Up Close and Personal

by Kathryn Freeman

  Okay, so this was going to remain at Awkward Level 10. And if he couldn’t get Collier to change his mind, Zac knew he’d just pissed off the one person he’d be relying on to keep him safe.

  ‘Jerry.’ He spread his hands out in a show of geniality. ‘I’m sure Kat is excellent at identifying risky situations, as you say.’

  ‘I am.’

  ‘She is.’

  Don’t be put off by the steely glares. This is your life they’re discussing, not a part in a film. ‘However, she’s not as experienced as I imagined a bodyguard should be for this particular situation.’

  ‘First you say you don’t need a bodyguard, now you’re saying you want one with more experience.’ Jerry leant forward, his eyes piercing Zac’s. ‘Are you usually this contrary or is there something you’re not telling us?’

  Inside Zac squirmed like a worm on the end of the hook, but outside he knew he looked cool, calm and collected. That was acting for you. ‘You know as much as I do, Jerry. I’m simply asking questions to identify if I really am at risk, and if I am, if you’re going to be able to protect me.’

  Jerry’s voice hardened and Zac felt the power behind the Don’t mess with me tone. ‘Vision Films takes the safety of our actors very seriously. Kat works for our preferred provider, UK Security. She’s had twelve years with the army, and another three doing exactly this, so she’s got plenty of experience under her belt. Listen to her and do what she asks. She knows what she’s talking about. Even if she can’t always turn up on time.’

  ‘And it was going so well,’ Kat muttered. ‘Thanks, Jerry.’

  The pair of them exchanged a look and Zac realised he’d been wrong in his initial impression that Jerry was annoyed with her. They clearly shared a bond. Respect, certainly, but he guessed something more, too. Affection, maybe. It explained why Jerry hadn’t liked him questioning Kat’s ability. It also told Zac any further push to change her would be viewed in a distinctly unfavourable, and possibly suspicious, light.

  Jerry’s attention was back on Zac. ‘I realise you’re going to find this all very inconvenient, but while you’re under contract with Vision Films you’re going to have to suck it up. If Kat determines something is necessary for your safety, you do it or the studio lawyers will be onto you for breach of contract.’ He gave Zac the faintest of smiles. ‘Is there anything else you need to ask me, before I leave you in Kat’s very capable hands?’

  ‘Have you seen this approach before? Are there any suspects?’ Probably he was worrying about nothing, and lipstick notes had been delivered to other celebrities with no harm done.

  ‘Stalkers sending notes to celebrities isn’t new, but I’ve not heard of any being signed in pink lipstick before.’ Jerry stood, clearly signalling the meeting was over. ‘We’re working closely with the police on it, though. Kat will keep you in the loop.’

  Reluctantly Zac rose to his feet. Reluctantly, because when he walked out of the door, he was going to have a bodyguard trailing around with him. Not only would that bodyguard be a constant reminder of the danger he could be in, she was also a woman he’d been flirting with. And one he’d just thoroughly pissed off.

  ***

  Kat’s assignment was quiet as they walked into the lift.

  ‘Which was the biggest shock,’ she asked as the doors closed. ‘Being told you were being assigned a bodyguard, or finding out the bodyguard was me?’

  A wry smile crossed his handsome face. It sure wasn’t going to be a hardship looking at him for the next however long. ‘Would it offend if I said the latter?’

  ‘That depends. The part about me not being experienced enough. Was that your way of saying I wasn’t male enough? That you’d feel better if I was a big, muscle-bound dude?’

  He smiled again, the very smile that had helped make The Good Guy? such a big hit. Actors with beaming white grins, the public were used to, but the little sexy smirk Zac Edwards had going on? That was both unusual and, even to a cynic like herself, rather charming. ‘I bet you get that all the time, but actually, no, it wasn’t.’ He shifted his hands into his trouser pockets. ‘It was a reference to your age. Size, I’m given to understand, isn’t important.’

  She snorted. ‘Are you seriously going to tell me it’s what you do with it, that counts?’

  ‘Actually, I was going to say it’s how you’re trained to use it, that counts.’ Before she had a chance to shake her head at his innuendo, he added, ‘You, I imagine, can be lethal.’

