7. CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER SEVEN
B rody
The sun has dipped below the horizon and the white landscape is swathed in darkness. The milder temperature from earlier in the day has plummeted into a biting cold.
I flex my fingers in my gloves to keep my blood flowing and hurry my footsteps along the path that leads to the Ross sisters’ cabin. Callum will be leaving for Denver and I’ll be starting my role as their bodyguard.
Earlier in the day, I sat down with Nick and Zane, and we drew up a plan to find out who’s after them. Hopefully, we can follow through quickly and close the case so I won’t have to deal with Ivy Ross for too long. It’s a good thing Callum hung around to help them settle in. I wouldn’t have been able to manage it without knocking heads with her.
The next few days or however long it takes to ensure their safety is going to be painful for me. But I’ve dealt with worse.
The lights are on in the quaint cabin. I climb up the porch steps and knock on the wooden door. I assess the lock and ensure it’s of good quality. Callum assured me no one followed them out here. But protecting a client means all bases must be covered even when it makes no sense.
Callum opens the door. His face is shrouded in a glow coming from the warm interior.
“Come in.” He steps aside and allows me through.
It’s a nice cabin for a not-so-nice woman.
I tense, ready for whatever barbs she’ll throw at me. But there’s no one in the living room besides me and Callum.
“Where are they?” I ask.
“Turned in already.” He falls into a chair and pulls on his boots. “They were exhausted after the night and day they’d had.”
“Yeah. That’s not surprising.” I feel a bit disappointed that I won’t get to spar with the feisty woman. I already have biting comments stacked up for when she decides to rail at me. Unfortunately, I’d have to save them for the future. “You ready to leave?”
“Have to work early tomorrow.” He laces up. “I hope I can make it back in time to sleep six hours.” He checks his watch and curses.
I frown. “You went out of your way for the ladies.”
He shrugs. “Someone had to do it. Can’t have them at the mercy of some psycho fan.”
“Is that the only reason?” I raise an eyebrow.
Callum smirks. “What are you implying?”
“Come on. Tell me. Which one of the Ross sisters do you have a thing for?”
His face turns a deep shade of crimson for a second but it’s enough for me to catch. He stands and stomps his feet.
“Neither. I’m just trying to keep both safe and I can’t do that while working. We’re swamped with cases at the office and theirs is not a priority to the city. Threats to celebrities are a dime in a dozen. Even break-ins. These big-time folks just hire bodyguards and hope for the best.”
“But you didn’t leave them to their own devices.”
He narrows his gaze, getting defensive now. “They’re both in over their heads with it. Iris never handled her own business, which was her parents’ responsibility. I doubt she’d develop the smarts for it out of nowhere. Ivy’s heart is in the right place, but she’s no expert on dealing with shit like this. That’s why I brought them to you.” He looks me in the eye. “Keep them safe.”
“You know I will.”
“Try not to fight with Ivy while you’re at it.”
It’s my turn to scowl. “I won’t.” I plan to be ready for her if she starts something, but I’m never admitting it.
He takes my hand and grips it tightly. “I trust you. Keep me updated with your findings. If you need my help, I’m always available.”
“Of course.” I draw him in and tap my hand on his back. “Drive safe.”
The room plunges into silence as Callum exits. The sisters are probably already asleep by now. It’d do me a world of good to get some shuteye too.
First, I need to make sure everything’s secure here. I’m sure Callum already did so, but there’s no harm in double-checking. I exit the house through the front door and catch the taillights of his car leaving.
I cast my gaze left and right into the night, farther than the perimeter of the security lights. Then I walk around to the back. Nothing’s out of place here either.
Back inside, I kick off my boots, take off my coat, and peel off my gloves. There’s a flame burning in the fireplace, warming up the room. I sit in front of it for a moment before returning to lie on the couch.
My legs hang over the edge and it takes a bit of trying to get my back in a position that won’t cause it to knot while I sleep. With nothing to do but wait for peaceful oblivion, I grab my phone to call my mom.
I haven’t told her yet what Nick, Zane, and I are up to, but this is as good a time as any. She answers immediately and her face pops up on the screen.
Nick wasn’t wrong when he said my mom is beautiful. But to me, she’s more than just that. She’s hope and love all wrapped up into one bright smile that melts my heart.
“Brody darling,” she coos. “How are you? Haven’t heard from you in a minute.”
“I’m fine, Mom. Just a bit busy.”
“With what? I hope it’s something fun. You should be having fun up there.”
