you and show you how much you’re not fucking the wrong bodyguard.”
I glance around the deserted beach. “There’s no one here.”
“Not worth the risk. There might not be anyone around, but that doesn’t mean no one will come by. Closed beach or not.”
“Mmm, give me until sunset, and then you can take me home and kiss me wherever you want.”
Brix settles back on his towel, and I do the same. “You have the best ideas.”
I turn my head to look at him and reach for his hand. It’s a quick squeeze, something friendly, but I hope he knows how much more it is. “No, you do. Thank you for bringing me here.”
“I promise to always try to bring you a dose of normal.”
It’s sad that’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever offered me.
Chapter Eighteen
Brix
I can’t help but steal glances at Harley all the way home. A full afternoon on that cliffside has given him a relaxed vibe I’ve rarely seen from him.
He’s wearing a permanent smile, and he’s slinked back in his seat like he doesn’t have a care in the world. He sings along to a song on the radio but not in the way he would if he was onstage. His voice is naturally amazing, and he always hits high notes and shows it off when he performs and in the studio, but right now he’s not even trying. He’s having fun with it.
I want to reach for his hand across the center console. It makes me want to pull over and do wicked things to him.
My cock is hard just thinking about doing that, and I can’t wait to get back to the house so I can follow through.
I pray it’s still quiet on the paparazzi front when we get home, but knowing the cameras and security system Iris set up are watching, I’ll have to wait until we’re inside anyway.
As we pull up to the house, I realize that’s probably not an option either.
“Why’s Jamie’s car here?” I ask.
“I have no idea.”
She usually parks on the street, but she’s parked right out front. It’s not a big deal, but considering she’s not supposed to be here, and this is not routine, my bodyguard senses are tingling. Call it gut instinct.
I don’t want to leave him out here, and I don’t want to scare him, so we head inside, but I’m cautious enough to have Harley at my back.
Jamie’s pacing the kitchen when we find her, and it’s obvious I’m right. Something’s wrong.
“What happened?” I ask.
Harley goes to step around me, but I don’t let him get far. I keep him at my side.
“So, uh, my phone died, and I don’t have my charger, and yours is a stupid Android—”
Harley coughs. “Awesome Android.” He coughs again.
“Whatever. Anyway, I didn’t know what to do, so I came here, but now I’m wondering if I should’ve gone to Gideon and talked to him or maybe Brix or …” She gazes at Harley sympathetically.
“What is it?” Harley asks. “You’re freaking me out. Is it another stupid tabloid story?” His eyes widen. “Does someone know? Like, know, know.”
She shakes her head. “It’s not the tabloids.” She has an envelope in her hands. “This came for you through the fan mail PO box.”
“So I have another crazy fan. Is that all?”
If it was another harmless fan, she wouldn’t be here.
“It’s …” Her gaze flicks to mine. “It’s from … uh, the guy. Billy Webber.”
The blood drains from Harley’s face.
“Fuck.” I reach for the letter. “For future reference, if this shit happens, you come straight to me. I don’t care if your phone is dead, your car battery died, or what the hell ever. You come to me.”
“O-okay.” She looks down at her feet.
That might’ve been harsh, but this is a security threat, no matter what the letter says. Which, as I open it and begin to read, I can’t decide if this is trying to torment Harley further or reassure him somehow.
“What’s it say?” Harley asks. It’s obvious he’s not sure if he wants to know because he makes no move to try to take it from me to read it himself.
“It’s an apology. Of sorts.” If victim blaming can be considered a form of an apology. “It basically says he’s sorry for any stress he caused, and that it was a genuine misunderstanding. But …”
“But?”
“But ‘Your charismatic charm is hard to resist, and I had to take my chance even if it was small. You made me feel a connection