Escorted by the Ranger

by C. J. Miller

  The bidding started at one thousand dollars. At the four-thousand-dollar mark, Rob stood, raising his paddle and offering twenty thousand dollars.

  Marissa’s heart almost stopped. She hadn’t known Rob would be attending the event. He hadn’t been on her guest list, although he could have gotten a ticket from someone. Rob didn’t have twenty thousand dollars. This wasn’t a game. The hospital needed the money. Irritation and indignation struck her.

  The idea of sitting across the table from Rob made her physically ill. She couldn’t deny him or make a scene; this was her event. She would have to be a good sport.

  She felt Jack behind her and glanced at him. Rob and another man, Thomas Thurlow, were bidding, raising the bids by a few hundred dollars each round.

  “How do you know Thurlow?” Jack asked.

  Their relationship was casual. “He’s an executive at a fashion magazine I’ve modeled for. Nice guy, easy to work with. Probably figures I don’t want to spend the evening with an ex.”

  Marissa didn’t want a confrontation with Rob or to be forced into a conversation with him. People were watching her and she kept her face neutral. With Avery’s death making headlines, Rob’s presence was a fresh reminder of what had happened between Rob and Marissa. “I don’t think I can talk to him for more than a couple minutes, but I don’t know what choice I’ll have.”

  When Rob bid thirty thousand, Thomas sent Marissa an apologetic looked and sat in his chair. Panic flared. Could she bid on her own basket? She would rather sit alone than be with Rob. Plus, he might not have the money. He was terrible with finances. He made money, squandered it and invested poorly and recklessly. Grief and frustration surged through her and she worked to hide it from her expression.

  Jack stepped forward to stand slightly in front of her. “Fifty thousand.”

  Marissa gasped. Fifty thousand dollars? From a car dealer or bodyguard or whatever he was? For dinner with her, which he could have for free most nights? She was simultaneously shocked and grateful.

  The amount was so high it also brought the total raised above the quarter of a million dollar mark. Many emotions careened through her. Happy to have met a goal she hadn’t believed possible, gratitude for the generous people in this room for opening their hearts and wallets, relief at being rescued from Rob, worry about Jack spending so much money, and lust and desire at the anticipation of being alone with Jack.

  Rob was staring at her, openmouthed. Marissa shook off her emotions and smiled.

  The auctioneer declared Jack the winner of her basket. Jack circled the room, accepted the basket and brought it to where he had been standing.

  The entire room was staring and whispering, but the only thought in her mind now was that Jack had saved her again.

  * * *

  “Jack, please, let me reimburse you the fifty thousand,” Marissa said.

  Jack tried not to be insulted. He understood how a charity auction worked. This was his first event of the kind and he was happy to make a donation. The children’s hospital did great work and he wanted to support Marissa. The bonus was putting her in a position to avoid Rob.

  Rob had cheated on her. Jack wasn’t convinced that Rob was innocent in regards to what had happened to Avery and what he knew about it. He had to know what his girlfriend had been involved with or at least have a suspicion. The West Company was staying looped into the police investigation and Rob had not given anything away yet.

  Marissa might be worried Jack couldn’t swing it. Working fifteen years in special operations, without a permanent home or many possessions, Jack had accumulated a large sum of hazard pay, salary and bonuses. Fifty thousand wasn’t a big deal. He wasn’t sure what he would do with his money anyway. It might as well go to helping a children’s hospital.

  “I’m happy to support the cause,” Jack said.

  Marissa blinked at him. “I’m sorry if I’m being rude or if I seem ungrateful, but I feel like you were forced into bidding.”

  The idea incensed him. “No one forces me to do anything.”

  “It’s so much money,” Marissa said. “Were you planning to bid?”

  “No,” Jack said. He made quick decisions and lived with them. “I’m pleased to make the donation although I feel like I cheated.”

  “Cheated?”

  “I had a sneak peek of what was in your basket,” Jack said. “I knew I was getting my money’s worth.”

