Because Of Cooper
Page 23
Meghan swallowed. They were still talking about obedience here, right?
Meghan Slade had the longest eyelashes he’d ever seen and they were fluttering up a storm as they stared each other down in front of the hospital doors. The silence stretched.
She was nervous. Her gaze flitted from one side of the room to the other landing on anything but him. Her pink tongue darted out of her mouth to wet her lips.
Jerry stared at her mouth. They were beautiful. Brown shaded the top lip and a sliver of the bottom while the plumpest part of her bottom lip was a dark pink.
He dragged his gaze away, stunned by the thoughts that just rushed through his head. Jerry prided himself on his professionalism and that was a deep, dark detour from his usual detachment from the job.
Meghan still had a hold on his hand. The skinship was probably why he’d gone crazy for a minute.
Jerry shook her off and stepped back. “Well?”
“I’ll try my best.” Meghan’s gaze was on the floor.
He’d take that for now.
“Where’s the ice cream parlor?”
She rubbed the back of her neck. “What if, hypothetically, it was the same place I got assaulted today?”
“Miss Slade—”
“It’s Meghan.” She smiled innocently. “And they serve the best ice cream in the city.”
“No, it’s too dangerous.”
Her bottom lip pushed out again. Jerry wondered if that was intentional or just an instinctual habit when she wanted to get her own way. “Come on. I’ve been craving ice cream for hours. Just when I was about to get some, I got whacked in the head. Have some mercy.”
“Mercy won’t keep you alive.”
“It’ll keep me from going crazy.” She straightened her shoulders. “You said this is about give and take, right? What do I have to do so I can get what I want?”
Everything in Jerry told him to drag Meghan Slade to their government issued SUV, toss her inside and drive her safely home.
Instead, he found himself getting behind the wheel, driving to the ice cream store and taking her order.
He left her with strict instructions not to open the car for anyone and rushed into the shop with her order of a double scoop Oreo cookie ice cream cone pounding through his head.
As he walked inside and joined the line, Jerry kept an eye on the car through the store’s large frosted windows.
“Sir? Sir?”
The voice pulled his attention away from the truck. Jerry gave his order and slipped his fingers into the pockets, leaning slightly against the wall so he could study his surroundings as well as the vehicle.
Pink chairs surrounded white, round tables. Pictures of ice cream sandwiches and sundaes bracketed the wall. A teenaged couple huddled in the corner booth, giggling as they sat together. A mother and her child ate at the table nearest him.
The baby pointed, his black gaze fixed on Jerry’s uniform. Jerry dipped his head and offered a small smile in acknowledgement.
At last, the server handed him the ice cream and he paid. The minute he turned around, the uneasiness returned. He fast-walked to the car and slid in, shoving the ice cream at Meghan.
Jerry inwardly cursed himself. Something could have happened while he was gone. If someone was after her there was no room for mistakes.
He determined to never let Meghan persuade him to go against his gut again. Everything worked out fine today. It might not tomorrow and he…
Meghan screamed.
Adrenaline shot through him. Jerry spun, wrapping his arm over the back of his headrest so he could reach over to free her. He saw nothing.
Nothing except a woman in complete bliss.
“This is amazing!” Meghan said, her eyes falling closed. She clutched the ice cream in her hand and tipped her delicate neck back. “Oh, I’ve been waiting all day for this.”
She straightened and brought the treat to her lips. The exuberance with which she licked the cone and tucked into that ice cream reminded him of his nephews.
If they ever met, he was sure Meghan, Jack, and Peter would get along.
“You want a taste?” Meghan asked, tilting the ice cream to him.
Yes, but not of the ice cream.
“No.”
His heart still thudded, but for a different reason than before. A sigh slipped through his mouth as he started the car. He should be grateful Meghan Slade’s scream was one of pleasure and yet he felt mildly frustrated.
The responsibility of protecting the Prime Minister’s daughter rested on his shoulders. Jerry couldn’t allow himself to be distracted by her beauty or her negotiation skills.
Dusk painted the sprawling sky glorious shades of red and pink. Jerry focused on driving through the evening traffic when his phone rang.
