Page 3
Story: Road Trip with Her Bodyguard
When he chuckles, low and deep, the sound waves target me in very specific areas – namely, my lower belly and between my legs. It’s as if the vibrations themselves are trying to unhinge my tentative grasp on this new reality.
His fingers drum on the steering wheel, then he shoots me a glance. Was he trying to be so seductive? Probably not. But it’s hard to breathe when he’s looking right at me.
“Your father told me to keep you safe, no matter what. My original instructions were to take you by helicopter to Georgia and then escort you to one of your mother’s hotels, but airplanes can be tracked far too easily and there are thousands of cameras in big cities. So instead I’m taking you to a small town with no cameras that would never be on anyone’s radar. You have no connections there. Anyone looking to find you will have zero leads.”
My lungs are not behaving. They feel tense as I try to draw air in.
“Breathe, Jorie. Nice and slow.” His palm is heavy on my knee as he squeezes gently. “I promise you, I’m going to keep you safe. We’re going to have a fun road trip across a few states, then hang out in a cabin. Leave all the drama to your parents to deal with. We’ll have some great food and soak up some podcasts and music on the drive, maybe go hiking when we get there. Sounds good?”
I try to speak, but nothing comes out. What could I possibly say?
“I realize it’s not what you planned for this weekend, and I’m sorry about that. But does it sound like a plan you can handle with me?” he asks.
It feels like my world has been tipped upside down. I’ve lived in cities all my life. I don’t know the ways of small towns. But they’re a slice of the world that has always fascinated me. Real life, away from glitzy hotels and my mother’s constant quest to make everything over the top glamorous.
Plus, road trips in the movies are always romantic. So much time spent together in close quarters. And now I have the chance to be very close with this stunning rugged man for who knows how long?
“Sure. I’m game.”
2
DANE
Just drive, Dane. Stick to the plan.
Ignore the fact that the luscious angel-faced girl sitting beside me with the light brown eyes and perky tits is my perfect dream girl.
When I first saw her photos on social media, I was positive she was using filters or something to make her look like a model.
Nope. No filters.Dammit.
Even worse, she’s sharp as a tack, and instantly followed directions to the letter. She also radiates an incredibly sweet energy – which makes me feel like a jackass for frightening her.
We drive in silence for about half an hour, Jorie apparently trying to calm herself down, and me trying not to look at her incredibly kissable lips.
Finally, Jorie asks, “So, did Dad hire you from some security company?”
She softens a little as I laugh. “No. That could easily be tracked. Apparently the people after you are tech folks.”
“So where did you come from?”
“My father and yours grew up in the same small town. They played baseball together. That’s why he trusts me, even though he has no direct connection to me whatsoever.”
Her soft eyes are glowing in the dim light. “Dad playedbaseball? In a small town?”
“Yeah. Most of his life is, as you know, absent from any of his online bios. But even if anyone did manage to find the town he grew up in, they wouldn’t find my dad.”
“Oh,” she whispers. “I’m so sorry.”
“What? Oh! Nah, Ron is alive and well. He just hates technology. Doesn’t even have a cell phone,” Dane chuckles.
“Wow.”
“And don’t worry. We’ll pick up a burner phone for you tomorrow, so you can check maps and choose rest stops as we drive.”
She stares at the console in amazement. “You don’t have GPS?”
“Nope. But don’t worry, I know the way. You know how some people are super nostalgic for old American highway routes?”
His fingers drum on the steering wheel, then he shoots me a glance. Was he trying to be so seductive? Probably not. But it’s hard to breathe when he’s looking right at me.
“Your father told me to keep you safe, no matter what. My original instructions were to take you by helicopter to Georgia and then escort you to one of your mother’s hotels, but airplanes can be tracked far too easily and there are thousands of cameras in big cities. So instead I’m taking you to a small town with no cameras that would never be on anyone’s radar. You have no connections there. Anyone looking to find you will have zero leads.”
My lungs are not behaving. They feel tense as I try to draw air in.
“Breathe, Jorie. Nice and slow.” His palm is heavy on my knee as he squeezes gently. “I promise you, I’m going to keep you safe. We’re going to have a fun road trip across a few states, then hang out in a cabin. Leave all the drama to your parents to deal with. We’ll have some great food and soak up some podcasts and music on the drive, maybe go hiking when we get there. Sounds good?”
I try to speak, but nothing comes out. What could I possibly say?
“I realize it’s not what you planned for this weekend, and I’m sorry about that. But does it sound like a plan you can handle with me?” he asks.
It feels like my world has been tipped upside down. I’ve lived in cities all my life. I don’t know the ways of small towns. But they’re a slice of the world that has always fascinated me. Real life, away from glitzy hotels and my mother’s constant quest to make everything over the top glamorous.
Plus, road trips in the movies are always romantic. So much time spent together in close quarters. And now I have the chance to be very close with this stunning rugged man for who knows how long?
“Sure. I’m game.”
2
DANE
Just drive, Dane. Stick to the plan.
Ignore the fact that the luscious angel-faced girl sitting beside me with the light brown eyes and perky tits is my perfect dream girl.
When I first saw her photos on social media, I was positive she was using filters or something to make her look like a model.
Nope. No filters.Dammit.
Even worse, she’s sharp as a tack, and instantly followed directions to the letter. She also radiates an incredibly sweet energy – which makes me feel like a jackass for frightening her.
We drive in silence for about half an hour, Jorie apparently trying to calm herself down, and me trying not to look at her incredibly kissable lips.
Finally, Jorie asks, “So, did Dad hire you from some security company?”
She softens a little as I laugh. “No. That could easily be tracked. Apparently the people after you are tech folks.”
“So where did you come from?”
“My father and yours grew up in the same small town. They played baseball together. That’s why he trusts me, even though he has no direct connection to me whatsoever.”
Her soft eyes are glowing in the dim light. “Dad playedbaseball? In a small town?”
“Yeah. Most of his life is, as you know, absent from any of his online bios. But even if anyone did manage to find the town he grew up in, they wouldn’t find my dad.”
“Oh,” she whispers. “I’m so sorry.”
“What? Oh! Nah, Ron is alive and well. He just hates technology. Doesn’t even have a cell phone,” Dane chuckles.
“Wow.”
“And don’t worry. We’ll pick up a burner phone for you tomorrow, so you can check maps and choose rest stops as we drive.”
She stares at the console in amazement. “You don’t have GPS?”
“Nope. But don’t worry, I know the way. You know how some people are super nostalgic for old American highway routes?”