Page 7

7

COLLINS

Whatever initial thoughts I had about this being the easiest assignment to date, I obviously take it back. Nothing about Penny Hoffman is going to be simple.

I thought I would go off the path and introduce the idea to Penny of me keeping an eye on her. I figured this would gain her trust and buy her acceptance by being upfront with her. However, seeing her fidget in the passenger seat beside me, twisting her golden blonde locks around her manicured finger, and sucking on her bottom lip to the point where I’m about to yell at her to give it life…

Yeah.

I misread this whole situation.

I pride myself on picking up on social cues and analyzing what is best based on the scenario. Yet, here I sit, at yet another red light, trying to figure out how to get us both back on track, without any clear path to success in sight.

“Why are you so resistant to working together?” I ask nonchalantly. I need to get her to talk. When Penny starts ranting, I gain way more information than I normally would about what she is thinking.

I see the rise of her chest in my periphery. I hate seeing her stressed out, and yet, that is exactly what I’m doing to her. This is not how I envisioned our morning going. When I arrived at the Hoffmans’ house to pick her up, I expected a car ride of small talk and pleasantries. I got the opposite.

I slow down as another light changes to red, wondering if this ride will ever end. I just want to get Penny safely into her brother’s building, so I can take a moment to decompress.

“Can you please stop at the coffee shop on the corner?”

So this is what it’s like to be on the receiving end when someone wants to avoid questions. I know I’ve driven quite a few people mad with my lack of words. Now I know how frustrating it feels.

“Aren’t you going to be eating brunch with the girls? I imagine that?—”

“I need to bring something to contribute. I also need a coffee but don’t want to blatantly show up with caffeine in front of Claire. So, I’ll need to loiter a bit until I finish it.”

Oh yeah, Claire. Nic wouldn’t be too happy if anyone made her hostile.

Helping with hiring the perfect female entourage to keep Claire safe was no easy task. And to think she was my most difficult client…

I nod as I pull in front of the shop, and then lean my arm over Penny’s seat to look behind me as I park.

“You are good at that,” she mumbles.

“At what? Hiding my true feelings?”

She pauses and then bursts out laughing, making me join in. I can’t even remember the last time I laughed this much around anyone. It feels so foreign, and yet the past couple of times we’ve been together, I can’t keep it contained.

“I was referring to your driving. Although your self-awareness is on par.”

I hum, just because I’m not sure what to say.

“I’m nearly positive I would have hit the curb and then that convertible that basically came out of nowhere.”

I kill the engine and turn to study her. Is she joking or being serious? “The parked one?”

“Oh.” She sucks her bottom lip back into her mouth, and then looks back at the immobile car. “Huh. I thought I saw it move. Anyway, do you want anything?”

“I’ll escort you in.”

“No, sir. You stay here and practice restraint. I can escort myself. So what’ll it be?”

“Latte with extra shot of espresso.” I reach into my pants pocket to pull out my wallet, hoping I even have cash on me. If I’m going to be hanging around Penny more, I’ll need to figure out her routine and be prepared. This rare feeling of not knowing what to expect has me off-kilter, and I hate all parts of it.

“It’s on me.”

“No, here.” I hold out the fifty-dollar bill, coaxing her to take it.

“You’re my unwanted bodyguard, not my much-needed pimp.”

Before I can argue or dissect what she just muttered, she’s out of the car. I didn’t even get a chance to open her door or help her out. My eyes bulge out as I see way more of her thighs than she probably intended.

Fuck.

Can her skirt be any shorter? How did I not notice that before now?

Just the other day I was graced with her perfectly curved body in a bikini, but there is something utterly sexy about a girl in a skirt. Perhaps it’s the accessibility or the idea that it’s intentionally casual. Regardless, she can wear cardboard and look enchanting.

Penny is one of those girls who has natural beauty.

Now, what is she doing? I stretch upward as I watch Penny double over. Shit. Is she hurt?

I grab my door handle and leap out of the driver’s seat, walking briskly toward the sidewalk.

“Penny? Are you sick? What’s wrong?”

She straightens her posture, turning to me with her palm opened to the sky. “It’s good luck.”

I stare into her hand and see the shiny copper penny glimmering in the sunshine. “Oh.” I sure hope it’s good luck. I also hope that I’m on the receiving end of some of it. I watch with awe as her lips curl into the biggest smile.

“You keep this one,” she says sweetly, which is in direct contradiction to how she was feeling just moments ago in the SUV. “I love finding them in the wild, just waiting to be claimed. Each one I find is my little reminder to make a wish.”

I accept the penny from her hand and offer up my own smile. I welcome this shift in her mood and realize that her emotions directly affect mine.