McKinley’s name flashed across the screen. He picked up immediately and lowered his voice so Meghan couldn’t overhear. He doubted she was paying any attention to him the way she was cradling that ice cream.
“Did you find anything?” he whispered.
“Not yet. Sarge assembled a team. They’re poring over the footage as we speak. We know the perp was on a motorcycle. No license plate. Late model available at any motor vehicle store in the country.”
“What about his face?”
“He was wearing a helmet so no luck there. We’re analyzing the footage to see if we can catch any clues, but it’s going to be a tough one.”
“Do you think it was random?” Jerry asked, glancing at Meghan in the rearview mirror. She caught his eye and smiled.
He looked away.
“Looks like it was, but we don’t want to take any chances.” McKinley cleared his throat. “Is Miss Slade up for a few questions? The officer at the scene didn’t want to interrupt when she was getting treatment.”
Jerry snorted. “She’s fine. If you want her cooperation, just bring more ice cream.”
Meghan scooted to the edge of her seat and poked her head next to his. “Who’s that?”
Jerry inched away from her. “You have the address, right?”
“I’ll be there in thirty,” McKinley said.
Jerry hung up and speared her with a dark glance. “It’s bad manners to eavesdrop.”
Instead of moving back and apologizing, Meghan continued to study him. She was so close her breath hit his cheek. She smelled like cookies.
“I didn’t know Asians could be cops,” she said.
Usually, Jerry bristled at that line of questioning, but Meghan sounded genuinely curious. He shrugged. “Asians can be anything they want to be. Same as anyone.”
“Was it your dream to be in the police force?”
He stared straight ahead. “Yes.”
“Was it everything you thought it would be?”
“No.” His eyes found hers in the rearview mirror. “You should sit back and put your seatbelt on.”
“Why? Are you a bad driver?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll stay right here.”
Jerry narrowed his eyes. “We had an agreement.”
“You own me,” she jerked her chin toward the window, “out there. Right now, I don’t answer to you.”
Jerry suppressed another sigh.
Should have known she’d be a handful.
“Do you have family in Belize?” she asked.
“No.”
“Siblings?”
“Yes.”
Meghan paused and tilted her head. “Are you answering like that to annoy me or do you just suck at conversations?”
“I’m your bodyguard. You are my charge. Everything else is meaningless.”
“I don’t think so,” she said, tossing her head charmingly. “If my body belongs to you, I should know who my new owner is.”
“Like you said, that only applies to the world outside. In here, I don’t owe you anything.”
“Touché, Corporal.”
Jerry thought Meghan’s questions would end there.
He was wrong.
>
“Have you guarded anyone before?”
“I was selected to join the Ambassador of Korea’s security team when he was in Belize.”
“I see.” She bobbed her head and the bracelets on her slender arms danced. “Did you vote for my dad?”
Jerry stiffened.
Meghan laughed. “I’m just kidding. Your expression…”
“Miss Slade—”
“Meghan.” Her smile didn’t change, but he could sense the irritation behind her eyes. “I’m starting to think you’re doing that on purpose.”
“We’re almost home. You’ll need to remain in the car with the doors locked while I sweep the area. When I give you the go-ahead, you can step outside and I’ll escort you up.”
“Is all that really necessary?”
He gave her a firm look.
She raised her arms and slunk back into her seat. “Alright. Whatever you say, Boss.”
Jerry drove past an iron wrought gate and pulled up to a beautiful building that lit up the night sky. The sign in the front lawn read ‘Goldridge Condimoniums’.
Fancy.
He shut the engine and turned around, “Wait right here.”
Meghan gave him a sassy little salute, complete with open mouth and exaggerated wink in reply.
Jerry ignored her attitude and climbed outside. His gaze swept the area, looking for anything suspicious or out of place. Satisfied that the coast was clear, he opened her door and helped her out, keeping alert.
He escorted Meghan to her floor and watched her turn the doorknob. Jerry walked in first. The room was dark. Quiet.
Too quiet.
Jerry paused. Listened. Then he grabbed Meghan by her hand and hauled her behind him. His fingers inched toward his gun.
Someone was here.
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