  Marissa laughed, the sound like the soft ringing of hand bells. “I can reimburse you.”

  He held up his hand. “Really, it’s fine.”

  Marissa slipped her arm through his. “Tell me what it is my sister and you do that makes fifty thousand dollars a reasonable amount to donate.”

  “I don’t do the same work Kit does. We have different jobs. I’m a bodyguard.” He couldn’t give her more than that. If Kit wanted to divulge to her sister what she did and who she worked for, that was her decision. At the West Company, silence was the default answer.

  Marissa rested her head on his shoulder. “You are more than a bodyguard to me. You’ve become a friend.”

  A friend. He pondered that word. He hadn’t before thought of a client as a friend, but everything about this assignment was new. He had assumed this assignment would be easy. Compared to an environment with exploding bombs, sharpshooters, traitorous partners and general chaos, it was simpler. It presented other challenges, like keeping Marissa close while keeping her at a distance. “How do you know I didn’t bid on the basket so I could keep you close? For professional reasons?”

  Marissa appeared surprised. “Was that the reason? Just your job?”

  He shook his head. “I would have hovered near you regardless. This just makes it easier. Plus, I won’t have to listen to Rob jawing off about his issues.”

  Speaking of Rob, he approached, walking fast, hands knotted at his sides, his cheeks red with anger. Jack stepped between them, intercepting Rob. “Cool off.”

  Rob pushed at him. Jack didn’t budge.

  “This doesn’t concern you. I need to talk with Marissa,” Rob said.

  “She’s my date for the night. Those were the rules,” Jack said. He took some delight in antagonizing the other man.

  Marissa moved around him. “Rob, calm down. Why don’t you go outside and get some fresh air?”

  “I bid on your basket because I need to talk to you.”

  “We have nothing to say to each other,” Marissa said. Her eyes were flat and her tone frosty. She had indifference nailed.

  Rob leaned close. “It’s about Avery.”

  Jack’s interest was piqued, but he wasn’t certain Rob was telling the truth. Discussing Avery could mean anything.

  Marissa’s shoulders tensed. “If you have some information pertaining to the case, you should contact the police.”

  Rob ran his fingers through his hair, leaving his hair poking in various angles.

  People were staring. Tossing Rob out was tempting, but creating a scene would embarrass Marissa.

  Marissa tapped her heel. “It’s almost time for dinner to be served,” Marissa said. “I need to handle my duties.”

  “Your duties? Is that your way of saying you want to sneak off with your bodyguard?” Rob asked and his fists balled at his sides.

  Marissa inhaled sharply. Jack’s temper flared, but he kept his voice low. “Enough. This is a nice event for a great cause and you’re creating a problem. I’ll give you the opportunity to walk out on your own accord. If you don’t move in the direction of the exit immediately, I will haul you out. That will make a nice picture for the gossip columns.”

  Marissa folded her arms and looked at Rob expectantly. “Leave. Go now.”

  Rob’s eyes flared with anger. He turned on his heel and fled the ballroom. The door banged against the wall as he e
xited. The door closed slowly.

  Marissa took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Let me announce the start of dinner and check that the waitstaff understands their cues.”

  The faster she could move this situation along and distract everyone, the better. The best part of the night was the dinner, a chance for all the bidders to enjoy a meal with great conversation.

  Marissa hurried away and Jack followed at a distance, keeping her in his line of vision. She was shaken by the encounter with Rob. Jack should have punched the guy. He could tell the night was important to Marissa in the way she was fussing over the details.

  Marissa’s mother approached, wineglass in hand. “What did Rob want?” Lenore asked.

  “To talk to Marissa,” Jack said.

  “About what?”

  Jack was in the middle of the situation and would rather not be. He had his hands full with protecting Marissa. “You should talk to Marissa about that.” Before her mother could chase her down, Jack touched Lenore’s arm. “Except not here. She worked hard for tonight and she should focus on being hostess.”

