by Liza Street
Viviana started to open her mouth to argue, but what good would it do?
She turned on her heel and walked back out of the office. This was preposterous, a human bodyguard for a shapeshifting mountain lion. It was like asking a duck to guard an alligator.
She hadn’t even gotten the guy’s name. Handsome or not, she didn’t care. She didn’t need him trailing around after her.
*
During breakfast, the bodyguard was still at the house. He sat at one end of the table, chatting with Marlana like he was some long-lost son. They were discussing the Evergreen Pack up near Anderson. He’d been raised in the pack from a young age, it sounded like. Viviana was curious what the story was there, but not curious enough to ask.
She still didn’t know his name, and she told herself she didn’t care.
A knock sounded on the front door, and Viviana got up to answer it. But the bodyguard was already standing and striding toward the door.
“Is he even working yet?” she asked her mother.
Marlana shook her head, smiling. “Not until tonight. He’s going to be on night shifts because the vampires aren’t a danger during the day.”
Made sense. But ew, where would he be staying? There were two empty rooms next to Viviana’s. She was afraid to ask.
She heard Fraze’s voice in the hallway. “…need to talk to Marlana, immediately.”
Marlana stood as Fraze stepped into the room. “Frasier, this is Hudson. He’s going to be guarding Viviana at night.”
So Hudson was his name, Viviana mused. It suited him. Strong. No nonsense. She wondered if it was his first name or his last name.
Then she reminded herself that she didn’t care…even as he glanced her way.
A warm, shivery feeling started in her lower belly and spread outward. He shouldn’t have this effect on her. She wouldn’t let him. She focused again on Fraze.
Fraze was looking from Marlana to Hudson and over to Viviana, his eyebrows raised. “Oh. Okay. Welcome, Hudson. Marlana, I need to talk to you. Privately.”
“Hudson is aware of everything,” Marlana reassured him. “You may speak plainly and in front of him.”
“All right. So, Gracie just texted me. Last night her court discovered something new—a rogue vampire came in from Paris. The court doesn’t know who, yet.”
Marlana tapped her chin. “So the vampire Viviana may or may not have seen or heard the other night…”
“…was probably real,” Hudson finished. “Did you say there’s a party tonight?”
“Viviana’s birthday party,” Marlana answered.
Viviana scowled. It was like she wasn’t even here—they kept talking about her like she was an object.
“I recommend you postpone the party,” Hudson said. “The fewer people around, the easier it will be for me to do my job.”
Marlana’s mouth went down in a frown. “Are you or are you not a bodyguard? Did you not work in private event security for five years?”
“I did.”
“This is just like a private event. Do your job. Stick to Viviana. The house will be full of shifters and a rogue vampire would have to be crazy to take us all on at once.”
“Maybe he’s right,” Viviana said. “Maybe we should postpone.”
“Nice try,” Marlana said, flashing a sarcastic smile at Viviana. “The party’s happening.”
Viviana didn’t imagine Hudson’s glare in her direction—as if the party were her fault. Didn’t he hear her say it should be postponed? She’d agreed with him, for heaven’s sake.
Great. Not only did she have a babysitter, but he was an asshole babysitter.
Happy birthday to me, she thought.
Six
Hudson got directions to his room. Viviana’s was right next door. He wondered if he’d be able to rest in there, knowing she was nearby.
Because if there was one thing he knew about the daughter of his new client, it was that she was beautiful. It had been hard not to stare at her during breakfast. Her golden hair was held back in a ponytail, and her soft blue eyes made him think of tropical beaches. She had curves he’d be happy to explore for the rest of his life, the swells of her breasts tempting him beneath a soft-looking t-shirt.
He shook his head—he was being ridiculous. But she’d been so beautiful, just sitting there, chewing her cereal.
And who ate Lucky Charms who wasn’t six years old?
Despite himself, he found it endearing…even though she’d pouted and glared at him the entire time she ate.
