“Colin’s a big star,” Jamison said grimly. “Gossip is hot.” He pushed the paper across the table. A wide-eyed picture of Alexa staring up at Colin, on stage, blazed across the front page.
“Great,” she groaned. “I look like a love-struck groupie.”
A faint smile curled Jamison’s lips. “Aren’t you?”
She elected to ignore that comment. “Will I need to stay inside now? Or wear a disguise when I go out?”
“It wouldn’t hurt. You could wear sunglasses. It’s not the best picture of you.”
Alexa wondered if that was a backhanded compliment.
Jamison found a bag of peanuts and pulled it open. Would that be his breakfast, she wondered. Usually he fixed bacon and egg white omelettes, or something healthy. Maybe it was just a snack.
She broke the lengthening silence. Diffidently, she asked, “Have you asked Colin if Mart can take your place?”
Jamison put a nut between his teeth and leaned against the counter. “Not yet.”
“Will you?”
“Should I?”
“Of course.” But she said it with no heat.
Jamison popped another nut into his mouth. “Then I’ll stay.” He met her eyes. “That okay with you?”
Alexa shrugged. “Sure.”
“Good.”
With a small smile, Alexa returned to work.
Mart let Alexa into the penthouse for her interview with Eve later that morning. The secretary stood with her back to Alexa, talking on her cell phone.
“Go ahead and sit down.” Mart advised. “Eve will be right with you.” The bodyguard disappeared into another room.
Alexa settled her notepad on her lap and tried not to eavesdrop on Eve’s conversation. It was hard, for Eve’s high voice sounded hysterical. “Is Mother okay?” Silence. “Yes, but…” and then, “Are you sure? What can I do?” More silence. “Okay. ’Bye.” She flipped the cell phone shut. Anguish contorted her features.
“Is everything all right?” Alexa asked, concerned.
Eve blinked, as if seeing her for the first time. “My mother is in the hospital.”
“I’m so sorry. Will she be okay?”
“Yes. She’ll be out in a few days.” Eve put away the phone, tidied her desk, and then sat opposite her, looking calmer.
Alexa didn’t want to be nosy, but she said gently, “I’m glad. But I thought you didn’t have parents. I heard you grew up in the foster system.”
Eve frowned, obviously upset her personal life had been disclosed to Alexa. “Of course I have parents. They had problems, and the courts thought I’d be better off in the foster system. But I was talking about my foster mother.”
“Oh.”
Eve glared, as if finally remembering she disliked Alexa. “Why did you want to meet with me? I assume you have questions for the book.”
Of course, Alexa couldn’t tell Colin’s secretary that she had been at the top of her suspect list. Good thing she had discovered Eve couldn’t be involved, or she might have stuck her foot in her mouth and irreparably damaged their shaky working relationship.
“Yes. I asked Colin if I could interview you and a few others for the book. I’m guessing you have insights others don’t have into Colin.”
“You just want the inside scoop for yourself.”
Would the secretary never let up on the pit bull mentality? Patiently, she said, “After reading the book, people will want to feel like they know Colin better. They like and admire him already. Your insights could increase goodwill for him.”
“And increase your book sales,” Eve finished with contempt. “What a mercenary you are.”
Alexa wanted to roll her eyes. Could Eve even think logically? “It’s Colin’s book,” she reminded her. “And it could increase sales of his CDs, too.”
“Perfect. Manipulate me into helping you. If I don’t, I’m betraying Colin.”
Goodness gracious! “I’m not trying to guilt trip you. I want to interview you. And yes, I think it will help Colin. Don’t you want to help him?”
Eve rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “Fine. I only have ten minutes. Colin needs me.” She said this last with a note of triumph.
Alexa’s patience felt sorely tried. “Fine. Tell me how you met him.”
“I worked at his recording company. He noticed my hard work and asked me to become his secretary.”
“It’s a plum job.”
“I’ve earned it. I do a good job.” Antagonism rang through the words.
