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“Bodyguard?” I question, u
nsure whether or not I’ve heard him right. No way is he my bodyguard—is he?
“That’s right,” Hunter holds his hand out and waits patiently for me to take it.
“Um, nice to meet you,” I say sliding my hand into his only to pull it back when a bolt of lightning shoots up my arm.
I immediately glance up to his face and just catch the widening of his eyes in surprise before he schools his features and wipes his hand down his jeans.
“I need to get back to work,” my dad states to the room at large. He places his mug down on the island in the middle of the kitchen before he looks back to me. “I want you to do everything Hunter says. No argument. You do it. No matter what. His words could save your life so this time I don’t want to hear any sass out of that mouth because this danger is real. Do I make myself clear?”
“Dad.” I reach up on my tiptoes and wrap my arms around my father’s neck. “I hear you and I promise to follow everything Hunter says to the letter as long as you promise to listen too.”
After I receive a grunted acknowledgement from my father, I pull back and let him walk out of the kitchen toward his office. But as I turn back to look at Hunter, who still has his eyes pinned on me, I wonder exactly what he will be asking me to do that I have to follow to the letter. Could be interesting.
“You don’t go anywhere unless I’m with you.” He jumps right in to the details and I feel a bit disappointed that he’s nothing but business. Not even a nice to meet you. “You should be all right in the house after the new security cameras are fitted in two days. But anywhere else you go, I go with you. Until the cameras are set up, I’ll be sleeping close.” Hunter walks over to me. He pauses before leaning in to whisper in my ear, “Real close,” sending shivers of unexpected pleasure down my spine.
For once in my life I feel tongue-tied. No one has ever spoken to me like that before and although I like to flirt I tend to go for guys who I know will be left tongue-tied by me. It’s never the other way around. Is he flirting with me or trying to frighten me? One thing I do know for sure is that I don’t like this set up one little bit. My father must be insane to dump me with this beast.
He is a gorgeous beast, but obviously someone who is used to having his orders followed without a question. “We’ll see about that!” I mutter to myself. I’ll follow his instructions that I feel are safety related, but anything else he can shove his orders where the sun don’t shine. No one is going to tell me what I can and can’t do or whom I can be with. Even my father stays out of my business to that extent, but then again that is part of the deal to me living at home and not moving into an apartment in town. He wants me close and is having trouble letting me go.
“I can see that brain ticking over.” Hunter rests one hip on a stool at the breakfast nook while watching me.
It’s as though he has trouble keeping his eyes off me, but that is just plain stupid. There is no way he’ll be interested in me. I’m too young. He’s too old—at least I think he is. He looks to be in his mid-thirties, with a five o’clock shadow covering his square jaw. I can’t help thinking that he’s perhaps closer to my father’s age than mine. Ugh! Whatever.
“Look. I’ll do what you tell me to do in regards to my safety,” I say, leaning against the doorframe, emulating his cocky stance with my arms crossed over my chest, “but there is no way you’re going to be ordering me around in my own home and as far as I’m aware there are no rules about whether or not I can continue to socialize.” I take in a lung full of air and continue, “So that being said, I’m going out with a couple of girlfriends tonight.”
Turning, I try to make my way out of the kitchen before Hunter has a chance to react to my going out comment. I have nothing planned, and thought that up on the spot, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let him get the last word.
“Just a minute Miss. Carrington,” Hunter growls, his tone making his irritation evident.
I freeze on the spot between the kitchen and foyer as I hear him walking closer to me—his chest mere inches from my back.
“You will not leave this house without me—under no circumstances. Are we clear? Or do I have to lock you in your room?” he sneers.
Whirling around to face him, I take a step back before I end up with my mouth on his because of the sudden lack of distance between us. I can’t believe I actually stomped my foot like a two year old, the frustration getting the better of me.
Oh, I’m angry now and by the tick at the side of his right eye, not to mention the tightening of his jaw, I’d say he is as well. He probably isn’t used to anyone disobeying him. I’m positive that most people take one look at him and say, “Yes sir.” But I’m not most people. I’ve spent years standing up to my father when he becomes smothering so I’m no pushover.
“What? Used to getting your own way?” Hunter sneers. “Princess, that’s not going to work for me. I’m here to make sure what happened yesterday doesn’t happen again.” I flinch when he mentions yesterday’s experience, which pisses me off even more. “Yeah, it frightened the crap outta you, didn’t it?” he says but it’s more of a statement than a question.
Opening and shutting my mouth like a fish, I inhale and take another step away from him, before carrying on. “I’ll be in my room,” I whisper, close to tears.
Yesterday had terrified me. I swore to myself that I wouldn’t let it show, but Hunter has gotten through my defenses with just one comment.
3
Hunter
I feel like a bastard reminding her of yesterday’s trauma, but I needed the stubborn girl to understand the danger. From what the file read, Jarrod has convinced Gia that the attack had been random and more of a sick prank. After all, if the guy had wanted to hurt her, he could have. But I know better. This was a message—he was letting them know how close he could get and it wasn’t a random act. He was coming back but it was simply a matter of when.
It’s something that’s been on my mind throughout most of the day as I’ve surveyed the grounds of the Carrington’s home as well as the security of the house. Later tonight I’ll be emailing my friend at a security company with plans for the installation that will be taking place, but for now I head into the kitchen in search of something to eat.
Thirty minutes later, I wipe my mouth on a napkin having finished the steak and potatoes that Maria had kindly kept warm for me. So with a stomach full of food, I decide now is the time to go in search of Jarrod as I’ve put our chat off for most of the day. I find him reclining back in the chair behind his large mahogany desk. Unobserved, I watch him and realize he looks like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
One of the youngest judges on the circuit, he found his place on the bench a few years ago. According to the file, he was respected for his morals and firm convictions and had been respected throughout his career in law, hence the early appointment as a judge. He’d never married and had raised his daughter on his own until she was of school age when he’d hired a nanny.
Appraising him, I realize that he’s in excellent condition regardless of the stressful job he has. Not a single glint of grey can be found amongst his ebony hair and I wonder if it’s dyed considering what a wildcat his daughter is.
