Caleb was assigned to the close protection division, which was not the same as a bodyguard position. First of all, he ran that section of the company. He didn’t like being thought of as the stereotypical image of a muscled hulk in dark sunglasses and dressed in black.
The challenge in executive protection was to make the client feel safe without making it seem as if they were under siege—even if they were. And the training required to protect an executive in the modern world was extensive.
Black Swan offered a range of functions, all designed to keep the client, his company, and his loved ones safe. Executive protection agencies were commonly staffed with employees who had worked for the FBI, law enforcement, or even the Secret Service.
The team that Hawke had put together was no different. The team at Black Swan was a crew of experienced, trained, and skilled former military. Bodyguard didn’t begin to cover it, and nor did the team condone any shades of buddy guard.
Behavior on assignments and with clients was strictly professional. Caleb understood that he was on site for the benefit of the executive who had entrusted safety to Black Swan. While he finished his ten-mile run, Caleb reflected on why he’d accepted the position. It had been an opportunity in the private sector to do what he did best—defend and protect.
It was a pleasant April morning in West Philly, and the neighborhood provided paths for morning runs. Caleb lived in a townhome within a gated community populated by his company’s team. When Hawke had leased the building to set up headquarters, he’d secured the residential location too.
It made sense to have the team living near the office to be on call for emergencies—of which there were plenty. And it didn’t hurt having teammates around at all hours. That had proven beneficial on more than one occasion. Considering their line of work, the extra security was an advantage.
Caleb wiped sweat from his brow and rounded the corner toward the gym. The workout facility was on the company premises, which enabled any team member to get in a workout in any available time. Since it was barely past dawn, the gym was unoccupied—which suited Caleb fine.
With no distractions, Caleb could focus, get the job done, and go home. That was a familiar refrain. Maintaining fitness wasn’t an option, and muscles didn’t stay rock-hard without effort. After grabbing a towel, Caleb hit the weights and put in his forty minutes of muscle building.
The workout period sped by, and Caleb jogged home afterwards. As his body cooled down, his thoughts were of his next job. It seemed that executive protection wasn’t only needed by corporations. There was a variety of clients who hired security.
Recently, an influx of business had come from the entertainment sector. Whether it was a high-profile band, a well-known celebrity, or a theater group, protection from dangers that lurked was vital—and companies paid healthy fees for such security.
Caleb showered at his apartment. He dressed for action, invigorated and ready to start the day. Then he grabbed some food and washed it down with orange juice before heading to work. His space at home was nothing fancy. The appliances were modern and the furniture serviceable, more than he’d enjoyed for most of his time in the service.
After throwing a few items he’d need into a backpack, Caleb hopped into his truck and went to the office. The company was in a warehouse building in Southwest Philly, but part of the interior had been converted to offices. It was still early, but a few teammates were already busy at their desks. On his way by, Maddie looked up from reception and gave him a nod.
One of the company cofounders, Ryker Johnson, followed Caleb to his desk.
“You’re in early after a weekend,” Caleb said. “How’s Mia? I haven’t seen her in a bit.”
“She’s good,” Ryker said. “Working a lot, which she enjoys. Her teaching aid is hitting the market bigtime. I’m very proud of her.”
Caleb noticed his buddy’s contented expression. There was some special quality a married man possessed that Caleb didn’t. Ryker had found the love of his life last year—and proposed within weeks—so had that look of a happily married man.
It must be nice, but Caleb wouldn’t know. He had no prospects on the horizon, although he dated a bit. Maybe he wasn’t anxious to commit to a permanent relationship. He’d been married once, but his wife had divorced him. That was fifteen years ago. She hadn’t liked being the wife of a military man, especially one who seemed to volunteer for every mission.
“I have a new assignment for you.”
“In the entertainment biz?”
“A performance at the Academy of Music,” Ryker said. “One thing about Philly that’s good for business is the city’s arts and culture scene.”
Caleb knew he wasn’t referring to the city’s financial benefit from the arts. The designated Avenue of the Arts, a segment of Broad Street, housed many of the city’s cultural institutions—and the companies in charge required protection at the venues during live events.
“It seems that I’m making a career of creating a safety net for talent in Philly.”
“You could look at it that way,” Ryker said. “Celebrities and entertainment groups are good clients.”
“What’s this one?”
“A ballet,” Ryker said. “It’s a Saturday night event.”
Another reason Caleb’s love life suffered was that he often worked weekends—especially with all the entertainment clients. “The Philadelphia Ballet has a performance that night?”
“No, this one is Youth for Dance,” Ryker said. “The intake form lists it as a special event for the pre-professional ballerinas at the academy.”
Caleb had a soft spot in his heart for ballet. One of his overseas teammates had married a professional ballerina, a woman Caleb knew—better than he liked to admit. And there hadn’t been a happily-ever-after, because last year her husband had been killed in action.
At each Philadelphia Ballet performance when he’d handled security, Caleb wondered if he’d see Livi, but he hadn’t—and he hadn’t asked about her. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to see her again. It was complicated.
“You know the drill,” Ryker said. “Get your team set up and handle the event. The details are in the file.”
