Free Sweet Caroline's Keeper by Beverly Barton Page B

drilled into her as a girl.
    "Well, I guess we've been asked to leave," Fletcher said, obviously not pleased by Wolfe's take-charge attitude.
    "You've hired me to do a job," Wolfe reminded him. "From this moment on, everything I do will have one objective—to protect Ms. McGuire."
    "Yes, of course." Fletcher hugged Caroline, then glanced at Brooke. "Get your things, darling, and we'll leave Caroline in Mr. Wolfe's capable hands."
    "I'm sorry we have to end our lovely evening so early," Caroline said as she scurried around after her guests while they prepared to depart.
    Wolfe stood in the foyer, waiting and watching, while she shared hugs and kisses and goodbye waves with her friends. Gavin was the last to leave, but when he did go, he made a production of planting a rather intense kiss on Caroline's lips. Every ounce of Wolfe's willpower came into play at that precise moment, stopping him from jerking the cocky Robbins away from Caroline and forcefully tossing him out into the yard. The very second that the last car left the driveway, she turned to Wolfe, a look of annoyance on her face.
    "Was that necessary?" she asked.
    "I apologize if I was rude," he said. "But good manners aren't a priority in my business." He glanced around the foyer, taking note of the rooms to the right and left and the staircase that led up to the second level of the roomy clapboard house. "Familiarizing myself with your surroundings as quickly as possible will enable me to do my job more efficiently. I'll need to inspect the house from top to bottom, cover the grounds, check out your security system and do the same thing at your studio downtown."
    "I don't have a security system here at the house," she said.
    "Yes, I know. One is being installed first thing tomorrow. I'll check out the one at your studio in the morning and then the newly installed one here tomorrow evening."
    "I see."
    He turned to her and forced himself to avoid direct eye contact. "You won't leave this house, not even to go outside for a walk, without me. Before you get in your car, I'll inspect it. At work and at home, I'll be at your side. I'll require a bedroom directly across from yours and ask that you sleep with your door open. . .or we can arrange for a cot to be put in your room."
    "I prepared the bedroom across the hall from mine."
    Wolfe nodded. "I realize this isn't easy for you, Ms. McGuire. But a few minor changes in your lifestyle can help me keep you safe. I've already arranged not only for a security system to be installed at your home tomorrow, but as a precaution, the locks on your doors will also be changed."
    "That seems rather drastic, doesn't it?"
    "Someone tried to kill you and will, more than likely, try again. I will do whatever is necessary to make sure any future attempts fail. From this moment until the day you are no longer in danger, my only purpose will be to protect you."
    Caroline's mouth opened on a silent gasp, as if she were startled by his vehement declaration. Did she think he had overstepped his bounds? he wondered. Had what he'd said or the way he'd said it made her suspicious of his motives?
    Wolfe cleared his throat. "As a professional body-guard, it's my duty to put your welfare above everything else."
    "I understand." She glanced toward the closed front door. "Do you have a suitcase in your car?"
    "I came from the airport in a taxi," he told her. "My bag is on your porch."
    "If you'll get it, I'll show you upstairs to your room, then I'll give you a tour of the house. It will be easier to show you around Outside in the morning when it's daylight,"
    "That will be fine."
    "Mr. Wolfe. . .I'm going to be honest with you. I feel awkward having you living here in my house. I realize that you're a professional, but you're. . .you're—"
    "A man?"
    "Well, yes."
    "I will do my utmost not to invade your privacy. I won't come into the bathroom with you or enter your bedroom without knocking, unless there's potential danger involved. However, I'm