Page 1 of Road Trip with Her Bodyguard (Love Along Route 14 #9)

JORIE

I don’t know the city, I’m surrounded by thousands of people, and I have no idea which way is north.

The streets of Nashville are packed with music lovers drifting between venues in search of their favorite bands.

I got separated from Tara and Ashley twenty minutes ago when they darted into a dark bar, hoping to catch a glimpse of some podcaster they’re in love with, who just posted an update from that location.

It’s okay. I’m actually happy to be outside and get a few minutes of fresh air and peace.

The problem, though, is that I’m supposed to meet them at a place “one minute north”, but that requires me knowing where I am. Pulling out my phone, I see I suddenly have a bunch of texts.

Tara: OMG, this band’s singer must have a cold because he sounds awful and I guess Patrick and his podfolks have moved on already. Can’t see them anywhere. We’ll be out to meet you in a minute.

Dad: You’re being picked up by a man named Dane. He’s going to be your bodyguard. Do everything he says TO THE LETTER. You’re being tracked.

Mom: I saw the photos of you and your friends. So cute! Your hotel looks lovely. But honey, you need more eyeliner in a place like that to pop in those bright lights. Sorry your concert weekend is being cut short.

Unknown Number: Jorie, this is Dane. I’ll be there in a few minutes. Please be ready to move.

Ashley: We’re on the street now. Where are you?

Ashley: Ack, what kind of rich snob travels to a music fest by helicopter? LOL!

The roar of the engine can be felt before the chopper comes into view, heading for the top of an office tower. There’s a name and logo on the side – Lowell.

Yep. That would be my ride. OMG.

“Jorie!”

I spin to see Tara and Ashley shouldering their way through the crowd, looking at the chopper as it lands.

Ashley makes a face. “Sorry, girl. I didn’t know it was, you know…yours.”

“ Not mine. Dad’s.”

They exchange a look. They’re familiar with my exasperated tone.

Ever since my father became ridiculously wealthy through a series of hotel and tech deals, he’s been flaunting it with fancy vehicles and other ostentatious displays like this one.

It’s been even worse since he started his own tech company last year.

It’s always about how things look…sorry, the “optics”…

to the media, his associates, and whatever organizations he’s trying to merge with these days.

Two weeks ago, he was ranting about one of his competitor’s daughters being kidnapped a few years back.

I vaguely recall it making the news, but not the details.

Just that it was intense. And now Dad’s acting weird, like he expects someone to come after me.

Honestly, I think it’s more that he didn’t want me coming to this festival.

“Does your dad seriously expect you to leave right now?” Tara asks.

“Apparently. He sent some guy to pick me up. Like I’m just going to jump into a helicopter with?—”

“Jorie.”

I spin toward the deep voice coming from right behind me. Then my heart feels like it’s lost its place, stumbling through the beat like a drunk drummer.

My body flushes with warmth as I stare in disbelief. This guy is hot . More ripped than the singer of the last band we saw. Much more gorgeous than the breathtaking guitarist I was staring at four bands ago.

“I’m Dane.” Dear God, he must be at least six foot three. His eyes are a dark, rich brown, glinting in the glow of the streetlights around us. His chiseled cheekbones and sharp jawline would photograph so well that I’m tempted to pull out my phone.

He steps closer, his gaze flitting around. “Your father sent me – he is concerned that people are after you in order to get to him. You posted photos just a few hours ago in that lilac t-shirt. Anyone could find your location, and you’re far too easy to spot out here.”

He reaches out to take my arm, but Ashley’s hand darts out to stop him. “I don’t think so, buddy.”

He scowls, eyes still scanning the crowd as it flows past us.

Then he leans forward to murmur in my ear, his warm breath sending prickles up my spine.

“Your middle name is Clara. You don’t like it because you think it’s a little girl’s name.

You still keep a purple stuffed bunny in your room.

Your favorite sci-fi book is The Rainbow Cadenza , but you don’t tell anyone because there are dirty parts in it and you get embarrassed easily. ”

There’s no doubt in my mind: he was sent by my parents. Apart from anything else, Mom is the only one who knows about the “questionable reads” shelf in my closet.

“He’s legit. I guess I gotta go,” I tell my friends. After digging in my purse, I hand Tara my beer tickets and backstage pass for tonight’s headliner. “Please give these to anyone who can use them.”

