by Lucy Gage
“I still think you need a team. Why?”
“You should hire Liam.”
“What? He’s a pipsqueak. Too damn small to be a bodyguard. He’s smaller than you are. No offense, Liam.”
“None taken. It’s true.”
“You’re a trained Federal agent. You know how to use a gun and I’m sure you’ve been trained in hand-to-hand combat. We could use someone like him on the sketchier shoots. I know the production usually takes care of that security, but I also know you don’t really trust them.”
“And?”
“And here’s the perfect guy to do the job. He’s my best friend. I can trust him. I know he’d have my back. Mom and Dad always thought of him like a son. He could be there when you can’t. Kelly is ready to kill me because you’re gone all the time.”
“I guess you have a point. You interested, Liam?”
“What would it entail?”
“Hang out with me and make sure no one gets close unless I want it. Prevent me from getting killed or kidnapped in places where that sort of thing is a real danger,” Robbie said.
Liam looked at Rick. “Yeah. That’s about it in a nutshell.”
“Pay any good?” Liam asked, joking.
“Robbie has plenty of money to throw around. You won’t hurt for it and you’ll be with him enough that you won’t spend much of what you make anyway. If you’re good at surveillance, I could use someone at home for some of the fussy clients. We have a couple regular divas who like to have security and don’t want to know it.”
“Sounds like I’d be stupid to turn it down. When do you want me to start?”
“Go home to see your Ma and then meet us in Minnesota next Friday. I’m going there before my next shoot,” Robbie said.
Rick handed him a card. “Call Kelly. She’ll get you set up in the system. Welcome to the Deac Roberts security team and Deacon Security.” He shook Liam’s hand. “And in public, either call him Deac or Rob. Only the family calls him Robbie anymore. We do that so we can use ‘Robbie’ as a code if necessary.”
“Sure thing, boss. Now, can I buy my best friend a beer, or is that not allowed?”
“Even when you’re officially on the clock, I’ll still let you buy me a beer.” Rob hugged him again. “I’m really glad you’re coming to work for me, Liam. I missed my best friend.”
“Right back at ya, buddy.”
**********
Minneapolis, Minnesota, seven years ago…
Liam kissed the girl goodbye at her condo door. “Thanks for a great night, Ally.”
“I’ll call you the next time I’m in town and we can do it again. If you’re not free before 10 p.m., don’t bother saying yes.”
“Whatever you say. Bye.”
He dialed Rob on his cell. “Hey, have Mo swing by to pick me up when you leave that meeting.” He gave Rob the address.
“What were you doing there? It’s 8:30. Offices are closed.”
“I was on the upper floors, not in the offices.”
“In the condos? What, did you hook up with someone from the pharmaceutical conference?”
When he wasn’t guarding Rob at premieres, Liam worked on the high-profile cases for Deacon Security. He’d met Ally at one of those events, where he was guarding the keynote speaker.
“Yes, I did. Ally’s a sales rep at the conference’s sponsor. She wants me to be her booty call when we’re both in town.”
Rob laughed. “You’ve got a regular booty call now? What, are you done sleeping around? You looking for a girlfriend?”
“For one, it’s not regular. She travels like I do. For another, sleeping around is getting boring. I don’t need a girlfriend, but I wouldn’t mind having a few regular girls, you know? It’s nice to get laid, but they always want to spend too much time talking and not enough time getting sweaty and naked.”
Rob laughed even harder. “You’re a piece of work, Liam.”
“Not everyone wants to attach themselves to their college girlfriend.” Why Rob wanted to be with awful Rachel Wilson, he had no idea. That girl was a liar and a cheater.
Not that he could tell Rob.
“Not so sure that’s going to last anymore, Liam.”
“What? Why?” Liam feigned shock.
“She practically broke the engagement when she left for Australia.”
“Oh. That’s, uh, too bad.”
“I know you don’t like her, Liam.”
