face.
“I’m sorry.”
She softens and shakes her head. “I apologize if I seem bitter.”
“How do you think the angry hoard found you?”
She sighs. “I should have guessed this was the first place people would look. Nia is my half-sister; we share a father. Long story. But that’s not the only connection. Evan, her husband, and Oliver are both Barclay’s illegitimate sons.”
Not only was the thief a habitual cheat, but her own father couldn’t keep it in his pants, either? Nice. “Since you have connections to both Mr. and Mrs. Cook…”
“People assumed I would come here after leaving California.”
I make a mental note that any safe house for Amanda can’t be with family—on either side. “We’ll get you to safety soon.”
“Thank you. But I can’t hide forever. I won’t. I hear you’re a firearms instructor.”
“Yeah. I owned a range in Colorado for about ten years. I’ve taught for longer than that.”
“You don’t own the range anymore?”
I shake my head. “Sold it when I filed for divorce awhile back.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. My soon-to-be-ex and I are both much happier. And I’m thinking about opening a range in Maui soon.”
“When did you move here?”
“I really haven’t yet, but I think I’m going to.”
A little furrow appears between her brows. “Maybe I should consider a move, too. I can’t go back to LA. And I won’t go to New York, where I grew up. My father still lives there. I don’t need his meddling. Hell”—she tosses her hands in the air—“maybe I’ll stay here, too. My brother, Stephen, just relocated to the island for his wife, Skye.”
“You two close?”
“Yeah. He’s always been there for me, especially when my dad wasn’t.”
“Did your dad travel a lot or something when you were a kid?”
I should stop asking irrelevant personal questions. It’s none of my business, and has no bearing on how I protect Amanda. But they keep slipping out of my mouth. I can’t deny I’m curious.
“I suppose, but that wasn’t really the problem. He can be a real bastard, which is probably why he and Barclay were friends. Stephen assures me Dad has mellowed with age. Maybe.” She shrugs. “Anyway, while we’re together, I was hoping you could teach me to shoot. I’ll pay you.”
“Sure.”
“If it wasn’t clear, I’ll pay you for all your time.”
“I appreciate that, but I can only stay a few days.”
Amanda shakes her head, and it’s impossible not to notice the way her pale waves skim over breasts that I’d bet a hundred bucks aren’t restrained by a bra.
“Then you should go. I need someone who’s willing to commit a bit longer.”
Maybe so, but… “Who else are you going to find at barely six a.m. on a Sunday morning?”
“I don’t know, but I need someone for more than a day or two.”
“And I need a steady, long-term job. You’re going to want someone with more experience, anyway. But I’ll be here until we can find you that guy.”
“Fine.” She doesn’t sound happy about it. “How much would it take to entice you to stay for the week?”
“We’ll work it out.” Normally, I wouldn’t let a negotiation go. It’s stupid and irresponsible to agree to work before coming to financial terms, but Amanda, despite holding her own and standing up for herself, looks exhausted. And I feel like shit for wondering what she looks like under those pajamas. Even now, I’m picturing her. I have no doubt her body would both take my breath away and kick my libido into overdrive.
Stop being a lech, dude. Do your job.
“Why don’t you go back to sleep while Oliver seems to be out?” I suggest. “That will give me time to figure out where I can take you that’s safe.”
She shakes her head. “I’ll need to pack and find a crib or playpen for my son. I can’t take Nia’s. She’ll need it soon.”
Probably not in the next few days, but I sense Amanda hates imposing on anyone, even her own family.
“All right, if you change your mind…”
“I won’t. Coffee?”
“Sure. Black, please. I’m going to walk the perimeter and find Trace.”
She nods my way, then shoulders past me and pads down the hall. I try not to notice that the top of her head only reaches my shoulder or that she’s got a lush, round ass, visible even under the too-big pajama pants. I definitely try to ignore my ill-timed erection.
Note to self: Find someone else to bodyguard her ASAP. She’s a distraction I don’t need.
Easier said than done. Who the fuck else do I know