“I can handle him.”
“Good. Watch yourself and be discreet.”
“That’s a wrap,” the photographer announced, bringing the shoot to an end. Kimiko was rushed over to a tent that had been erected earlier to serve as a dressing room. She stepped inside and peeled off the tight white dress, trading it out for designer jeans and a black off-the-shoulder blouse. She noted the large shadow on the side of the tent, showing Draven’s location, as she pulled on her black leather boots. The man had been like her very own shadow since she’d awakened. Even when she couldn’t see him, she felt him. He had a presence about him none of her other bodyguards ever had.
She gave herself a look in the mirror. Her long hair flowed, falling in waves, and her makeup was very subtle. Liking what she saw, she waved off the makeup artist offering to make requested changes, and stepped out of the tent.
“Kimiko, I’ve got a surprise for you!” Kim rushed toward her, as fast as she could with the thin spikes of her stiletto heels digging into the forest floor with each step. She waved a cell phone in her hand. “The studio is sending the star of the film over to pick you up so you can run lines over din—oop!”
Kim pitched forward and Draven quickly grabbed her around the waist, halting her mid-fall before she could smash her face into the ground.
“Thank you, Draven.” Kim stepped out of his hold and quickly righted her pantsuit. “As I was saying, you’ll be dining with the movie’s star and going over lines directly with him.”
“Is this star also directing the movie?” Kimiko asked, suspicion awakened.
“No, no. He’s just an actor.”
“Since when does an actor reading alone with another actor count as an audition?” Kimiko folded her arms. “Who is it? What’s going on?”
“Now, Kimiko, this is an important role.”
“Who is it?” Kimiko asked more sharply. Kim had the same look in her eyes that she used to get while telling lies to cover her gambling habit. Fortunately she’d kicked that habit, but she still hadn’t broken the habit of signing Kimiko on for things she wanted no part of.
Before Kim could answer, a very familiar Lamborghini pulled up to the clearing. Kimiko groaned. “You’re kidding me. This again?”
“Who is it?” Draven asked, his eyes narrowing on the men now exiting the vehicle.
“You don’t recognize Rex Ziering?” Kimiko asked in surprise as the cocky blond walked toward them, his dark, brooding bodyguard close behind.
“An actor?” Draven asked, his nostrils flaring as he seemed to concentrate on the bodyguard.
“One of the hottest actors of this decade,” Kim replied. “Do you live under a rock or something?”
The corner of Draven’s mouth curved upward, showing a glimmer of amusement but it quickly vanished as the two men approached. He moved closer to Kimiko, just shy of shielding her.
“Kimiko!” Rex opened his arms wide. “You look gorgeous, as always.”
Draven edged in closer, so she would have had to move around him to accept Rex’s greeting.
“Who’s your large and extremely rude friend?” he asked, lowering his arms. Behind him, his bodyguard stood with arms folded, the slightest grin curving his mouth. Kimiko couldn’t see his eyes through the dark glasses but could imagine his eyes burning Draven with the same intense stare Draven returned.
“This is Kimiko’s new bodyguard,” Kim quickly stepped in to answer. “He came highly recommended for his protective skills but the agency failed to tell us about his lack of social skills. Draven, please step aside and allow these two some space so they can greet one another properly.”
“I am not preventing a proper greeting. They can easily shake hands.”
Kimiko laughed as Kim’s jaw dropped and Rex’s jaw clenched. She could imagine the thoughts rolling through his self-entitled head.
“Draven’s absolutely right,” she said, extending her hand for a shake. She didn’t even want to touch Rex that much but she feared Kim may fire Draven on the spot if this turned into a full-on scene and despite his being insubordinate with her the previous night, she didn’t feel he did it intentionally. He was the first bodyguard she’d had who actually cared more about doing his job than about being in her presence.
Rex’s bodyguard allowed a small chuckle to escape, earning a glare from the actor before he accepted Kimiko’s hand, but instead of shaking it he drew her hand to his mouth for a gentlemanly kiss.
