Page 55 of Home Coming

Maybe it wasn’t Quinn acting strangely but rather her. She had to face the fact that this whole situation had made her paranoid.

Truth be told she hadn’t felt normal since the break-in at her apartment.

She might have a chance of having her life settle down if she weren’t on this sudden and disjointed press tour Xander was throwing at her one appearance at a time.

With a sigh, she raised her gaze to Quinn. Damn, he looked good in flannel. And that thermal stretched tight across his pecs didn’t hurt.

“Thank you. For taking care of me,” she said, hoping it made up for her earlier suspicion.

He flashed that knee-buckling smile. “Always.”

Always. If only that were true…

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

The Ballad of Bailey and the Bodyguard

Bailey Knowles’s Protection to Paparazzi “Back off!”

“Suite” Love—Bailey Knowles and Bodyguard Quinn Baldwin Check into Four-Figure / Night Deluxe Suite Together

Quinn scanned the headlines and let out a sigh. He and Bailey might have escaped the city yesterday morning—with a bit of maneuvering and the help of the television studio staff—but they couldn’t escape the press coverage.

Someone—his money was on Josie—had gotten up early, gone to the store and bought all the newspapers that featured him and Bailey.

His own picture scowled back at him in black and white from the page. The version of him in print had Bailey protectively under one arm while he cut a path between the photographers with the other.

It wasn’t what he wanted to see first thing in the morning before he’d even had a cup of coffee.

His cell vibrated in the pocket of his sweats and he addedtaking a phone callto the list of things he didn’t want to deal with this morning.

It was still early. Bailey and Josie were both here. His parents were on a cruise hopefully enjoying a buffet breakfast or sleeping late.

That only left the team. Or worse—command. Even while on official leave he was subject to being recalled for a mission.

Shit.

Freeing the cell from his pocket, Quinn let out a breath of relief when he saw Rich’s name. He smiled. This he could probably handle as he poured his first cup of caffeine.

“Yo. Richie Rich. What’s up down there in HotLanta?” Quinn asked.

He noticed how just talking to his teammate had him feeling different. Like the SEAL was taking over.

SEAL Quinn made quick definitive decisions. No doubts. No waffling.

Civilian Quinn—the son, the brother, the friend—was guilt-ridden. He second-guessed his decisions and worried about the future.

It was no wonder he preferred operating in SEAL-mode.

“I think the better question is what the hell is going on up there in New York? Because I know I can’t be looking at a picture of my teammate threatening a photographer. Dude, did you take a private security gig for some singer?”

“Shit. The story reached all the way down there?” He’d been hoping the coverage was limited to the local New York press.

After a pause, Rich said, “All righty then. I guess that’s ayes.And to answer your question, gossip rags are national, my brother.”

“And you read that garbage?” Quinn asked.

“Can’t help what’s in my face while I’m on the check-out line at the store. I just didn’t expect to see you and your girl on the cover. Now, if I’m allowed a follow-up question, what do you think command is going to say about you being splashed all over the press?”

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