Page 3 of Not the Bodyguard's Widow
Kimberly screamed.
He rolled off her but kept her wrists in his hand. Kimberly tried to jerk away.
The man gasped and dropped her hands. “Did I hurt you or the baby?”
Her hands flew to her belly to protect her child as she shook her head.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t notice before. I wouldn’t have tackled you.” He sat on the balls of his feet between her and the stairway, like a leopard ready to spring. “Now, what are you doing here?”
“Why didn’t the gun go off?”
“It did.”
“I missed?”
“You shouldn’t shut your eyes when you shoot. Let me repeat. What are you doing here?”
“I, um,” Kimberly said. “I’m a guest.” It was close enough. Candace said she could visit anytime. The slight fact she hadn’t spoken to Candace since Candace had married Collin Ogilvie last New Year’s Eve might be a problem.
“I see. And does Candace know you are here?”
Kimberly bit her lip. “I’ve been trying to call her for three days, but all my calls go to voicemail. I’ve had her number memorized for years. I know I have been dialing it correctly.”
“Where have you been calling from?”
“I tried a pay phone and my new cell.” Kimberly held up the burner phone.
“You say you know Candace?”
Kimberly nodded.
“May I try to call her?” He held out his hand.
Kimberly clutched her phone to her chest “No. I am never supposed to share her number.”
Mr. Alexander smiled and relaxed as he lifted his own phone and initiated a video call.
Candace’s voice soon filled the small loft. “Alex? What’s wrong?”
“Can you identify this woman for me?” Mr. Alexander turned the phone to face Kimberly, Candace’s face and bright-blue hair filling the screen.
“Kimberly? Is that Lover’s Loft? What are you two doing there?”
Mr. Alexander turned the phone back to him. “I’m not sure yet. Does she have permission to stay at Art House?”
“I told her she was always welcome. How did she get in? Kimberly, did you come through the skylight again? If you broke the skylight this time...”
“I didn’t break it.” Kimberly crossed her arms.
Mr. Alexander glanced from the skylight to Kimberly’s baby bump and back. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Ogilvie. I’ll take care of things.”
“Alex, don’t you Mrs. Ogilvie me. Let me talk to Kimberly.”
Mr. Alexander handed Kimberly the phone.
“What is going on? I got a frantic call yesterday, I mean late Tuesday, from your phone—a man claiming to be your father-in-law saying you need to contact him.”
Kimberly felt behind her for the wall. “My phone? I destroyed my phone Monday. This was a bad idea. I’m sorry, Candace. I’ll go someplace else. Please don’t tell him you know where I am.”