There was her birthday party tonight. Somehow Hudson would have to find some time to rest, visit his mother, and check out the Corona-McKennon house and property to see where weak spots might be located. If the alpha wouldn’t listen to reason, Hudson would have to work even harder.
But Gregory had warned him about Marlana, and Hudson needed the work. He’d keep his mouth shut and do the job.
His room was pretty big. Bed, dresser, closet. Giant picture window looking out over the back yard. He even had his own small bathroom. He sat on the bed and tested the mattress. Not too soft. It could be a little harder, but it would be fine for now. This was work, after all. He checked the blinds. They were light filtering, so sleeping during the day might be kind of rough, but he’d manage.
He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed Heritage Pines. Dr. Powers had said he could call anytime to check on his mom. She’d even given him her personal number.
“This is Dr. Powers.”
“Hi, it’s Hudson. How’s my mother?”
“She’s…well, she’s doing all right. Physically. She’s eating. She’s sleeping. But she’s not responding to talk therapy, because she just won’t talk. I’m not even sure that she’s registering what I’m saying to her. You said she was like this with you?”
“Yeah,” Hudson said. “What are the next steps?”
“I’m glad you asked. We have some medication that I’d like to try.” Dr. Powers listed off a couple of different options. “Does she have any allergies?”
It was all in the forms he’d filled out, but he answered anyway. “Just penicillin.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem. Thanks for calling, Mr. Hudson.”
“Thank you, Dr. Powers.”
He ended the call and stared at his phone. Anxiety for his mom wormed all through his gut. He couldn’t allow her to throw her life away like this. She still had so many years—she was the picture of health. Or she had been, before she allowed everything to go to shit.
He stood up. There was a lot of time before his first shift started at dusk. He should explore the property.
When he reached the foot of the stairs, Frasier was standing there, toying with his phone. He looked up when Hudson started to go by. “Hey, we didn’t get properly introduced,” he said. “I go by Fraze.”
“Hudson.”
“Is that your first name or last?”
“Does it matter?” Hudson allowed the ghost of a smile to play on his lips.
Fraze shrugged. “Nope.”
“I’m going to walk around the property. You busy?”
Fraze looked at him. “Not at all. My landscaping client just asked me to come tomorrow instead. You want a tour of this place?”
Hudson nodded. “If you don’t mind.”
“Right this way,” Fraze said, sweeping his arm out toward the door.
From behind Fraze, Hudson caught a glimpse of Viviana. She was leaning against the kitchen island, popping a strawberry slice into her mouth. She looked so sweet, so innocent.
Too bad she was a little brat.
Fraze kept up a running monologue as they walked the front perimeter of the property. “Sometimes the rest of us lowly pride members have to do perimeter checks, but that’s usually on the Guardians. Did Marlana say why she hired you instead of a Guardian? Seems kind of odd, is all. You’re a human.”
“I’m aware of that, thanks,” Hudson said.
Fraze shrugged. “Not pointing out the obvious, just w
ondering about it.”
Hudson nodded. “So Viviana comes outside, and…what? What else do I need to know? I’ll accompany her on runs, of course.”
“Dude, you’re not going to be as fast as a mountain lion.”
“No. I’m not. But she’ll have to adjust for that. My job is to keep her safe, but I can only do that if she cooperates.”
They’d come around to the back of the house. A sparkling pond bordered by boulders and tall grasses took up the rear of the yard. Fraze led Hudson away from it, though, and toward the house.
Hudson gave him a funny look. Why were they going this way? He’d wanted to tour the property, not to go back inside.
“You said you need her to cooperate,” Fraze said. He surreptitiously pointed to one of the balconies on the second floor.
Hudson looked up. He couldn’t see anything but gauzy white curtains blocking anything else from view. He nodded to Fraze to show that he’d seen the balcony, and then Fraze led him out past the pond.
