ChapterSeven
Since the ‘incident’ on the way home from the mall, Sam had begun hovering around Bianca like a hawk every time she left her apartment. Half of the time, her presence was bearable. After all, a salon appointment, movies with a school friend, and a trip to check out the new café that opened on the corner weren’t a big deal.
But when Bianca was invited to an exclusive all-day music festival with her friends?
Kill me now!
Nothing ruined the mood like having a hulking bodyguard shadow her every move, following Bianca to the bathroom, to the bar for a non-alcoholic drink, lurking behind her as she danced to the DJ. Although her friends were understanding about the situation, most of them being all too familiar with personal security, Sam’s presence killed any fun she was having. In the end, Bianca simply decided to go home before the sun had even gone down.
“You could at least be sorry,” she muttered from the back of the SUV Sam drove in place of the family driver. So much for ‘not in my contract.’
“I’ll never be sorry for doing my job,” Sam replied firmly.
Because her job was the only thing Sam cared about, as she kept reminding Bianca. Sam had gone from hot and kind of cool to overbearing and cold.
But still hot. Still oh so hot.
Sam escorted her back up to her apartment. They entered together, Bianca preparing for the debriefing that occurred at the end of every excursion. As Sam stood in the middle of the living room, Bianca sank down on her couch. Spike was quick to scramble up to the top of the bookcase at the corner of the room, eying Sam warily from his perch. He wasn’t a fan of people, with the exception of Bianca and Parker.
“You just love following me around, don’t you?” Bianca couldn’t help but push the buttons of the uptight woman who was slowly driving her to the edge of insanity. “I’m thinking about going out dancing tonight. Wanna come? Leave the suit at home, dress all sexy, really let your hair down? You’d look hot in a miniskirt.”
Sam folded her arms across her chest. “You’re lucky I can tell when you’re joking by now.”
“You’re lucky I think you’re cute,” Bianca murmured.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.” It was one thing to flirt with the woman she was stuck with practically 24/7, but she didn’t want to make things too awkward between them.
And Sam wasn’t responding to her flirtations. Maybe this wasn’t working out. Maybe Bianca should have chosen one of those big hulking guys instead. At least then she wouldn’t be slowly going crazy from the constant presence of a smoldering-hot woman who had no interest in breaking professionalism, no matter how much Bianca wanted her to do just that.
Pin me to this couch. Put me in my place. I dare you.
Her fantasies were getting ridiculous. Maybe she needed to find another target for her out-of-control desires. But how was she supposed to do that with Sam constantly lurking?
Well, Sam wasn’t always lurking. She did sleep, after all…
Sam nodded toward the door. “If that’s all, I’ll take my leave for the day. I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”
“Do I ever?”
“You need me to be your chauffeur and coat rack, don’t you?”
“Touché, Ms. Reddy.”
Sam lowered her arms. I bet she’s going downstairs to put on that cute leather jacket. Bianca wondered what she would look like wearing it. Did it smell like Sam too?
As soon as Sam turned around to show herself out, the front door burst open. Much to Bianca’s dismay. And her bodyguard’s shock.
Sam had once explained to her that she didn’t carry a gun unless it was necessary. She did, however, have a taser holstered to her belt. So it was fortunate that Bianca’s mother announced herself with a cheery, “The doorman told me you came home, sweetie.”
Because Sam was one second away from tasering her to the floor.
“Mom!” Bianca exclaimed. She glanced at Sam, whose shoulders finally slackened, her hand moving away from her taser. “What are you doing here?”
Her mother stopped in the middle of the room and glared straight at Sam, the corner of her mouth twitching. “Who are you?”
Sam somehow kept her disbelief from showing on her face. “I’m… I’m Sam Reddy, ma’am. The owner of Rainier Protection Services. We’ve met.”