In A Fix - Mary Calmes Page 0,13

smile I got in return for that answer was nice.

“I was just pondering on it,” he replied affably. “It’s the one detail that’s not in your file.”

I squinted at him. “You think maybe I’m a flake, flitting from one thing to another without thought or planning?”

“Oh God, no,” he assured me quickly. “I admire your ability to throw caution to the wind and leave a place, a whole network of family and friends.”

“I don’t have a family,” I explained flatly. “I left home at seventeen to go to school, and that was that.”

“You’ve never gone back?”

“There’s no home to go back to. The house was sold, and everyone moved away.”

“That’s horrible.”

And why the hell I’d decided in that moment to spill my guts would remain a mystery. So much for not being altogether truthful and forthcoming. Then I put it together—his questions, his interest—and came up with an answer. “You’re worried about losing your family and friends for some reason, and you’re wondering what it’s like to be in that situation.”

“What?” he said, surprised, almost panicked, standing up and walking a few feet from the bed before pivoting to pin me with his gaze. “No. Why would you even suggest something like that?”

He had secrets he didn’t want to share, and it wasn’t my job to pry—as I’d been reminded so many, many times. Just because I liked knowing things didn’t mean people liked telling them. I certainly didn’t. I took a breath and stopped. “You’re right, I’m sorry. So tell me, are you on board with your father hiring you a bodyguard once you get back home?”

He took a quick breath, and his shoulders dropped as he relaxed. “I’m still not sold on the idea. I mean, I already have a security team that monitors me at home and at the office, and then Eric is at the house with me most of the time, but specifically at night.”

If I had said oh to that statement, or anything to punctuate “specifically at night,” I was sure he would have been aghast. As it was, I just nodded, even though that tidbit was a monster of a tell. I was dying to meet Eric Foster, but unfortunately I would never have the opportunity. “It seems that you think a bodyguard would just be an extra person in the way.”

“That’s exactly what I think,” he agreed. “But I don’t want anything to interfere with this business deal for my sister, so I’m prepared to have my life upended.”

“And Astor’s, of course,” I threw in, baiting him, curiosity getting the better of me.

“Oh yes, of course,” he agreed quickly, but it was clearly an afterthought.

“Well,” I said, tired of playing cat and mouse with him, bored with the game, “I will endeavor to protect you until you get on the plane to return to Connecticut.”

“Thank you,” he murmured, relieved, it seemed, that I had dropped the topic of Astor Finnel. He didn’t seem particularly interested in talking about her.

“Now,” I said, taking a breath, “I think it’s time to get everyone some brunch, don’t you?”

“I agree,” Brig replied cheerfully, smiling as he turned to open the door. “I’m utterly starving, myself.”

I had been unhappy about having to come to Vegas, but it was infinitely better than having to protect Brig Stanton at home. Just imagining all the people in his life, in his home, that I would need to talk to and deal with was exhausting. Here, my path was clear; all I had to do was keep track of the man for the next four days, and then put him on a plane for home. I couldn’t imagine a cushier assignment, and I felt a bit bad for whining about it to Jared. This was going to be simple; it was surprising I hadn’t recognized that sooner.

Three

It was always fascinating how many secrets could be ferreted out simply by being observant. I was convinced that most good detective work had more to do with keeping an eye open than any other skill. When I was younger, going to the mall to people-watch had been one of my favorite things to do. While the crew I was with would be shopping or flirting—standard high school pursuits—I was analyzing spacing, how close or far people stood from one another, and of course, touching.

At the moment, just hanging back, letting the entire group walk in front of me, I realized some truths fairly quickly.

Nolan Stanton was madly in love with his brother’s girlfriend. I