Page 59 of Home Coming

Mark snorted. “Remember the summer he was riding his bicycle everywhere when his car broke down rather than ask for a ride?”

“Uh-huh.” Chris nodded.

Defeated, Quinn conceded. “All right. All right. But this time I’m really not sure if I need your help or not. It depends on circumstances out of my control.”

Although, was that really the truth? Because whether he got called back early by command or not, he was still going back at the end of the month. His leave was finite. And when he flew back to California, whenever that was, Bailey would be alone. Unprotected.

Of course he would try to convince her to hire security—preferably a company he’d vetted himself. He’d go over her head to Xander if he had to, to make sure she didn’t continue to take risks. That was one reason he’d demanded she give him Xander’s contact information.

But he knew Bailey would be stubborn and it wouldn’t hurt to have the local guys he trusted—one who was in position to actually help—keep an eye on her.

By some twist of fate Mark, the guy who’d grown up looking for ways to get around the law, was now a sergeant in the Village of Sidney Police Department.

“Okay. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, for now…” Mark lifted his chin as he tossed a twenty dollar bill on the bar. “Carter, three beers please. On me. Four if you can have one for yourself. Quinn, you talk.”

This wasn’t meant to be a group meeting. It was clear it had turned into one and maybe that wasn’t the worst thing. The more eyes looking out for Bailey, the better.

Quinn explained the situation—the break-in, Axel, the paparazzi. As he laid it all out he realized how many fronts the threats against Bailey came from.

“Wait. So this Bailey you’re talking about. She was in our school?” Mark frowned.

Chris nodded. “I thought the chick your sister was hanging out with looked kind of familiar at the reunion. But the name Bailey doesn’t ring a bell at all.”

“Her name was Jane in high school. She was in Josie’s class.”

“So she just up and changed her name?” Chris asked.

“Actually, I think that’s kind of cool,” Carter said. “Good for her.”

Chris pursed his lips and nodded. “Better than getting a boob job, I guess.”

Quinn was seeing what was meant to be a very serious conversation devolving pretty quickly. Not a surprise considering he was dealing with Chris Boffo, votedClass Clowntheir year.

“Anyway,” he began in an attempt to get the conversation back on track. “If I get recalled and have to leave, I’ll need someone to keep an eye on Bailey. She seems to think everything is fine and she doesn’t need protection.”

“From what you’ve said,” Mark began, “she does.”

At the same time, Chris completed Mark’s sentence with, “She’s delusional.”

Carter snorted out a laugh. “Yeah, I’ve found women really like when you tell them that, Boffo.”

“I’m just saying.” Chris scowled.

“I’m going to look into hiring a private security firm and get her some close personal protection for when she travels. But I know since she doesn’t take the threats seriously she won’t accept security while she’s at my parents’ house.”

“I got you covered, Baldwin. I’ll make sure to schedule some extra patrols. My guys are driving around aimlessly most days anyway. I can have them swing past your parents’ house a few times a day.”

Chris’s brows rose. “Wait. So she’s like living with you?”

“Notliving with me. She’s staying in my sister’s room. For now,” Quinn corrected.

Carter nodded. “Now I remember her. She and your sister were joined at the hip in high school.”

Chris let out a humph. “Yup. She looked pretty cute when I saw her with Josie at the reunion. So Baldwin, I’m not a cop like Mark here but I’d be all over thatclose personal protectiongig if you need an extra hand.”

Quinn sent him a glare to accompany his definitive, “No.”

Chris narrowed his eyes. “Hey! I didn’t mean it like that. Jeez. I’m a married man with a kid. I’m talking about earning some extra money. That kinda shit pays well. But never mind. I got my own job that keeps me busy anyway.”

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