by Jill Sanders
“I’m sorry about your doorman,” Ben said softly, then he covered the phone as she listened to Sarah tell him something. “Sarah wants me to ask if you’ve eaten anything. She says shock can cause you to blow through…” Her brother muffled the phone, but she heard him question his wife. “Seriously? That’s what you wanted to ask her?”
“Ben?” She waited until her brother got back on the phone. “I’m fine. We’re both fine. We ordered delivery. It should be here soon.” She glanced over at Calvin, and he looked down at his watch. “The police agreed to send someone over to keep an eye out,” she said. Calvin nodded and held up two fingers. “Two cops.”
“I wish you’d never left Silver Cove,” Ben said with a sigh.
“That makes two of us.” She rested back again.
“So, you’re coming back then?” Ben asked.
“Yes, at the end of—”
“No, I mean, you’re hopping on a plane tomorrow,” her brother broke in. “There is no way I’m letting you stay out there now.”
She chuckled slightly. “This is my home, until I move in September.”
“To hell with—” Suddenly, the phone was grabbed, and Sarah’s voice came on the line.
“Hi, sweetie, how are you?” her sister-in-law asked in a calm voice.
“I’m good,” she answered with a sigh.
“Bella, we think it’s best that you come back here. Cancel your commitments. It’s obvious that the person… well, he’s willing to go to great lengths to get at you and, now, he won’t even stop at murder.”
Bella shivered and pulled the blanket closer to her.
“I can’t bring this to you.” She closed her eyes as more tears rolled down her cheeks. “Kenny, he was… a friend. If it had been you or Ben or, god forbid, one of the girls…” Her breath hitched. “I’d never forgiven myself.”
Sarah was quiet for a moment. “I can’t say the same thought hadn’t crossed our minds, but we’re family. We’ve got your back. Besides, if anyone snoops around Silver Cove, they’re bound to stand out. There in the city, well, this is just another Saturday night shooting.”
Bella knew Sarah was right. It was a lot harder to get away with things in a small town. But someone had broken into her rooms at the resort and at Calvin’s place without any witnesses. How safe could she really be anywhere? At least here in the city, she had a full force of police to protect her now that they’d agreed to put someone on her full time. At least, that’s what Calvin had been arguing to get for almost half an hour.
“One month,” she said, suddenly. “The end of July. I promise…”
Suddenly Sarah was gone, and Ben was back. “Fine, then tell Calvin not to leave your side until you get back here. I’m holding him personally responsible to make sure you get home safe.”
She looked up at Calvin. “His job—”
“Is secure,” Ben said. “Just make sure you are. I trust him.” Ben sighed. “He’s the only one I trust with my sister.”
Since Calvin had been standing directly in front of her and her brother’s voice echoed, Calvin smiled.
She reached up and handed the phone back to him.
“I’m on it,” Calvin said with a smile, then he laughed at something her brother said to him before hanging up. “He says not to bother him again unless I really get shot and not just scratched.”
She frowned at the white bandage on his lower arm. “You were really shot. The medic said…”
He sat next to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Looks like I’m not leaving your side until we head back home.” He glanced down at her. “You okay with this?”
She held onto him and nodded her head, not wanting to let go.
“You’re shivering.” He pulled back and frowned at her.
“I can’t seem to get warm.” She tried to hold onto him again.
“Come on,” he said as he picked her up. “I could use a shower. A hot one.” He carried her into the bedroom but set her down when her doorbell rang. “That’ll be the food. Stay put,” he warned her, then he disappeared back out front.
When he came back, she was lying on the edge of her bed, half-awake and still very cold.
“The food’s in the oven on warm.” He picked her up again. “Shower, food, bed. That order.” He set her on her feet and started removing the clothes that she’d changed into the moment she’d entered her apartment.
Now, he pulled them off her slowly as the water in her shower heated. When they stepped under the spray together, she melted under the warmth.
“Your bandage,” she said sometime later when she felt her bones stop shaking.
“They gave me some extra gauze. I’ll cover it again after I’m dry.” He held her still in his arms.
“Poor Kenny.” She sighed and shut her eyes. “I don’t even know if he had a family.”
“Divorced, no kids,” he answered. “I asked the other security guard.”
She nodded. “He was always so nice to me.”
“He stepped in front of the bullets,” he said and this time she felt him shiver. “I don’t even want to think of what could have happened.”
“Do you think this was Michael?” she asked.
“Your manager seems to think so. She called when you were changing.”
“I didn’t think. I should…” She glanced towards the shower doors, but he held her still.
“Later. I told her you were resting and safe,” he said. “For now, let’s turn everything off.” He kissed the top of her head.
She nodded in agreement. “Calvin?” She glanced up at him. “I’m thankful you’re okay. I didn’t mean to drag you into my mess.”
He cupped her face and pushed her wet hair aside. “This is in no way your fault. You didn’t drag me. I surrendered to those sexy eyes of yours.” He smiled. “And those lips, not to mention those legs.”
She laughed and then sighed. “Thank you for being here. For staying with me.”