She withdrew her hand and wiped the ghost of his kiss off on her pant leg. Rex frowned at this before redirecting his focus on Draven. “Interesting name. Draven. Not like anything I’ve ever heard before.”
“Not as common as Rex,” Draven agreed. “I believe that is a popular name for dogs, correct?”
Kim’s gasp drowned out the laughter Kimiko couldn’t hold in. “Draven!”
He looked at her quizzically. “What?”
“We have reservations,” Rex announced before Kim could respond. “Why don’t we head on out and Kim can take care of matters with Draven here.”
“What matters?” Kimiko asked.
“You really have to ask?” Rex shook his head. “Look, baby, I know we had our troubles but having the bodyguard take jabs at me? That’s petty. The help has their place.”
“He’s not the help, he’s my bodyguard,” Kimiko corrected him, “and I am not now nor was I ever your baby. We went out on some dates at the studio’s request and now at the studio’s request I suppose I’ll have to go to dinner with you under the guise of going over lines for an audition for a role I think I can safely say I already have.”
“Kimiko!” Kim interrupted her, using her stern teacher voice. “Rex is generously offering to take you out to dinner and go over lines. I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s a nice gesture on his behalf to make time for you in his very busy schedule. I’m also sure you’ll agree that this rudeness is uncalled for.”
Chastised like a toddler in front of others, Kimiko fumed in silence and fought back the tears burning the backs of her eyes. “Fine. Let’s go out to dinner, but don’t tell me it’s to get the role like I’m stupid enough to believe that. We both know this is just publicity.”
“Maybe it’s because I miss you,” Rex said sincerely.
The problem with really good actors, though, is that they were always their most sincere when selling you a lie.
4
Draven pinned the smug actor’s bodyguard with his hard glare as Kim ushered Kimiko and Rex into the tent, out of view of the staff that still remained to clean up after the shoot.
“Celebrities,” the tall man said. “Babies and drama queens, one and all. They think their little problems are so significant and that they are more important than everyone else. They even think they’re better than us, but they don’t know what we are, do they?”
“I know what you are,” Draven growled, keeping his voice low enough to not be overheard as he studied the Were in front of him. He was tall and slender, but Draven knew every inch of him was powerful muscle. His jet black hair was raked severely back from his head and tied at the nape of his neck with an elastic band. The all black attire of long sleeved T-shirt and slacks, topped with combat boots and black shades, added to his menacing look. “I know you were outside her hotel last night.”
“And I know what you are. Well, to an extent.” The Were inhaled deeply. “You’re not a wolf, but we’re still family.”
“We are not family.”
“Oh, sure we are. Just a little more dysfunctional than most.”
“Why were you outside her room?”
“Her room?” The Were shook his finger at him. “Now you’re stretching things. Seriously though. What’s your flavor? Kitty cat? Reptile?”
“Why were you there?”
“I’m a free man in a free world,” the Were answered as he circled Draven, sniffing. “Bird?”
“I am your greatest enemy if you attempt to harm her.”
“Wow. Cheesy line. You
must have gotten it from that idiot’s script. I was outside the hotel for the same reason you were in it.”
“I’m protecting her.”
“So was I.” The Were stopped in front of him. “My name’s Lennox Black. I don’t play well with others so I don’t hang with the pack, but I have to make a living in this world just like anyone else.”
“By stalking celebrities?”
“No.” He smiled. “I’m a bodyguard just like you. I just protect another spoiled superstar. Last night, he asked me to watch over Kimiko. He heard about the attempt on her life.”
“And how exactly did he hear about it?”
“Are you kidding? Kimiko Lee was shot at in front of one of New York’s swankiest restaurants. TMZ was reporting it before the police had arrived on the scene.”
Draven thought that over. There had been a lot of people taking pictures after the shooter sped off. “Why would he send you to protect her? He should know she has security.”
