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“I won’t.” He pulled forward as soon as the gate opened.
The GPS had him looping around towards what must be the back of the neighborhood. Giant houses with immaculate lawns. People walking dogs. Parents pushing baby strollers. It looked like a peaceful neighborhood. It looked like it should be safe.
Only he knew it wasn’t, not enough. He’d already started a list in his head of the things that needed to be taken care of by whoever was in charge of the neighborhood security. He’d take care of it all himself if he needed to.
Anything to keep her safe.
As he pulled up her long driveway, the nerves kicked in. This wasn’t the same girl he’d partially caught up with a week ago. And this definitely wasn’t the same girl he’d grown up with. What if she requested a different bodyguard?
He quickly shook his head at the thought. She wasn’t going to get a choice in this. Nobody would be able to protect her like he could.
CHAPTER9
TABITHA
The pounding in her head hadn’t stopped since she got home from the hospital. Her body felt like it got run over by a truck. She had the bruises to prove it too. Lingering hand prints that pressed and squeezed too hard. She was expecting to come home to peace and quiet. Instead, her house had people coming and going non-stop for the last twenty-four hours.
Her best friend Max showed up and had taken over the living room. She expected nothing less and would do the same for him. It also helped that they had the same agent; he was already in the loop. Several people from the agency and police officers hung around.
Part of her wanted to be alone and rest. The other part of her was terrified.
Then, her agent let her know an hour ago that the bodyguard would be arriving soon. She wasn’t expecting him for a few more days, so it definitely threw her off. This wasn’t how she wanted to meet someone who would technically be working for her. She looked like shit.
When she finally agreed to hire a bodyguard, she told her agency they could help vet someone, but she wanted to be the one paying for the service. When it came down to it, she knew she needed someone on her side, period.
She rubbed her temples as her eyes closed. She’d been hiding in her room ever since, with the door locked. Tabitha knew she should be grateful she was going to have protection. Part of her wondered if she should’ve just gone home and let herself be surrounded by family and the MC.
The events of two nights ago still haunted her. She hadn’t been able to sleep. The doctor prescribed her something, but she couldn’t take those pills. Not when she knew the face she’d see when her eyes shut.
A knock sounded quietly at the door. “Tabitha.” Max’s voice carried underneath. “Your bodyguard is here.”
She stood and walked over to the door. She paused at the mirror. It was times like this she wished she was a character from one of the stories with powers. Then she could alter her appearance to not look so bad. Of course, if she could choose, she’d be a superhero that wouldn’t be overpowered by assholes. Her hand moved over to the doorknob to unlock and open it.
“He’s hot.” Max made a fanning motion with his hand. “Like muscles on muscles and tattoos! Oh, girl!”
Tabitha rolled her eyes. She had zero desire to get romantically involved with anyone ever again. She tried once, and it failed. She clearly wasn’t a good judge of character. It would probably be smarter to just live with friends or something.
“Let’s go and meet him.” She stretched her neck and winced at the lingering pain.
“I’m just saying… I saw him first. If he swings that way.” Max laughed, then turned to walk away.
“You have a boyfriend.”
“Who would gladly put this man in a sandwich with me.”
She followed him down the hall. “Nobody is hooking up, Max.” She held back the laugh that would only have her clutching her sides. He was incorrigible.
“Ah, here she is. Tabitha, I’d like you to meet…” her agent, Cristina, started.
“Archie!” She froze in place as all the air escaped her.
“Hey, Tab.” He crossed his arms. His muscles strained against his dark tee.
“Wait, the Archie?” Max chuckled beside her. “Girl, we’ll catch up later.” He made an appreciative noise as he passed by them and walked out the door. “Call me later!” He hollered as the door closed behind him.
“You know each other?” Cristina’s southern accent came out a little more. “Should we arrange for someone else?”
“No.” Archie spoke.
