Chapter 4
Danica left early the next day, after a shower and a light breakfast she left for Alicia to indulge in or, as she wrote on a note, “Order whatever you want from room service.” Alicia forced herself to eat a few morsels of toast and scrambled eggs, because she knew she needed strength after a night like that.
There was another note left on her side of the bed.
“I’ll be gone all day. Do as you like, but I request that you be ready to go out for the evening by six.
Wear black, with your hair pulled back. If you did not bring any suitable clothing, you may go buy something at the boutique downstairs.
I’ve left instructions with the manager should you appear. ”
It was still well before noon. Alicia decided to take a long shower and finish eating breakfast. Then? Who knew. She was in a new city… and she was in love.
Yes, the feeling had remained. Although the logical side of her knew how dangerous it was to believe it, the emotional side begged her to consider a long, happy life with Danica Moreau… if such a thing was possible.
I want it to be possible. Idealism never suited Alicia. Inside, she was a realist, but her realism had to be quashed to minuscule amounts if she attempted a relationship with this woman.
If it weren’t for her parents… Perhaps she could have blissfully ridden this wave of lust and could-be-love without fear of the possible repercussions.
So they were having a whirlwind romance.
Maybe they would descend to planet Earth in a few weeks and realize that they were terrible for each other and go their separate ways. It would suck, but that was life.
The threats, though.
Alicia drank some coffee at the table overlooking Lake Michigan.
Even though it was summer, she had to drape a light blanket over her body to keep the chill at bay.
Her coffee cooled before she could drink it all.
Her phone had trouble with reception out there, so she went back inside and flipped through the hotel brochure.
Wonder if she’ll pay for me to go to the spa.
What was she talking about? Of course Danica would.
It wasn’t until then, when she was dressed in a hotel bathrobe, that she stepped into the main apartment and immediately bumped into a huge, intimidating…
Woman?
“Excuse me, ma’am!” the hunk of feminine machismo said the moment Alicia yelped in terror. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“Who the hell are you!” Alicia slammed herself against the wall. The burly woman kept her distance. Wait… she’s wearing a black suit… and looks military… Ah, shit.
“My name is Dee. I’ve been assigned by Ms. Moreau to be your bodyguard.”
“B… bodyguard?”
“Don’t mind me, but if you want to go somewhere, let me know so I can go with you.”
“Bodyguard.”
“Ms. Moreau didn’t tell you?”
“No!” Alicia shook her head, hair still damp from her shower. “What do I need a bodyguard for? Am I in trouble?”
“Everyone associated with Ms. Moreau has a bodyguard. Family rule. All I can say.”
Alicia caught her breath. “Sorry… Dee… you’ve scared the ever-loving crap out of me. Not just your presence, but… bodyguard?”
“Yes, ma’am.” The woman crossed her muscular arms. “Don’t worry. I am highly qualified and discreet. You won’t even know I’m here.”
Danica and I are going to have a long chat about this!
One thing for the heir of a huge fortune to want a bodyguard…
quite another for her fling to have one!
Was Alicia in danger? Was someone likely to kidnap her and sue for ransom?
Or did someone have a vendetta against the Moreaus and want to use Alicia to get back at them? Shit!
“Well… I was thinking of checking out some things around here. I thought about going to the rooftop spa. Maybe shopping in the boutique downstairs… you would go with me?”
“I am to go with you wherever, or at least until Ms. Moreau dismisses me for the day.” The woman cracked a smile. “I won’t complain about where we go. I’m not supposed to enjoy it, if you catch my drift. Distracts me from the job.”
“I see.” On that note… “Ex-Marine?”
“You got it. Did my share of a few tours before retiring from the military and taking up this gig. A lot of the same, except the insurance is way better.”
Alicia didn’t like the sound of that. The “a lot of the same” part, anyway.
“Look, ma’am, my job is to make sure you’re safe wherever you go. Live your life like you would even if I wasn’t here.”
Would she watch Danica spank her, too? “All right. Well,” Alicia turned around, keeping an eye on the bodyguard over her shoulder. “I’m going to change. Then we’ll… go somewhere.”
“I’ll be right here if you need anything.”
Alicia wasn’t sure what she thought about that.
Two hours later, she was amid a deep-tissue massage whilst gazing at another splendid view of Lake Michigan.
The masseuse was a quiet woman who lit strong incense and played ambient music…
and ignored the bodyguard standing in the corner of the room.
