Texas Bodyguard

by Jean Brashear

  Sean mock-punched his shoulder. “My heart belongs to Addie, anyway. I’ll go sit with a female who appreciates me.”

  Liam snickered and waved over his shoulder as he walked off.

  Chapter Four

  Early the next morning Annabelle used the rope conveniently threaded through the hammock to send herself swaying again. So peaceful…she opened her eyes and watched the live oak branches above her, breathing in the serenity for which the hotel was aptly named. This morning was especially quiet, since she’d urged Vanessa to sleep in. Vanessa had reluctantly agreed, but only after loading Annabelle down with enough muffins and fruit for a week.

  She’d had a wonderful time last night with the Sandoval/Sullivan clan, and the party had reminded her forcibly of just how much she missed people. She’d slept more than any human should, read until her eyes blurred. This place was gorgeous, but she was close to begging Vanessa to put her to work. Idleness had never been her cup of tea.

  It was time to go out. Live in the world again. She’d always faced her fears in the past, and she wasn’t going to give into them now. She threw her legs over the side of the hammock and rose, glancing down at her attire. In plain black yoga pants and a hoodie, hair scraped back in a ponytail, surely she looked nondescript enough to avoid notice. She’d put a ball cap on her head and hide the eyes too much of the world had seen behind sunglasses. There was a coffee shop a couple of blocks away, Jilly had mentioned last night.

  Annabelle needed to stretch her legs. She wanted desperately to go running, but she’d use this quick jaunt to reconnoiter the area, then make better plans for later.

  At the notion of venturing out, her spirits lifted. She hurried to her quarters, grabbing cash and the keycard Vanessa had told her would, along with her personal code, get her in and out of the innocent-looking but highly secure walking gate beside the remote-control entrance used for vehicles.

  Then she was outside, and for a moment the freedom was almost frightening. She had to remind herself that it was she who’d immured herself inside the fortress, that she was not a prisoner escaping…but she also felt a little naked and exposed, as she did whenever she left her compound in L.A. on foot. Stepping outside the walls was both exhilarating and unnerving.

  Though, in reality, she could hardly remember the last time she’d done so in L.A.. Too much of her life was spent being whisked from one safe vehicle to another, one carefully chosen venue to the next.

  When she was a kid, she’d ridden her bicycle everywhere, spent untold hours exploring with her brothers or friends. Ventured fearlessly into the unknown.

  Had she realized, when she’d set her sights on acting, on being the best, what the price would be? The freedom she’d be sacrificing?

  She had not. But, Annabelle grinned, ruthlessly honest with herself…she wouldn’t have listened even if anyone had warned her.

  She wasn’t going to waste this beautiful morning pondering the road not taken. She was going to remember what it was to be bold and fearless, and she would relish every second of this outing. She increased her steps to a good, strong stride, letting her muscles warm as she drank in her surroundings.

  Soon she reached South Congress Avenue, for which this SoCo district was named, according to Vanessa. She hadn’t asked Jilly for directions last night, not envisioning that she’d venture out this soon, so she glanced up and down the wide street, then spotted the sign to her left, across the street and a block or so up.

  She waited for the light, then crossed, unable to resist smiling widely because no cars skidded to the side, no photographers jumped out.

  No one noticed her. No. One.

  “I love Austin.” She laughed and barely resisted shouting, throwing her arms out wide to embrace this place. “Oh, yeah, Annabelle, that would be just genius. Draw attention to yourself.” Still, she did a little quick dance step, then forced herself to stop grinning like a fool.

  She couldn’t take it all in fast enough as she passed the old motor hotel all shined up, the mix of funky shops she was dying to prowl. Somewhere up here was a huge costume shop Martin had mentioned to her.

  When she reached the coffee shop, she noted that it was indeed more of a stand than a restaurant, all the seating outside, some under an extended roof and some under the trees. She spotted a table and thought how lovely it would be to simply sit there unobserved.

  Though it was early, still there were a number of customers, and she waited in line behind two. The street sloped ever upward, she noted, and realized that of course it would because the land would drain into the lake she glimpsed from her aerie. She turned her head to the right to get a different view.

  And gasped. Lowered her sunglasses to see it better. The lake, a big slice of it, and beyond that downtown, all framing a building she thought must be the state capitol.

  “Nice view, huh?” said the woman in front of her.

  “Gorgeous,” Annabelle responded.

  “Your first visit?”

  “It is. I like the city.”

  The woman’s head tilted slightly, her eyes narrowing in a questioning expression Annabelle knew all too well. Quickly she jammed her sunglasses in place. Mentally held her breath.

