Page 57 of Not the Bodyguard's Princess
Heads turned.
Andrew threw an arm around Jordan’s waist and pulled her close. Instinctively, Jordan turned into his shoulder. Andrew brushed a kiss across her brow. “I knew I had the best girlfriend, but, wow, a princess!”
The adults smiled and turned back to minding their own business. The cashier handed Andrew his change and kept studying Jordan. The little girl’s father frowned. Jordan wished she could tell the child she had a good eye, but that could quickly get out of hand.
Andrew handed her the grocery sack. “Do you mind carrying this?”
With one arm wrapped around her, he must want the other one free. Jordan took the bag without looking back at the little girl.
Safely in the car, Jordan pulled out her candy bar. “I wish I was one of those people who carried their own publicity photos around. I’d wait for that girl and give her one. No one at school will believe her.”
Andrew pulled a Sharpie out of the center console. “Sign the candy bar. They’re coming out of the store. You can hand it to her through the window.”
Jordan signed her name as Andrew pulled up behind the car where the father and daughter had stopped, and rolled down his window “Excuse me, sir?”
The father stepped closer. His daughter held his hand. Jordan took off her hat. “Sweetheart, you have a very good eye. I’m not a princess, but sometimes I play one on TV.”
“I knew you were Princess Sam!”
“Yes. I was trying to sneak in and out of the store with no one recognizing me. You won.” Jordan handed the candy bar to Andrew, who handed it to the father.
The father read the signature, then narrowed his eyes. “Well, thank you. I appreciate you letting her know she wasn’t making things up. But I still want her to understand it isn’t polite to behave like that.”
Andrew let the car roll forward a few inches, and the man backed off.
Jordan waved, and Andrew rolled up the window.
“Thanks for letting me do that. I felt so bad when I realized she was holding back the tears.”
Andrew nodded. “I understand. It’s hard the first time you meet a princess.”
“Have you met many?”
“Just two.” A half smile teased Andrew’s face as if there were a hidden joke somewhere behind it.
* * *
Andrew took several unnecessary roads getting back to September’s rental. After today, he would insist on a full security detail up here. Let the lawyers deal with the contract. The worst thing was that he couldn’t be a part of that crew. His phone rang as he turned onto the safe house’s street. He tapped the phone icon on the console.
“Mr. Andrew, this is dispatch. The team we routed back to you is having car problems and is waiting for a tow. Deidre plans to leave within the hour with Adam. They will pick up the rest of the team. Their ETA is close to 1:00 a.m.”
“Thank you. Anything more?”
“Ben called. Tonie should be released in the morning. Also, the vet says Princess should sleep off the effects of the drugs and they will monitor her overnight. As a side note, one of the K-9s has made himself her personal protector. The vet says she’s in good hands—and paws.”
Someone was finding humor in things. Andrew checked Jordan’s reaction. A sad smile was better than no smile, right? “Thanks. Tell everyone to drive safely.”
“Will do.”
Andrew pulled into the garage. “Shall we see if we can get as far as eating dinner?”
“I keep hoping someone will yell ‘Cut!’ so I can go home and get to bed.” Jordan didn’t wait for him to get to her door.
The Hastings app showed no security alerts for the house, but Andrew did a quick walk-through anyway. By the time he came back, Jordan had restarted the pot pies. “We forgot milk.”
“Does that mean no more checkers?”
Jordan sat at the table. “I’ll be chocolate this time.”