Rotating the penny between my fingers, I marvel at how something so simple can bring someone so much joy.

I have a feeling I’m going to learn a lot from this blonde, blue-eyed girl.

With a pivot, Penny makes her way inside the Ground Floor coffee shop, in way better spirits than I’ve seen her with all morning. She is an anomaly to me. She’s a princess, yet has an edge about her that has me wondering what makes her tick at her core. I want to know what excites her and what makes her melt to become more pliable.

Because right now, Penny’s stern and rigid, determined and stubborn.

I want to exorcise her demons and get to know the real girl, hidden inside the layers of protection. She’s afraid to trust again, yet is brave enough to put herself out there anyway. That combination is exactly why she needs me. Her vulnerability will make her prey for any asshole looking for an easy target to manipulate.

I make my way back inside the SUV. Checking my phone for messages, I send a text to the lead security guard at HH, alerting him that I’ll be arriving soon with Penny in tow.

I look into the shop, seeing Penny next in line to order. She is making conversation with the young guy in front of her, who is smiling way too much not to be annoying. In a way, I’m glad I’m witnessing this normal—and seemingly innocent—interchange.

It’s realistic.

Penny is going to fall in love and hopefully find the right man. The more I keep reminding myself of that, the better it’ll be.

He’ll just have to get through me and my extensive background checks first.

Penny is the type of girl who men will flock to, but few will actually be worthy.

When I see her nearing the exit, I hop out of the SUV, circle the front, and open her door. Except she isn’t alone.

I want to ask what the other guy is doing here. I want to ignore the fact that he is helping Penny carry a package of mini pastries that could only be going to the brunch at Plus None. Nothing is out of place. Yet, I can’t calm down the gnawing feeling inside my head that everything is wrong. The whole imagery is wrong.

I accept the drinks from her hands, placing them on the hood of the car.

“Thanks, Rex,” she says, giving him a hug and then taking the box from his hands.

Rex? Who names their kid Rex? He already sounds like a dog. And not the cute and cuddly type. No. This mutt is the eager kind that begs for attention and needs a treat every time he wags his tail.

“Hope to see you at the event.”

Penny flutters her hand into the air, waving goodbye. Rex walks away, glancing back to us midstride to catch another look. Did I just witness him figuratively peeing on a tree?

Yup. Yup I did.

I feel my muscles clench and my jaw twitch. “What event?” I bark out, harsher than I initially intend.

“Oh, just a thing.”

I eye her with the expectation for her to continue. “Penny…”

“Hmm?”

“What thing?” I try again.

“Apparently the shop is closing down for one evening and doing a speed dating event.”

Sounds fucking horrible . “Sounds fun.”

She looks at me with an expression of amusement. “Oh, you’re cute.”

Huh ? “What?”

She motions with her finger, up and down my body. “It’s cute when you lie.”

I straighten my back. “How do you know I’m lying?”

“Me going to the event is like your worst nightmare for background checks and all things security. All these men, vying for my attention…” She stifles a laugh into her elbow, and then shrugs. “Who am I fooling? Anyone that knows anything about me will just run for the hills. Pretty sure as soon as someone figures out my last name, they’ll either see dollar signs or caution tape. Excuse me.”

I can see the tears form in her eyes as she flutters around me to get to the backseat, where she gently places the box of baked goods onto the bench. She maneuvers her body so I’m unable to see her face, which just pisses me off, because I want to see how badly she is hurting.

“Pen?”

“Hmm?”

When she doesn’t turn around, I gently place my hand on her elbow, spinning her so she can look at me. I have every urge to say something profound. Anything to cheer her up. But, I can only just stare.

“I don’t want your pity, Collins.”

My mouth dries over her assumption. “Then it’s a good thing I’m not giving it. I just?—”

“It’s okay.” She pulls away, slides into the front passenger seat, and snaps her belt into place. “I don’t need fake sympathy either.”

I hand her the paper cup labeled “Princess Penelope,” shutting the door gently. I can’t help but smirk over the name she gave for herself. She despises whenever anyone uses her legal first name, so it is a bit surprising to see it spelled out in front of me in bold caps.

I then grab my cup and laugh over all of the writing on the side. First I see “Control Freak” written with black sharpie marker and then crossed out. Under that name, I see “Stubborn and Silent” jotted down and then scribbled out. When my eyes connect with the name Penny finally settled on, I don’t know whether to laugh or applaud her for her determination and originality.

“Not My Bodyguard.”

It’s clever. I have to give her that.

Except I am her bodyguard. And no amount of resistance on her part is going to change that fact.

I take a slow sip, savoring the taste. I round the front of the SUV, and then settle behind the wheel. I glance over to Penny, who refuses to look at me. She just stares at the people entering and exiting the Ground Floor coffee shop, sipping her own steaming beverage.

