Forbidden Bodyguard Summer (Sunbreak Harbor Security #6)

1. Silver

Chapter one

Silver

"This will do," Alice Krantz, my manager, says, walking briskly into the spacious hotel suite and straight to the wall of windows.

She turns quickly in her high heels and narrows her eyes at the hotel manager, who swallows hard in response to her intense gaze. "We were promised a view of the water."

"I'm sorry about that, Ms. Krantz." He turns to me with an apologetic smile. "Ms. Langford, we have a number of celebrities in town for the Summer Concert Series, and the water views were sold out. But this is one of our best suites."

"I see." Alice crosses her arms as the manager's gaze snaps back to her. Alice is barely five feet tall and one hundred pounds soaking wet, but she’s like a dog with a bone when it comes to pushing my career. It's why I hired her. She focuses on building my brand, and I stick to writing music.

I gaze around the swanky hotel suite. The plush sofa is pristine, and the French doors lead to a king-size bed decked out in a duvet so fluffy it looks like it was sewn together using actual clouds.

I run my hand along the gleaming, dark wood of a conference table I'm not even going to use while I'm here and turn to stop Alice from demanding the presidential suite from the poor manager who has apologized fifteen times. "This is gorgeous."

Alice huffs and rolls her eyes but clamps her mouth shut. She strides to the conference table without another word, already typing furiously on her phone.

I try to hand the manager a tip, but he waves me off.

"No, Ms. Langford. We’re honored to have you stay with us this week." He glances at Alice, who doesn't look up, before he hightails it out of the suite.

"You deserve a water view," Alice grits out as the door snicks shut.

I turn to her with a grin. "Did you want to field social media posts all week about what a diva I've become?

" I tease as I drop my guitar case on a carpet fancier than anything I've ever had in a home in my life.

I stop myself from kicking off my shoes and digging my toes into the soft threads—at least while Alice is still here.

Alice snorts in response, then turns her attention back to her phone.

I walk to the king-size bed and fall back onto the mattress like a kid. "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto," I whisper.

That's an understatement. I grew up moving from trailer park to trailer park, rental to rental.

If a mattress was over an inch thick, it felt like a luxury.

We didn't have much, but we had love. That's what Mama always said, and she lived up to that statement. She’s the hardest-working woman I've ever met, and I’ve just sold enough albums to buy her a house.

I pull out my phone and type a quick message.

Got to Sunbreak Harbor. You working on your garden today?

Sliding up the mattress, I barely make it to the pillow before her response arrives.

Mama

My plants are thriving, and the flowers are gorgeous. Can't wait for you to see them.

I smile and put my phone down, gazing out the window, wondering if I can squeeze in a brief visit to Tennessee before my next gig. The little ping of an incoming message has me picking up my phone again.

Is Hulk there with you this time?

I roll my eyes.

No. And stop calling him that.

I never should have told her about him. Hulk, aka Dane, is the bodyguard who stole my heart in Fox Falls.

I've been on a summer festival tour, and a few months ago, Alice hired a bodyguard to help increase the perception of my brand.

She said I should look like I needed a bodyguard if I wanted fans to think I was important enough to need protecting.

I eventually caved to her persistent insistence, and Dane was my bodyguard at the music festival in Fox Falls.

Honestly, it felt weird having someone with me all the time... until it didn't. We didn't do anything until the last day when we got up close and personal in an elevator as he rounded the bases like a pro. Hell, I would’ve given him a home run if we hadn’t been in public.

But then the concert was over, and I got on the bus to the next gig. Well, ran like a chicken is more like it.

He's all I've thought about for months.

Shaking my head, I sigh at my stupid, lovesick heart—the one that gives me so much material for my songs.

I'm going to try to swing through on my way to the gig in Oklahoma next. I'll keep you posted.

I would love that. See you soon and have a great concert, sweet pea.

I smile. A nice dose of my mama is what I need to get my head on straight. I've been a mess from all the exposure since my career ramped up this summer. And it's just a coincidence that the timing coincides with meeting a certain hulking, hunky bodyguard.

Patting the blankets, I snuggle into the pillows, wondering if a nap will help snap me out of this funk.

"Silver!"

Alice's shriek has me off the bed in less than a second.

I race into the main room in a panic. "What's wrong?"

My heart pounds. I don't even get to enjoy my feet sinking into the rich carpet as I stare at my manager, waiting for my fight-or-flight response to kick in.

"Gia Golding wants you to sing a song with her at the concert!" Alice squeals, jumping up from her chair without breaking her typing rhythm.

"She—what?" My skin breaks out in goosebumps as I process the information.

Alice finally puts her phone down. She grabs my hands and jumps up and down with a huge grin on her face.

"She's invited you on stage with her in the middle of her set to sing ‘Coming Home to Him’.

" Alice squeezes my hands tightly, which is just as well because her touch is the only thing grounding me at the moment.

"I-I don't know what to say." This is a dream come true. Gia is a huge inspiration and an incredible talent.

"I've already said yes." Alice picks up her phone, her fingers flying across the keyboard so fast it's like magic. "We need to get you security."

I sigh. "No, we don't." I don't like having a babysitter, and that's exactly what a bodyguard is. Besides, the idea of anyone but Dane watching over me feels like a betrayal in a weird way. I shake my head, refusing to unpack that unsettling thought right now.

"Yes." Alice's voice leaves no room for argument. "Once news of this duet breaks out, you’ll be hounded by the press. I'll reach out to the company that helped us in Fox Falls."

My insides squeeze, and I snap my head toward Alice. "Why them? Isn't there a local company?"

It's like fate. My mom asks about Dane, and then Alice brings up Fox Falls. I believe in signs, but I'm not sure if this is meant to be a warning.

"We used Sunbreak Security last time," Alice says, glancing up for a moment to catch the confused look on my face.

"They’re based here. I'll see if they have anyone available.

It's crawling with celebrities this weekend. Did you see that Shane Hart is here for his comeback?” Alice talks as fast as she types, barely pausing to breathe, let alone get my response. “Do you want me to request Hulk again?"

"Hulk?" I know exactly who she means, but I need to buy myself time as I try to avoid Alice's discerning gaze. "Um, no. Whoever they have in town is fine with me."

Alice stares at me for a beat too long but thankfully doesn't comment further.

I turn my attention to the large windows and gaze out at the lights of Sunbreak Harbor.

Singing with Gia Golding.

I hug myself, trying to sort through all the emotions pummeling me at once. I love singing and songwriting, but fame is a whole different story. What if this is the beginning of something I don't actually want?

"Silver, this is going to change everything." Alice's voice snaps me out of my muddled emotions. Her wide grin tells me how she feels about that statement.

I give her a forced smile in response.

That's exactly what I'm afraid of.