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It’sbeenabusytwo weeks protecting Briar Rose, the most famous member of the Rose family. Honestly, I had no idea who she was when I was first given the assignment, but I was excited to learn that I would be working in Southern California. It was my first solo protection job, and I was expected to guard Gena and Robert’s precious baby girl while she participated in a prestigious competition.
I should have known something was up when my partner, Patrick, laughed as the jobs were handed out. He slapped me on the back and said, “Congratulations! You’re stepping up in the world. Just make sure not to step in it!” I had no idea what he meant until the file for Briar had been placed on my desk. I had been informed that Briar was a beauty queen and had been receiving death threats if she didn’t withdraw from the contest. I didn’t know much beyond those minor facts, but I was determined not to let anyone get past me and hurt my client.
When I opened the folder, I was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful creature I would be guarding and couldn’t help but chuckle. She was a pampered princess who was spoiled rotten but absolutely stunning and worthy of a little fanfare. Briar had long, silver-white hair that was flat-ironed daily and trimmed to perfection every week. Her toenails were always painted in a delicate pink, matching her accessories perfectly.
As her protector, I was around her every second of every day for two weeks, and when no one was looking, she would sneak in a few kisses. I cherished every one of them even though I knew I wasn’t special to her. She was open with her affections, loved freely, and everyone was considered a friend until proven otherwise.
While I enjoyed spending time with her and relishing her softness, it wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine for me. Briar was an absolute slob, and cleaning up after her had become a tiresome affair. I didn’t think maid service was part of the “protection” package, but according to my boss and friend, Ben Cooper, I was wrong.
“We do whatever is necessary to get the job done,” Ben said. “If that means picking up your client’s mess, then so be it.”
The competition ended this afternoon along with my contract. No harm came to Briar during the two weeks I was assigned to protect her, and Gena was ecstatic that her baby was safe and sound. Briar had come in second place overall, which pleased everyone, including Robert, who could have cared less about the contest but cared about his wife and her happiness. Maybe Briar Rose can finally indulge in a few decadent treats I left for her to remember me by.
Spending the past two weeks in sunny California felt more like a vacation than work. But I’m ready to be home where I can relax and hang out with my best friend and her family. Thankfully, the competition was held in New York City, making the trip to the house only an Uber ride away.
I thought I would surprise Leanna on my way home by stopping by the station since it’s only a few miles from the house that we all rent together. She’s not there when I arrive, but Sebastian has just parked the engine and comes over to greet me.
“What brings you by? I thought you were still in L.A. doing the whole bodyguard thing?” he asks before giving me a “bro” hug followed by three succinct pats on the back. I’ve repeatedly corrected him on his use of the term “bodyguard” and explained that I’m a “protection specialist” since the scope of my duties often extend beyond guarding someone. My job also includes surveillance, private investigation, and undercover work. However, I’m beginning to suspect that Sebastian and his brothers, Brody and Ansel, use the descriptor simply to get a rise out of me. I’ve learned to ignore it and let it go, refusing to give them the satisfaction of knowing how much it really irks me.
“I was, but I’ve been staying in Queens for the past two and a half days while the competition has been underway. It ended this afternoon, and my contract was fulfilled the moment I waved to them as they left for the airport.”
“Now that the assignment is over, can you tell us who you were protecting? We have a betting pool going on, and whoever guessed closest wins $180!”
“What’s the grid and buy-in?” I ask.
“It’s a six-by-six grid with a ten-dollar buy-in. Half the pot goes to the winner, the other half to charity.”
“What are the categories?” I had no idea that the department had been betting on my assignments, but I think it’s pretty cool that they use it to raise funds for the local community.
“Actor or actress, musician, athlete, and model,” he tells me. I nod because that covers a broad spectrum of our clientele, even if it isn’t all-inclusive.
“What if my client doesn’t fall into one of those categories? Or what if they do, but you didn’t guess specifically who it is?” I ask, confused about how the pot gets divided up.
