Chapter Nine
Aubrey
Noah was going to be here any minute to go for their usual Tuesday errand run, and Bree was a mess. She groaned and looked down at her paint-splattered clothes—unfortunate victims to her ongoing bout of clumsiness that seemed to be marking this entire day. First, she spilled her coffee when she woke up. Then, she was trying to get a painting done and miscalculated how closely she could stand to the palette without bumping it to the ground. The plus side? The splatter did not end up on the painting. The bad news was she now looked like one of those people who run while getting bright colors splashed all over them.
Bree finished wiping up the last of the paint from the floor as the doorbell rang. She groaned as she got up. Bree jogged to the front door and opened it, silently inviting Noah in. Noah walked in quickly, and she shut the door softly behind him.
He took in Bree’s appearance and rose a brow quietly. “Decided to go on a color run this morning?” He joked.
Bree laughed, “Not a chance. I’d rather spend my morning with a book and a cup of coffee than be on a run…for fun.” Bree gave a fake shudder. She looked down at her clothes and looked at him guiltily.
“Sorry—time got away from me, and then I had this little mishap…I’ll need just a few minutes to change.”
Noah smiled reassuringly. After being on security detail with Bree for several weeks, he seemed used to the occasional bout of clumsiness which led to them running behind schedule. “No worries, Aubrey. Take your time.”
Bree smiled at him gratefully and raced to the bathroom. She took one look in the mirror and grimaced. This was not going to be a quick change, instead she needed a full shower. She turned the shower on and waited for the water to warm up while she went into the bedroom and picked out her third outfit for the day. Laundry this week was going to be a little heavier than usual. She laid the clothes on the bed—a pair of jeans, a soft tee, and some sneakers—and then hopped in the shower to wash away the evidence of this morning’s series of unfortunate events.
Fifteen minutes later, she was dressed and headed out to Noah feeling decidedly more human than before.
“Ready to go?” He asked, holding his hand out toward her. Bree looked at him, puzzled. Was she supposed to hold his hand? Listen, they were on the same team, and he wasn’t as awful as she thought previously—who could hate a man who cared for someone as much as Noah cared for Mrs. Garcia—but they were not in a hand-holding type of relationship. Though she wouldn’t mind that. Hold up.
Bree shook her head internally. She did not need to be crushing on her protection detail. Apart from being cliche—the bodyguard romance trope was popular in the romance novels she loved to read—she didn’t need an overbearing man invading her entire life. First, private security was expensive. Second, there was probably some rule about not dating the people they were assigned to protect. Regardless, she didn’t need to be daydreaming about Noah Hawthorne and his drool-worthy face. The quiet must’ve stretched on for too long because Noah lowered his hand and was looking at her in a concerned way.
“Bree, nothing will happen to you. You’re safe with me. I just need your keys so I can drive.” He said in an encouraging tone.
So he could drive?!? Bree mentally facepalmed. Of course, he wanted the keys she was still holding. “Here you go.” She said handing the keys over to him as they walked out the garage door, heat flooding her cheeks while she studied the floor as though it were the most interesting thing she’d ever seen.
“So, coffee first?”
“Yes! Oh, I love you! I desperately need some coffee.” The exuberance poured out of her at the prospect of the liquid gold that made the days go smoother…well, when it wasn’t being spilled.
“You love me, huh? Let me guess—No coffee at home?” He laughed, pushing the garage door opener and slowly backing the vehicle out.
“Well, I did have coffee this morning, but I ended up with it all over my favorite sweater and jeans instead of with it running through my bloodstream,” Bree said as she sighed dramatically.
“It was devastating. My life will never be the same again.” She joked with a dramatic flourish, grinning at Noah.
Noah laughed. “I can imagine that would ruin your entire life. I’ll send a condolence card at my earliest convenience.”
“I would appreciate that,” Bree said solemnly.
They backed out of her driveway, and Noah turned the car toward the town center.
“So, normal errands day today?” Noah asked amicably.
“Yes! First, I desperately need some coffee…and maybe a croissant. This week is a Chattanooga trip. I have some mail I need to pick up and hopefully a check to drop off at the bank.”
“Endorsement deals pay via check?” Noah asked.
“Nope,” Bree said confidently.
Noah looked at her curiously as he turned onto Main Street.
“It’s for a small side business I have.” Bree shrugged.
