Page 13 of Bodyguard Book Boyfriend

“Oh shut up! Who are you? You’re just some security guard!” Chrissy shouts.

“Nah, I’m a bodyguard.” I wave my hand again, and the owner escorts a blubbering Chrissy out of the shop and locks the door behind her.

“You know she’s gonna be a problem, right?” CeCe questions, squinting after Chrissy.

“She’s already a problem,” I say as both CeCe and I stare at the door Chrissy was just pushed out of.

I knew I should’ve done a background check on her. But I will rectify that. I won’t brush off her rash comments this time. I pull out my cell and begin texting my guy. He will have background, phone records, and even Chrissy’s blood type by the time Tarae is finished with her fitting.

It takes about another hour and a half for Tarae to finish up, and I offer to take both ladies to lunch. CeCe declines, saying she has to make sure the outfits are tailored to fit Tarae so they will be ready in plenty of time for the show. I’m just glad all I have to do is wear a black suit, and I’m good to go.

“So, darlin’, what do you wanna eat?” I question, unlocking and opening the door for Tarae.

She doesn’t respond because she’s distracted by her phone. When she abruptly stops walking, I go on high alert. Tarae’s expression morphs into devastation and the look alone has me ready to kill. I can only assume it’s more media bullshit by the way she’s scrolling on her phone, but I can’t be sure. With all the shit that’s going on there’s no telling what has her upset.

“Grant, what is this?” Tarae brokenly whispers.

I frown, looking at her carefully. “What’s what?” Tarae holds out the phone, and I take it from her hand.

I scroll through her phone, but I don’t react right away because I’m used to this. The fact that there are pictures of me and Honey looking very compromising is nothing new. But they could potentially hurt Tarae, and that pisses me off.

The media has always tried to ship Honey and me since the beginning of her career. They can’t tie her to anyone because she’s extremely private about her love life, so they make shit up. I’m the closest man in her circle, so they do everything they can to make it seem like our relationship is romantic.

“It’s pictures of me and Honey,” I simply answer.

“It’s you and Honey snuggled in an intimate embrace, Grant. You two look like lovers.” She shakes her head. “I can’t go through this shit again.”

I pull Tarae back into the shop and close the door behind us. The last thing I want to do is argue out in public. And I know this conversation is about to get unnecessarily heated.

“Tarae, you know I wouldn’t cheat on you. Honey is like a sister to me. I don’t want it to sound cliché, but I swear to God Tarae, those pictures aren’t telling the whole story. I swear it isn’t what it looks like.”

“You think that I think you cheated on me?” Tarae condescendingly questions, still shaking her head.

“I mean, that’s what the picture suggests,” I carefully respond.

I pride myself on reading situations and knowing exactly what to do and when to do it. I know that Tarae has been hurt, and the wounds from her ex are still fresh. But we’ve been dating for almost two months, and I’m pretty good at reading her moods. But I have to admit that I’m a little confused.

“First of all, nobody in their right mind would cheat on Honey—”

“Nobody in their right mind would cheat on you,” I interrupt her.

Tarae sighs, and her shoulders slump. For the first time, I can’t predict what she’s thinking or how I should handle it. I want to fix this, but the truth is, only her trust in me can fix this situation.

Chapter Eleven

TARAE

Iknow that Grant isn’t cheating on me. That picture was all about angles. Grant showed me another picture that wasn’t posted that he got from Honey’s official photographer. It’s of Honey tripping and Grant catching her before she fell, which is how they ended up hugging, with him looking so concerned.

I believed him when he said it wasn’t what it looked like. But my knee-jerk reaction was that they were going to drag me again for a cheating boyfriend. I can’t catch a damn break when it comes to the media, and I’m a part of the media. I should have some kind of leeway, but it seems they are going extra hard on me because I am a reporter.

It really isn’t Grant’s fault, and I need to grow a thicker skin, but I can admit that my feelings were hurt seeing another woman in his arms. Someone he has known way longer than me, I might add.

Okay, jealousy doesn’t look good on you, girl.

I need to call Grant and apologize. I was acting childish and had him drop me off at home instead of going to lunch. He took the time to surprise me, and I acted like a bitch. I can’t take mytrauma from my last relationship into this one if I want this to work.

I grab the phone and call Grant, but he doesn’t pick up. I can’t say that I blame him, but I need to put on my big girl panties and apologize, so I leave a message.