“Yes, Mom. But more than that, I’m working.”
A curious look pulls her eyebrows together. “Working? What kind of work? Has Cliff got you cleaning again?”
I chuckle. “Of course not. Remember I told you I was meeting up with Nick and Zane?”
“You did. How’s Zane?” She has a fond smile on her face. “And how is Nick?
She’s thought the world of Nick since we were boys. Probably because he has the unique ability to charm anyone into loving him. While Zane and I were being bad when we messed up, Nick was only being silly. Everyone fell for his shtick. Everyone but Nancy that is. I really should arrange that meeting.
“They’re both alright.” I hurry the conversation along before she can ask more about him. “We didn’t come back to Pine Peaks just for a visit.”
This piques her interest because she leans in closely, forehead knitted. “Oh?”
“We planned to start a security firm.”
Her eyes pop open. “You what?”
“I started a firm with the guys. It’s called Hawke, Everett, and Yates, HEY. ” I pause, Ivy’s face flashing in my head. “I didn’t want to tell you until I was certain it was going to work and just today we got our first client.”
“Oh, my goodness, honey,” she beams. “I’m so proud of you.”
“That’s not all. Since HEY is headquartered here, I’ll be moving back permanently.”
She gasps. The image becomes distorted.
I think she dropped her phone. “Mom, are you okay?”
She comes back on a moment later. Her eyes are teary and she covers her mouth with a trembling hand. “I’m so happy you’re back home, Brody. I’ve missed you so much. You have no idea how worried I used to get when you were away in the army. Wondering every day I don’t hear from you if it means something bad has happened.” She presses a hand to her chest and sighs. “But now you’re here and I can see you and make sure you’re fine.”
A knot of emotion lodges in my throat. Leaving my mom wasn’t easy, even though I knew it was necessary. Coming back after serving in the army feels like I’ve earned the peace of having her close to me.
“Well, my current gig isn’t the safest either. I have to put myself in harm’s way to protect our clients.” A frown starts to mar her features so I hurry along. “You don’t have to worry, Mom. I can always take care of myself.”
“Hmm...” She gives me a look. “Remember when you had that injury and you came all the way home with your boo-boo?”
I slap a palm over my face. I was fifteen and skiing when I shouldn’t’ve been. I crashed into a tree and injured my arm. The blood against the snow frightened me so I came home to my mom. It was only when she rinsed it off that we saw it was just a flesh wound. Not even deeper than a scratch.
“I was a kid then.” I roll my eyes. I’d never hear the end of that story.
“And what do you think you are now? You’ll always be my little boy.”
I smile even though I can take care of myself just fine now. I’ll be the one to take care of her if the need ever arises for the both of us.
“Thank you for telling me this, Brody. You have made me very happy.” She blows me kisses. “Go to bed, okay? So you’ll wake up refreshed and ready to do your dangerous job that you’re a pro at.”
I scoff a laugh. “Hey, Mom.”
“Yes, son?”
“Can you not tell Bethany and Amanda about this? I don’t know if Nick and Zane have broken the news yet and they’d like to do it themselves.”
“Of course.”
“Thanks, Mom. Goodnight.”
I put the phone away and turn down the lights. I lay back on the pillows with my eyes closed.
Sleep doesn’t come easily. Instead, Ivy’s face keeps popping up behind my closed eyelids. It isn’t annoyance I feel. Unfortunately.
Her dark green gaze paired with those full lips tweaked something in my brain. That’s the only explanation for why my thoughts circle around the idea of taking control of both.
I try to remember why that’s not even remotely possible. Outside the fact that I’m protecting her and her sister and can’t compromise our professional relationship, she made me lose my cool this morning with nothing but her defiant attitude and smart mouth.
I wonder what else that mouth can do.
I exhale and indulge in the thoughts for just a bit. My limbs tense as I picture her slender form lying atop me. Her lips on mine. Bet they’re soft. My hands on her hips. My cock twitches in my briefs. Maybe I’ll press her down, grind her on it. Listen to her moan.
She’s the type to want to wrestle control, I’m sure. Or the opposite because it’s all an act to come across as tougher than she really is. It doesn’t matter either way because she’d beg for it when I’m deep inside.
Fuck. Can’t think that way.
I pull in a deep breath to settle my racing heart. It’s only been a day and Ivy is getting under my skin in every way. I can’t allow that. I shut my eyes and count numbers to disperse the thoughts of her. That’s dangerous territory and I’m never going down that road.