to Ian’s safety. Or to anyone else’s. Now I just need the DNA results to be sure we’ve got the right guy.
In the meanwhile, I’ve got eyes on Ian, and he’s safe.
Chapter 12
Ian Alexander
If I’m going to be stuck with a bodyguard, this one’s not bad. He’s pretty chill, and he’s my age, not some cranky old asshole. I had some real gems when I was younger.
Once we’re past the no-wake zone, I open up the throttle and let my baby fly over the waves. It’s windy, and the water is a bit choppy.
Miguel white-knuckles his armrests as he divides his attention between me and the horizon. “How long have you been operating boats?” he says, loud enough to be heard over the sound of the engines and the spray.
“For as long as I can remember. When I was little, my parents would take me out on their yacht. Even though they had a full crew, my dad would take over the helm sometimes and let me sit on his lap and operate the controls. I was hooked. I wanted to be a pirate, and being out on the water was about as close as I was ever going to get.”
“This boat must have cost a pretty penny.”
I shrug. “Yachts aren’t cheap. This is one of the smallest on the market, but I wanted something I could operate alone.”
I head away from shore, out into open water where there are far fewer boats. I like being out here past the tourists’ stomping grounds. I like the solitude.
When we’re far enough out, I lower my speed until we’re cruising at an easy pace. Miguel relaxes his hold on his chair and eases up on his posture. After a while, I lower speed until we come to a stop and drop anchor.
Miguel follows me out of the cockpit to the rear of the deck.
“Want something to drink?” I ask him as I step behind the bar and open the mini fridge. “I’ve got water, soft drinks, juice, and beer.”
He frowns. “Beer?”
“Not for me, silly. I don’t drink when I’m operating the boat. But you can have one if you like.”
Miguel shakes his head. “Not while I’m working. But I’ll take a water.”
“Still or fizzy?”
“Still’s fine.”
I grab a chilled bottle of spring water and toss it to him. Then I grab a bottle of sparkling water for myself. I like the burn.
“So.” I sit on a barstool and swivel to face Miguel, who’s seated on one of the padded aft benches. “You’re a bodyguard.”
The corners of his lips turn up slightly. “Yep. And… you’re a client. I’m glad we got that established.”
I lift my water bottle in his direction. “Touché. Cheers.”
“Cheers.” He guzzles a third of the bottle in one swig.
“My parents started hiring bodyguards for me and my sister when we were kids. I gave up mine when I dropped out of University of Chicago.”
“Why?”
I shrug. “It cramped my style. Having someone shadowing me constantly, looking over my shoulder all the time… it drove me nuts.”
Miguel laughs. “Maybe you’re just a free spirit. That’s okay. Not everyone has to play by the same rules.” He nods as if he gets me. “Why did you drop out of college?”
“For the same reason, I guess. Rules and schedules drive me batty. I guess I’m ADD.” I take a drink of my fizzy water. “So, Tyler hired you?”
Miguel nods. “Sort of. He asked Shane for a bodyguard, and Shane assigned me. I’m good with free spirits.”
“I see. So, you didn’t just pick the short straw?”
Miguel rests his arms along the chrome railing behind him and looks around at the unbroken expanse of water as far as the eye can see in every direction. Some people might be unnerved when they can’t see land, but I find it liberating.
“The way I see it,” he says as he leans back against the railing, “this is a cushy assignment. I get to follow you around, chase after your shiny blue Porsche that probably cost more than I make in a year, and now I’m riding the waves, literally, and enjoying the good life.”
I laugh and then take another drink. “I’m glad you approve.”
“If I’m lucky, I might even get to hitch a ride in your Porsche.”
We both look up when a seagull circles overhead, screeching at us. Finally, when it gets bored, it flies away.
“So, what’s on the agenda today?” Miguel says.
“Nothing specific. I just needed to get out. I’ve been cooped up in my townhouse for too