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“OH MY GOD,” Blair shouted. “Way to ruin the surprise, butt-face.”
Luke practically jumped five feet in the air. Then the five of them surrounded him with hugs and kisses.
“You’re disgusting,” Alex told him.
“I was talking about playing cards!” Luke said. “I wanted to throw Cazzie over my shoulder and play cards with her.”
“He never learned to quit while he was ahead,” Momma said while wrapping me in a hug. She kissed my cheek and said, “Good to see you again, baby.”
“Glad you all came out, Katy,” I replied, swelling with happiness at hearing her call me baby.
We put the presents underneath the tree and I made a batch of mulled wine on the stove. Then we sat on the living room floor and played a game ofUno, something that I learned was a family tradition of theirs.
“You’ve ruined card games for me,” Theresa said with a laugh. “Now, all I’m going to think about is what we almost caught you and Cazzie doing.”
“Don’t act like you and your boyfriend are so innocent,” Luke replied. “When you brought him home to visit last Christmas, you practically knocked the pictures off my wall.”
Theresa’s face went white. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The whole house heard you two,” Alex said. “You know our walls are thin!”
“We didn’t do anything,” Theresa said curtly.
“Oh, sure. It was probably one of Philadelphia’s famous earthquakes,” Luke replied, which drew a laugh from everyone.
My phone rang. It was Bobby. “Normally I wouldn’t take a call while we’re in the middle of a game, but it’s my boss. Keep playing without me.”
“Oh, sure,” Luke said as Alex played her next card. “You leave right as she was about to hit you with aDraw Four.”
“Shut up and draw your cards,” she replied.
Their argument faded away as I went into my bedroom. “Hey, Bobby. Happy Christmas Eve.”
“Same to you, Caz. Be sure to take it easy tonight. If you shoot Santa while he’s walking around on the roof, you’re going to make a lot of kids unhappy.”
“Don’t shoot anyone wearing bright red coats. Noted. Is that why you’re calling? To give me vital holiday-related advice?”
“Not quite.” He hesitated, which made me even more curious. “A job has come up. It’s abigclient, Caz. They need a personal bodyguard for the next three years, with an option in the contract to extend it to five. It probably wouldn’t start until you’re done with your current assignment. How’s that sound?”
I almost choked on my own tongue. “I may have had too many cups of mulled wine, because it sounded like you just offered me my dream job.”
“Sure did.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “So are you interested?”
“Does a bear shit in the woods? Of course I’m interested!”
“Knew you would be. Here’s the catch. The job is in Berlin.”
My throat tightened. “Berlin, Germany?”
“No, Berlin, Wyoming. Of course, Germany. It’s a government official. That’s why she only needs a bodyguard for three years. Five or more if they’re reelected. The pay is fantastic. Almost twice what you’re making now. And all your living expenses will be taken care of during the duration. Housing, wardrobe, a monthly food stipend…”
A roar of laughter and argument went up in the other room. Suddenly I realized what this job would mean.
“My German is rusty,” I said, searching for excuses. “I haven’t spoken it since I was a little girl at Ramstein. And Berlin is halfway around the world…”
“We’ll pay for a tutor. And the woman you’ll be guarding speaks English, so you’ll be fine in the short-term. Caz, they asked for youby name. We probably have some room to negotiate an even higher pay rate.”
I didn’t know what to say, so all I said was, “Wow. Why me?”
