Guarding His Melody

by Victoria Sue

  “What are you doing?” Gray seemed curious, and Seb took a little pity on him.

  “This is a silent piano,” he said. “Designed so when I wear the headphones, no one else can hear.”

  Gray opened his mouth, then closed it, and Seb knew what he was going to ask. “No, obviously I can’t hear it, but this way, no one else can either.” Seb waited to breathe until he had judged Gray’s reaction. Gray smiled. “It keeps them out of the way if I just loop them behind my ears.”

  “Very cool.”

  It was, except Gray really had no idea. Seb turned back and soon got lost in his head, working out the kinks in the chorus and even playing with the last verse. He stopped after who knew how long and sighed. He felt the touch on his arm again and opened his eyes.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Seb shrugged. He wasn’t going to tell Gray how he loved his songs and how he was sick of writing them for other people to sing. How he dreamed of hearing them being played in a packed concert hall. How he really dreamed of people hearing him sing them. He’d been careless only once, but even Arron didn’t know about the songs. It wouldn’t happen again. He took his headphones off and glanced at Gray. “You didn’t need to stay awake for me.”

  Gray smiled. “I was awake anyway.” Seb’s eyes slid nervously to the window, remembering that something had also woken him up. Gray touched his arm for his attention. “It’s okay. I’m just a bad sleeper.”

  “So am I.”

  Gray’s eyes narrowed, and Seb realized he’d spoken the thought out loud.

  “How about we both try again because I really need you to get up early tomorrow.” Gray glanced at his watch and back to Seb. “Today.”

  “For the windows,” Seb replied and stood suddenly, ridiculously pleased he had an excuse to look at Gray’s face.

  “No,” Gray chuckled. Seb wished then he could hear him. He knew the sound would be rich and deep. “I want you to do something with me in the morning every day before breakfast.”

  Seb yawned but didn’t bother replying. He never ate breakfast and that had zero to do with his safety. Gray couldn’t make him.

  NOT ENOUGH hours later, Seb woke instantly at the shake of his shoulder but knew who it was. He opened his eyes to look at Gray’s. He groaned suddenly, warm and willing to sleep the morning away. “I’m not hungry.”

  Gray’s eyes crinkled. “Good, because I’m not feeding you.”

  That got Seb’s attention. “What are we doing?” Then he noticed the clothes in Gray’s hands. They were his. Gray tossed them next to him onto the bed.

  “Get dressed. Meet me in there.” He gestured to the other room and walked out.

  Seb knew his mouth was hanging open, but curiosity got the better of him, and he climbed out of bed and started getting dressed. He looked at his new phone and then did a double take. Five fifty? What the hell?

  He shivered. It was freezing, and the heating would only have just clicked on if they were lucky. Seb quickly pulled on his socks, sweatpants, T-shirt, and a sweatshirt, then paused. Gray had even brought in his old sneakers that he vaguely remembered tossing into the cupboard in the other room. Both his Converse and his Nikes were downstairs, but even so, why would he need them? And it was too early to see the guy who was making alterations to the windows and stuff… and Seb had told Gray he didn’t eat breakfast. Grumbling quietly, he noted his clothes were a little looser than last time he had worn them. He really was going to have to try to get more power bars or something for up here. He quickly ran into his bathroom to brush his teeth.

  Shivering slightly, he walked out of his room and came to an abrupt stop. Gray stood waiting for him. He also had thin sweatpants on and just a T-shirt, socks, and sneakers.

  “What are we doing?” Seb asked in confusion.

  Gray nodded to the door. “We’re going into your backyard.”

  Seb blinked, half convinced his excellent lip-reading ability had suddenly stopped working. “Why?”

  “Because I do tai chi. It’s excellent for balance, posture, and relaxation. You’re going to do it with me.”

  Seb was sure he spent more time around this guy with his mouth hanging open than anything else. He was going to protest, but Gray was no longer looking at him. He was simply holding his door open. Tai chi? He’d heard of it, obviously, but wasn’t that some sort of martial art stuff? Like tae kwon do, defensive shit. Maybe his new bodyguard thought he ought to be able to protect himself. Seb followed Gray down the stairs. Yeah—he could actually get on board with that. Everyone treated him like he was delicate around here. He wouldn’t mind something a little different.