  Despite her irritation at him, laughter burst out of her. ‘Neat catch.’ As soon as it had come, though, the laughter died and the anger, the disappointment, returned. ‘Okay, say I buy that, and you really weren’t going to ask Jerry for a male bodyguard in that private little chat you wanted, why the look of horror when Jerry told you I was your bodyguard?’

  ‘You know why.’

  ‘Err, if I did, I wouldn’t be asking.’

  His shoulders rose and fell as he sighed. ‘I was annoyed you didn’t tell me who you were last night.’ The lift came to a stop and as they walked out into the reception area, he slid her a glance. ‘You had me at a disadvantage. I would have reacted differently if I’d known.’

  She figured he had a point. ‘Yeah, sorry about that. I did consider telling you, but Jerry’s got this real bee in his bonnet about doing the introductions.’ She cleared her throat. ‘It sets the boundaries, Kat,’ she said, imitating Jerry’s gruff voice. ‘Makes it clear I’m the one in charge and you both need to take instructions from me.’

  ‘I see.’ A glimmer of a smile. ‘Though I find it hard to imagine the rather intimidating Mr Collier in a bonnet, bee or not.’ Zac paused, glancing down at his highly polished black shoes before raising his eyes back to hers. ‘And you? Would you have reacted differently if you’d met me by accident, with no hidden agenda?’

  I’m pretty sure I’d have flirted right back at you. No, no, no. For their relationship to work, she couldn’t admit it. ‘We’ll never know.’ Before he could say anything more, she threw out a question of her own. ‘So you’re unhappy I didn’t warn you who I was when I dumped champagne all over you, and you think I’m inexperienced. Is that it, or is there more?’

  Zac’s eyes drifted away from her and through the window to the car park. ‘If we believe the stalker is simply a fan with a screw loose, having a bodyguard, aside from the obvious intrusion, feels a little … emasculating.’

  There he was with his fancy words again. ‘Will your balls feel safer if I tell you just because the letters appear to have come from a woman, doesn’t mean they have? But say yours have, you’re assuming a mere female couldn’t hurt you. Tell that to the male victims of “Monster” Aileen Wuornos, and to the husband of Katherine Knight whose body parts ended up in a stew. Or to the men who visited Belle Gunness and ended up being fed to the pigs.’ She paused. ‘Do you want me to go on?’

  ‘I’m not sure my stomach can take any more.’ He ghosted her a smile. ‘I suppose I should be grateful that at least my balls feel safer now, even if I don’t.’

  She winced. ‘Sorry, I usually employ more of a filter when I’m working.’

  ‘Please don’t, not with me.’ He raked a hand restlessly through his hair. ‘This situation is going to be intolerable enough. I’d rather you were … you.’

  Well, she’d hadn’t expected that. Then again, she’d not quite got the measure of the man yet. Most actors she’d met wouldn’t put on a suit to meet the head of security. Nor would they have taken her spilling drink over them, or pinching a car park space from under their noses, quite so calmly. They certainly wouldn’t have flirted with her, because actors went for beautiful willowy types, and she was more of a, well, a holly bush. Short but could do some serious damage if provoked.

  ‘You don’t realise what you’re letting yourself in for,’ she felt duty bound to warn him. ‘In unfiltered mode I can be pretty full-on. Just ask my sister, or my niece. They’ve been trying to gag me for years.’

  ‘Oh, I think
I know.’ Those obscenely pretty green eyes met hers. ‘At the very least it will be a welcome diversion from …’ His shoulders rose and fell as he exhaled. ‘All this.’

  His unhappiness with the situation was clear, and she felt a dart of sympathy for him. Knowing the threat was real enough to convince a film company he needed a bodyguard had to be a pretty scary prospect.

  Almost as scary as being assigned to be that bodyguard.

  Kat forced her mind away from the dark alley. She needed this. Three years of protecting film company bigwigs and minor stars who were no more at risk than she was just wasn’t enough. It was time to prove to Mark, prove to herself, that she could step up. Zac Edwards, a high-profile celebrity currently being stalked, would give her that chance.

  And damn it, she was ready for it.