“Her security hasn’t always been the best, especially those closest to her. She’s been through a string of personal bodyguards. They all end up trying to make extra money off her in some way or get a creepy infatuation with her.”
“And he thought you would do a better job because why? You don’t find her attractive?”
“Hell yes I find her attractive. She’s gorgeous. She’s too high maintenance for me though, and I prefer not to date out of my species if you know what I mean.”
Draven grunted. He didn’t have that option. To his knowledge there were no female weregargoyles.
“I stayed across the street because I sensed you, and when you walked out onto that balcony I knew you’d sensed me too. I know you’re a Were, but I don’t know what kind, exactly. I’m not stupid enough to walk into a fight blind.”
“Had I been a human bodyguard, you would have attacked me?”
“Only if necessary. I would have definitely gotten closer to better protect Kimiko. I felt you had it handled.”
“I did and I do. Your service is not needed.”
“I do what my boss requests.”
“You obey him like a good dog.”
“Oh.” Lennox covered his heart with his hand and fake-stumbled back, pretending to be wounded. “Taunting a wolf with a dog joke. How original.”
“I mean it, wolf. Keep your distance.”
“You don’t trust me? That hurts.”
“Not as much as you’ll hurt if you get in my way of protecting her.”
“You can think whatever you want to think of me, Kimiko, but Kim is right. This is a good role and the studio wants us seen together before filming begins.”
Kimiko glared at Kim as she sat in the corner eavesdropping while calling the restaurant. She called it making sure they were uninterrupted, but that could have been done from outside the tent. The woman simply wanted to make sure Kimiko bent to Rex’s will.
“Someone shot at me last night and they want me running around in public just so paparazzi can get some pictures of us together. I’m touched by their concern.”
“You don’t think you’re safe with me? I’d never let anything happen to you.”
“You’re not a hero, Rex; you just play one in the movies.”
“That hurt, Kimmikins.”
“Truth does that, and don’t call me that stupid name. It makes me want to vomit.”
“The restaurant is aware you’re running late, but it’s just ill manners to keep them waiting,” Kim said, standing. “And the last thing the two of you want is some disgruntled restaurant employee telling some tabloid that the two of you were primadonnas. We want all good publicity for you two.”
“No, the last thing I want is death. Do the two of you even care that I was shot at yesterday? I’ll make a lot less money for you dead.”
Rex and Kim both stared back at her, slack-jawed. Kim recovered first. “Rex, dear, give us a moment. Kimiko will be ready to go in just a minute.”
Rex nodded, cast her a disappointed glance, and stepped out of the tent.
“Listen up, little girl,” Kim said, crossing the small space to stand in front of her. “You are no Aretha Franklin or Glenn Close. You’ll never win an Oscar and you owe your writing and publicity team for your Grammies. Your publicity team, your writers, your hair and makeup people, me … We make you who you are. You’re beautiful and have just enough talent to mold, but you’re not exceptional. The best thing about you is that your ethnicity makes you marketable to the whole damn world and you can’t even take credit for that. You are not just a person, you’re a business with many people depending on you. Yes, I make money off you but you aren’t the only pretty girl who can carry a tune. I could turn any number of young women into superstars and make a comfortable living, but I doubt they’d pay for the very expensive care your mother receives. I push you because I care and I would never put you in harm’s way. That shooting was a fluke.”
Low blow, Kimiko thought, inhaling deeply and holding the breath in for a moment, calming her nerves and willing the burning behind her eyes to not produce tears. She couldn’t take care of her mother by herself and with the horrible stories she’d heard about nursing homes, she didn’t want her mother in such a place. She paid for the best care to ensure her mother lived and would die with love and dignity.
“Ready now?”
She bit her lip and squashed the urge to tell Kim what she really thought about her in that moment.
“Just try it.”