“Doesn’t mean you’re not hurting, Rob. I’m sorry for that.”
“Don’t sweat it. Hey, we’ll be there in a couple minutes. You need to swing by your place to get your bag?”
“Yeah. Can I take a quick shower? We have time for that?”
“Plenty. See you in five.”
**********
Malibu, California, six and a half years ago…
Six months later, when Rachel returned to L.A., she broke up with Rob for good. He let her keep the ring, which Liam thought was foolish. It had cost a quarter million dollars.
Sitting at Rob’s house on the Pacific shore of Malibu, they drank a beer together. “Robbie, I have to tell you something.”
“Uh-oh. You’re calling me Robbie. This can’t be good.”
“It’s not. Don’t be mad at me, okay?”
“Did you sleep with Rachel?” he asked.
“What? No fucking way. Why would you ask that?”
“Because I’m pretty sure she was screwing her director while she was on location. I doubt it’s the first time she’s cheated.”
“Yeah, about that. I caught her.”
“When? Recently?”
“No, Robbie, in college. Remember that weekend you went to Patrick’s christening?”
“How could I forget? You refused to be in the same room with Rachel for a while after that.”
“With good reason. I caught her riding Jake like a bull. Next morning, I found her in my bed, wearing my Bruins shirt.”
“That’s what happened to that shirt? Did you sleep with her?”
“No. She came in while I was sleeping and took it. Wore it so I couldn’t take it back. Then she threatened to let you find it at her apartment if I told you that she cheated on you.”
“She blackmailed you?”
Liam nodded. “Said that if I told you, she’d make sure you thought I was the one who cheated with her. That you’d believe her because you didn’t think you were worthy of her. Told me you were her meal ticket and that she was going to the top with you whether I liked it or not. I could either remain your friend or you could hate me, but no matter what, I wouldn’t stand in her way.”
“Holy mother of God. Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“You were too important to me, Robbie. I’ve hated every day that I didn’t tell you. She never deserved you. If your mom hadn’t told me that she didn’t expect it to last, I’d have told you before.”
“My mother told you that she thought it wouldn’t last?” His face dropped and his eyes were sad.
“Robbie, she knew instinctively that Rachel wasn’t in it for you, just for the fame. But she said it was pretty evident after the big tabloid scandal a couple years ago.”
Rob nodded. Rachel had left him high and dry, running off for lengthy location shoots repeatedly and leaving Rob to fend for himself with the tabloids. That was when Rick started his security company and became Rob’s bodyguard.
“I’m glad you told me. I’m a little pissed that you never said anything before, but at the time, she was right; I’d probably have taken her side instead of yours. I was too far gone over her then. I wish you’d said something later, though. I haven’t felt confident she’d stick around for a while now.”
“You deserve someone who will.”
“So do you.”
“Yeah, probably not in the cards for me, buddy.”
“I don’t believe that. You’ll meet the right girl someday.”
“Keep dreamin’. I’m not meant to be a family man.”
�
��I think you are. I’ll find you someone.”
“When? In your abundance of free time?” Liam laughed.
Rob chuckled in return. “Touché. Let’s drink to Rachel being out of my life forever.”
“Aren’t you taking her to the Directors Guild Awards?”
“Yeah, but now that I know what she did to us, she’ll never get another chance with me, no matter what she thinks.”
“Glad to hear it.
**********
Malibu, California, four years ago…
The day before they left for the Shattered Glass shoot, Liam had arrived early because they were leaving L.A. for location filming in Mexico. Rick had sent him out for the night, saying that he should get some time off while he could. It would be a long, intense three weeks while they were in Mexico.
He called Reggie, who was Rob’s makeup artist. She had propositioned Liam when they first met, at one of Rob’s premieres. The two of them had been getting busy whenever they were in the same place – either at a premiere or if Liam happened to be in L.A., where Reggie lived.