This is so fucking weird. Alicia would have to tell Candice about it.
She was going to have to tell Candice about a lot of things, but the bodyguard was at the top of the list!
Danica never texted to check in. Alicia assumed she was fine, that she would be back at the time appointed.
I’m assuming she knows all about this bodyguard.
Couldn’t she have said something about it, though?
Why leave Alicia to be shocked that a strange woman wanted to follow her around all day?
All week? Alicia Colbert did not need a bodyguard.
She was an everyday woman, trying to get by.
Dating a billionaire, too, but that was beside the point.
Life with Danica really was different, huh? Really, really different.
After her massage, Alicia put her clothes back on and checked the time. When did Danica say to meet her by? Six? Was that enough time to go down to the boutique and clean it out? Would have to be!
If Dee was bored with the prospect of shopping for the equivalent of high-society prom dresses, she never made Alicia feel that way.
The whole time they were together, the bodyguard remained silent, only speaking when directly spoken to or whenever she felt the rare need to touch Alicia – mostly to direct her away from crowds or, Heaven forbid, walking on the street side of the sidewalk when they briefly went outside.
At some point, Alicia would have to get out and explore some of the city.
At least she wouldn’t have to do it alone?
“Ms. Colbert,” greeted a middle-aged woman standing outside the hotel boutique. What, was she expecting her? “So nice to meet you.” She extended her hand, lightly shaking Alicia’s. “Ms. Moreau explained everything earlier. She said that you might be stopping by, her treat.”
Clearly, such a prospect made the boutique manager a happy woman. Why not? If Alicia said, “I’ll take two of everything,” then her girlfriend could afford it. She may not be too impressed she went that far, but… oh, who was she kidding? The woman lived in eternal excess!
“She asked me to dress in black this evening.” Alicia had brought a black dress with her, but why not buy something new? Again? “I’m inclined to give in to her suggestion.” Dee stiffened behind Alicia. “Don’t mind her. She’s with me.”
“Of course.” The manager barely registered Dee in her eyes. “We have plenty of gorgeous black dresses in many styles.” She gestured to the boutique entrance. “My partner Tina will help me style you for the evening. Come. Let’s get started.”
While this wasn’t Alicia’s first time being tossed about by personal stylists, this was the first time it felt so decadent.
Last time was an uncomfortable whirlwind of catty remarks and snubbing noses.
This time, Alicia really felt like Danica Moreau’s girlfriend.
The two women working in the boutique brought her over to a comfortable couch, served her champagne, and asked what kind of styles she preferred.
Thus began a long parade of delicate black cocktail dresses, sometimes in other colors, but always subscribing to Alicia’s tastes…
and Danica’s, to be sure. More than once, she was shown a dress that she would never consider wearing, until the manager said, “Ms. Moreau mentioned this type of dress to me.”
Eventually, the dresses were narrowed down to two for the evening.
One, a lacy mini-dress that was conservative without losing its sex appeal, and two, a sparkling black halter-dress that completely exposed Alicia’s back.
Both were too expensive to even consider.
At least Alicia learned to stop looking at price tags.
“We can do several things with your hair and makeup with either of these dresses.” Tina, the hair and makeup stylist, presented Alicia with two sets of diamond jewelry, each one interchangeable with both dresses.
“It ultimately depends on how you want to look tonight. How do you want to express yourself on your date and to the world? What message are you trying to send when you step out of the car?”
Alicia glanced between both dresses, then to the sparkling diamond earrings, bracelets, and hairclips.
No matter how she looked at them, all she saw was a message that she never once in her life dreamed of.
I’m on another planet right now. I’m not even sure who I am.
Who was she, indeed? Was she Alicia Colbert, an everyday girl-next-door looking for her place in the world?
Or was she someone else? Someone… greater?
The way Danica treated her went beyond a devoted girlfriend.
They had only known each other a short time, but everything had felt so delicious right from the very beginning.
They went together like gold and silver.
I’m the gold. Alicia fingered her blond hair and thought of Danica’s silver cufflinks.
She makes me feel like I’m worth more than all the gold in the world.
She shyly smiled to think of how much she was already falling in love with Danica.
She often spoke of their potential future together. The woman had scared Alicia with marriage talk on their first real date. Danica believed in signs. In fate. In passion and desire leading to true love.
Alicia turned to the boutique manager. “I want to look like Mrs. Moreau.”
The manager grinned. “She was hoping you would say that.”