Noah looked curious, but didn’t press, which was appreciated. No one really knew about her side business selling art, and she preferred to keep it that way. She wasn’t looking for notoriety. Being in the public eye for her singing was more than enough. She wanted her art to stand on its own, not go viral because she was the one painting it. She’d much rather paint her seascapes for local libraries and doctors” offices and such. The occasional personal commission came through, but for the most part, it was just small to mid-sized seascapes for offices in Rhodes and the surrounding towns. It was perfect.
“Sounds good. I’m all yours for the day. Chauffeur, coffee date, and designated bag carrier.” Noah said with a roguish grin as they pulled into the parking lot in front of the coffee shop.
He had done as Bree requested and dressed down. Having someone accompany her places in a three-piece suit drew unwanted attention and she had enough of that to last a lifetime—or several. She wanted to run her errands in peace and get back home so she could work on her art or read or do literally anything other than interact with people. Noah looked handsome in a suit and tie, but was honestly breathtaking in a grounded, understated way in his jeans and black t-shirt. The way his muscles bulged made him look more like a male model than a security expert, but she wasn’t complaining—just appreciating. She could look at him and appreciate his devastatingly good looks without liking him.
“Stay here until I come around to your side.” He said in a serious tone.
Bree rolled her eyes. His looks were a ten, but his bossiness definitely backed him back down to a six…or a nine. Whatever.
Noah walked around the car, casually glancing at the scenery as though he were taking it in for pleasure rather than analyzing it. When he got to Bree’s side of the car, he opened the door and took a step back so she would be between him and the door when she got out.
Bree stood to get out of the car but her foot caught on the lip of the door. She lost her balance and began to teeter, beginning what was sure to be an embarrassing tumble, when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her. Bree found herself pressed tightly against the car, the cool metal touching her back and Noah’s warm body pressed against her front. His arm wrapped tightly around her waist, and he didn’t move it as he glanced down.
“You okay?” He asked, his voice a little lower and rougher than normal.
Bree nodded, a hot blush staining her cheeks. “Yeah, I’m good. Thanks, Noah.”
“Any time.” He said, his roguish grin overtaking his face. A small dimple appeared on the left side of his smile, and Bree about swooned—much to her annoyance. That would definitely not help this situation. Noah removed the arm around her waist and took a step backward so she could close the car door. Of course, she couldn’t exit the car gracefully the one time she actually wanted to.
Noah shepherded Bree so she walked closer to the buildings, and he could walk closer to the street as they meandered toward the coffee shop. He walked about half a step behind her, always keeping her within reach, while he looked around surreptitiously. He smiled at her as they walked into the coffee shop, holding the door open for Bree as they went.
“You’re quite a gentleman.” Bree complimented. Manners were lost on most men her age.
“Thank you. My mom was very big on manners.”
“Well she raised you right.” Bree said with a small smile. The conversation flowed easily as they moved through the line and she frowned. Grumpy barista was back.
“What do you want?”
Bree sighed. “A large iced vanilla latte please.”
“Corbin—you are supposed to be friendly.” Lucy griped at her brother, shooing him off from taking orders before turning to Noah with a smile.
“What can I get for you, sugar?” She asked Noah, her southern accent coming through a little extra strong as she looked him up and down, a flirtatious smile on her face. Bree pasted a smile on her face while an unfamiliar sensation burned in her stomach. Lucy had no business flirting with Noah. Bree looked over at Noah to see if he was checking Lucy out as well, but found him to be unimpressed with her attempts at flirting, which felt a lot better than it should.
“I’ll have a cup of black coffee to go, please,” Noah said, moving ahead of Bree so his back was to the far wall and he was facing the door.
Lucy nodded and leaned over the counter. “Is he taken?” She whispered. When Bree hesitated to respond, Lucy’s eyes glittered in delight.
Bree’s stomach sank—it’s not like Noah was hers, but if Lucy wanted him, she’d likely flirt her way right into his arms. Bree forced a smile, ignoring the voice raging in her head, telling her to claim Noah as her own.
“You’d have to ask him,” Bree replied, turning and finding Noah’s eyes on her while he waited patiently at the register, the bill already paid. His eyes narrowed, taking in Lucy’s facial expression and the tension lining Bree’s body.
Noah grabbed their drinks and walked over to where Bree was still standing with Lucy, his body angled toward Bree as his eyes searched hers. “You ready to hit the road?” Noah asked warmly.
Bree nodded and took her coffee from his hand. She would have sworn Lucy”s jaw hit the floor when Noah stepped up next to Bree and placed his hand on her lower back. A small trill of satisfaction flowed through her as they turned to walk out of the shop. She appreciated his warmth and strength as they left the building.
