Page 33 of Guarding Grace

I pulled it back. “This is my place of work, and I need to be professional. No PDA—none, get it?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m only your guard.”

“And don’t ma’am me either.”

“Sure thing, Kitten.”

I slapped his arm. “You’re impossible.”

Upstairs,I breezed out of the elevator and down the hall to SpaceMasters with the sense of pride I got every time I saw our name onthe door. We had quickly become the premier organizational design firm in town. It didn’t matter if you needed to organize and optimize a walk-in closet or the backroom storage space of a large hardware store. We could provide space-saving solutions from functional to tastefully elegant.

The tingle at the small of my back as Terry guided me through the door reminded me that having him here was not going to be simple. I’d never been able to ignore Terry’s presence, but since that kiss, I now had to consciously fight the urge to turn around and admire him.

Down girl, I reminded myself. The kiss had lit my fuse, but the explosion would have to wait until we were alone.

We bumped into Marci, one of my designers, just inside the door. “Peyton’s looking for you,” she said.

“Thanks.”

“You made it,” Peyton exclaimed as she rushed up. “Mrs. Eclestone just returned, and she’s in demo room one. She’s still not very happy about you being late.” Then she paused to look at my face. “What happened to you?”

“I was mugged last night.” I didn’t have time to elaborate on this morning as well.

“That’s terrible. Can I?—”

I shook my head. “Not now. Mrs. Eclestone first.”

Terry stepped up beside me.

Peyton startled as her gaze shifted to my bodyguard. “Oh.” She gave him a quick onceover and an appreciative smile.

“Ignore Rambo. He’s shadowing me today.”

“Rambo?” squeaked my usually cool-headed assistant. “I could show him around for you.”

He extended his hand. “Terry Goodwin. You must be Peyton?”

“Guilty… Wait…theTerry Goodwin?”

Terry smiled. “Has Grace mentioned me before?”

Turning red, I admitted, “I may have.” I scanned the office. As I suspected, women around the space were attempting to be discreet while getting a look at Terry. Maybe it had been the Rambo mention.

He chuckled. “Nothing good, I’ll bet. Huh, Kitten?”

Peyton’s smile gave it away.

“The truth can sometimes be ugly,” I added. “Best not to ask.” I turned back to Peyton. “Anything I need to know before I meet her?”

She tore her eyes away from Terry and held out a folder. “I’ve loaded up the layout and pictures she brought, so everything is set, but…” She raised a finger to her temple. “Your face.”

“Maybe later.” I turned to Terry. “You can wait in my office. Peyton will show you the way.”

Peyton’s face lit up. I’d always known Terry was attractive, but seeing his effect on my pretty assistant twisted my stomach in an uncomfortable way.

“No.” Terry’s tone was unyielding. “As your bodyguard, I go where you go.”

I nodded. “Okay, but only because I don’t have the time to argue with you.” I didn’t do these customer sessions with onlookers, but I was out of time.