“Can’t wait for you to show me.”
She rolled her eyes as the phone rang. A quick step reached the receiver. “Hello?”
“Love, it’s Colin.”
“Colin! How marvelous to hear from you.”
He chuckled quietly. “Thank you. I’m calling to see if ten o’clock will work for breakfast tomorrow.”
No church, then, but Alexa didn’t understand Spanish anyway. “Perfect. I can’t wait. I’ve just finished all my material, so be ready to give me a lot of stories.”
“Will do.” He hesitated. “I enjoyed our dinner the other night.”
“Me, too.” She sighed dramatically. “It was fabulous.”
He chuckled again. “You’re in a funny mood, aren’t you, Alexa?”
How could she say that Jamison brought out her outrageous side? “I can’t wait until breakfast tomorrow,” she said, instead.
“Come hungry. I’m ordering brunch.”
“Even better!”
“Cheers, love.” Alexa hung up, too.
“Another date?” Jamison asked from the couch.
“As a matter of fact, yes. And a working session.” She collapsed into a chair catty-corner to him and forked up the delicious omelette.
“Is our date still on for today?”
She gave him a look. “It’s hardly a date, Jamison.”
“I thought we agreed that’s exactly what it is.”
Alexa struggled to keep her mouth shut so the food wouldn’t fall out. “I don’t know what dream world you’re living in. But we are not dating.”
“I didn’t say we were. But we agreed this would be a date.”
Alexa’s jaw did drop this time. Luckily, she had already swallowed. “No,” she retorted. “Hardly. It’s an outing we’re forced to enjoy together.”
Oh, her running mouth! When would her brain engage?
He grinned. “Glad you’re looking forward to it.”
Alexa rolled her eyes heavenward and decided to stay silent, before she stuck her foot further into her mouth.
“Are you interested in architecture?” Jamison asked.
“Yes. Oh! I forgot all about Gaudi’s buildings. What are they called again?”
“La Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, and La Pedrera, which is also known as Casa Milà. Would you like to visit them first, then shop?”
“Absolutely. Thanks for reminding me.” She saw his small smile, obviously surprised by her positive comments.
After she finished lunch, they took a cab to La Sagrada Família. Alexa gazed up at the magnificent spires of the unfinished church. She was so glad Jamison had reminded her to visit it before she left. “Wow,” was all she could find to say. “Why didn’t they finish it after Gaudi died?”
“Architects can’t agree on how it should be finished.”
Alexa discovered that both the inside and the outside of the massive structure still needed to be completed. Still, it was majestic and inspiring. She especially loved the stained glass windows in one area inside—they were shaped like the letter “I” in groups of three up the wall, and depicted different scenes. At the top was a blue cluster that looked like a starburst. She snapped pictures with her camera.
When they finally decided to leave, Jamison said, “I thought we could drive by Casa Batlló, and then take the time to see La Pedrera. What do you think?”
“Fine.”
He gave another small smile. “You’re so agreeable, princess. And you were quiet exploring Montjuïc, too.”
“Historical masterpieces make me forget about sniping with you,” she said loftily.
His smile edged higher. “Now there’s the girl I know.”
“Do you want to fight?”
“No. Just amazed you can keep quiet for so long.”
Unable to help herself, Alexa stuck out her tongue. Jamison chuckled as their cab rolled to a stop outside La Pedrera.
However, true to form, Alexa fell silent as she gazed up at the curved, unusual lines of the stone building, and noted the wrought iron fences that decorated odd outcroppings of balconies. It looked like a surreal painting. Inside, they viewed the soaring, curved atrium, and then traveled to the attic space, where they toured the exhibition area. Photos, drawings, models, and videos explained how Gaudi had come up with his unique, ingenious designs.
Finally, they toured the roof, which Alexa liked best of all. It supplied a wonderful view of Barcelona, but more amazing were the warm, sand colored, curved arches and bizarrely shaped chimneys—the tops of which looked like helmeted soldiers. She gazed down through the atrium to the court below.