  They walked through and out the kitchen door after Gray disabled the alarm. Gray seemed to know where he was going, so he must have been in here last night. He unbolted the big wooden door and stepped outside. Seb followed him and cringed as the icy temperatures hit him. “You know the dining room’s empty,” he said hopefully. Then he thought again as Gray glanced at him. “I could push back the furniture so we don’t break anything.”

  Gray came to a stop. “Why would we break anything?” He looked genuinely puzzled.

  Seb shrugged. “I guess when you jump me.”

  Gray’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not going to jump you.”

  “Well, maybe not, but I guess there’ll be hold positions, right? Maybe choking?” Seb put his arm up and tried to see if he thought he could get it around Gray’s neck like they did on TV. Gray wasn’t that much taller than him. He focused back on Gray’s face in case he missed any instruction to see Gray’s lips tilted in a half smile. Had he missed him saying something?

  “You don’t have to worry about hurting me,” Seb assured him. “I’m stronger than I look.”

  “Good to know,” Gray said and pointed to the grass. “Stand there.”

  Seb obediently moved to about six feet away from Gray and turned to him expectantly. “What do I do?” he asked eagerly. “Do you want me to pretend I don’t see you?”

  Gray tilted his head to the side, and Seb flushed nervously. He was excited. He probably mangled that question.

  “Do you—” he started enunciating slowly.

  “I’m not sure what you think is going to happen, but I want you to look at me. Stand with your feet apart and at about the same width as your shoulders and bend your knees.” Gray demonstrated. Seb copied him, a little worried he was going to ask Seb to do some advanced move he’d never seen. Should he tell Gray he was a beginner? Did Gray think Andrew had taught him to defend himself?

  “Take a deep breath at the same time as you raise both arms to give your lungs room to expand.”

  Seb copied, feeling a little silly to be honest, and shot a quick glance at the house.

  Gray stopped, and Seb focused on him. “Concentrate on me,” he chided, and Seb flushed slightly. “Now when you breathe out, let both your arms come down, palms down as if you were going to touch your thighs.”

  Seb did, then waited expectantly, but Gray just closed his eyes and repeated the movement. Seb waited a beat and then copied. Maybe this was some warm-up routine?

  Gray opened his eyes but kept moving, and Seb copied. “Don’t forget to breathe.”

  Seb took a deep breath in. The cold, crisp air felt kind of nice. His experience with the outside lately was just in between the car and whatever building he was coming out of or going into.

  Gray nodded approvingly. “I’m going to turn around. I won’t speak, but I want you to be able to copy me. If I need you to listen I will touch your shoulder. As soon as you have the second move down just close your eyes. Don’t forget to breathe.”

  Seb watched part astonished and part fascinated as Gray—who he was sure could kill him with his little finger—breathed and posed, well, like some kind of dancer, if that was even the right word. He repeated a second pose and then a third. It was one of the strangest things Seb had ever seen—completely incongruous on the big man—and Seb felt really silly for the first few minutes until he dec
ided watching Gray and not doing it was just as lame, so he might as well. It was weird but after a few repetitions, Seb’s breathing seemed to get deeper and he relaxed into the monotony. It was probably the nearest he had ever gotten to sleeping while standing up. He was almost surprised when he felt the firm hand on his shoulder and opened his eyes.

  Gray was smiling at him.

  He took another deep, settling breath and smiled back, happy and oddly content.

  “Perfect. We’ll go and get some breakfast now. I’ll expand our routine every morning.”

  “That’s it?” Seb asked in surprise.

  Gray nodded. “Tai chi is classed as a martial art, but I want you to use it for balance, relaxation, and posture. I think it might help your vertigo.” He shrugged. “It certainly won’t hurt.”

  Seb was still struggling with the whole idea. “I thought you were teaching me what to do if someone attacks me.”

  Gray shook his head.

  “But then what do I use for defense?”

  Gray chuckled and held the kitchen door open. “Me.”