He spent the evening having fun between the sheets with Reggie, but he didn’t stay with her overnight. He rarely stayed with her anyway, but they had to leave midday the next day and it was just easier to wake up in his own bed. When he got to the Malibu house, he let himself in and saw that there was a fire going out back. He was surprised to find only Rick sitting there.
“Where’s Rob?” he asked.
“He’s…occupied,” Rick said with a sigh, taking a pull from his beer bottle.
Liam smirked. “Occupied? As in he’s got a woman in his bed? Since when?” He went to the outdoor fridge and grabbed his own brew, popped the top and sat down across the fire from his boss.
“You’ll have to ask him about it yourself. I don’t know how much he wants me to say.”
Liam grimaced. “It’s not Lola, is it?”
Rob’s last girlfriend, Lola Benedict, was an actress who’d unceremoniously dumped him after one of her movie premieres. She’d sold a story to Star magazine, which had smeared Rob’s name, implying he’d not only cheated on her, but that he’d hooked up with her on the set of the movie where they met, while Rob was still engaged to Rachel.
“No. Absolutely not. I’d never allow that.”
Liam had a horrifying thought. “It’s not Rachel?”
“God, no. I’d let Lola in the door before I’d let her in here.”
“You’re not going to tell me who it is, are you?”
“Nope.”
“You expecting to see him tonight?”
“I doubt it. I imagine they’ll stay up there all night.”
“She’s spending the night?”
“She spent the night every night for the last month. I highly doubt she’ll go home tonight when it’s the last time they’ll be together for a while.”
“So this has been going on for a month?”
Rick sighed again. “I don’t know. Outside the last month, when she’s been around every single day, I can’t say.”
“Is that why Lola dumped him?”
“She and Rob said it wasn’t, but I don’t know if I believe it.”
“Is she his new girlfriend?”
Rick sighed heavily. He wasn’t usually like this, so whatever it was he knew, it was bothering him. A lot. “I don’t know, Liam. Ask him yourself. Maybe he’ll tell you, maybe he won’t. I’ve been instructed to keep it to myself, but you’re his best friend. He might say more to you than he would to anyone else.” After that, Liam changed the subject. Rick didn’t want to discuss it and he felt like a nosy schoolgirl for continuing to ask.
The next day, Rob wandered out to the deck.
“Look who’s finally awake,” Liam joked.
“I’ve been awake. You’re the one who slept late today.”
Liam laughed. “From what I heard, there wasn’t much sleeping.”
“Did Rick tell you something?” Rob looked worried.
“Nothing specific. Said I should ask you myself. Figured you’d be more inclined to tell me about this girl if I asked, seeing as I’m your best friend.”
“Nothing to tell.”
“So she’s not your new girlfriend? Rick said it wasn’t Lola or Rachel.”
“Nope.”
“You sound disappointed.”
Rob gave him a smile that didn’t meet his eyes. “Like Mick says, ‘You can’t always get what you want.’”
“You get what you need?”
“No, didn’t get that, either.”
Liam laughed. “She bad in bed?”
“Not even close. Just wasn’t meant to be, is all.”
“Is she the reason why Lola dumped you on your ass?”
“In a way, yes. But not because we were sleeping together behind Lola’s back. You know I’m not like that.”
“Nah. You’re not even good at casually dating, let alone keeping multiple women satisfied on a regular basis.” Liam smirked.
“Fuck you.” He seemed upset.
Liam changed his tone. “You really liked this girl.”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s not happening. From here out, I’m not dating again until I meet the one.”
“That’s a tall order to fill. You plan to be celibate until then?”
“If need be. It’s not worth the hassle to be anything but serious about someone.”
“It could take years. You actually want to go without sex for years?” The very idea made Liam shiver in horror.
“I didn’t say I wanted that. But I’ll do what it takes. I’m done with the bullshit. I never much liked casual dating before, and with the way my life is now, it’s just too much work for something that won’t last. When I meet the right girl, I’ll know.”
