Chapter 7 #2
Alex situated himself and glanced at her. He started the car instead of answering.
“I read up on your company a little last night.” Scarlet shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep. The core value of Sterling Protection Services is ‘diligence through trust.’”
“Yes it is.” Alex pressed on the gas.
“Coffee shop is down the street and to the left,” Scarlet said. “I won’t lie, I was impressed you used to guard Ian Prince. I love his movies.”
Alex kept silent, wondering if she’d keep going if he didn’t respond. He couldn’t utter one word about Ian due to a NDA he signed, nor did he have anything good to say.
“I had no idea so much went into being and having a personal bodyguard,” she went on.
“You get used to it,” Alex said.
Scarlet chuckled. “I’m not sure I’ll get used to the throwaway phone with GPS tracking my location.”
“Which you should always keep nearby,” Alex commented. “Maybe carry it in your bag.”
“Don’t worry,” she responded. “It’s there. Just as the instructions suggested.”
Alex pulled up to the coffee shop, double-parked, and put the hazard lights on.
“Do you want anything?” Scarlet prepared to open the door.
“I’ll come in with you,” Alex let himself out of the car.
Scarlet watched him as he moved around to her door and opened it. Nervousness settled in his stomach as her eyes searched his. She stared at him for a moment. “It’s just coffee,” she said. “I can run in real quick.”
“Miss Rush,” Alex frowned.
Scarlet’s brow furrowed. “I said, call me Scarlet.”
“Scarlet,” he corrected. “You just said you read up on my company and what it entails to be a personal bodyguard.”
“Yeah, but?—”
“So, you’re aware that from the hours of ten a.m. to eight p.m., I oversee your safety. That means keeping you in my sights at all times.”
“You can see the counter from here,” she said. “Plus, you’re double-parked, and have a loaded gun.”
She gestured to the weapon that peeked out of his unbuttoned jacket.
“I’m allowed to double-park,” Alex said. “And I have an open carry permit. I know this is a difficult situation?—”
“I’m not going to get used to an armed guard following my every move.” She pushed her way past him. “Especially after escaping kidnappers. I need to feel normal again. Please just stay here. I’ll be five minutes.”
Alex’s temper rose as he prepared to scold her for being so irresponsible, but he stopped himself. Alex didn’t allow a client to go somewhere by themselves, especially after being attacked.
He fought against his stubbornness. It was a simple task—get coffee. Neither of them understood or even tolerated each other just yet. He had to establish his trust, even if she didn’t care for the situation. Maybe he could bend the rules this once.
Alex held up a hand. “Fine. Be quick.”
“Roger that,” She turned and threw him a mock salute before disappearing into the shop.
Alex gritted his teeth as he got back into the SUV. “Stubborn,” he muttered.
Up until now, his clients had wanted a bodyguard. They paid him to do his job and understood the rules. Scarlet was different. She’d been thrown into the situation by force, and was far from comfortable with it.
Just be a little understanding. The situation wasn’t some sort of high-profile assassination attempt; it was ballerina politics and a favor for his stepfather. Keep it simple.
Scarlet was back at the car quickly, holding a large disposable cup of coffee. “Four minutes,” she sang. “I survived. Do I get a medal?”
Alex nodded and pulled away from the curb. “Glad you’re finding humor in this.”
Scarlet took a sip of coffee. “If I don’t laugh, I’ll breakdown and cry.”
A smile crept up on Alex’s lips. “Dramatic.”
Scarlet looked over at him. “Dramatic?”
Her brow crinkled again. This time, Alex could tell he touched a nerve.
“You know, I get it. You have this awesome track record of protecting these high-profile, super-important people, and I’m just some dumb ballerina to you.”
“I don’t—” he started.
“But this is my career,” Scarlet pressed on. “And I wasn’t even prepared for the prestigious honor of being prima, let alone expect I’d immediately become a target because of it. So how about you cut me some freaking slack?”
Alex kept his eyes on the road. “I’d think you’d be used to high-profile situations with a father like yours.”
“How do you know who my father is?” Scarlet furrowed her brow.
“It’s in your file,” he responded hastily.
“I know the life your father once lead. Diplomats are put in dangerous situations so they can resolve bigger conflicts. Some of that had to have brushed off on you, after all. You’re here and alive.
” He turned his head to look at her. “Give yourself more credit.”
“I’m not my father.” Scarlet turned her attention out the window.
Alex sensed more than a hit nerve. He spied the rope burn on Scarlet’s wrist. He sensed a bit of hardwired determination in Scarlet, and he would do his best to keep her from victimizing herself.
“I just think you did a brave thing last night,” Alex finished. “Most people can’t do what you did.”
He cast a quick look at the prima. She didn’t respond, and she didn’t turn back to him. As he neared the North Pointe building, he noted that her shoulders were shaking a little, and she sniffed quietly.
Ah, hell. He’d made her cry. I’m off to a great start. Alex parked the car, and sighed. “I’m sorry if I upset you.”
“You didn’t.” Scarlet kept her head turned away from him. “I’m just trying to wrap my head around this whole … thing. Whatever it is. It’s overwhelming me, I guess. Whenever I pause to think, I’m right back in that dirty van.”
Alex tried to ignore the rising attraction that grew whenever he looked at her.
It was almost magnetic, and he fought to keep his wall up.
The way she took small sips of her coffee, how her eyes slowly searched her surroundings, even her soft sweet-smelling perfume, were getting to him. “Tell you what,” he said.
Scarlet finally turned her head, and guilt pushed at him as her tear-filled gaze registered on him.
“I’ll be better at explaining what I feel is necessary to keep you safe,” he said. “We’ll find some middle ground. Okay?”
Scarlet nodded and let herself out of the SUV. “I appreciate that.”
Alex walked around to her side, and gestured up to the building. “After you, Miss Rush,” he said.
Scarlet eyed him a moment before adjusting her messenger bag. They stared at each other in silence, an invisible barrier keeping them from saying any more. Alex resisted the urge to reach up and brush the hair from her face.
“Scarlet,” he corrected.
Scarlet’s lips parted slightly as she took a deep breath before turning to walk away from him.
Keep your distance. Do the job. Get paid.
Alex let her get a few steps ahead of him before he followed her up the wide stone stairs.