  Chapter Six

  AN OLDER woman came bustling into the kitchen just as Gray was sliding an omelet onto Seb’s plate. She paused in shock, and Seb grinned. “Morning, Mom.” Gray watched as her face lit up. This must be Ella Pickering, the housekeeper who had worked for the family for over twenty years. She was a divorcée, no children, and obviously meant a great deal to Seb, judging from the kiss he placed on her cheek as she bent down to smooth his hair.

  “You’re eating,” she said in approval and looked at Gray expectantly. Gray put the pan back on the hob and held out his hand.

  “Gray Darling, ma’am. I’m Seb’s new protection detail.” Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, but she took his offered hand. Gray sighed silently. Why did everyone react this way when he said he was here to keep Seb safe? You would think they would be pleased.

  “Do you work for Andrew?” she asked immediately.

  Ahh, so that’s maybe why. Maybe Derwent wasn’t popular with her either. Gray let go of her hand and shook his head. “No, ma’am. I work for Rawlings Security, and I am in charge of Seb’s safety, not Derwent.”

  She glanced back at Seb, who must have decided the omelet smelled really good and was shoveling it in. Gray felt a moment of satisfaction. Fresh air and exercise were good for the appetite. Seb nodded at her inquiring look.

  Gray turned to the stove and poured the rest of the omelet mixture into the pan. “Would you like an omelet?” he asked and gestured to the pan. “I’ll be out of your way in a few minutes.”

  She stepped closer and waved to the chair next to Seb. “Sit down,” she said and took the spatula from Gray’s hand and proceeded to add the ingredients he had put out. She turned with a cautious smile. “A little cheese or a lot?”

  “I should have a little, but….”

  She chuckled and added extra cheese, then folded it and let it cook for a few moments. She watched in approval as Seb ate his omelet and then slid Gray’s onto a plate and set it down in front of him. “Do either of you want any toast?”

  Seb shook his head as his mouth was full, then swallowed and batted his eyes. “Coffee?”

  She rolled her eyes, then went to work the coffee maker. Gray stayed silent, completely charmed at the interaction between the two. Mrs. Pickering poured some juice and some coffee, and came and sat down next to them. “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”

  Seb leaned back and sipped his juice. “Not bad. A little tired, but no dizziness.” Gray watched, pleased. Seb looked more relaxed than he had been yesterday, and there was still a flush of pink on his cheeks from the cold outside.

  “So, Mr. Darling, how are you going to keep my boy safe?”

  Gray swallowed his last mouthful. “I am having some technicians come this morning to install video cameras to the outside, and we are reviewing security for the house as a whole.” She stayed quiet as if waiting for something. Whatever he had said so far didn’t seem to have impressed her. “And I stay with him at all times,” Gray added and watched her take a settling breath. Her blue eyes roved over him.

  “Good.” She nodded in apparent satisfaction. Gray got up from the table and rinsed his plate, watching Seb glance down at his own in surprise. He was willing to bet Seb was shocked he had finished it. He blinked just as Gray whipped the plate away and rinsed it.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Gray’s eyes fell to Seb’s hand that was patting his belly. He didn’t need to worry about any extra weight. Despite him not seeming to do any exercise—which Gray was changing—Seb’s body was firm and toned. Discomfort slid over Gray. He had no business noticing Seb’s body. Seb was a client, to say nothing of the twenty years between them. Okay—he qualified to himself—not quite twenty, but his own nearly thirty-eight years were a lot more than Seb’s twenty, and some days he felt every one of them.

  “Now, shoo, both of you. I have bread to make.” Mrs. Pickering stood up and smiled at them, then turned to Gray. “It was a pleasure to meet you. Anyone who can get my boy to eat is welcome in my kitchen.” She gestured to the corner where the coffee machine stood. “I keep a pot on all the time. There’s cookies in the tin underneath.”

  Seb touched Gray’s arm to get him to look at him as they walked out and headed back to his room. “She likes you,” he said.

  “How do you know?” Gray looked at the closed kitchen door.

