Page 19 of The Biker's Brother

“You speak SpanishandPortuguese?”

She smiled. “Well, that’s a surprise.”

“What is?”

“Most Americans think Brazilians speak Spanish.” Brandon shrugged. “Yes. I speak Spanish and Portuguese. And a little bit of French.”

“Combien coûte un peu?’’

“Well, Sir Bodyguard. I’m even more surprised.”

“Work takes me all over.”

She nodded.

“To answer the question, I know enough that I could get around a French menu without using an app.”

“So you were saying he would take you to lunch.”

She seemed to deflate a little. Like the conversation had turned halfway pleasant and that tenuous grip on cheer was jerked out from under her.

She faced toward the windshield.

“It was flattering.Reallyflattering. I think maybe there’s something deep in the core of femininity that longs to be pursued like that. For all appearances, he made me believe that I was desired above all other women, that not only did he only have eyes for me, but that he would always feel that way. And I mean, what woman could resist that?”

Brandon’s only response was a deep sigh.

“I guess you’re thinking that I was really naïve. And gullible,” she said.

“I wasn’t thinking that. My thoughts were more along the lines of thinking this guy is growing in douchebagness with every new syllable you speak.”

“You know, you don’t talk like a bodyguard.”

“You keep saying that. How many bodyguards have you had?”

“Um. You’re the first? Okay. So point taken. Maybe I’m not in a position to claim authority on how bodyguards talk in general. I justsuspectthey don’t talk like you.”

The rain was coming down so hard that Brand was forced to slow to twenty miles an hour. He couldn’t see farther than the projection of the SUV’s headlights.

“You get easily distracted. You know that?” he asked.

“I’ll have you know I’m quite capable of concentration.”

“Well?”

“So where was I?”

Brandon rolled his eyes.

“You know exactly where you were.” She reached up to run a hand over her head and gasped. “What’s wrong?”

“Ah, nothing. I’m just not used to not having any hair.”

He glanced over at her.

“It’s different from what you’re used to, but it still looks good.”

She looked at him with surprise, not expecting a compliment. “Thank you.”

---