Dane’s intensity softens as he looks at my friends. “Sorry about all this. Favor: could you two please keep posting on social media as if Jorie is with you for a bit longer?”

“For sure.” Tara squeezes my hand. “Stay safe, girl. Text us soon.”

“Yeah,” Ashley adds. “Let us know that you’re okay.”

“Sorry ladies, she’s going to be offline for several days. But I promise to keep her safe.” Dane’s tone is so firm that I automatically believe him.

His thick arm wraps around my waist and he hustles us to the office building a few blocks away. His shoulders are really tight. I wondering if he could use a massage. And more to the point, could I even control myself while I was doing it? I mean, I’m a professional, but…

We reach the office tower and Dane pulls a plastic shopping bag from his pocket. “Anything that could possibly be used to track you needs to go in the bag. Wallet, phone. Keys, too, if they have one of those tracker tags.”

My mind is spinning but I do as he asks.

He pulls the SIM card out of my phone, wraps it in a thick cloth, then drops it in the bag as well.

We walk into the building, and Dane heads straight for a young woman sitting on a bench in the lobby.

She jumps to her feet, and I blink in surprise.

She’s almost exactly my height and build, with very similar hair.

She’s even wearing black jeans that look just like mine.

“You must be Katrina.” Dane looks her over, then nods decisively. “Perfect. Let’s go.”

After the three of us step into an elevator, I ask, “Anyone want to tell me what’s going on?”

“I need you to give Katrina that lilac top.” His tone is a dark command that I would probably obey even if this wasn’t some kind of…situation.

Katrina hands me a black t-shirt. “Quick. I’m going to pretend to be you and get into the helicopter.”

Dane averts his eyes, indicating I’m to change right here. Everything seems so urgent that I simply do as I’m told, peeling off the shirt and handing it over, then pulling on the new one.

Wow. By the time Katrina pulls on my shirt and fluffs her hair, she definitely looks like me from a distance. The doors slide open, and Dane waves me to the back of the elevator.

He doesn’t get out, simply motioning for Katrina to walk slowly toward the helicopter. There’s another man there who helps her in. Dane scans the nearby rooftops, then, apparently satisfied, pushes the elevator button for the parking garage.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” I ask.

His eyes soften. “Not yet. But I promise you that you’re safe with me, Jorie. I’ll explain everything in a few minutes.”

When the doors open, he swings an arm around me, then whispers in my ear. “Pretend you’re a little tipsy, and we’re a couple. Just go with it.”

A quick glance confirms that the parking garage is riddled with security cameras. I have no idea what we’re running from, but I’m too rattled from adrenaline to argue. I giggle behind my hand, then smack his chest. “Stop it. Just drive me home. We have to work in the morning!”

His arm tightens around me as he kisses the top of my hair. “That’s my responsible girl. Always thinking ahead.”

My body apparently doesn’t care that all this snuggling is fake. A warm glow spreads through me from being so close to him. With my face against the t-shirt stretched across his broad, firm chest, I breathe him in – woodsy and clean and oh-so- male .

There’s a split second once we pass the cameras that I swear his arm tightens around me, his lips drifting over the top of my hair. Like… Maybe he’s not just acting.

Dane walks toward the blandest car in the section – a plain dark gray sedan. I get in, and he pops the trunk. When he gets behind the wheel, the plastic bag is gone.

“I’ve got a signal blocking box in there.” He hands me gold-tinted sunglasses and a tacky yellow flowered headband. “A baseball cap is too cliche. Sweep your hair over your shoulder to the window side and pop that on. Then only look toward me as we drive, slouching down a bit. Got it?”

Hello? Keep my eyes on this magnificent man ? “Got it.”

The streets are so crowded that it takes us a while to get out of the downtown area.

It gives me plenty of time to study Dane’s gorgeous profile, strong frame, and notice the casual way he sits, as if he’s ready to drive for hours.

Something about his thick, hard muscles looking that relaxed is wildly sexy.

Once we turn onto the highway, Dane reaches over and pats my knee. “Okay, you can lose the hairband and glasses now.”

I sit up straighter, taking them off. “Can I ask where we’re going yet?”

“Saddleback.”

“Umm… I think I’m going to need more information than that.”

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.”