Insight dawned. Eve clearly felt defensive. Possibly even insecure. But why? Was she afraid of losing her job? Or afraid of losing Colin? “What does Colin mean to you?” The question popped out before her brain could censor it.
Eve’s eyes rounded. “That is none of your business, hussy! I certainly know what he means to you.”
Alexa did not bother to answer this. “I’m sorry. I meant to say, how does Colin treat you on a day-to-day basis? What kind of a boss is he?”
Eve settled back on the couch, but her narrowed eyes still flashed. “He’s perfect. Always considerate. A gentleman. He remembers my birthday, and gives me flowers for Administrative Professionals’ Day in the U.S. He even gives me chocolates for Valentine’s Day.”
“That’s sweet.” It sounded just like Colin.
“You can wipe that mooning smile off your face. You’re just another flash in the pan for Colin. Another in a long line.”
“Are you suggesting he plans to use me, then throw me away? That doesn’t sound like the Colin you just described.”
Eve clearly didn’t know what to say to this, for a silent moment elapsed. Then she spurted, “He’ll wine and dine you, then get tired of you, and that will be that. He’ll send you a note from time to time, because that’s the kind of man he is. But you’ll get the kiss-off, just like everyone else.”
“Then there’s you, right? Colin always keeps you by his side.”
“That’s right. He knows I’ll never leave him.”
“Because he pays you,” Alexa returned, before she could censor her tongue.
Eve stared, as if she could not believe her ears, and then jumped to her feet. “I tried to warn you. Go ahead and get hurt.”
“You don’t care if I’m hurt. You want to warn me off. Is it because you want Colin for yourself?”
Eve gasped. “That is utterly ridiculous!”
Alexa gathered up her things. Clearly, this interview would go nowhere constructive. “If you’re interested in him, why not say so?”
“I would never jeopardize my working relationship with Colin! Only tramps like you manipulate him into spending time with you…for the book, of course. Just remember, if it wasn’t for the book, you wouldn’t be here. And when it’s done, you’ll be gone.”
“Is that why he invited me to dinner tomorrow night? For work?” Alexa immediately regretted the taunt, but couldn’t take it back.
Eve gasped, obviously shocked by this news. “So you are a liar. You say you don’t want a fling with him, but here you are, coercing dates with him!”
“It wasn’t my idea. He invited me.”
Eve crossed her arms. “Fine. I don’t care. Soon you’ll be gone. He’d never fall for someone like you.”
“Why not?”
Eve’s lips trembled. “This interview is over.”
Alexa felt sorry for the secretary. For all of her spiteful vinegar, Eve had deep feelings for Colin. Unfortunately, they also appeared to be unhealthy, possessive ones.
Alexa struggled to find conciliatory words. “Colin is a kind, wonderful man. There are too few in the world today.”
“At least you understand that.”
“I won’t hurt him. I promise you that.” Alexa headed for the door.
“So you say. But I don’t trust you. I never will. If you know what’s best for you, you’ll steer clear of him.”
With narrowed eyes, Alexa turned back. “Is that a threat?”
“Of course not. Just friendly advice.” But Eve’s cold eyes looked anything but friendly. After calling for Mart, Alexa left without another word.
If she wasn’t absolutely certain that Eve couldn’t be the note writer, Eve’s last statement would have pushed her to the top of her suspect list. As it was, Alexa could only hope the police would soon find the man involved.
In the meantime, Alexa would try to steer clear of Eve as much as possible. Somehow, she had to make Colin see that she couldn’t work with his secretary. She would need to come to him directly for help on the book.
Alexa found herself looking forward to the date with him tomorrow night. For the first time, she admitted it for what it was. Eve had helped her to realize it. Alexa did like Colin, but was it in a romantic way? The question itself was strange. Shouldn’t the answer be “yes”? In any case, Sunday night would tell her.
