Page 12 of Crossing the Line
Waverly beaned her friend in the head with a muffin. “Come on, Kate. He’s notthathot.”
Despite their age and cultural differences, Kate and Marisol managed to shoot Waverly twin looks of disbelief.
Waverly joined Kate at the wide window over the sink. Xavier was perched on the edge of the roof that covered the main house’s expansive patio. Below him, a man on a ladder was installing a new security camera. Xavier’s jacket was off, and his sleeves were rolled up. Waverly could understand how Kate and Marisol found him attractive. Physically, he was the perfect male specimen.
His face alone was worthy of being captured in marble. That perfect Roman nose, cheekbones so sculpted they would have guaranteed a modeling career. And those eyes. The color of melted caramel, they missed nothing.
They watched him prowl the edge of the roof.Probably scouting more ways to invade her privacy, Waverly thought. He stood, hands on hips, with his tie fluttering in the breeze.
“I mean, come on,” Kate said. “That’s just hot. I don’t know how you can concentrate with that piece of gorgeous breathing down your neck.”
“Easy. Just look past his god-like exterior and get to know him. He’s got the personality of a Turkish prison guard.”
“I’d go to prison for that,” Kate mused.
Waverly crossed her arms. “He’s condescending, rude, and entirely too opinionated. Now, can we please get back to our meeting?”
“He called her the Bride of Satan,” Marisol piped up. “And that was before she threw him in the pool.” She tried to look disapproving, but Waverly wasn’t fooled.
They returned to the table where, with one last look of longing, Kate launched into Waverly’s calendar. Details and schedules were her fetish. She rattled off a series of appearance requests and invites for the week while Waverly drummed her pen on the table.
“So, no to all, correct?” Kate asked.
But still Waverly drummed. If Xavier wanted to guard a Tinsel Town princess, then maybe she should give him a show. One that would have him packing his bags.
“Say yes,” Waverly decided, dropping her pen.
“To which one?” Kate frowned.
“All of them.”
“Wave, there’s a dozen events here. Some that overlap,” Kate argued.
“And?”
“And you don’t do that. You don’t go to these things unless your mother holds a gun to your head.”
“Saint is putting in overtime to get to know me and my routine. Why not give him a routine that makes him regret taking the job?”
Marisol made a disapproving tut-tut. “Your parents hired him to keep you safe.”
“My parents hired him to keep me in line,” Waverly corrected. She got up to pace. “Kate, how do you think my mother will react when she hears about my new schedule?”
“She’ll shit a brick of ecstasy,” Kate predicted. “She lives to parade you around like a show pony. You’re lucky that kid beauty contest TV show didn’t exist when you were growing up.”
“So if she sees me playing ball…”
“Then what does she need Mr. Hot Bod Sexy Face for?” Kate finished.
“Exactly! Ladies, we could be Saint-free in a week.” Waverly twirled around the kitchen.
“I don’t like when you two scheme,” Marisol shook her head sternly. “Why can’t you just let this Saint do his job?”
Waverly stopped twirling. “Mari, you know me. I can’t live like this. I’m so close to finally doing what’s right for me. I can’t spend the next four months under lock and key so my mother can turn me into a puppet. She’ll have me committed to projects two years out.”
“But why can you not say that to Mr. Saint? Explain to him that you’re leaving the business.”
“Because Mr. Saint believes that I’m a spoiled little rich girl with an attitude problem. And I’d hate to disappoint him.”