Alexa and Jamison spent a leisurely time wandering around the roof with the other tourists. At times it felt crowded, and at others, while passing through one of the archways, she felt like they were completely on their own. It was at one of those times that an odd sensation prickled down the back of her neck.
Alexa turned quickly, but saw no one but a giant, blond-haired man. Clearly, he wasn’t the middle-aged man who had attacked her twice before.
The man peered down into the atrium.
“What?” Jamison’s sharp eyes missed nothing.
“I thought I felt someone staring at me. All this strange architecture must be warping my imagination.”
“Want to go?”
She couldn’t dismiss the unease still sliding through her spirit. “If you’re done.”
“I’m ready when you are, princess.” An odd note colored the serious words.
Alexa glanced at him. What had he meant by that?
His dark gaze steadily met hers. Had she imagined a double meaning when he had meant none? She must be feeling jumpy.
They descended to Passeig de Gràcia.
“If you want to shop, you might like to try this street,” Jamison suggested. “Later, we could go into Old Town.”
“Okay,” she agreed. Now the prickly feeling was gone. Maybe she had only imagined it, after all.
Passeig de Gràcia was a beautiful street, faced by architecturally unique buildings. Alexa quickly discovered that it was home to a number of smart shops, too. She hoped she could find something for each of her parents here.
“Isn’t shopping boring for you?” she asked as they wove through the throngs of people.
“Nothing’s boring with you, princess.”
Alexa supposed she should take that as a compliment. A crowd of people surged by, momentarily forcing Alexa ahead of Jamison. Unease slid through her—just like she had felt at La Pedrera. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder, looking for Jamison; certain he was right behind her, protecting her. But he wasn’t.
Panic rose as two people elbowed by. One was a woman, and the other a man with a derby hat and a long black trench coat.
Swallowing back fear, Alexa turned and followed the crowd, looking for her bodyguard. Someone yanked her hair backward, and pain pricked into her neck. And then, for the briefest second, she glimpsed Jamison in a shadowed doorway. He struggled with the enormous, blond-haired man.
“Jamison!” she gasped.
“Shut up!” snarled the man in her ear. “You’re more trouble than you’re worth.” The knife poked harder and he gripped her close, the weapon camouflaged by a chiffon scarf he held to her neck. An awful stink drifted to her nose. It had to be the same man as last time. “Walk, or I’ll kill you now.”
He must be crazy.
It felt like déjà vu. Fear choked her.
He must have followed her from La Pedrera. So had the giant. Had they followed her all day, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike? And who was that enormous man? Hired muscle?
Suddenly, the knife left her skin and she heard the awful sound of fist hitting flesh. The grip on her hair vanished.
She spun, clutching her neck. Jamison stood over the prone man’s body. He appeared none the worse for wear. And then, out of the corner of her eye… “Jamison! Look out!”
Before Jamison could turn, the blond man kicked him in the
kidney. Features convulsed with pain, Jamison twisted to face his attacker. His fist walloped into the man’s stomach. The blond man grunted, but kicked him again; managing a hook to the other kidney. Jamison sank to his knees, his face wreathed in agony. A few people stopped, exclaiming in concern.
At that moment, the older man struggled to his feet. “Come on!” he cried to his accomplice, and both men darted into the crowd.
Horror-struck, Alexa flew to Jamison and sank to her knees. “Jamison! Are you all right?”
More people gathered around, and a few English speaking tourists asked if he was hurt.
Although his smile looked like a grimace, Jamison made it to his feet. “I’m fine,” he said, and limped down the sidewalk. When it was obvious he could move on his own, the crowd dispersed.
Alexa clutched his arm. “You’re not all right,” she whispered. “That horrible man hurt you.”
“It isn’t the first time. I’ll live.”
“But Jamison…”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.” The hard set to his jaw gradually relaxed. Jamison pulled out his phone and spent a few minutes talking—to the police, Alexa surmised.