Penny’s moods flip so fast between lighthearted fun to serious doldrums that it is causing me a bit of emotional whiplash.

“Penny?”

“Drive or I’ll just get out and walk.”

I bite the inside of my mouth, snap my belt into place, and pull out of the parking spot with ease.

It kills me not to ask her what’s wrong or try to comfort her on whatever turmoil is going on inside her head. I get that Penny is still recovering and going through maintenance therapy sessions locally in the city. However, I doubt a therapist is going to help her in triggering moments like these—especially if she doesn’t quite understand herself what set her off.

I round the block and park us in the designated spot in front of her brother’s building, Hoffman Headquarters. Giving me no time to exit and help her with her door, Penny is already on the sidewalk, pulling out the pastry box from the backseat.

I reach into the car, grab our coffees, and then manage to catch up to her at the main entrance. We walk quietly side by side, through the lobby, where I’m greeted with nods from the security staff.

Since Nic has become head of security here, the day-to-day flow has been vastly better when it comes to entering and exiting the building efficiently.

He has pioneered cutting-edge technology to tighten the security here, and despite having the massive incident with the madman who kidnapped Claire a couple of months ago, things have been smooth overall.

There was a time where I was stationed here most of my day, helping out with the behind-the-scenes checks of the staff, while still guarding either Angie or Claire.

Now my days are going to be filled with trying to manage this sassy princess.

When we arrive at the elevators, I hit the up button, signaling the doors to open on cue. Penny cuts in front of me on the way in, and instead of selecting the floor for Angie and Claire’s company, Plus None, she hits the button for Graham’s office.

“Detour?” I ask quietly.

“You know it.”

My shoulders round as I take in her stance. She’s trying to be strong, but I can tell she’s about to cry. Sweat builds on my neck beneath the collar of my shirt. It feels weird to be in this building dressed so casually in jeans, but I understand why the release in formalities. Penny’s case is different. Since she’s family, her brothers didn’t want to be intrusive.

Her soft sniffles gnaw at my heart. I want to pull her to me, cup her head against my chest, and?—

And what, fucker ?

Go behind the backs of the two men who have given me my own brighter future?

Pretend this will work out with a happily ever after?

Nope. I don’t do the whole playing house thing. And I sure as fuck can’t be to Penny what she needs from a man.

I resist a growl over my impulsive thoughts. If I wasn’t so egotistical in my service to the Hoffmans, I would resign and ask for a different assignment. However, I don’t trust anyone to look out for Penny beside myself.

“Here, drink some coffee.” I take the box from her hands, passing her the coffee she ordered from Ground Floor. I watch her steadily, as I finish the rest of my beverage off.

“Stop staring at me.”

Am I staring? I barely glanced her way. “Why?”

“It makes me nervous.”

I stifle a laugh. “I just wish I knew what was going on inside your head.”

Her shoulders lift into a shrug, as she reaches over and hits a new number on the panel. “I want to negotiate the terms of our deal.”

My mouth opens and shuts as I am caught off guard—yet again. “Some things aren’t up for negotiation,” I say simply.

It’s the truth. I won’t budge on certain safety measures—no matter what she wants to bargain.

“Fine. But you’ll hear me out anyway.”

I watch as the car stops at the floor for Plus None, and Penny exits. I follow her with the box of pastries into the office space that is devoted to the subscription box service company designed to empower women. Claire and Angie built it from the ground up, and the success of their platform is getting national attention for the speed at which they’ve been able to execute their business model.

It will only be a matter of time before the women delve into the international market.

I toss my empty cup into a trash can, while Penny’s cup joins mine. “When would you like this meeting to occur?” I’m not used to taking a passenger seat to being in control, yet here I stand on the abyss of uncertainty, waiting for Penny to call all the shots.

She glances down at her nails, while biting at her bottom lip. “The sooner the better. I’ve got so many goals to accomplish, and the last thing I need is someone”—her eyes rake up and down my body—“standing in my way.”

My eyes narrow at her perusal. I’m also not used to the blatantness of her distrust. If she only realized how many times I have already looked out for her and had her best interests at heart.

She has no reason not to trust me, but yet I feel like I’ll have to put forth major effort to get her to relinquish some control.

“I’ll pick you up from this office in”—I glance at my watch—“two hours.”

“And?”

“And we’ll go somewhere private to negotiate my terms.”

“ Our terms,” she counters.

“Deal.”

“See, you can be reasonable after all,” Penny says in a teasing tone.

“How about you draw your conclusion after our discussion.”

“Fair enough.”

“See you soon, Princess Penelope.”

“I’ll be counting down the seconds, Not My Bodyguard.”