Trust My Bodyguard (Pine Peaks #1)

1. CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE

B rody

My nose would likely turn blue and fall off before either of my best friends got here.

I’ve been standing outside in the blistering cold for fifteen minutes waiting to catch a glimpse of them. I’m not a sentimental guy but it’s been four years since I’ve seen the little rascals in flesh. Video calls don’t count.

The ski resort’s diner looms behind me while many acres of snowy hills and pine trees spread as far as the eye can see. I should be entranced by the weak sun glistening on the snow or the lifts that carry ski enthusiasts back and forth but no, I’m all ears and eyes for two shits that can’t keep to time.

“Whoo-hoo!”

My gaze is drawn to a figure standing atop a hill in the distance. They are in full ski gear, ready to race down. A knot of emotion forms in my throat. If anyone would have a grand entry, it would be Nick Everett.

“Here I come,” he shouts, before zooming down the hill.

He starts slowly but quickly picks up the pace. He used to be the best skier when we were boys. Even though his moves are not as clean as they used to be, they are still impressive.

Until he splashes into the snow at the base of the hill in a graceless landing.

“I swear to you”—he draws in harsh breaths—“it looked way cooler in my head.”

“It didn’t just now.” I close the distance between us and clasp hands with him, pulling him upright. “Better luck next time.”

Thick coats and many layers exist between us but Nick manages to draw me into an embrace so tight that I feel his heartbeat. Or maybe that’s mine because my heart’s beating so fast.

He releases me after a long minute and steps back. A liquid sheen dances in his bright blue eyes. “What the hell, dude?” He laughs. “The next time I blink you’re going to be walking with a cane.”

Only a few months separates me and Nick in age, so his accusation is baseless. He’d be right behind me with a cane if that happened. But not for a long time, since we’re only twenty-seven.

But I can give just as well as he does. “You know I could say the same about your hairline.”

Nick’s eyes bulge and he starts to comb gloved fingers through his white-blond hair. “What about my hairline? What’s wrong with my hairline?”

I scoff a laugh, enjoying his frazzled look when a snowmobile rides our way. The rider keeps his head straight. No fanfare. No showing off.

Zane Yates.

He parks in front of us and gets out, pulling off his helmet. His once boyish looks are now hard and set.

His disapproving gaze locks on us. “What are you doing standing in the cold?”

“Waiting for you.” I shrug.

“I didn’t forget where the diner is.”

Nick mimics him. “So fucking serious all the time. Come here, you little shit.” He drags Zane into a headlock and ruffles his hair.

Nostalgia hits me like a freight train at full speed. I’m taken back to the moment we split after our high school graduation to pursue our different military careers. Me in the army. Nick in the Air Force. And Zane in the Navy.

We were just kids with big dreams cheering each other on. We didn’t know what it would mean to leave everyone we knew and loved. Ourselves most of all. More than best friends, we are brothers.

“Let me go.” Zane huffs, pushing at Nick’s arms. “Tell him to let me go, Brody.”

“Meh. You deserve at least a minute of that.” I watch them with my lip tipped up at the corner. “And… That’s enough.”

Nick listens and releases him at that very moment.

Zane stumbles, nearly face-planting in the snow. “Gah, you haven’t changed.”

Nick only chuckles, pretty pleased with himself.

I throw an arm over Zane’s shoulder. “Don’t mind him.”

Zane gives me a grateful nod, a slight smile in his teal eyes. “Keep him in line?”

We turn to watch Nick struggle out of his ski gear.

“I’ll try.”

Zane scoffs and claps my back. I’m certain that’s the full extent of our emotional reunion for our years apart.

“Let’s head in.” I lead the way into the diner.

It hasn’t changed a bit. Broad wooden beams line the ceiling. The linoleum floor is still scuffed and the red seat coverings are as they were.

Even the woman behind the counter is the same.

“Oh my…” Nancy places her hands on her chest and ambles over. “Look at you all.” She goes right past me since she has already seen me today to pull Nick into a long hug, and then she drifts to Zane and fusses over him, fixing the hair Nick ruined.

It’s comical watching them together. Zane stands with an impassive look on his face while Nancy pecks around him like a mother hen with her chick. She asks him questions and doesn’t even wait for an answer before running on.

Nick and I share a look.

He exhales. “I’m not jealous or anything but what about me?”

Nancy breaks into a belly laugh. “Oh dear. Don’t mind me. I’ve missed you all so much. Tell me, what would like? Anything. It’s on the house.”

After giving her our orders, we claim the secluded table by the bay window. Snow-white hills rise and fall outside and light flakes rain down.

Zane’s gaze is fixed on the outside. “I almost forgot how peaceful it can be up here.”

“Or turned up in the on season.” Nick sports a wide smile.

I scoff. “We’re here for work, not that.”

He leans back in his seat and kicks his feet up on the spare one. Nancy used to hate that. The hiss that comes from across the room proves that she hasn’t changed her rules.

Nick doesn’t care. He blows her a kiss. “There’s no reason we can’t combine both.”

I sit up. “Not at first, we aren’t. We’re staying on task.”

“Come on. We’re adults now. It’s not like our moms can stop us from having fun,” Nick says.

Our mothers have been friends for as long as we have. Bonded by single motherhood, they’ve relied on each other for help and support. Maybe that’s one reason why leaving when I was only eighteen to join the military didn’t feel impossible. My mom had Nick’s mom, Bethany, and Zane’s mom, Amanda, to keep her grounded.

“Mine will have something to say about it,” Zane states.

“ You will have something to say about it even before your mom does,” Nick counters.

Zane doesn’t argue that point.

“Forget our moms. We need to keep our heads focused if we want to make this a success.”