  Seb laughed, and Gray watched in fascination. The sound bubbled out of him, and Gray desperately wished Seb could hear himself. “She told you where the cookies are.” Gray’s eyes lingered on Seb’s a fraction too long, and he looked away quickly.

  UNFORTUNATELY THE rest of the day wasn’t going to be as simple as getting Seb to relax and eat something. Derwent was a prize dick, and Gray had no idea why Armitage employed the guy. Gray had spoken to Fielding and sent her to get some sleep, and long-term he knew Armitage would have to change things. There were a lot of tech options available, and he was surprised with what Armitage manufactured himself, the house wasn’t full of it. Innes was a complete waste of time. Had never worked in security. His weapons experience was going hunting with his father. He didn’t even have any sort of combat training, and when Gray finished his shower and came down to see Derwent, he caught Innes with his earbuds in, which caused Gray to lose his temper and go straight to Armitage.

  Armitage was in his study with Keswick. Gray had fifteen minutes before Danny and the team showed, and he needed some answers. They both looked up as he knocked and then entered. “Mr. Darling,” Armitage greeted him.

  “Sir,” Gray acknowledged respectfully and quickly ran through the changes he wanted to implement this morning and expressed his doubts on Innes.

  “You really think it’s necessary to have toughened glass?”

  Gray noted he had avoided the question on their personnel. “My only concern is the two floor-length windows in Seb’s bedroom. They have no reinforcement whatsoever. I realize bulletproof is expensive and there are all sorts of grades of bullet-resistant.”

  “Why do you think it’s necessary?” Keswick asked.

  “Because you brought us in,” Gray replied immediately. “If you didn’t think there was a threat, you wouldn’t have bothered. Rawlings will have explained to you that a risk assessment and a home evaluation is our first priority.”

  Armitage leaned back, and gazed at Gray. “You’re right of course, but I would be happier if the police had something more substantial on Monsieur Dubois’s attack.”

  “The detectives want to visit this afternoon and reinterview Sebastian,” Keswick added.

  Gray just bet they did. “The most important factor apart from the windows is video surveillance. If we can establish that, the need for manpower is reduced long-term. There are alarms you can install to warn of intruders.”

  “The property is alarmed,” Armitage pointed out.

  “But not the grounds,” Gray countered. “Again, th
ere are different financial options—”

  Armitage waved his hand dismissively. “I don’t care. I will not put a price on keeping Sebastian safe.”

  Gray took a breath. “He intends to go to Arron Smith’s funeral, sir.”

  Armitage slammed his pen down. “For goodness’ sake, doesn’t he realize how inappropriate that would be?”

  Gray kept silent. He had a feeling it was a rhetorical question. Armitage looked at Keswick. “I don’t want my son associating with this. If the press find out—”

  Gray frowned. “Does the press even have this on their radar, sir?” It wasn’t like Armitage owned Amazon or something. He wasn’t a celebrity, and he wasn’t recognizable. Just one more business millionaire among many.

  Keswick shook his head. “I doubt it. I doubt many even know of Seb’s existence, even though there is an enhanced law enforcement team in Florida making the headlines at the moment.” He turned to Armitage. “The funeral isn’t until next week at the earliest. The police may have more news by then.” Gray nodded. He meant Seb’s enhanced status might draw attention to him; Gray had meant his wealth.

  “I don’t want anything upsetting him,” Armitage spat out. “We have barely eleven days to the next surgery.”

  Gray stilled. Surgery? He glanced at Keswick, who noticed his inquiring gaze. “Sebastian is due to be fitted with new implants in eleven days.”

  Armitage rubbed his hands. “And we are expecting a complete success.”

  Gray didn’t react. What the father and son chose to do wasn’t any of his business, he told himself. He didn’t even know if he would still be here then. Rawlings didn’t do long-term protection. He’d found a niche in the market either setting clients up with suitable systems and guards, or providing short-term or emergency cover. All of that had always suited Gray. He didn’t want to spend a long time with one client. He’d seen long-term bodyguards reduced to “buddyguards”—running errands and standing in shopping malls holding a dozen bags like some clothes horse—and neither he nor Rawlings were going to let that happen.