  Nodding towards the exit, Kat started to walk. ‘Okay then, you get the real me. But no moaning later when your ears are complaining. Now, what’s your filming schedule like today, because at some point we need to head to your place and work out if it’s secure enough for you to stay there.’

  He came to a halt just before the revolving door. Well, more of a slow, gliding stop because, like his speech, everything about this man was elegant and controlled. ‘I might have to move?’

  There was no might about it. The nut job knew where he lived. No way was she, or the film company, going to be happy with him staying in his own home from now on. Not with the implied threat in the note. Still, he’d had enough shocks for now. ‘I’ll decide once I’ve taken a look.’

  He ran a hand across his face in a gesture that looked both weary and frustrated. ‘I wish I’d kept quiet about the blasted note.’

  ‘Better that, than staring into the maniacal eyes of a knife-wielding psycho, and wishing you’d told someone.’

  The blood drained from his face. ‘An eloquently made point.’ He paused, clearly trying to find his balance. ‘In answer to your question, I’m due on set at midday. But I have lines to go through.’

  ‘You’ve not learnt them already?’ It didn’t seem to fit with the man who’d turned up freakishly early to his appointment with Jerry.

  ‘Of course, I have.’ He glanced away, and she thought he looked embarrassed. ‘But a person can never be overprepared.’

  She had to fight a smile. God, he was definitely on the obsessive side of the spectrum. ‘Is that the same way a person can’t be overly early for an appointment? Or overdressed?’

  ‘Exactly.’

  If he knew she was taking the mickey, it didn’t show. ‘How about, just this once, you stick to being simply prepared, and we head over to yours now. That way, I can check out alternative places for you to stay while you’re filming.’

  His right brow shot up. ‘What happened to deciding once you’d taken a look?’

  Busted. ‘It’s still the plan.’ Oh, stuff it. He’d asked her to be herself. And that person said things how they were. ‘Look, don’t get your hopes up. Now this stalker knows where you live, your place would have to have more security than Fort Knox for me to agree to you staying there. Better that we move you to a hotel.’

  His shoulders slumped. ‘Great.’

  ‘It could be kind of great. Just think, room service 24/7, laundry done for you. All those tempting miniatures with the studio picking up the minibar tab.’ When his expression remained bleak, she added, ‘Fresh towels every day. Bed turned down for you every night. Chocolate on your pillow?’

  ‘Please tell me you’re not always this … upbeat?’

  ‘You wanted to say irritating, didn’t you?’

  He blinked, eyes darting away from hers, though his mouth twitched. ‘I wouldn’t be so rude.’

  No, she thought. Yet all those manners, those careful words, weren’t going to help the situation. ‘Look, you asked for the real me, but that works both ways. We’re going to be pretty much glued to eachother for a while, so I need to know what you’re thinking, too. If I’m being annoying, tell me. Ditto if you’re worried about something. My job is to keep you safe but if we don’t get on, or if you keep things from me, it’ll make life difficult.’

  He nodded, though she noticed his eyes avoided hers. ‘Understood.’

  ‘Okay then. We’ll take the Jeep to your place.’

  She started towards the door, but stopped when she realised he wasn’t following her. Instead he remained where he was, hand loosely in his trouser pocket. Whoever had made that suit, the image of him now would make one hell of an advert for it. ‘Is this one of those occasions I can say you’re being annoying?’

  ‘Because?’

  He glanced out of the door and towards the car park. ‘I have a perfectly good car. A beauty, I believe you called it.’

  ‘So I did. And because it’s a beauty, it’s also highly recognisable.’

  ‘But you’ll be following me.’

  ‘No, I’ll be driving you.’ She watched as his expression turned pained. ‘Not a fan of female drivers?’

  ‘It’s not that.’ His chest heaved with a sigh. ‘I bought the car because I like to drive it. You know, one of life’s luxuries?’ He shook his head. ‘Sorry, that sounded crass.’

  Her respect for him went up a notch. They were clearly polar opposites; personality, background, earnings. You name it, she had a hunch sometime soon they were going to clash because of it. Yet so far he seemed quieter, more thoughtful, and less arrogant than she’d expected. ‘Hey, for me luxury is a plate of nachos, heavy on the cheese, and a bottle of beer while watching the Grand Prix on the TV, but I can relate.’

