Free The Trouble With Bodyguards: Part 1 by Kristina Blake Page B

“I mean that I am going to go with you. After following you yesterday, and somehow magically both of us avoiding speeding tickets or jail time, I think that I will just drive you to your appointments.”
                  “I am perfectly capable of driving myself,” she said, stuffing her cell phone into her bag and throwing it over her shoulder.
                  “I have no doubt of that,” he said, opening the door for her. “And we can stand here arguing about it, and you can arrive even later to wherever it is that you’re late for, or we can just go.”
                  Alex stood, frustrated, glaring at him for a moment, and then stormed past him and through the door into the stairwell. She didn’t have time for this, not today, not ever.

Chapter 14
                  He leaned back, settling into the soft leather of the chair in her office. Alex had been furious when he demanded to check her office before she headed into it, and she demanded that he wait for her in the car while she conducted her business. He had quelled that little fit, pointing out to her that he couldn’t be a very good bodyguard if he wasn’t there to protect her if anything should happen. He needed to be by her side, or at least in her air-conditioned office, instead of baking in the car all day with the windows rolled up like a damned schnauzer.
                  He scanned the walls of her office, beautiful women looking down upon him from all angles. Full lips, ample breasts, and svelte waistlines graced every surface. Many of the images were daring, provocative, even pushing the boundaries into the offensive, but Rick liked them. They were powerful, drawing his attention to the detail, the skill put into creating each image. He must say, she was a snot-nosed brat, but she was good at what she did.
                  His phone buzzed in his pocket, and a glance at the screen caused him to sigh. He really didn’t want this, not now.
                  “Hello,” he said, standing up and walking toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, peering down at the people on the street several stories below.
                  “I need to see you,” said the voice on the other end. “There are some things that we need to discuss.”
                  “I am,” he said, hesitating, not sure of how much he should reveal, “busy today. There isn’t time.”
                  “You’ll have to make time, Rick,” said the caller. “Come see me tomorrow, I have an opening at two o’clock. You remember where the office is?”
                  “Yes, I remember,” Rick said, pressing the button to end the call. It hadn’t been long enough, since the last time he had been summoned by the doctors. They were afraid that he was not going to be able to control things, and eventually someone was going to get hurt, or killed. Medications hadn’t worked; even a stay in the ward had done no good. Rick felt that his strict vigilance was the only option. He had been expecting that call, but was hoping that it would be longer before it came. Now he needed to spend an hour convincing these men that he didn’t need them. And with the new task of keeping an eye on Alex, he truly did not have the time for this meeting. He would need to find a way to keep her safe, so that he could get away.

Chapter 15
                  “It’s been an honor meeting you,” said Alex, reaching out to grasp the hand of the fashion director of one of the country’s leading magazines. She had schmoozed these men and women for the last hour and a half, showing them recent photographs that she had done, and spreads that she had lain out in other magazines. They were impressed with her presentation, even though she had them waiting for twenty minutes after they arrived. She was granted the contract for an entire season’s advertisements, in three of the