Page 210 of Duty and Desire

“Agreed,” she said. “At any rate, I already called Sam and one of his people is on their way over, so suck it up.”

I gave her a small smile. “You know, I do appreciate your help.”

“I know. And if someone had sent me a stabbed offal, I’d be upset and angry and all cranky-pants too.”

“If this doesn’t make me a vegetarian, I’ll be heartily surprised. Get it? Heartily.”

Lena just gave me a look.

“Bad joke. I know. It was good of your friend to find me someone so fast.”

“Sam gets that the situation is urgent. He’s one of the good ones. He’d have to be to put up with Martha. She’s not exactly low maintenance.” Her cell phone chimed. After reading a text message, she grinned and her fingers moved across the screen. “Jimmy wants to know what I’m wearing.”

“What are you telling him?”

“A skimpy red silk nightie and a naughty smile.”

“You two are so happy and in love.” I sighed. Jealousy was a bitch. “I’m sick of you living your best life.”

“Sorry. Not.”

“Makes me almost miss being in a relationship.”

“Ooh, I could set you up with someone! There’s this guy–”

“No, thank you.”

“Spoilsport. You ruin everything, dude.”

“Awesome. Thanks for the feedback.”

Lena snorted and I smiled. A little levity felt damn good. Then someone knocked at the door. Ever so slowly, I dragged my oily-haired, yoga pants-wearing, general mess of a self over to answer. A couple hours of shitty broken sleep and a stalker didn’t bring out the best in me. Who could have guessed?

I opened the door and…stopped.

“Miss Cooper?” he asked in a deep voice.

I blinked.

He waited.

Say something.“Ah, yes. Hi. That’s me.”

Over six foot worth of tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome stood before me. And while I was falling apart, he seemed so put together it hurt. My messy bun and spandex clad ass were not anywhere up to dealing with this today. Whoever he was, he needed to leave and come back another time. Preferably when I was rocking one of my best outfits and actually had a clue. Or had at least had a shower. Deodorant could really only go so far.

“I’m Ziggy Thayer,” he said. “Samuel Rhodes sent me over.”

“He did?”

“Yes.”

“Y-you’re going to be my bodyguard?”

“Close protection officer, yes.”

“Huh.”

He tipped his chin. “Is there a problem, miss?”