Page 10 of The Bodyguard
Hank’s place eclipsed any ranch for hundreds of miles, so everything else seemed small in comparison. Even insignificant in some ways, although I could see now it was superficial to think that way. I should have known more about his parents, their operation. I didn’t.
All I knew was that the Pines had retired to Arizona last year and Garrett had moved back home and was breeding bulls for the rodeo in addition to his job at the sheriff’s office.
“Been a while,” Garrett said, walking through the place. “I forgot how…grand it was.”
Grand? He meant garish. Jennifer’s taste ran toward gilt. I knew that. I’m not sure why, but the slight hurt a little.
“That’s how we Kings roll,” I said, hiding behind all things King. “Everything is bigger in Texas, including Hank King.”
He lifted his chin at that. “So, where did you hear the noise?”
“Oh, this way.” I led him through the formal living room with the two massive facing white couches, into the games room, then through the ballroom to the dining room, and from there to the kitchen. There was a sunroom off the kitchen that was meant to be a breakfast room, although no one ever used it. Off the porch was a door.
“It sounded like someone was turning the knob. Trying to get in.” I bit my lip and said a silent apology to the god of truth. But this was my destiny, after all. A girl had a right to fight for it.
Garrett opened the door and looked outside. He studied the knob itself. Wiggled it in a way that might have made a sound I might have heard.
“Were you in the kitchen when you heard it?”
Right. Because if I had been in the living room or the games room I wouldn’t have heard a thing. However, if I had been in the kitchen, I would have been able to see if anyone was on the other side of the door.
“Just outside. I was coming down for a drink,” I said. “Speaking of which, can I offer you something? Hank always has some specialty beers.”
I walked over to the smaller drinks fridge and opened it.
“Sorry. On duty.”
“Oh, right,” I said. “Well, then, something to eat? I made brownies with peanut butter chips in them.”
I had spent all day baking until I’d made a perfect batch. They were now perfectly stacked on a piece of china on the kitchen’s center island.
“Brownies, huh? Sounds good, but I think I’ll have to pass.”
“Oh. I have chips and hummus.” I walked over to the fridge and started pull stuff out onto the counter. “Salsa and guacamole, too.”
“Brin.”
I turned at the sound of his voice.
“This is a police call,” he said. “You don’t have to entertain me.”
“I was just trying to be nice.”
He opened the back door and walked outside. Looking for footprints, maybe, or some sign that someone had been there. After a few minutes he came back inside.
“I don’t see anything. Doesn’t look like anything was disturbed.”
“Oh,” I said. “I guess it could have been the wind or something.”
He nodded. “Well, if that’s all…”
Shit, shit, shit. The whole point of this drama was to spend time with him. Get to know him. For him to get to know me. How could we be each other’s future if we didn’t talk more?
“You know my sister is engaged. We’re having a big party here. You should come. Everyone’s invited. You know Hank, it will be a massive blowout.”
Garrett smiled. “Sounds fun.”
“I’m just thinking it would be nice to see you. You know, not on an official call or anything. To see you out of your uniform. I mean, not out of it, like completely out of it, just you know…I’m rambling.”