“Good luck with that, buddy.”
“Your turn will come, too.”
“Still on that train, huh? I told you, I’m no good at that stuff.”
“You’ve been seeing Reggie and Ally for years. And Dana. What about Dana? Aren’t they the only girls you see these days?”
Dana was Liam’s high school girlfriend, who lived down the street from his mom’s house in Lynnfield. If she was single during his twice-annual trip home to see his family, she liked to get him drunk and then into her bed.
“Dana is a joke at best. I don’t know why I still let her get me drunk and take advantage of me. Ally doesn’t give a crap about me unless I’m making her scream.”
“You make her scream all the time.”
“Not really, no.”
“You losing your touch?”
“Fuck you. I meant that I don’t see her much. She’s gone a lot and I’ve been traveling with you since things ended with Rachel. I think I’ve only been with Ally a dozen times in the last five years. Which is fine by me. She can be an ice queen.”
“What about Reggie? You like her, don’t you? And I know you two knock boots whenever you see her.”
“Reggie’s great, but I don’t have plans to make permanent ties with her. She’s sexy as hell, probably more than you’d imagine because she hides her body. And she’s smart and a good person. But she doesn’t make me want to give up being single.”
“And if you met a girl who did? What then?”
“If you think a girl like that exists, you introduce us. You’ll be looking for that girl longer than you’ll look for your own.”
“You never know,” Rob said with a sad smile, “maybe I’ve already met her.”
“Your perfect girl?”
“No, yours.”
“Right. Don’t hold your breath on that one.”
Should’ve Known Better
Jenna
Chapter 3
Los Angeles, California, seventeen and a half years ago…
She peeked around the corner of the book stacks and found a small nook where a love seat sat alone.
Perfect, Jenna thought, I can hide here.
No sooner had she sat on the love seat than a huge black gu
y careened around the same corner and stopped short. “Oh, shit,” he said, shocked to see her there.
“Sorry, is this your spot?” Jenna asked. She was still pretty new here and she knew very few people at this magnet high school. By virtue of his presence in her school’s library, the guy wasn’t a thug. Not that she generally feared anyone based on color or race, but in this case, the circumstances dictated that he was unlikely a threat. Besides, he looked like a GQ model.
“Uh, sort of,” he replied. His voice was deep and smooth.
“Oh, well, sorry about that. Sit. There’s room for us both. You’re not small, but I am.” She scooted over to make space.
“Thanks,” he said. He seemed wary. “Who are you hiding from? You don’t seem like the kind of girl who needs to hide.”
“That obvious?” He nodded. “Theresa Solomon.”
“That kitten? She’s harmless.” The longer he spoke, the more she could hear a slight tinge of femininity in his voice. He tried to hide it, but it was there if you listened.
Jenna sat stick-straight. “Oh, I’m not afraid of her. Our mothers were boarding school roommates. I’ve known her my whole life. That’s the problem. She thinks it’s her job to help me fit in here. Which would be fine, if we were anything alike. Our life goals don’t exactly mesh.”
“Not on the ‘marry-a-rich-boy’ track?” he said with a smirk.
Jenna laughed. “No. Nor the cheerleader track. What about you? Who are you hiding from?”
He sighed. “The football team.”
Jenna’s eyebrows shot past her choppy bangs. The guy had to be 6′3″ and stacked. Broad shoulders, muscular. He was beautiful, really, and looked like he could easily take the football team.
“Why would you need to hide from them? I bet you could kick half their asses.”
He chuckled. “Thanks. And one-on-one, you’re probably right. But as a collective, I don’t have a chance.”
“Why would the entire football team be after you? Did you do something to one of them?”
“Not exactly. There’s a guy on the team who doesn’t really play for the team, if you know what I mean. He knows that I know and he’s afraid I’ll expose him, so he had his buddies harass me.”
“And you know because your gaydar is pretty sharp?”
He laughed. “How did you know?”