Chapter Eight
After dinner that night—pasta with a homemade spaghetti sauce, which Jamison had unexpectedly cooked—Alexa stared out the window. The lights of Paris sparkled below, traffic moved, and people hurried along the sidewalks. How she wanted to go out and feel the energy of a Paris night. On Wednesday night, they had hurried back so fast that she had been unable to experience any of the Parisian magic.
On a whim, she addressed Jamison, who currently prowled the sitting room. He looked caged and restless, much like she felt. “I want to go out.”
He looked up. “Now?”
“Yes.” Alexa grabbed a light jacket, slipped on her new flats, and headed for the door. Since it was dark, she decided not to worry about a disguise.
Jamison disappeared into his room and then reappeared, tucking his wallet and key in his pockets. He held open the door for her. “After you.”
On the street, Alexa took a great breath of the crisp air. All sorts of different people hurried to and fro. Some were her age, and probably on their way to dance clubs, Alexa imagined. And others were older, maybe going out to dinner.
“Let’s walk toward Rue Cler again,” she suggested. Alexa wanted to rub out the tarnished blot the attack had left on that enchanting place, and replace it with new, bright memories.
“Okay.” Jamison walked close by her side down the busy sidewalks. Sometimes his black jacket brushed her sleeve. It felt strangely intimate to walk with him on a Saturday night. Would others think they were on a date?
She cast a quick, self-conscious glance at Jamison. It certainly could appear that way. This was one of the reasons she had never dated a shorter man. What would people think of the two of them together? She an Amazon, and him…an elf.
But no one seemed to notice, or care. She received no strange looks. In fact, a middle-aged woman actually smiled as she hurried by, clutching a grocery bag.
“What are you thinking, princess?”
Alexa started. “Umm…” As if she would confess to viewing him—even for a millisecond—as her date! Hastily, she improvised. Walking in Paris brought to mind vacations and time off, which she had rarely appropriated until lately. What about Jamison? “Don’t you ever get a day off?”
“Trying to get rid of me?”
“Yes.” She smiled. “But seriously.”
“I’ll ask for a day in Italy, to visit my family. Otherwise, I’ll take time off after the tour.”
Cautiously, Alexa said, “What do you do with your free time?”
“You want to learn something about me?”
This was exactly the impression Alexa had hoped to avoid. But at the same time, she couldn’t escape her curiosity. Her bodyguard possessed deeper, more complex layers than she had initially imagined.
“Just wondering if you ever let your hair down.”
“It’s been a long time.” To her surprise, he took the question seriously.
Alexa could not imagine Jamison ever being anything other than tightly coiled, watchful, and controlled at all times.
Ahead, a bicycle appeared on the sidewalk. A teen wearing a knitted cap rode it.
“What in the world?” she said, as it zoomed closer.
A flux of people exited a restaurant, and the bicycle careened toward Alexa. Before she could react, Jamison grabbed her hand and hauled her into the deserted street.
Alexa’s heart beat fast as they regained the sidewalk. “That wasn’t an attack. Was it?” Uncertainly, she glanced at Jamison.
“No.”
Alexa realized then that he still held her hand. His felt strong and warm, and hers fit neatly inside of it. Her breath caught as she absorbed the intimate connection to this man. Tingles ran over her palm, electrifying her bloodstream. Why didn’t he let go? An inexplicable part of her didn’t want him to, but the saner bit of her brain said she had better end it, if he wouldn’t.
She discretely tugged at her hand. “Umm. Jamison?”
Instantly, he released it, as though it were a hot potato. “Sorry,” he said roughly. “I was thinking…about something else.”
“Glad to know I’m so memorable,” she said, absurdly offended.
His white teeth gleamed in the dim light. “Do you want my undivided attention?”
“Please!” she scoffed, glad the low lighting hid her blush. “I couldn’t want anything less. And frankly, who wants their hand held like a forgotten dishrag?” Oops! That hadn’t come out right at all.
His widening grin proved it. “Shall I redeem myself?” he suggested. “You know we Italians have a reputation to uphold.”
