Page 46 of The Exception

I pressed my palm to the keypad outside, still skeptical that the door would open. Willow had received the “all clear” from someone else with Hudson Security during the drive, so she didn’t have to go in to secure the apartment ahead of me. The lock disengaged, and as soon as I opened the door, I heard the sound of panting and claws on tile before I saw them. Graham’s beloved Irish Wolfhounds. His pride and joy.

“Prince Albert! Queen V!” I grinned, pleased when Prince Albert nudged my hand with his head, silently asking me to pet him. Queen V leaned against my side, her weight a steady comfort.

“Wow,” Willow, aka “The Beast,” said from behind me. “They’re even bigger than I expected.”

“But the sweetest,” I said, still wondering about her code name. That’s what I assumed it was after Pidgeon, one of the other guys from Hudson Security, had called her “The Beast.” I bent forward and rubbed Prince Albert behind the ears. “Aren’t you?”

A noise startled me, but I tried not to let it show. I hadn’t slept well, and I was on edge from keeping this secret from my best friend. At least in the short-term. I’d bought myself some time to figure out what and how to tell her. But I needed to have a plan, because she was coming to LA soon.

Coming to LA to attend my surprise wedding she didn’t know about. I wanted to bury my head in my hands. I was exhausted from thinking of all the ways my life was about to change. Wasalreadychanging.

“So.” I turned to Willow, setting my purse on the counter. “Why do they call you The Beast?”

“That’s classified.” Her face didn’t move, and I wondered if she was serious or messing with me.

“It’s okay. I know you only just met me, but Iwillfind out.”

She said nothing, remaining motionless by the door. Was she just going to stand there? Wait for me to…I don’t know what. Sneeze?

God. This was weird. Having a bodyguard was weird, but it was one of Graham’s nonnegotiable conditions. So I supposed I’d better get used to it.

“So, how does this work?”

“Ma’am?”

I scrunched up my face. Willow couldn’t be that much older than me. Ma’am was way too formal and stuffy. “My friends call me Lily.”

“Hudson protocol dictates that I call the principal ma’am or Ms. Fontaine.”

I wondered what my family would think of this. Even if I had been on speaking terms with them, it was probably better not to tell them. I didn’t want them coming after Graham for his money. My family would look at Graham, and all they would see was what he could do for them.

Are you really all that different?

I wanted to believe I was. I considered the situation logically, reminding myself that Graham had been the one to approach me. He’d been the one to offer to fund the château. I hadn’t asked; he’d suggested it.

“Principal?” I asked.

“Our term for the client. It’s standard in the private security industry.”

“And your protocol…”

“Is very clear.”

I leaned my hip against the counter. “Even if I’ve given you permission to call me by my first name?”

“That’s correct.”

Alrighty, then.

“Can you tell me what else I can expect from our relationship?” I went to the pantry to get some treats for the dogs. They were easy to find—located in a labeled container, of course.

“The team and I have a suite down the hall. We’ll coordinate your schedule ahead of time as much as possible. If you want to go somewhere, text me, and I’ll be available.”

“Like that?” I snapped my fingers.

“Pretty much,” she said.

“Okay. Wow.” She took my phone and programmed in her number before handing it back to me.

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