Page 27 of Tempting the Player
“I wouldn’t have let it get that far.” But I don’t know if that’s true. I almost did.
That seems to deflate her anger a little bit, but her body language is still closed off.
“I’m sorry about the way you found out, but we need to get you out of here until we can figure out who did this.”
I start for the door, but she doesn’t budge. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Jane,” I plead. “It isn’t safe. Your house is filled with people, and we have no idea if one of them did this or if someone else walked in while you were occupied.”
She pales a little, as if the idea that whoever did this could be downstairs is finally sinking in. But her spine straightens again, and she shakes her head. “I’m not going anywhere with you. And I’d like you to leave.”
It shouldn’t sting. It’s just a job. She was just supposed to be a job. But it still does. It stings like a motherfucker. I royally fucked this up.
“Go,” she says, raising her chin in defiance.
“Will you at least call one of your roommates? You have no idea who did this or why. Someone should be with you at all times, and you shouldn’t stay here. Not until we know more.”
She looks scared and fragile through the tough demeanor she’s projecting. I hope her parents will at least let me track down whoever did this because I want nothing more than to break every bone in their face. It’s the least I can do.
Her phone rings and she pulls it out and glances at the screen. “Please just go. I’ll be fine without you.”
* * *
I walk home because I don’t know where else to go. Flynn is in his room and the rest of my brothers are still out for the night, so I pace the living room and hold my phone waiting for updates.
Jane’s dad calls when I’m on the verge of walking back to her house and checking on her myself.
“She’s upset, but I guess we all expected that would be the case if she found out. It’s lucky you were there.” I hear the question in his statement.
I don’t have a good excuse, so I don’t bother providing him one. I shouldn’t have been there. I was kidding myself that I was there to keep an eye on her. I was there because I wanted to see her.
He sighs. “She’s on the phone with her mother now. She’s staying at a friend’s tonight.”
“Good.” My pulse thrums quickly and I’m still pacing. “Should I keep an eye on her friend’s place while she’s there?”
There’s an awkward silence before Mr. Greenfield says solemnly, “She’s agreed to a security detail, but she wants someone else. ‘Anyone else’ were her exact words.”
The piercing pain in my stomach tightens. “I see.”
“I’m sorry. I guess keeping it from her backfired on all of us.”
Yeah, no shit.
“For what it’s worth, her mom and I are appreciative of all you’ve done. We’ll be happy to provide you with a recommendation.”
“Thank you,” I get the words out, then grind down on my back molars.
We say our final goodbyes and then I scream into the quiet living room, “Fuck!”
Logan, my boss from the security agency, calls a little while later, reiterating that I’m no longer needed on the Greenfield detail. It’s no big deal to him. Jobs come and go. Sometimes they last longer than we plan, sometimes shorter. He has a dozen other clients waiting in line.
“When are you coming back to California?” he asks.
“I’m not sure yet.”
“Tomorrow? Monday? Give me some idea so I know when I can get you back out there. That supermodel you worked for last month is requesting you again and old man Waverly has gone through three other security details in the past month. You’re the only one he doesn’t hate. Supermodel or the cranky bastard, your pick. Just get back here asap.”
A vision of my life back in California flashes through my mind. I came here for two reasons and going home so soon feels like failing on both counts.