Caleb logged in and read the pertinent information. He was familiar with ballet performances but hadn’t previously covered security at the Academy of Music. He’d visit the site to see how it was set up, so any advance preparations could be made.
The client was Alexei Baranov, artistic director for the academy. There would be thirty-seven dancers in the show, plus a few extra understudies. The theater held about twenty-nine hundred, so the audience would be sizable.
The instructions were to contact the administrative assistant Elena Jensen. He would give her a call, partly to ask a few questions. Also, to assure her that his team would take care of security and instill confidence. Client rapport was important, as well as professional service.
Caleb didn’t find the risk assessment in the file, but he’d obtain a copy when he met with the theater’s director of safety and security. The security business was about cooperation. The venue’s security team had their assigned functions, but Black Swan was hired to handle the unexpected—and hopefully to prevent it.
Caleb leaned back in his chair and stared at the screen without seeing it. He remembered Livi well. The mention of ballet had brought her to mind. It had been more than fifteen years since he’d seen her, maybe longer. She probably didn’t know he was divorced—not that it mattered.
Brendon Cameron had been a lucky guy to win Livi’s heart. Caleb had been pleased that his buddy had someone back home who loved him, but Caleb had envied that. An image of Livi came to mind, and Caleb’s body responded.
Even after so long, Caleb remembered. Livi deserved happiness, and he hadn’t begrudged that—or so he thought now. What he’d thought before escaped him. He couldn’t—or didn’t want to—recall his secret feelings. And he wasn’t sure what he felt about her after all this time. It wasn’t his
place to feel more than friendliness or affection.
“Caleb, are you daydreaming?” Hawke loomed over the desk. “I thought you had a new client. You look like you’re preoccupied with something. Care to share?”
Caleb raised his hand. “I’m good.” He certainly wasn’t going to tell the boss what he had been contemplating.
“And get a tuxedo,” Hawke said, furrowing his brow. “Emilia has gone to a lot of trouble to plan our wedding. You can’t show up in those jeans.”
“Yeah, yeah.” A bit of friendly ribbing didn’t hurt. The wedding was still months away. Caleb had plenty of time to go shopping. It seemed that his teammates were all hooking up. And all Caleb could do was daydream about a woman he couldn’t have—except in his fantasies.
*****
Caleb got moving and headed to the Academy of Music. He had gained experience with the nuances of handling big events in the Center for Performing Arts. There had been a variety of challenges. One music theater was shaped like a violin. During events the wooden doors were opened to change the acoustics for each performance. The space itself became an instrument. As amazing as that was, the odd-shaped space had security issues, because there were too many places to hide.
But managing his team covering the Academy of Music was new. When Caleb arrived, he was introduced to the security director for the venue and given an overview. Diagrams and theater photos aided him in planning protection, along with the director’s insight into what could be expected based on previous events.
Special event planning was a massive undertaking. There was a laundry list of requirements and components that had to come together for safety reasons. Black Swan’s function was only a part of the picture, but a major one. Any location with large spaces had different alcoves throughout, perfect spots for potential security threats. It was up to Caleb to flesh those out and plan accordingly.
Black Swan was hired to understand the nuances of each event and set up proper protection. Caleb’s pre-event inspection was a key part, so he began going through his checklist to gain familiarity with the space where his team would be working. Starting at the entrance, he worked his way through the lobby and the main theater—noting important points that he would relay to the team.
Caleb took the steps up to the stage and went behind the curtain. A couple of crew members were working on sets but didn’t take notice of him. He strode across the floor then spotted a woman fussing with a stage prop. It was Livi. At first, he couldn’t believe it was her.
Caleb couldn’t fathom what she was doing in the theater. Livi was a lovely vision—from his past. Stunned, he froze to the spot. He stared, certain that he was imagining her. It had to be another woman, one who looked like her. It couldn’t possibly be Livi in real life, after all these years.
So often, Caleb had dreamed about her, and remembered the past in vivid detail. But it hadn’t been reality, just his longing—and his regret. He had wished to go back and redo things so many times. A thought flashed through his mind that he had thought of Livi so much that she’d appeared before his very eyes.
But that was ridiculous. Caleb wasn’t prone to flights of fancy. He faced life as it came, without sugarcoating it—having learned long ago that harsh realities had to be dealt with. In one agonizing moment, his heart had been ripped apart and he’d failed to move past the pain. Seeing Livi made that irrefutable.
Before that moment, Caleb would have sworn that he had put all of that behind him, that he lived in the present. He had private moments when he craved what he couldn’t have, but he didn’t act on feeling. Rationality was where he lived and breathed.
Until Livi showed up—shattering any control Caleb thought he had.
Livi had matured, and in a good way. She was still slender and graceful, yet she’d filled out in all the right places. Her long brown hair was tied back, blond streaks glimmering under the stage lights. She wore tights that showed off her long legs, and a fitted top that hugged her curves.
Caleb watched her move, recognizing the way she handled her body. She was a ballerina with graceful movements, combined with a style that was hers alone. Images came back of watching her dance, a sight that took his breath away.
Seconds ticked by while Caleb stood agape. He should let Livi know that he was there, but he couldn’t move. He should go, but that was the last thing he wanted to do. If he could look at her endlessly, that would make him a happy man.