“Hey.” He hugged her again as they stood under the spray together. “I’m not complaining. I get a whole month off with pay.”
She sighed. “Playing bodyguard to me. Maybe you should have asked for double pay?”
After they stepped out of the shower, she dried off and pulled on the thick sweat suit again. They ate the pizza in her living room and turned on the television when Ben texted them that it was all over the news already.
Sure enough, there was even grainy security footage of the entire incident. She closed her eyes after seeing Kenny’s body hit the ground.
“In what’s being described as a murder attempt on Bella Rothschild, tonight’s drive-by shooting has left Miss Rothschild’s doorman, Kenny Morton, a fifty-three-year-old employee at the Stanford Arms Executive Apartments, dead. No word on Miss Rothschild or her date to the Hollywood Highlights Music Awards, Calvin Winters. Miss Rothschild was up for Best New Artist, but at the ceremony lost out to up-and-coming star Cara Knightswood. In a shocking twist shortly after tonight’s ceremony, the HHMA committee has come forward and issued a statement that the award was given to Miss Knightswood by mistake. They have released a statement that the award should have gone to Bella Rothschild instead…”
Bella sat up, her heart jumping in her chest. “I won?” She frowned at the screen as the reporter continued to talk about an investigation into why Cara’s name was called instead of Bella’s. “I won?” she asked again.
“Sounds like you did.” Calvin chuckled and turned up the television.
“Speculations are running wild. There are reports claiming that Michael Himes had some pull on the committee and pushed the change at the last minute. Even more speculation is going around about the validity of Miss Rothschild’s claims that Michael Himes was the aggressor in their very public feud. This reporter thinks that the police might want to look into why Mr. Himes left the gala tonight shortly after Bella and Calvin were seen leaving the theater.”
Calvin lowered the volume. “Well, guess it’s all out there now
.” He turned to her.
She was still staring at the television. Then she turned to him. “I won!” She jumped up and down on her sofa. Calvin laughed with her and joined in the fun.
It took her almost two hours to settle back down. Of course, another call was taken from her brother, but this time it was a congratulatory call. Even her parents called her. They were a little upset that she hadn’t called them to let them know that she had been shot at or that she was okay, but still, their main focus had been her big win. She imagined it was one more thing they could brag to all their friends about.
When she finally did fall asleep, her dreams were filled with blood, broken glass, and Kenny’s body.
She woke with a start when Calvin shook her, then pulled her close. “It’s just a dream,” he whispered into her ear.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, holding onto him. “I couldn’t stop it.” She sighed. His arms tightened around her and then he was kissing her, and she forgot everything except him.
“Better?” he asked as his hands moved over her hips, pulling her closer.
“Getting there.” She moved until she straddled his hips. Leaning up, she pulled the T-shirt over her head and watched his eyes heat just before his hands cupped her. Rolling her head back, she moaned at the feeling of him touching her.
“Calvin,” she sighed. “I love your hands on me.”
He leaned up and placed his mouth where his hands had just been. “I love the taste of you,” he said, trailing his mouth over her heated skin. “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”
She smiled into the darkness and held him to her as he teased her skin with his lips.
Then he was spinning them around until he hovered over her. The bed bounced while he pulled her sweats off her legs, then he disappeared beneath the sheets as he kissed his way down to where she wanted him. Where she’d dreamed of him being. When his mouth found her, she cried out and arched her back, needing more.
“Please,” she cried out and balled her fists into the sheets. “Now, I can’t wait. I don’t want to.” She tugged on his shoulders.
She waited as he slid off his shorts, pulled on a condom, and moaned as he entered her slowly. She’d never imagined loving someone as much as she loved Calvin. Just being with him, having him fill her, complete her… As she felt herself build, she sighed and told him once again how she felt. “I love you,” she said against his skin.
When she woke, she could hear Calvin talking to someone in the next room. Glancing at her phone, she frowned at the late hour. How had she slept past ten o’clock? She never slept past eight. Getting up, she quickly dressed in dark yoga pants and a long sweater before heading into the next room.
Maggie stood in her kitchen eating a large muffin with a cup of coffee in her other hand.
“There you are.” Her manager set the food and drink aside when she saw her and rushed over to her and hugged her. “You worried me.”
The large black woman engulfed her in a hug that felt so good, Bella almost cried again.
“I’m okay.” She held onto her friend.
“You scared the shit out of me.” Maggie leaned back and looked down at her. “Your man here”—Maggie nodded her head towards Calvin, who was standing in the kitchen holding out a fresh mug of coffee towards Bella— “has been keeping me company.” Maggie smiled and moaned slightly. “He’s even better looking in person,” she whispered, but not low enough that Calvin didn’t chuckle when he heard it.
“Now.” Maggie dropped her arms and picked up her muffin again. “I brought you food.” She motioned towards the basket of muffins and fruit. “Oh, and the entire lobby is full of flowers and gifts waiting to be delivered up to you.” She set the muffin back down and walked over to a large box sitting at the end of her kitchen table. “And I brought this…” She held out the box as her smile grew.