“I told you I don’t like it.” Kimiko sipped her wine. She normally didn’t drink, but would take whatever help she could get to make it through the dinner date from hell. The restaurant was beautiful, with glass chandeliers hanging throughout the large dining area, and dishes served on fine china. She’d already seen four actors, three actresses, and a few singers interspersed with the other wealthy diners.
“How can a person not like caviar?” Rex scooped up another heap and devoured it.
“It’s a mystery.”
“Really? Still with the attitude?” Rex sat back in his chair. “We’re in a very expensive restaurant in a very nice area, a place most people would dream about getting into and you’re acting like I took you to McDonald’s.”
“Do you ever notice how you always talk about how much more you have than everyone else?”
“What? Look, I’m paying for the bodyguards to eat at their own table so don’t act like I’m not generous.”
“They look so happy you thought of them.” She looked over at the two dark, dangerous looking men sitting across from each other at a small table. They alternated between watching them and glaring at each other. “They look like two enemies relegated to the same kiddie table.”
“That barbarian isn’t sitting at our table. This is a private meal between you and me.”
“Because I need to audition for this movie, right?” She rolled her eyes. “And he’s not a barbarian. He’s my bodyguard. He keeps me safe.”
“Like he kept you safe when you were shot at?”
“Actually, yes. If not for him, I would have been hit.”
“If he were good, there would have never been a shot fired.”
Kimiko had to laugh out loud at this. “Seriously? What more could he have done, read the minds of everyone on the street? There was no way to know the shooter was outside the restaurant. I was shot at and thanks to Draven, I wasn’t hit.”
“Are you sleeping with him?”
Kimiko had started to sip her wine and choked on it. “Excuse me?” She wiped her mouth with her napkin. “What business is it of yours who I’m doing what with and why would you even assume that?”
“It’s my business because I care and I ask because you’re so defensive of this man, this servant. You’ve never been this way about your other servants.”
“The correct word would be bodyguard, not servant. Do you even hear yourself when you talk?”
“To-may-to, tah-mah-to,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. �
��You’ve never been this way with any other and you never would have dared any to be so defiant.”
“My other bodyguards were creeps who dug around my underwear drawer for panties to put on the internet,” she reminded him. “Draven actually protects me. Doing a job well does not make him a servant and he shouldn’t be treated as one. The man saved my life.”
“Like you said, he did his job. Doing a job doesn’t make one a hero.”
“Depends on what that job is,” she countered, looking over at Draven. She found him watching her, the lines of his forehead etched in concern. “And no, I’m not sleeping with him. Not that it should matter to you either way.”
“Of course it should matter.” He reached across the table and covered her hand with his. She noted how silky soft it was. “You didn’t give me a chance, Kimiko. The studio may have put us together to create the next big celebrity super-couple, but it was at my request. From the moment I saw you I knew you were the missing piece I’d been searching for.”
The server appeared with their main course, and Kim remained silent as the food was served, knowing she wouldn’t be eating a bite. Her stomach had suddenly taken a dip.
“What did you say?” she asked after the server left.
“Hmm?” Rex looked up from the steak he was cutting.
“What did you just say?”
“Oh.” He set his knife and fork down and reached again for her hand, sending a shiver down her spine as his fingers touched her skin. “I said you were the missing piece I’d been searching for. The final piece to the puzzle of how to be truly happy.”
Kimiko quickly pulled her hand back and fled, grabbing Draven on her way out of the restaurant, Rex’s haunting words echoing in her head.
5
“Kimiko! What is it?” Draven asked again, now five blocks and a parallel street away from the restaurant.
She’d grabbed his hand as she’d dashed out of the restaurant, clearly spooked over something that the blond jerk-off had said, but hadn’t said a thing as she continued racing away on foot, looking over her shoulder every few minutes as if fearing they were being chased. Thanks to the busy New York streets, finding them in the crowd would be difficult. At least it would be for humans. Lennox could use his powerful sense of smell to track them in the crowd. He was surprised the man hadn’t popped up on them yet.
Moonlit Guardian Page 3