  Her mother gave him a long look. “You’re protective of Marissa.”

  “Protecting her is what I was hired to do.”

  Lenore stared hard. “To protect her physically. But you care about her. On a personal level.”

  “She is a good, hardworking woman,” Jack said. That was as far as he could let anyone know he had developed feelings for his client. Personal feelings of any type were distracting and inappropriate. His closeness to his last partner had almost gotten him killed. He had trusted Bianca too completely.

  “Marissa is a good person. Not everyone sees it. They see her beauty. That’s impossible to miss. But few see her for who she is. Do you?” Lenore asked. She leaned forward as if the answer was written on his face.

  “I barely know her,” Jack said.

  “Yet you threw a small fortune after her to keep her away from Rob,” Lenore said.

  “That wasn’t the only reason. I am duty bound to protect her.” This conversation was making him uncomfortable. It was circling around a developing emotion he didn’t want to discuss.

  “Tell me how a bodyguard has that much money. Did Marissa give you the money? Did she put you up to bidding?”

  Marissa and her mother were worried about the money. Why? As long as he could write a check to the charity, it wasn’t a big deal. “It was not Marissa’s money.” He would leave it at that.

  “I see. Then you are not who you seem.”

  “I am exactly who I seem. I have not misrepresented myself,” Jack said.

  “You’re friends with Kit and her fiancé, Griffin, right?”

  Jack nodded.

  “Kit seems to think I live under a rock. Like I’d believe she works for a car company. Please. There was an incident last year at Marissa’s birthday party. It made it pretty clear that Kit was more than a florist. She gave me some line about going to work for a car company. She won’t say which one. I’ve put the pieces together. Kit is smart. If she says you’re right for this job, then I won’t question her judgment. But I know you are not a bodyguard. You’re more than that, and I mean that about your job and about how Marissa cares for you.”

  Before Jack could respond, the music stopped and he turned. Marissa stood at the microphone at the front of the room. She was blindingly beautiful.

  “Excuse me. If I could have your attention. I hope you’ve had a few minutes to introduce yourself to your companions for the evening. If you would please take your seats in the next room, dinner will be served.”

  Four sets of trellis-scrolled doors opened and guests moved into the adjacent room.

  Marissa joined him and her mother. “Oh, no. What did she say to you?” Marissa gave her mother a wry look.

  “Marissa, don’t be dramatic. We were exchanging pleasantries. Speaking of pleasantries, I see your brother and Zoe Ann. Please make yourself available to speak with them about that matter I brought to your attention.”

  Marissa’s shoulders tensed. “After this event, I will speak with Luke.”

  Her mother walked away leaving them alone. Jack extended his arm to Marissa and they followed the other guests into the dining area.

  Dozens of small sweetheart tables seating two to four people were set around the room, the linen-topped tables different colors with flower arrangements set in the middle. A string quartet played softly and waiters in white gloves circulated to the tables, taking orders and delivering drinks.

  He and Marissa found an open table. Jack held out her chair and Marissa beamed at him. “Thank you.”

  She took her seat. “The hospital will be thrilled about this. They need money for new machines and want to renovate the inpatient suites. Thank you again. I don’t know what I would—”

  The sound of the fire alarm cut the air. Marissa flinched.

  Jack stood, taking Marissa’s arm and scanning for the nearest exit and the source of the fire. He didn’t smell smoke and he considered that emptying the hotel was a way of exposing dozens of high-profile, wealthy individuals to whatever may await them outside. The alarm could also be a false alarm, too much steam in the kitchen or steam from a shower. The hotel was old and perhaps their systems weren’t up to date.

  Guests could use the emergency exit from the ballroom or exit through the adjoining room and into the main lobby. The emergency exit was closest, leading onto a blue, green and white pavers patio. It was five steps from the patio to the street.

