HER BODYGUARD

In the darkness of the hotel bedroom, Kimberly’s role had seemed clear. In the morning she wasn’t quite so certain of where she stood with Asher-or where she wanted to stand.

She was pretending to be asleep when she felt the mattress shift. Through slitted eyes, she saw him stand beside the bed, then walk rapidly to the bathroom. Through the closed door, she heard him getting dressed. Then he vacated the bathroom and exited the room-she assumed to give her some privacy while she got up.

She wanted to tell him that they should just act normally. But she was too unsettled to know what normal was. So she focused on the simple task of getting dressed.

She had just emerged from the bathroom when he came back into the room and closed the door, so she knew he must have been waiting right outside.

“Hi,” she said. “Good morning”

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yes.” she replied.

“Good. I’m going to pick us up some breakfast. And take care of some other things. So don’t worry if I don’t come right back. Put the chain on the door, and don’t let anyone but me in.”

“Okay.” Kimberly replied, nodding her head.

“What do you want to eat?” he asked.

“Something easy. A fast-food breakfast sandwich.”

“I can handle that.” he said

After setting the chain and making the bed, she got out her laptop and tried to work. But she hardly got any work done in the hour he was gone. She kept looking toward the door. And she leaped up when he knocked.

When she opened the door, he came in, carrying bags with a familiar logo. Quickly she cleared the table of her work, and they both sat down. After he’d unpacked egg and bacon sandwich muffins, orange juice and strong coffee, they both ate in silence for several minutes.

“Is this your usual breakfast?” she asked, trying to make small talk because the silence was killing her. “I mean, before you came to stay with me”

“I never got over liking eggs and bacon, even when the health gurus said they were bad for you.” he said.

“Me, too.”

They grinned at each other, sharing their secret passion for cholesterol before going back to the food. When she looked up again, she saw him turning a foam cup between his hands.

“What?” she asked.

“We should talk business,” he said.

“Oh?” she said, hearing the catch in her own voice.

“I stopped by the police station and reported the incident last night. So they’re aware of the situation. They’re willing to swing by your house periodically.”

“You…uh…sounds like you have that under control.” Kimberly said.

“Yeah, well, I talked to your father too. Told him about our situation. When we get to the safe house, you can talk to him and Phoebe. I also think you limit the number of people you talk to, because we don’t know exactly who these people are… the people trying to grab you. Might be someone who knows you well. So you have to be very careful”

She nodded. “My dad isn’t worried?” she asked.

“He’s just glad you’re safe,” he replied.

“I’m a bit worried about my work too,” she said. “I just got back and now I have to leave again. I just don’t know what to think. Whoever this person is… I don’t even know what I have done to them”

“Don’t worry” he said. “We will figure it out. We just have to make sure that you are safe. That’s what is more important. We will find out whoever this is”

She shifted in her seat. “I’m so glad that you are here with me. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without you. Thank you so much”

He nodded. “You are welcome. Just doing my job, plus I would like to feel you’re safe when I finally leave.” he said.

He was going to leave when this was over. Kimberly thought. For some reason she hadn’t thought about him leaving. Well, there was no reason for him to stay. There was no way he was going to stay with her forever. Fighting back a wave of disappointment, she gave a tight nod. She’d been having fantasies about this man, fantasies about what they could be and it was time to lay them to rest.

In a strong voice, she said, “Okay, let’s get to the safe house. One thing at a time.”

“Okay.” He took another swallow of coffee, then set down the cup on the table and stood. “You get ready. I will make some calls to the team”

After he’d left her alone again, she took a shower, washed and dried her hair and changed into a clean T-shirt and shorts. And then she was ready to go.

———————-

They drove out of town, with Asher watching the rearview mirror as much as the road ahead. He didn’t try to blindfold her this time and Kimberly decided not to ask why. This part of town where the safe house was located was isolated, with large lots that fronted on a narrow country road. Some of the houses were in the mansion category-what she could see of them through the trees.

When they got to the safe house and entered inside, Kimberly looked around and said. “Well, I can’t say that I missed being here.” she stared at Asher and smiled. “That’s your fault by the way”

He grinned as he carried her stuff to her room. Kimberly followed.

“How is that my fault?” he asked, feigning ignorance.

Kimberly gave him a look and he grinned at her. “It’s just a question,” he said.

“Well” Kimberly began as she fingered the curtains. “You made me feel like a prisoner. At a point I began to wonder if you were actually my rescuer or just another kidnapper…. Or maybe you were just playing some kind of prank on me”

“I would never do something like that,” Asher said.

“I know that now,” Kimberly replied. “But then I didn’t know who to trust…. And you seemed to have a serious liking problem with me… You were kinda… Mean”