“That was V’s room,” Fraze said. “Look, I’m friends with V. I want her to be protected. She’d kill me if she knew I told you, but she sneaks out from her balcony. Drops onto the lawn, goes for a run when she can’t sleep. Her mom doesn’t know how she gets out.”
“Thanks,” Hudson said. “I’ll pay attention to that.”
They walked a little farther into the woods, Fraze pointing out some of the more established trails that the pride members took. He showed Hudson the caves. By now it was past lunch time, and Hudson was famished.
“Where does Viviana go in town? Any favorite restaurants, bars?”
Fraze laughed so hard, it startled some birds in a nearby tree.
“What’s so funny?”
“It’s just that V never goes out.”
Hudson looked at him. He was kidding, surely. But Fraze just wiped some tears from his eyes and said it was time to head back to the house.
Once inside, he made himself a sandwich. He’d lucked out that room and board was included in his pay—the motel where he’d been staying had been draining the last of his cash. After eating, he went up to his room. He’d need to rest before the party.
He heard water running from the room next to his—Viviana’s. Below the sounds of the water, he heard soft singing.
His cock got hard. At the sound of a woman singing?
“Unprofessional,” he muttered, berating himself. He adjusted his pants and sat on his bed, then leaned back to go to sleep.
But the sound of her singing—it was some old song. “Paper Moon.” Hudson had grown up listening to some of those old songs, but Viviana made it new, somehow.
He tried to block out Viviana’s voice, but then the sound was replaced by images of her naked body under the shower water. He wondered what she looked like, naked. Those legs. They were long and tanned, poking out from her cut-off shorts when he saw her this morning. She’d been wearing a long-sleeved shirt, too. Favoring one of her shoulders. An old injury? He should have asked.
For work purposes, obviously.
Not because he cared about some bratty rich shifter girl.
All the questions flew out of his head when he heard the water turn off. She was getting out of the shower. Drying off, rubbing a towel over what he was positive would be pert little nipples.
He looked over at his door, noting that he’d remembered to lock it. He could take matters into his own hands, of course. He wasn’t technically working right now.
But what the hell kind of creep would that make him? Ignoring the temptation, he willed his cock to relax. Nothing was gonna happen here, he told himself. It took a few minutes, but he finally got comfortable.
He nestled his arm up behind his head, closing his eyes for a quick nap.
Next door, Viviana continued to hum. After a minute of listening to her, he was already sporting another semi.
Dammit.
Seven
When Viviana opened her closet, she was not expecting to see a brand-new dress facing out from the clothing rack. It was draped in plastic printed with the name of a boutique shop in Bozeman. Taped to the plastic was a piece of stationery with Marlana’s scrawl in blue ink. Wear Me. On the floor beneath it was a pair of high-heeled, strappy sandals.
As much as Viviana wanted to march down the hall and tell her mother she’d at least make up her own mind about her birthday outfit, she realized she wouldn’t do that. No way. The gown was too beautiful. It wasn’t very elegant or formal, but rather simple and understated, in a faint blue-gray that would match her eyes.
She pulled it on. It clung to her curves in a way she never would have felt comfortable choosing for herself—after all, she was happier on the sidelines than as the center of attention. Despite its simple cut and color, this dress said, See me. Notice me.
She didn’t care to be noticed by anyone.
The doorbell rang. It was time. She slid into her new sandals and stepped out of her bedroom. Already she could hear the strains of old jazz songs playing from the speakers downstairs.
Hudson was waiting right outside her door. She stopped herself just before running into him. He stared down at her, a glint of some emotion in his eyes. She scented the air, trying to discern his feelings, but all she could smell was the tantalizing food her mother had ordered from a caterer.
“How did you know I was coming out?” she asked.
“It’s my job. I heard you moving around.”
He looked frustrated with her for some reason. Again. She wondered what she’d done to offend him.
“All right, then,” she said. “I guess I’ll go downstairs and you, what, follow me around?”
“I’ll try to stay out of your way as much as possible so you can talk with your friends.”