With trembling fingers, she pulled out her compact and rubbed sanitizer on the red mark on her neck. Who knew where that knife had been? The last thing she needed was an infection. The gel stung.
Jamison snapped his phone shut. He walked more easily now, Alexa was thankful to see. “The police think they know the accomplice. He’s a local with a record.”
But he wasn’t the true threat. Both of them realized this. Alexa hated that her hands shook as she zipped her purse closed again. “I’m sick of that horrible man!” she snapped. “Because of him, you’ve been hurt twice. And he wants to kill me…” Her lips quivered. “I won’t live in fear. I will not!” She said this more to convince herself than anyone else.
“Alexa…”
She fought tears. “Do you need to sit down? Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine. I told you. But…”
“Then I’d like to keep shopping. I am not going back to the flat.”
“Alexa.” Jamison’s hand curled around her arm.
She shook it off. “Please. I don’t want to think about it. Let’s go to Old Town.” Although she wanted to shop, Alexa also wanted to leave this place, and fast.
A cab drove them to Old Town, and Jamison silently walked beside Alexa as she hurried from store to store, not slowing a moment to enjoy the new scenery. She couldn’t find a single item she wanted—although she did find a black T-shirt Jamison might like. It said “Peligroso” on the front, and sported the orange head of a tiger on the back. She guessed he wore an extra-large, and slapped it on the counter and paid for it.
Jamison followed as she snatched up the pink plastic bag and sped for the door.
“Are you tired yet?” he asked. “You’ve been running from shop to shop for an hour.”
Alexa spied a bench shaded by a tree. “If you’re tired, we can sit.”
Jamison exhaled and patiently followed her to the bench. He sat silently while she clutched her purse and bag in her lap. After a while he said, “You all right?”
“Of course I’m all right. Why wouldn’t I be all right?” she snapped.
“You’re tearing holes in the bag.”
Alexa glanced down. Indeed, her fingernails had already worked holes in the pink plastic. The black T-shirt showed through. She stilled her fingers.
“I hate being afraid,” she said. “I hate worrying if that man’s behind me right now, plotting to throw a knife at me…or hurt you. What’s wrong with him? Why does he want to hurt me?” To her dismay, tears rolled down her cheeks.
Jamison shifted closer and his arm hugged securely around her shoulders. “I don’t know. He must be insane. It’s the only explanation.” His muscled thigh brushed her own. She wanted to rest her head on his shoulder, and so she did. It felt hard, yet comfortable.
“I don’t want to be scared,” she said in a small voice. Jamison was right. The stalker must be insane. Even so, her suspicions about Paddy returned to mind. Surely Colin’s manager wouldn’t try to kill her, just for a profit, would he? Certainly he wouldn’t try to hurt Jamison, either. Alexa considered mentioning her suspicions to Jamison, but just as quickly rejected the idea. With no shred of proof, it would sound ridiculous.
“I know you don’t want to be afraid,” Jamison murmured. “But I’m here. I’ll protect you.”
“I saw you fighting that huge man. I thought…” More tears burned her eyes.
“It was tough. I’ll admit I shot up a prayer for help.”
It had been close. Even Jamison admitted it.
A sob wrenched from her throat. She didn’t want to be afraid, and yet she was. She couldn’t help it. “I’m so scared, Jamison,” she whispered. “I’m so scared.” Strangled sobs escaped.
Jamison’s arms tightened around her. “I’m here. I will always protect you. Trust me.”
And Alexa did trust him. Within his strong arms, the fear slunk away. She let him hold her, soaking in his strength and his calm self-assurance. In another man, the raw, leashed power of his body might scare her, but she didn’t feel that way with Jamison. His strong embrace comforted her. Everything would be all right when she was with Jamison. He had always protected her, and he always would.
“God is here, too,” he murmured. “Do you know what I pray when I’m scared?”
She shook her head.
“A verse from Psalm ninety-one. ‘“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.”’ He’s the one who keeps us both safe.”
