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Snow’s heart lurched. Mr. Bradley leaned against the wall across from her door, arms cut across his chest and long legs crossed at the ankles. He was dressed to kill in a blue, button-up dress shirt, dark slacks and dark tie, and he cast her a look that would either devour her or was meant to warn away anyone who dared come too close.
It’s only because of Lily,she told herself. She hadn’t thought twice about him before, but Lily’s remarks about him being hot, about something going on between the two of them, wouldn’t leave Snow’s mind.
She also found herself looking at him differently than before. She’d noticed he was nicely built, and that his face was nothing to frown at, but now she couldn’t help but take in the sight of his attractive features in a more proper, noticeable way.
Don’t even go there, Snow Hendricks,she chastised.He’s not there for you to gawk at.
“Mr. Bradley?” She wouldn’t call him by his name, not after what Lily had said. This was purely professional. That was all.
He straightened to his full height, a good several inches taller than her five foot six. The magnitude of his proximity ignited awareness all through her body, and she cursed herself for that fact.
“Eloise messaged me too,” he said. “She said you needed to head back. I thought I’d accompany you to the studio.”
“Are you sure that’s necessary?”
“After our previous discussion, yes. I told you, I’m not letting you out of my sight if I can help it. Which is why, under the circumstances, I think you should call me Hunter.”
There went her resolve. “Hunter,” she said. Speaking his name sent flurries through her. It was too strange, too intimate. She suspected it had something to do with his request—he wanted to be more than acquaintances.It’s nothing. Purely professional.“Thank you, but please don’t put yourself out.”
“I would be putting myself out if I ignored this threat, Snow,” he said. “I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you while you were under my care.”
Was she under his care? She supposed that was the case, but she’d signed agreements and contracts. He didn’t owe her anything extra—but the thought still sent a shudder through her.
“Thank you,” she said. “Are you staying at this hotel?” She’d thought he was local, seeing as how he ownedHeartthrob’s Most Wanted.
“I am now. Just checked in a few doors down from yours, actually, so if you have any problems, you’ll find me in room ninety-twelve. Here is my personal number as well.” He slipped her a business card. “In case you have an emergency reason to contact me.”
Snow took his proffered business card with tentative slowness. Bad idea. Bad, bad idea. It wasn’t only the awareness flaring up between them. He’d moved into the hotel to be close to her. Did that mean he really thought something was going to happen to her?
“I don’t know what to say,” she said.
“You don’t have to say anything.”
Snow’s entire body hummed. This was new territory. She’d never considered herself in enough danger to warrant a bodyguard or for drastic measures like this to be taken. Suddenly, she was glad Lily had given her the advice that she had.
“Mr. Bradley—Hunter—I talked with my friend a few minutes ago. She suggested we take everything public.”
“Which friend?”
“Lily Von Frosk. She signed the non-disclosure agreement, so we can trust her.”
“Are you sure?”
He was taking this a little overboard in Snow’s opinion. Still, she humored him and answered instead of dishing out the snarky thoughts flooding her brain. He was taking her safety seriously. She needed to do the same. “She lives in Einvar. She’s married to the prince and has been my friend since we were kids back in Vermont. I highly doubt she has any reason to attack me or the show. You can trust her.”
He visibly relaxed. “Okay then. What were you saying? She thinks we should take this public?”
“Yes,” Snow said. She led the way to the elevator. The cramped cage compressed the two of them to its center while Hector stood to the side. Heat radiated from Hunter, and Snow was only too glad when they made it to the lobby and headed toward the exit doors.
10
The warm May sunshine kissed her skin. She needed some warmth that had nothing to do with her new bodyguard, especially after not only the air-conditioned hotel, but the chill of possible danger. The sunshine, the palm trees, the press of cars and flowers fed life to her soul in ways she hadn’t realized she needed.
He hadn’t responded to her desire to go public, so she mentioned the subject again.
“Wouldn’t going public with the threats make sense?” she said. “The more attention we draw to this, the more security and eyes you’ll have watching over the situation. It’ll bring publicity, and that might be the last thing the threatener wants.”
“Or it could be exactly what the threatener wants,” Hunter said pensively, walking with her and Hector across the street to the studio. Chained fences surrounded the building, and a large satellite was situated on top. Hector wasn’t recording right now, and for that, Snow was grateful. Hunter was already confusing enough as it was without having footage of him with her on TV too. “What if they want whatever they plan to be as public as possible?”