As a US Army Ranger, I got lots of recommendations, but I decided I wanted to do something different. The dreams that me and the guys had when we were younger of starting our security and investigation firm kept calling to me. So I set the ball into motion, calling them up and proposing the idea.

What do you know? Nick had just gotten his PI license after a stint with the police and his honorable discharge from the Air Force. And Zane was getting into cyber security. Their acceptance to come on board marked the birth of the Hawke, Everett, and Yates Security and Investigation Firm.

We’ve been going back and forth for months about our plans through emails, phone calls, and video correspondence. This is the first time we’re seated in person to review our progress so far. Our combined military experience alone, and the knowledge that comes with it, gives us a big shot at success in the field.

But only if Nick curbs his tendency to choose play over work and Zane manages not to get lost in endless research.

That’s where I come in.

I flip open my laptop and email them the documents with the details we’ve agreed on.

Zane is quick to whip out a tablet and run his eyes over the screen.

“Aren’t you going to look at it?” I ask Nick.

He shakes his head. “Give me the TLDR, Zane.”

Zane breaks it down easily for him.

“See?” Nick smirks.

I scoff, shaking my head.

Nancy’s lunch platter arrives and Nick assists her with setting the table while she dotes on Zane. “Look here. I gave you extra fries.”

A rare smile lights his face up. “Thank you, Nancy.”

When we were boys, she was under the impression that Nick and I lorded it over Zane. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Zane has always been quiet and willing to go along but he’s by no means a pushover. Hell, he’s a push-forward , always calculating and coming up with brilliant schemes to make our mischievous plans work.

“Don’t take his extra fries, Nick.” Nancy eyeballs him.

Nick sputters. “I wasn’t going to do that.”

She flounces off. “Say that like I don’t know you.”

“I was totally going to,” he whispers, eyes bright with mischief.

Zane nudges his plate toward him. “How’s Caroline?”

The question sobers me for a few seconds. “She’s doing fine.”

When I was younger, I believed my mom was invincible. She was the bravest woman I knew, raising me all by herself. I never thought that a time would come when she’d seem frail to me. It doesn’t help that she’s five-four to my six-four. I spent my week back fixing up her place to ensure she didn’t experience any injuries from loose floorboards and dodgy electric outlets.

“Still hot, I bet,” Nick says around a mouthful.

I give him a warning look. If only my mom could see this side of him. When he cracks a smile, she believes he’s god’s gift to planet Earth and thinks he can do no wrong. Maybe I should arrange an interview between her and Nancy to fix that.

“How’s your mom?” I ask Zane.

“She’s alright. She asked after you guys.”

“Haven’t had time to check on anyone since I got back. I do need to visit her one of these days.”

“It’d be easier to gather them all in one place,” Nick says. “Like a party!”

I clasp his shoulder before he can psych himself up for a party that’s not happening. “Not until we get this firm off the ground, okay?”

“Boring.” He dusts his hands over his empty plate. “Where were we? Let’s get this shit rolling so we can have some fun.”

“Speaking of people we need to see. Have you seen Cliff?” Zane asks.

“Yep. Briefly. Earlier on.”

Cliff Harbor is the owner of Pine Peaks Skiing—the resort we’re on. He caught my stubborn twelve-year-old self trying to make away with a snowmobile. Instead of calling the police, he gave me a job cleaning ski gear. It was the kindest hand a stranger had ever extended my way. Soon after, I brought on Nick and Zane, and our trio wreaked more havoc on the grounds than Cliff could have anticipated. Despite our mischief, he’s always been kind to us.

“It’s been too long since I last saw the old man.” Nick grins.

I stand and dust off my pants. “Let’s go say hi, shall we?”

We pack up, say goodbye to Nancy, and head out. We find Cliff in his office in the main building.

His eyes crinkle at the corners as we walk through the door. He rises from his desk and comes around to hug Nick and Zane and then he claps my shoulder. He has never been one for showing big emotions but his affection shows in his eyes. “My, how you’ve all grown up.”

“Some more than others.” Nick glances at me.

I straighten my back and glare at him. I stand at least three inches above him and Zane but he’s always been a little rascal stirring up trouble.

“It’s all the same to me. I’m glad to have you back.” Cliff smiles at us. “Are you ready to see your space?”

“More than ready.” Nick beams. “Is it good?”

“Only the best.” The older man walks toward the door. “Follow me.”

Cliff brings us to only the grandest space ever. A space he’d have never let us step foot in when we were teens.

“Whoa.” Nick echoes our awe. He’s the first to look out the floor-to-ceiling windows. The sunlight streams through, golden and pure. Based on the view downhill to the town, the scene at night would be equally as breathtaking.

I draw closer to inspect it myself. “Can’t wait to get some time on those slopes.”

“And you thought I was weird this morning.” Nick eyes me.

“I didn’t.”

“Did too.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong…” Nick raises his voice, drawing the others’ attention. “Does Brody get a little judgy sometimes or not?”

“I’m not going to be a part of this,” Cliff announces. “Enjoy your new office. You know where to find me if you need anything. Good luck.”

With that, he leaves.

Nick turns to his next victim.

Zane raises a hand to quiet him even before he speaks. “I don’t have the mental energy to deal with that right now.”

“Harsh.”

“But yes, Brody can be judgy.”

Nick beams.

“And you’re annoying.”

“No one asked. Thank you.”

I scoff and laugh. “Maybe save some of that energy for the new receptionist. She’ll be coming in tomorrow.”

“A girl.” Nick grins and waggles his brows.

“She’s the receptionist and nothing more,” I say.

“We’ll see about that.”

Zane ignores our conversation, too busy assessing the chairs around the long, oval table. Probably picking out the seat that would become his.