She wanted to joke with him that there was no need—no conversations he was in any danger of interrupting—because no one would talk to her. But tonight, she’d at least have a few conversations. Fraze and Gracie would probably talk to her the most.
She wished she could talk to Hudson, but his dislike of her was written plainly on his face. Turning around, she went downstairs.
Members of the pride steadily streamed into the house. Everyone wished her a happy birthday, and a few people had even brought gifts. You don’t even know me, she wanted to tell them. The gestures were kind, though, and she was grateful for that. She just wished she knew which of these people cared about her, and which ones only cared about sucking up to her mom.
Mateo and Justine, their hands linked, approached her. “Hey, Viviana. Happy birthday,” Mateo said.
“Thanks.”
Justine stepped forward and gave her a tentative hug.
Viviana grabbed onto her. “Thanks for coming,” she said.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Justine said. “You should come out with us sometime, okay?”
“Yeah…” Viviana said. Nobody had invited her anywhere in ages. Could be that Justine didn’t know it would never happen.
“And then,” Justine whispered, “you could dish on the hottie lurking behind you.”
Viviana snorted. “I can dish on him now. He’s got two expressions. Annoyed, and angry.”
“I’d say he’s wearing a different one right now,” Justine said, her eyes twinkling. “Unless he’s annoyed with your ass.”
“Okay, dear,” Mateo said loudly. “Let’s give Viviana some time with the other guests.” To Viviana, he mouthed, “I’m sorry, she has a really big mouth—”
“All the better to not blow you with, dear,” Justine said, smiling sweetly.
Viviana watched them with longing as they moved across the living room. They were funny, like Fraze. What would it be like to hang out with them all? What would her life be like if Marlana had let her go to their birthday parties when they’d all been growing up?
The next few hours were a blur. Viviana drank a glass of champagne while she greeted everyone. She had a second glass with dinner, but she was too nervous to eat, so she mostl
y moved food around on her plate. After dinner, several people started dancing at one end of the great living room.
Viviana was working on a third glass of champagne when Ben exaggeratedly licked his lips while staring at her from the drinks table.
She was vaguely aware of Hudson, somewhere behind her, and her mother, across the room, laughing loudly at some sycophantic remark or another. Ben put his fingers in a V and stuck his tongue between them.
If Viviana weren’t her mother’s daughter, she’d march over there and challenge him right now. She’d turn his hide into a mop and wipe the floor with him. She’d—
“Let me take that for you.”
She looked up. Chase Channing, Ben’s brother, deftly took the champagne flute from her hand and set it on the book case.
He grinned. “You look like you’re going to throw it at someone. My asshole of a brother?”
She nodded. “Maybe.”
“Dance with me instead. It’ll be more fun than beating up someone who isn’t worth your time.”
She doubted that was true, but accepted his hand and let him lead her around the room for the rest of the song.
“Thank you for the dance,” she said.
He flashed her a quick grin. “My pleasure—anything to annoy my little brother. Happy birthday.”
When he let her go, Brigitte, Rafe’s human mate, came up to wish her a happy birthday. Gracie, the vampire who Fraze had claimed as his mate, joined them. The two chattered about Brigitte’s pregnancy, which was in its very early stages. They included Viviana in the conversation as much as possible, but the champagne and the effort of trying to fit in where she obviously didn’t, had given Viviana a headache.
She’d had enough of being around people—even the nice ones like Chase, Brigitte, and Gracie.
While Mateo and Rafe’s parents were keeping Marlana distracted, Viviana excused herself from the conversation as politely as possible. She turned into the hallway near the music room and made an immediate turn into a little reading alcove. She looked around, and she couldn’t even see Hudson.
Alone. Finally.
She leaned her head back against the wall and took a deep breath. Her house smelled like champagne and too many people. A lot of these people should have been her friends, but had never been given the chance. Her mother’s fault, in some ways. But now that Viviana was older, she had to accept her own responsibility. She’d start making an effort, and soon. Just not at a crowded birthday party.