaurant and being around people.If someone as uptight as Vaughn thought it was safe, it had to be.He sure as hell never took chances.What had changed?I figured he would tell me tonight at dinner.
In the meantime, what would I wear?“I might raid my closet for a minute or two,” I announced.“I don’t have anything nice at the house.Just the basic, everyday stuff.”
“Maybe I should’ve brought some packing boxes,” he grumbled.Funny how the thought stirred butterflies in my stomach—moving in for good.The idea was looking better all the time, even if Vaughn hadn’t asked.I could still imagine it now while I felt so cheerful and full of hope.
“Darn it.”I snapped my fingers, smirking.“I wish we had thought about that before now.You can probably carry plenty in your arms, though.They look strong.”
He chuckled while driving the last mile or two.It was a beautiful day, the air a little cooler than usual.Refreshing.Or maybe that was the way I saw things because I was so glad to be out and about.Either way, I was in a good mood, already wondering if I could convince Vaughn to take me to see a show after we ate.No doubt he could get in anywhere at any time with no warning.He had connections all over town like Dad did.He had certainly never hesitated to call on favors if there was something he needed tickets for at the last minute.That was how the town’s wheels kept turning.Everybody owed everybody something.
“So you kind of work freelance for Grayson, is that right?”I asked, smiling as we passed a group of girls clustered together for a group selfie.
He tipped his head to the side in a quizzical way.“How do you know about that?”
“Oh, I met him recently.He seems like a nice guy,” I offered.Handsome too.Did men like them gravitate toward each other?
“He is,” Max agreed.The brilliant sunshine streaming through the windshield highlighted some of the silver threads running through his dark hair, making me wonder about him.
“What made you get into this line of work?”I asked.
“You’re full of questions today,” he observed, chuckling.
“I figure we spend all this time together that maybe I should ask you about yourself.You already know so much about me,” I pointed out.
With a soft laugh, he admitted, “Maybe I’m not used to the people I take care of asking me anything about myself.And there isn’t much to tell, really.I mean, you don’t get into a job where you end up spending more time with the people you look after than you do at your own home if you’ve got this great personal life.It takes a particular kind of person.”
“I see.”Did that mean Grayson lived that kind of life?“How long have you known Vaughn?”
“A pretty long time.Since he was a kid.His old man used to have me follow him around.It was supposed to be a secret,” he joked.“He made it his mission to lose me whenever he spotted me.It was kind of a game.Once he took over the casino, Vaughn approached me to see if I’d work for him.I ended up meeting Grayson through him, and more work came from that.”
I was still stuck on the image of Vaughn ducking him.“Did he get into a lot of trouble?Is that why you had to follow him around?”
“He got in his fair share, but he was a good kid,” he assured me, sounding almost fond of him.“Maybe a little quick to throw hands, if you get what I mean.Kind of spoiled.”
Gee, what a surprise.Then again, I had no room to criticize.I had never been denied anything I wanted.At the time, I’d imagined it was because Dad loved me.I wasn’t so sure anymore.
The car pulled to a stop, and I looked at my building.It was strange coming back here.It hardly felt like home anymore, not that it really had, so soon after moving in.I felt more comfortable in Vaughn’s house.How could life change so suddenly?By the time we reached my floor, I was floating on air.Could I be falling for him?Would it be the worst thing in the world if I were?
“Wait out here.”Max unlocked my front door and eased it open, pulling a gun from his waistband.I hadn’t noticed it back there, under his slightly loose shirt.Now, he held it as he entered the apartment.I hated to think he still felt it necessary.
Where would we go to dinner?I was in the mood for a nice steak and all the trimmings after days of eating the sort of light food normally stocked in Vaughn’s kitchen.Not that I would complain.Sometimes, a girl needed something hearty, especially after a recent sex-a-thon.I bit my lip, blushing at the memory.Would we go for Part Two tonight?
Finally, reality leaked back in and woke me up.
Max was taking too long.
Why was he taking so long?
“Max?”I called out.
Silence.
My heart now in my throat, I looked up and down the hall.Afraid to breathe, afraid to move.Should I go?The stairwell wasn’t far from where I waited, only a few steps.Instinct told me to go, but still, I waited, hoping.Praying.