  He regarded her soberly for a moment before the edge of his mouth curved, ever so slightly, upwards. ‘So, you’re a motorsport fan. Why doesn’t that surprise me.’ With that he started towards the door, leaving Kat to hurry after him so she could ensure she walked out ahead.

  This assignment looked like it was going to test her in more ways than she’d bargained for when she’d first pleaded with Mark to let her take it.

  Chapter 4

  He hadn’t planned on anyone seeing inside his place today. Script open on his knee – yes, he caught her smirking at him, no it wasn’t going to stop him – Zac tried to focus on his lines while she drove. And not on how intrusive it felt to have a stranger come and inspect his home. At least it would be tidy. Unlike the inside of Kat’s Jeep. He glanced again at the centre console. There was a half-eaten bag of Starburst, surrounded by a rainbow of discarded wrappers, an open pack of Polo mints, an empty take-out coffee cup and a pen with a chewed end.

  It made him wonder again about her professionalism. Turning up late, untidy … call him old school, but they hinted at a sloppiness that wasn’t a trait he wanted in someone responsible for his safety. Especially now she’d convinced him even a crazy female fan could be more dangerous than he’d bargained for.

  To take his mind off things, he started to pick up the discarded wrappers.

  ‘I thought you were overpreparing.’

  He dragged his eyes back to the script. ‘I am.’

  ‘Really? It looks like you’re tidying up for me.’

  ‘No,’ he corrected. ‘I’m doing it for me.’

  ‘I bet your car is immaculate. Not a speck of dust, or a greasy finger mark.’

  ‘I believe in being tidy, yes. Just like I believe in being punctual. Standards are important.’

  He noticed her body stiffen. ‘If you have something you want to say, just say it. Like I said, we need to be honest with each other.’

  How could he voice his fear, that she might not be professional enough, or experienced enough, to deal with the danger he was most terrified of, when he couldn’t articulate that specific threat? ‘I don’t understand the fascination with confectionery,’ he said instead.

  Her sidelong glance told him she wasn’t convinced of his reply. ‘Why, were your parents dentists?’

  ‘No.’ He turned his head, looking out of the passenger window, and held his breath while he waited for her follow-up question.
>
  ‘Of course, they weren’t. Sorry, for a moment I forgot you were posh.’

  She’d read his biography, then. At least he’d be spared the family questions. ‘How about your parents? I suspect they weren’t dentists, either.’

  ‘No.’

  It was the same single-syllable answer he’d given, yet from someone so loquacious up to now, it was a clear signal she didn’t want to talk about them. ‘Whatever they did, I feel sorry for them. I bet you were a handful when you were younger.’ His eyes zeroed in on another stray wrapper and he missed the way her expression shuttered.

  ‘Why would you say that?’

  ‘You have to ask, after what happened in the car park?’ He screwed the wrapper up and placed it in the empty cup with the rest of his catch. ‘There’s a hint of mischief, of a troublemaker, about you.’

  ‘You’re wrong.’ Her clipped words took him by surprise. ‘What you saw in the car park was the result of a vow never to allow myself to be pushed around, bullied, or walked over ever again.’

  Zac cursed inwardly, annoyed with himself. It seemed he’d done what he hated others doing to him. Made a judgement without the facts. ‘Sorry. I actually meant my remarks as a compliment. It’s refreshing to meet someone so … unconventional.’

  Her hands slowly relaxed the vice-like hold they’d had on the steering wheel. ‘Unconventional? Is that your fancy way of saying I’m odd?’

  ‘No. It’s my fancy way of apologising.’ Interested, he angled his head towards her. ‘Collier said you’d been in the army. Did that have something to do with this vow?’

  ‘In a way, yes, because it gave me a means of escape. Mainly I joined for the thrill of doing something different, something physical. Challenging myself. I mean, I was never going to sit at a desk, that’s for certain.’

  ‘No.’

  She slid him a look. ‘You don’t think I could hack it in an office?’

  ‘I think that would stifle your … spirit.’

  ‘It would certainly drive me crazy.’