Alexa didn’t have to fill in the blanks—that Italian men were the greatest lovers in the world. A tremor went through her, but she struggled to frown. “Of course not! I don’t think of you in that context. You don’t need to prove anything to me.”
A faint smile remained, but he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Where to next, princess?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I just want to walk.”
They strolled a few more blocks, and then a whiff of chocolate kissed her nose. Where had it come from? They hadn’t reached Rue Cler yet.
Like a greedy little mouse, she followed her nose forward a few more steps, and then gazed in at heaven. Bright lights lit the shop, illuminating the beautifully painted fresco of a tree and trellis on the far wall, and directly ahead clear display cases tempted her with pyramids of chocolate confections.
Alexa inhaled deeply when a customer exited.
“You like chocolate?” Jamison asked, at her side. She had all but forgotten him in the ecstasy of the moment.
“I love it!” Alexa breathed. “I can’t have it in the house.”
“Do you have any euros?”
“A few.” She had made a point of procuring them immediately following the last debacle. But she had only stuffed a few in her pocket tonight. “Would you like some chocolate? I’ll treat—it’s my turn, after all.”
“Sure.”
Alexa eagerly entered the cool, sweet smelling shop, and drifted over to gaze into the display cases. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cream filled chocolates, caramel chocolates, and white chocolate. She nudged the corner of her mouth to make sure she wasn’t drooling.
Alexa calculated prices in her head. “I’ve got enough money for two pieces each. What do you want?”
Jamison wanted a coconut cream filled and a chewy, nutty one. Alexa went for the pure dark chocolate—her absolute favorite in the world—and white chocolate with almonds. The girl behind the counter packaged up the sweets.
They sat at a small table outside. Alexa nibbled on her dark chocolate. “Yum,” she sighed and closed her eyes in pure bliss. When she opened them, she discovered Jamison watching her with a faint smile.
“How is the book coming?” he asked, finishing his first chocolate. Obviously not a connoisseur, Alexa determined.
“Okay,” she replied. “Colin’s hard to pin down, but we’re having dinner tomorrow night. It’ll be a good opportunity to record more material.”
Jamison raised a black brow. “That’s all it is to you—a
business dinner?”
A blush warmed her cheeks, and she hoped he couldn’t see. “Not exactly.”
Jamison looked away for a second. “Have you ever been to Spain?” The subject change felt deliberate.
“Nope. I’ve never been to Europe, period.”
“I worked in Barcelona for a while. Maybe I could show you around.”
Alexa smiled. “Sure.”
Jamison told her about Barcelona while she nibbled the white chocolate. He watched as she finished the last morsel.
“Done,” she sighed. “Are you ready to go back?”
By way of an answer, Jamison stood, and even helped edge back her chair.
“Thank you.” Alexa was thrown a little off kilter by this. “I’m not used to you continental men being so chivalrous,” she said, to cover her confused flutters.
“You think I’m suave and debonair?”
Alexa rolled her eyes. “Hardly. …Well, maybe sometimes.”
“Another backhanded compliment. I must be growing in your opinion.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
He chuckled quietly and Alexa grinned, too. Were they actually ending this evening on a cordial note? It was hard to believe, and unexpectedly pleasant.
Jamison had agreed to come to church with her this morning. Alexa finished hooking in her earrings, grabbed up her purse, and met Jamison at the front door.
With a glance, he took in her crisp, white linen jacket with the pale peach camisole, and pencil slim skirt. He said nothing about how nice she looked, par for the course. Instead, his gaze fell to her white, strappy three and a half inch stilettos. They were her highest heels, and matched her outfit exactly.
He said, “You couldn’t resist, could you?”
With them on, he officially matched her lip level.
“Whatever could you mean?” she inquired, not so innocently.
After their breakthrough last night—actually ending an evening on a positive note—part of Alexa wanted to keep the peace. The other half didn’t. Peace with Jamison disturbed her. She didn’t know how, or why, but there it was. The truth.
Her Reluctant Bodyguard Page 13