Sebastian explains it to me. “If your client doesn’t fall into one of the four categories, then no one wins, and the pot rolls over. The sub-categories are still generic but have two or three parts. For the music category, someone might have to write ‘solo artist’ or ‘band’ along with the genre. The best part is that the charity never loses, and we have a little fun in the process.” He rubs his hands together greedily. “I think I have a good shot at winning this time around since you mentioned a competition.”
I’m about to tell him who my client was when my attention gets diverted by the approaching ambulance and its driver. As the vehicle comes closer, I can clearly make out Leanna’s green eyes, which are wide with shock when she sees me. I smile and wave, happy to see her, and notice how beautiful she looks in her dark blue uniform.
“I’m going to get out of my turnout gear while you stand there and ogle my sister. We can finish this conversation later,” Sebastian says with a laugh before heading inside.
“Whatever, man. You know it’s not like that between Leanna and me. We’re just friends, nothing more. If it was, do you honestly believe your dad would have agreed to let his daughters share a house with me?”
“Oh, don’t you think for a second that our father believes you and Leanna are ‘just friends.’ But he trusts you as if you were his own flesh and blood and knows that you’ll keep his youngest daughters safe. Lord knows you have enough security measures installed in your place to give him and Mom peace of mind. Not to mention that if you hurt either one of his ‘precious babies,’ you’ll have to contend with the full force of the Arbaroa family.” He says the last part jokingly, but I understand full well that the veiled threat is quite real.
Leanna parks the ambulance, and her partner, Trey, gets out first. I hear him laughing as he leaves her to clean up and replenish the supplies. She told me once that “it’s only one of the many joys of being the low man on the totem pole.” I explained that the lowest man on the totem pole is often the most important person in indigenous cultures and that she should be proud of her accomplishments. She thanked me and kissed my cheek before doing her tasks, smiling the entire time. I can still feel the tingle where her lips touched my skin.
“Hey, stranger! Welcome home!” she says, bouncing on her toes excitedly. She slides her delicate arms around my waist and hugs me tightly. My arms instinctually wrap around her shoulders, and I draw her in close, trying not to get lost in the scent of cherries that permeate the air around us.
I fail miserably and close my eyes, briefly reflecting on the moment I first saw Leanna. My friend Callum and I met Sebastian, Brody, and Ansel Arbaroa while indoor rock climbing, and we all hit it off. Sebastian got some ‘vibe’ from God telling him to invite us over to his place for a barbecue after church.
When we stepped out onto his back patio, his older sister, Callie, immediately recognized Callum as the man who had previously stood her up on a blind date. I thought I was going to have to jump to my friend’s defense and pull him from the fire as all the siblings began to circle around him, looking for any sign of weakness. Fortunately, the parents showed up just in time and calmed everyone down enough that Callie and Callum could go off and work out their differences in private. Callie and Callum are married now and have a beautiful daughter, Bella Rae, who recently turned one.
I, on the other hand, couldn’t stop staring at the charming and captivating Irish goddess with green eyes and red hair. The sprinkle of freckles across her nose only added to her appeal. Leanna is the only one of her siblings to resemble their mother, Elena, while the rest of them look like their father, Nicholas, with dark hair and eyes that are unmistakably Italian.
Leanna and I talked all afternoon and well into the evening, and I could tell she was as enamored with me as I was with her. Unfortunately, I was dating a nurse then and temporarily off the market. As much as Leanna intrigued me, I only date one person at a time, even if it is casual.
When I got home that night, my girlfriend, Everly, gave me the third degree and accused me of not putting enough effort into our relationship. I explained that I had been at a family barbeque with friends, but she didn’t seem to care. She broke up with me, and her last words hit their mark. She said, “Carter, you will always put work in front of your friends and your friends in front of me. You keep me at arm’s length, never letting me get close. It’s no wonder your fiancée walked out on you years ago.”
The words stung, and I wanted to throw my phone across the room in anger but simply wished her well and hung up instead. The breakup was for the best since I had started a new job at Shining Knight Protective Services only months earlier and still had a lot to learn in my new role. Training would take up a great deal of my time, and as such, it didn’t leave any room for romantic relationships.