“Thank you for my coffee. You didn’t have to do that.” Bree said honestly. She couldn’t remember the last time someone she actually knew tried to buy her coffee or a meal. Her dates were not only few and far between, but also a little lackluster. The last guy hadn’t even been able to pretend to be interested in her rather than her money.
“I know. And you’re welcome.” Noah said simply. “Post office next?”
“Yup. At least we have caffeine for the drive,” Bree teased, gently nudging him with her shoulder. Boy, she needed to get a grip and keep her hands to herself. Noah Hawthorne was kind, handsome, and just the right amount of protective, but he was also a little bossy and didn’t like when she pushed back on his ”suggestions.” Most of all, he was not hers.
“Sounds good.” He said casually, walking slightly behind her, his eyes routinely scanning the area as they walked.
“So, do you live around here?” Bree asked as we walked over to the car. Noah opened her door as he replied.
“No, I live in Trenton.”
“Are you a native?”
He laughed. “Nah, my mom and I lived on the east side of the state. I lived in the same trailer park my whole life. How about you?”
“My parents live a few hours from here in Kentucky. I was born at the local hospital out there. I moved to Rhodes after I retired from the industry.
“How’d you end up in Rhodes, of all places?”
“We were doing a show in Nashville, and I saw a sign for the annual art festival, which was going on at the same time. My band and I came up for the festival, and I fell in love with the town and its residents—and their love of art and artists. I told myself that if I retired, this is where I could go. Far enough away from my parents for a little bit of independence, but close enough to be present when I needed to be. A place I could bloom in peace.”
“I take it you and your parents aren’t close?” He asked, heading south out of Rhodes.
“Why do you say that?” Bree asked, hedging around the question.
“You don’t see them and rarely speak to them unless your dad is calling to give you a hard time.” Noah frowned.
“Well, no one can accuse you of being unobservant.” Bree joked, turning her attention to the countryside as they drove. “It’s complicated. Dad pretty much works around the clock. He doesn’t approve of my retirement and thinks I should’ve stayed in the industry.”
“And your mom?”
“She’s unwilling to take a stance against him. So, she just keeps her head down and stays quiet. Goes to work. Gardens.” Bree said with a shrug.
“That sounds tough,” Noah said.
Bree shrugged. “It’s been that way for a long time. At this point, it just is what it is.”
The trip to Chattanooga was uneventful, and conversation flowed smoothly. She gave a quick sigh of relief when they reached the post office. She walked over to her large PO Box—number 107—which was where her fan mail and industry-related mail went. Since she had a few endorsement deals and such to finish, there was never a shortage of communication. Though email was generally preferred by most companies, some still preferred pen and paper. There was a stack of letters and a small package she could open once she got home. She walked over to her second PO Box—number 636—and reached in to grab the envelopes inside. There was a small envelope with an Arizona return address, and her heart leaped in her chest. She bounced on her toes excitedly as she locked the door. It was the payment for her first out-of-state commission piece. She stared at the box in her hand, her body beginning to sweat. Last time she had opened packages…Maybe she’d set it aside until she felt ready to tackle it. She could ask Noah to open the box, but that felt…cowardly. It was opening mail. She was capable of doing it herself—even if she didn’t want to handle it herself.
“Can we stop by the bank on our way to the grocery store?” She asked Noah, forcing herself out of her head as they exited the post office.
“This is your rodeo, Bree. I’m just along for the ride.” He said, his voice infused with heat and humor.
She smiled and bumped his arm gently, his smile warming her from the inside out. They headed to the car, and Noah walked around to open Bree’s door for her again. His mom really did raise him right. Once Bree was in the car, he went over to his side and got in, closing the door and starting the ignition.
***
Five hours, an impromptu photo session with some fans who had flagged her down in the store, and a drive-thru hamburger and shake later, Noah and Bree pulled into the garage at her house and walked inside, Noah carrying more than his fair share of the groceries while she looked at him appraisingly.
“If I had known that private security came with a chauffeur, therapist, grocery shopping assistant, and help unloading groceries at home, I’d have hired someone a long time ago.” Bree joked, tossing her mail on the counter.
Noah laughed. “We try to keep that information on the down low. Only our favorite clients get that kind of VIP treatment.” He teased. Bree smiled, and they chatted about small things as they put away groceries.
Should she invite him to stay for a little bit? Maybe just long enough to get the courage to open up her package. What if he says no? Bree fidgeted with the bags and shifted her weight from foot to foot.
”You okay?”
”Yeah…do you…maybe want to stay for a little bit? We should probably go over the schedule for this week.” She added, hoping he”d see her sense rather than her slight desperation.
