Free Because a Husband Is Forever by Marie Ferrarella Page B

“If I do this, it’s going to be my way.”
    Randy raised both hands up in innocent surrender. As if, Ian thought jadedly. “Absolutely.”
    â€œI’m going to approach this seriously,” Ian qualified, “as if this Delany woman actually needed a professional bodyguard to protect her.”
    â€œWouldn’t have it any other way,” Randy agreed. “Oh, one more thing. The studio wants you to live at her apartment for the duration of the assignment.”
    He’d only done that twice before and hadn’t liked it either time. He definitely didn’t like giving up his freedom, especially not when there was nothing more than a whim involved. “Taylor—”
    â€œThey’re paying us double our usual fee to do it, plus free publicity.” Randy held up his hand and continued more quickly, “Plus the producer’s going to have the studio underwriting a commercial for the firm.”
    â€œJust to have us do this?”
    â€œIt’s called sweetening the pot,” Randy said. “I told them that you’d be reluctant.”
    Ian laughed shortly. “That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you understate something.”
    â€œThen you’ll do it?”
    Ian parked himself on the edge of the desk. Something in his gut told him he was going to regret this, but for the good of the company, he was going to have to take this bullet.
    â€œIf I don’t, you’ll probably nag me to death.” He might as well be prepared. “When do I start?”
    Randy’s eyes avoided his. “Tomorrow morning.”
    â€œTomorrow?” As if on cue, the phone rang. Ian nodded toward the instrument. “What about business?”
    Randy placed his hand on the receiver but didn’t pick up yet. “If it gets too much for me to handle, I can call in some favors. I know a couple of guys on the job who wouldn’t mind moonlighting.”
    A lot of policemen made extra money in either security work or acting as temporary bodyguards. Right now he was willing to change places with any of them. “Maybe one of them wouldn’t mind taking my assignment.”
    Randy shook his head. “Hey, what’s the problem? From where I was sitting, that was one mighty fine lady.”
    Maybe that was the problem. “I’m not interested in ‘mighty fine’ ladies.”
    Randy shut his eyes as if searching for strength. The phone continued ringing. “You were divorced, Ian, you weren’t neutered. There are times I really do despairabout you.” With a heartfelt sigh, he picked up the telephone receiver. “Bodyguard, Inc. How can I help you?”
    Ian tuned him out as he went to the door. If this was going to happen tomorrow, he needed to go home to pack.
    And to seriously rethink the career choice that had brought him to this junction. Ian headed toward the elevator. Paperwork was beginning not to sound so bad.
    Â 
    She was not an early riser.
    Early to Dakota meant that the world was already well bathed in sunlight, people were brewing coffee and, like as not, on their way to whatever life had to offer them that day. Dawn was something she customarily visited from the other side of the night.
    Which was what made her impromptu trip upstate so unexpected, most of all to her. It was definitely not a habit she felt the least bit inclined to acquire.
    She was not one of those people who bounced out of bed unless, like that one time back home, there was an earthquake demanding her attention. So when she heard first the doorbell, then a hard, firm knock on the front door of her thirtieth-floor penthouse apartment, she pretty much thought she was dreaming.
    As the knocking persisted, growing louder, the dream turned into a nightmare and then vanished altogether, leaving her brain enshrouded in a fog thick enough to sock in any airport.
    The knocking turned into banging, the sound vibrating in her head.
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