  Other guests in attendance had security as well and would make their decisions. It was Jack’s priority to keep Marissa safe. Jack guessed many would be hustled to their cars.

  Jack tucked her close and they hurried toward the exit.

  Marissa pulled away. “I need to make sure that everyone gets out.”

  He didn’t want to wait too long. “When a fire alarm goes off, everyone knows what to do.”

  A flash of indecision and then Marissa followed him outside.

  A light drizzle of snow sprinkled down on them. The air was crisp and cold. Jack needed to get Marissa somewhere covered.

  A man’s scream interrupted Jack’s train of thought.

  “Marissa! Marissa!” Rob was standing in front of the hotel’s main door, bellowing. Passersby moved around him, ignoring him. The lights from the hotel lobby and the street lights illuminated the sidewalk. Rob’s jacket looked rumpled, his tie loose around his neck. His pants had lost their crispness.

  Rob was involved with the fire alarm. Whether he had set it off by pulling it or starting a fire was anyone’s guess.

  “He’s drunk. Don’t talk to him. Get in the car,” Jack said. Being out in the open left them at greater risk for an attack.

  “He’s making a spectacle.” Marissa looked around. The guests from the charity event were glancing at her and whispering amongst themselves.

  “Let him make a spectacle.” They needed to go.

  The sound of sirens approaching filled the air.

  “Please check that my mom, brother, Zoe Ann and our guests made it out okay. I need to find out what happened.” She started in Rob’s direction, walking quickly, purpose snapping in every step. Jack stayed close to her. The night had taken a bad turn.

  When Rob caught sight of Marissa, he rushed to her. He was babbling, making apologies. He knelt on the ground in front of her. Jack wanted to tell him to stop making a fool of himself. Marissa had told him to go home, not to stay around the hotel to start drama.

  People on the sidewalks were pointing at the hotel. The sound of the fire alarms could be heard on the street and the swell of guests vacating the hotel was filling the sidewalk.

  “Get up, Rob,” Marissa said quietly but firmly.

  Jack grabbed Rob by the lapels. “Did you pull the fire ala
rm?”

  “It was the only way to get to her,” Rob said.

  “You idiot! Someone could be hurt. There could be a stampede,” Jack said.

  “I did it for her. She wouldn’t talk to me. She shut me out.” His blathering continued and Jack released him and turned away. When the police arrived, Rob would be arrested.

  “This is not the time or place to have this conversation,” Marissa said.

  The fire truck pulled to the front curb. An employee of the hotel rushed forward and Jack jogged over to explain what happened. Marissa appeared distressed. Her guests had left and her fund-raiser was in shambles.

  Marissa was tapping on her phone with shaking hands. “I need to call everyone. They could come back. I can beg them not to withdraw their donations. Maybe I can offer something else or reschedule the dates.”

  Jack draped his suit jacket over her shoulders, but the shaking was likely her nerves. Jack set his hand lightly on her wrist, if nothing else, to get her attention. “It’s okay. Relax. We’ll figure it out. We’ll get the guest list and your mom, your brother, Zoe Ann and I will make the calls. Only a jerk would ask for a donation refunded. The dinner was a fun incentive.”

  Rob was now in handcuffs in the back of a police cruiser.

  Zoe Ann, Luke and Lenore met them at the car. Zoe Ann was wearing a black wool wraparound cape and knee-high black boots with a silver buckle accent. Her hair was straight and long down her back. Luke wore a three-piece black suit and a purple tie tucked in his vest. His black shiny shoes and scarf were flecked with water droplets.

  Lenore’s hair had been styled into large curls, but the snow was weighing it down, making it uneven and flat.

  “I told you Rob was trouble,” Lenore said. She fluffed her hair, which did not make it look better.

  Jack wasn’t stepping into this conversation. It was far too close to told-you-so.

  “You say every man I date is trouble,” Marissa said, sounding irritable.

  “That’s because every man you’ve dated has turned out to be a loser,” Lenore said.