”Sure—that”s a good idea.” He said as he put the last of the cold groceries in her fridge.
Bree led him into the living room, water bottles in hand, and flopped onto the couch. Honestly, she was happy to just be still for a few minutes.
“So, other than the TV interview you have on Thursday, do you have anything else this week I should be aware of?” Noah asked a few minutes later.
Bree paused to think and then scoffed. There was no way she was going to remember without looking at her calendar. Her cardinal rule was to make sure she wrote down all appointments, meetings, interviews, signings, tours, travel, et cetera because otherwise she’d for sure forget them the moment she walked through the door into another room. Bree pulled open her calendar app and returned her gaze to Noah who was watching her intently.
“I have a collaboration with my friend Steph on Friday evening. We’re supposed to show off her new fashion line and try a new restaurant at one of the ski resorts over in White Mountain. It’s a winter vacation-inspired fashion line, so we’re getting some footage throughout the lodge.”
Noah furrowed his brow and pulled up his phone, typing in it furiously. Guilt settled into Bree’s stomach. How could she forget to include that collab on the calendar she sent him? Bree bit her bottom lip nervously. She really didn’t need the security around her constantly. Everything had been quiet since the video comment and the bear, minus the altercation with Kyle at the coffee shop. Honestly, there were only improvements since her dad hadn’t even called to berate her recently.
“Okay, what time do we leave?” Noah asked, looking up from his phone.
A forgotten Friday collaboration wasn’t his problem. It was hers. Bree needed to make the necessary adjustments to her life if she wanted to be as unassuming as possible and remain the VIP client who got driven places and had her groceries brought in. She sighed.
“Noah, I know it’s last minute. It’s literally the day after tomorrow. I’ve known Steph forever and I’m sure her boyfriend will be with her making sure she’s alright. You know, Adam. I can go on my own.”
“Absolutely.” Noah agreed. His phone buzzed and he looked down at it, a frown overtaking his face before he typed back a quick response.
“Really?” Bree asked suspiciously. Nothing she knew of Noah suggested he’d have a client go out after dark on their own when there was a risk to them. Even if it wasn’t a super high risk.
“No.” He said, a hint of a smile on his face.
“It’s super low risk.” She tried half-heartedly arguing again.
“Low risk isn’t no risk.” He said firmly. “Is four on Friday too early? It’s a couple hours away.”
“Four works great. I’ll be ready on time—promise.”
“Are you going out before then? Do you need a new dress or anything else last minute that would require you to run an unexpected errand?”
“Nope.” She said. “I refuse to buy new clothes to attend events. Used to drive my manager completely mad.” A hint of pride clear in her voice. “They’d have my stylist sneak new outfits into my wardrobe. It was entertaining if nothing else. Anyway, I’ll be home all day working on finishing up a few projects.”
“Perfect. I’ll be here to get you for the TV interview around nine next Thursday, and then I’ll pick you up at four that Friday for the collaboration. But if you need to leave for any reason, give me a call or shoot me a text. Someone will be here to go with you within the hour.”
“Yes, sir,” Bree said, giving an overdramatic salute. Then she hesitated for a moment, biting her lower lip thoughtfully. “Actually…could you come a little earlier on Thursday? I need to visit my sister.”
“Of course.” He replied, standing up. “Do you remember your homework from last week? I’m going to give you a pop quiz at some point.” He joked.
Bree groaned—she hadn’t even started the homework. Noah hadn’t been thrilled when she found out that the only number she knew by heart was Steph’s.
“I promise I will get your phone number memorized,” Bree said with an innocent smile. “Girl scout’s honor.”
“Were you even in scouts?”
“Nope.”
Noah laughed and shook his head. “I better get back to the office. Thanks for lunch—though you didn’t have to do that.”
“You’re welcome—and I know.” She said pointedly, mirroring his own words.
“Touché, Miss Gray. Touché. I’ll see you Thursday. Lock the door behind me.” He said as they rose and walked toward the door.
“Always.” Bree replied before adding, “Drive safe.”
“I will, Bree. Lock up and call if you need me.”
She nodded and locked the door behind him, watching through the peephole as he walked down the driveway and to his side of the car, carefully observing the street. After he pulled away from the curb, she turned to the package sitting innocently on the table, her pulse increasing rapidly. She walked over and carefully sliced through the tape, slowly lifting the flaps of cardboard. Visions of her sweet bear inundated her mind, but she pushed them away. The odds of it being another traumatizing gift were almost zero.
Right?