‘Mm.’
‘You don’t like it, do you?’
‘No.’
‘Worried about sharks in the pool?’Jules teases.
‘Not at this precise moment in time.Are you wearing sunblock?’
‘Of course.’
‘Did you reapply?’
‘Bodyguard.’
‘I’m guarding your body from the sun.’
‘Are you upset about last night?’he asks, much quieter.‘Is it some kind of transference?’
Lachlan looks at him through his shades.
‘It’s not transference,’ he says, matching volume, is an excellent judge of who can hear what.‘I’m not upset about last night.This place is just a logistical nightmare for security.Imagine telling Vasily to make thirty cakes, then giving him a paper cup and a bag of flour.’
‘Silly’d make it work.He’s fucking brilliant.’
‘Julian.’
‘Full name, wow.You’remadmad.’
‘I’m not mad, I’m just focusing.’
‘Like you were focusing on Brayden?’
Lachlan looks away.‘Who?’
‘Careful, Bodyguard.That was almost a lie.’
‘He’s still alive, isn’t he?I know you check.’
‘I do.’Jules has shades on of his own but his are the expensive kind and Lachlan’s are sturdy, polarised and practical.‘It still means a lot to me that you didn’t kill him.’
‘Who says romance is dead?’
‘It’s just four days.Not even that.Today, two full days and then we leave.Plus, you’ll be able to see any bad guys coming, right?It’s clear all around.Panoramic view.’
‘That’s not how it works.’
‘No?’
‘I won’t bore you with the details.Go have fun.’
‘I won’t be bored.’Jules sips his drink, leaning against the cool, white wall in the safety of shade.Lachlan meanly thinks thatshadeis all this showy monstrosity has to offer.‘Tell me.’
‘Tell you what?’
‘Why you’re so worried.’
‘First off, the island terrain is a huge problem,’ Lachlan explains.‘It looks great, unobstructed ocean views, very pretty, but clear views work both ways.Too many lines of sight to count.Flat terrain also means no warning, no crest point, no standoff distance.The foliage and trees are too close to the grounds.’