“What’s…” Bella started to ask, but then noticed the HHMA sticker on the side of the box. “My award?” She gasped and lifted the lid.
The silver and glass award sat nestled in black velvet. Pulling it out slowly, she smiled as she held it up to the light. “Oh my…” She hugged it to her chest as she twirled in circles while Calvin and Maggie laughed.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Over the next few days, the only time they left the apartment was to head to the small coffee shop at the end of the block. Even then, Calvin tucked her body between the building and his. He made her wear a hat and a large jacket as a disguise.
Two undercover police officers followed them, keeping an eye out for Bella. He’d met the woman and man, who were practically camping out in the lobby. The glass door had been replaced and everything was almost back to normal, with the exception of the makeshift memorial set up outside for Kenny. Bella had insisted on hitting the flower shop and laying a large wreath on the spot herself.
He’d grabbed a bunch of flowers as well. After all, he owed the man his and Bella’s lives. They’d attended his funeral and had been plastered all over the news the last few days.
The video of him pulling her out of the way and dragging her to safety was everywhere he looked. The hardest part was watching Kenny drop each time. Even though some media sources blurred out his image, Calvin could still remember seeing the man’s eyes.
Maggie seemed to visit them every day. Because of her new fame with the award and all the attention the shooting had gained, Bella had several new interviews scheduled for that week.
He didn’t like her being out in the open but knew there was no use hiding away forever. Each time they went outside, either the undercover cops or the security company Maggie had hired was right there. Still, he knew that if someone wanted to, nothing would stop the bullets except a body, like they had before.
He sat back and watched her do interviews for a few morning shows. For one of them, she even brought along her award and showed it off.
He enjoyed seeing her get up on stage and sing with the band that she worked with for all her recordings and stage events. He liked the three guys and ended up talking to them backstage while they waited for their segment.
There were pictures of them plastered on every tabloid cover at every checkout stand. He was starting to get used to seeing their faces everywhere they went.
He never left her side and was thankful she seemed to be enjoying his company. Of course, he would have liked to be able to melt into the background so they could go out and do some sightseeing. He’d only been to California a handful of times in his youth.
Before he knew it, two weeks had passed without any further incidents. Even the police were beginning to think that Michael Himes, who had been brought in and questioned, had decided to back off. Even though there was no proof the shooting had been him, the man’s career had taken a huge hit.
His interview was scrutinized and picked apart by experts willing to give their opinions to the highest-paying news source. Bella turned down several interviews about the subject, since Maggie and he agreed that she should try and not put more speculations out there.
The fact was, they had no clue if Michael Himes was behind the shooting or even the break-ins. All they knew was that he had been the one to switch the envelopes at the award ceremony.
One of the judges, Carmen Langdon, stepped forward in an interview and described how Himes promised her a role in his upcoming movie if she would switch the envelopes.
She had told him that it wouldn’t take long for them to discover what she’d done, and he promised her that with his power he would protect her. But when the committee started looking at her, Michael denied her version of the story and started claiming that she had switched the names to impress him in hopes that he would boost her career.
The only problem was she had recorded the conversation on her phone since she was worried that he would renege on the deal.
The muffled recording of Michael’s empty promises played on television as much as the video of him pulling Bella to safety while Kenny’s body dropped
beside them.
Since the matter hadn’t been a legal issue, Michael’s only recourse was to be dropped from the award’s committee and banned from any others in Hollywood.
A week after the shooting, Bella’s new album hit number one on the charts. They had celebrated by ordering delivery from a restaurant down the street and lighting every candle she had in her apartment. They had even dressed up, with her wearing one of the fancy and sexy outfits she had tucked in her guest closet. Since he hadn’t had time to replace the tux, he’d pulled on a dress coat and tie.
Even though they couldn’t go out, it was nice pretending as they had. But at the end of the second week, he could tell she was starting to go stir crazy.
She’d cleaned her place and had started packing up her things and marking which items she would sell or donate and not take with her.
He was surprised that she didn’t plan on taking any of her new furniture with the exception of her bed, which they decided would replace the one in his guest bedroom.
“Let’s go out,” she said midmorning one day. “I have no commitments today.” She glanced towards the windows. “It’s sunny and I want to feel the fresh air on my face.” She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. “Let’s go for a drive.”
He thought about the logistics of it and frowned.
“Don’t do that.” She shook her head.
“What?”
“Overthink this. I have a car downstairs in the garage. We hop in it, drive out of the city into the hills, and find some little place to have lunch.” She leaned up on her toes and kissed him. “Please?”
He couldn’t deny her. Not when she practically purred next to him.
“I’ll arrange it.” He smiled. “Get dressed.” He glanced down at her pajama shorts and a tank top and wished that she would’ve suggested they spend the day in bed instead.
He talked to the private security on duty and informed them that they would be taking a drive, to which they responded that they would follow them in their car. They reassured him that he wouldn’t even know they were back there, but as Bella drove out of the city, he found his eyes glued to the side mirror, making sure that they followed along.