Alexa nodded, and breathed a silent prayer of thanks to God. And she thanked Him for Jamison, too. She sniffed. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
“It’s my pleasure, Alexa.”
She fell silent, trying to stem the useless tears. Alexa wanted to stay this way forever. Close to Jamison. She didn’t want to be anywhere else.
After a while, the tears stopped leaking out of her eyes, and she brushed at them with the back of her hand. Jamison pulled his white hanky from his back pocket. “Here.”
She took it and reluctantly straightened up to wipe away the damage to her make-up. To her relief, his arm remained around her. “I must look like a raccoon.”
“Let me do it.” He tugged the hanky from her fingers and tilted her chin up. His dark gaze looked compassionate, warm…and tender?
Alexa allowed him to dab her face, fully aware that his fingers were only a breath from her lips, and of the five o’clock shadow on his jaw. She wondered what it felt like. And his mouth. She knew what that felt like.
“Alexa.” Unknown emotion roughened his voice. His eyes had darkened to black again, and appeared conflicted. She wouldn’t look away.
“Alexa,” he said more softly. His mouth brushed hers and lingered. Sweetness flowed from his gentle caress.
Alexa couldn’t help herself; for so long she had wanted to know. She threaded her fingers into the thick hair at his nape. It felt crisp and soft. Jamison went very still, and then his arm around her shoulders tightened. His kiss deepened, urging a response from her, and Alexa willingly gave it.
He broke away first and sucked in a deep breath. He muttered softly in Italian, then, “What am I doing? You’re upset.”
“Not anymore.”
His eyes searched hers. “Alexa, this is not a good idea.”
She pulled away. “I’m sorry.”
“Let’s go for a walk.” His hand closed around hers. “I need to clear my head.”
“Are you sure you want to hold my hand?” she asked in a small voice.
“No. I’m not.” He sounded frustrated, and not sure of himself, like he usually was. Abruptly, he stood. “Come on. Let’s find a coffee shop. We need to talk.”
In the small café, Jamison bought black coffee for himself and tea for Alexa, and then sat across the small round t
able from her. His intense black gaze held hers.
“Why are you going on dates with Colin, Alexa?”
Why was she? She cast about for a reason, but it took longer than she had expected to find one. “Because he’s the perfect guy? He’s everything I’ve ever looked for in a man. He meets all of my criteria—except I don’t know if he’s a Christian.”
Jamison’s eyes narrowed. “What are these criteria?”
Alexa felt embarrassed to tell him. Especially since he clearly matched few of them! “Well, ever since I can remember, I’ve looked for a guy who’s got blond hair, blue eyes, and is over six foot one. Of course, he has to have high integrity and be a Christian, too. And…” her voice faltered, “if he was refined and sophisticated, that would be a plus.”
“Really?” That one word sounded incredulous. Jamison expelled a harsh breath. “You’ve made it perfectly clear, then.” His expression hardened.
“Jamison…” What could she say? What did she feel for him? She felt so confused. Wasn’t he all wrong for her?
Then why did she enjoy his company so much? She even enjoyed their verbal sparring. She said, “We get along better when we fight, don’t you think?”
“Fighting is easy.”
“Are you implying I want to take the easy way out?”
“I don’t think you know what you want, princess.”
Relief flooded her then. He had called her princess. Maybe things could go back to normal.
“You’re right about that.”
“Colin’s your dream man. Go for it.”
Alexa said nothing. From a logical standpoint, Jamison’s statement made sense. From her confused heart’s perspective, not so much.
“Maybe you’re right.”
Jamison curled his fingers around the coffee cup. His knuckles showed white. “Fine,” he said. “Just keep it straight with me.”
“I wouldn’t lie to you, Jamison.”
His gaze scanned her features. “I know,” he said quietly.
They fell silent and sipped their drinks.
After they had finished, Alexa decided it was time to lighten things up again. “Can I treat you to dinner?” she said. “My sister said my book has made the Times bestseller list. I can afford it.”
“You want to celebrate.”
Her Reluctant Bodyguard Page 20