“Caleb?”
Livi had turned and seen him standing a few feet away. Now what should he do? Caleb was used to having control over situations, taking charge. Yet he was as weak as a schoolboy.
“Is that really you?” With light steps, Livi closed the space between them.
Suddenly, Caleb’s past merged with the present. It was as if the years that separated them hadn’t existed, as though the last day he’d spoken with her was no more than a second before. With Livi close, her perfume drugging him, Caleb stood mute.
“It’s been so long.”
Now Livi was the one doing the staring. Caleb looked into her big brown eyes, and his heart skipped a beat. There was so much to say—yet nothing at all came to mind. Fumbling for the right words, all Caleb came up with was “Yes.”
Then Livi smiled, melting his heart. “It’s so good to see you, Caleb.” And she gave him a hug.
“You smell nice.” Caleb cringed at his social ineptness. If it wasn’t too late, he needed to get it together. Surely, he hadn’t lost the capacity to go into battle mode, blocking out emotions. But it seemed he had.
Livi stepped back.
“I mean…I like that perfume.” Caleb tried to appear cool and calm, yet feared that he utterly failed.
“I knew what you meant,” Livi said, with a timid grin. “Did you know I was going to be here? Did you plan this?”
“I wish I was that clever, but no.”
“Then what are you doing here?” Livi said. “Unless I’m dreaming.”
Caleb was the one who was dreaming. “I’m, uh…checking out security, making sure this place is safe for the ballet.”
“That’s funny,” Livi said, “because I’m doing the same thing.”
“So, I’ll ask you the same question,” Caleb said. “How come you’re here? I must say it was a surprise to see you standing there.”
Livi grinned. “Yeah, I could tell.”
“Shall we go some place to talk?” Caleb said.
“I’d like that. Where do you suggest?”
*****
Caleb took Livi to Elixr Coffee Shop, only blocks away. There was some advantage having worked in the area before, since he knew the closest coffee place—one thing he got right. On the way over, the conversation lagged.
Just having Livi beside him made Caleb feel more alive. He’d lost himself in work for so long that he’d forgotten he had a personal life too—or should have. But this wasn’t a date; it was two friends catching up with each other.
The roastery was a decent place with shiny floors and marble countertops. Caleb wanted to take Livi someplace nice, not just any coffee shop. He followed her to a table with two orange padded chairs, then went to order the drinks.
Caleb felt Livi watching him, and it was good to have her attention. He wasn’t sure what to do from there, but it was a start. After paying, he carried the lattes to the table and sat across from her.
“I can’t tell you what a shock it was to see you, out of the blue like that,” Livi said.
“That pretty much sums it up.” During the ride over, Caleb had filled her in on his job and what he was doing at the theater. She’d shared that she was a dance instructor and her part in the ballet event.
Caleb took a sip of coffee, stalling. “I’m sorry about Brendon…what happened last year.”
Livi glanced away. “Yes, it’s been difficult. You knew him; he wouldn’t have had it any other way. Brendon died with honor, in the line of duty.”
“He was a good friend…and I’m sure he was a good husban
d.”
Silence followed, while Livi focused on her coffee. She looked as beautiful at thirty-nine as she had at twenty. And yes, he remembered exactly when he’d last seen her, down to every detail. Even the scent of the perfume she’d worn. It seemed it was still her favorite.
“I didn’t see Brendon much,” Caleb said. “Not as much as you’d imagine. Since we were on different teams, our paths didn’t cross that often. I did hear about him, though, always good things.”
“He was away a lot of the time,” Livi said. “It was hard on me, on the family, but I admired his devotion.”
“You have a daughter, isn’t that right?”
Livi brightened up. “Yes, she is nearly grown up. Her name is Juliette, and can you believe that she’s eighteen already?”
“It has been a long time.”
“Julie has started college; it’s her first year,” Livi said. “But she’s nearby, just at Haverford. I couldn’t bear it if I couldn’t see her frequently.”
“I imagine so.”
Livi smiled. “It’s a mom thing. I’m close to Julie, probably even more because so much of the time it was just the two of us.”
Caleb imagined Livi alone, and wanted to hold her in his arms, to assure her that he was with her. It pained him to think of her by herself, and he sensed the grief she’d had to experience. Losing a spouse was difficult. He’d witnessed it many times, good men losing their lives in battle, leaving wives and families behind.
But Caleb’s feelings weren’t limited to concern. With Livi across from him, it was impossible not to think of other things. His heart couldn’t seem to let it go. The past wouldn’t stay in the past, and he feared that wasn’t going to change.
Long ago, Caleb had lost his heart to Livi, the woman who became Brendon’s wife. And now she was Brendon’s widow. It wasn’t right to swoop in and hold her in his arms, take advantage of her grief—not that she’d have him. Surely, he’d learned that much.
Caleb couldn’t ignore what he felt for Livi, yet…it wasn’t going to happen. He knew the list of reasons of why not. But he couldn’t deny his desire. With blinding clarity, he realized that he was still smitten with Livi. The years hadn’t changed a thing—he was so screwed.
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