  The woman shrugged. “Too many people do. It used to be a simple college town, and we liked it that way.”

  A guy in front of her snorted, glancing back over the woman’s head at Annabelle. “You’ll get used to that. Around this part of town you find all sorts of folks who live in the past. Go across the river, and you’ll find the future. People who aren’t clinging to the Sixties and Armadillo World Headquarters.”

  The woman frowned slightly. “I’m not—”

  He laughed and nudged at her. “You are. Give it up, Suzy. You came here from somewhere else, too. Most of us did. Austin’s unique, and we all love it.” He glanced at Annabelle again. “Welcome. You’ll fall in love here, too. Even with curmudgeons like Suzy.”

  “I am not.”

  “You know you are.”

  They paid for their drinks, still cheerfully quarreling as they walked away.

  Annabelle stepped forward to place her order and felt a gaze on her. Out of the corner of her eye she could see that one of the baristas was staring. As quickly as she turned her head in his direction, he looked away.

  But the glow of the morning dimmed a little. She nearly didn’t order.

  No. I am not running away.

  She ordered and paid. Resolved not to duck her head and hide as she waited, feeling too exposed. The barista leaned toward another employee, and as he spoke, she felt a second set of eyes dart her direction, then shift away.

  When her drink was ready, she hesitated. Suddenly she felt not free but alone. Vulnerable. Her phone was in her pocket. She could call Martin, but it would take him forever to get here. Vanessa would come, but Annabelle had promised her a lazy morning, and Vanessa more than deserved it.

  No one. She had no one. She was in a place she didn’t know, had no idea where to go to be safe if—

  Stop it. No one is whipping out a camera. No one is approaching.

  But they could. More than one head turned curiously in her direction now. No one got up, came toward her with pen and paper. No crowd was gathering, but—

  They could. Her head whipped around, but she could spot nowhere hidden, no seat where she could be tucked away to watch but not be watched herself.

  Heart pounding, Annabelle nearly tossed her coffee in the trash and ran, but she refused to let herself.

  Until a teenaged boy brought her fears to life, walking right up to her. “My sister and I are wondering. Are you Annabelle Quinn?”

  Hearing her name spoken out loud, seeing heads whipping her way…

  You asked for this life. And you love your fans. Do not let one terrible experience turn you into a cynic and a coward, not after you’ve managed to remain human this long. “I am,” she said, her voice only shaking a little as she watched for the cell phones to come out, the tweets to be
gin. “Isn’t it a beautiful morning?”

  “Not half as beautiful as you.” Then he blushed.

  Annabelle loosened her grip on her coffee. “You’re very sweet to say so. I need to go, but would you like an autograph first?”

  “Um, could I get a picture with you?”

  Annabelle fought back the sickness in her belly, knowing that she’d destroyed her own haven.

  “Of course. Want to invite your sister?”

  Sean stood sipping coffee on the back porch of the South Austin two-story he’d bought a year ago and was slowly bringing back to life. He was late getting up this morning after a restless night peopled with terrified women crying out for his help.

  Annabelle Quinn had been polite last night, but she was clearly more at ease with the others. She hadn’t stayed much longer at Jilly’s party, so all he really learned was that she was the mysterious guest Martin Lowe visited daily. He certainly hadn’t made a connection with her that would allow him to go back.

  His cell phone rang. “Sean?”

  “Yes?”

  “It’s Vanessa. How are you?”

  His forehead wrinkled. She’d only seen him maybe twelve hours ago, and she’d never called him before. “Okay,” he replied cautiously. “Everything all right there?”

  “Oh, yes. Of course it is,” she said hastily.

  “Dane’s okay? Nothing’s wrong with his family?”

  “No… I mean, yes, he’s fine. They’re all right, too.” She hesitated.

  “Can I help you with something?”

  Big sigh. “I need a favor, Sean. It’s going to sound weird.”

  He didn’t know Vanessa nearly as well as he did the rest of the family, but he knew enough to understand that asking for help was something Vanessa did only rarely. She’d have killed herself trying to renovate and finish the hotel on her own, for instance. When Dane and Jilly had brought the whole family in, including friends like him, to help her finish the landscaping so that she could open in time, her struggle to accept the help was clear to all of them. Life had not handed Vanessa any breaks, yet she’d rebounded from tragedy not once but twice and had excelled in spite of it. She’d literally made herself a success. So for her to ask a favor now, she must not see any other option.

  “I’m okay with weird,” he said.

  Faint laughter. “Well, that’s good.” Another hesitation, then a rushed breath. “Okay, here’s the thing. It’s not me who needs the help. It’s Annabelle.”

  “Annabelle Quinn?” His mind was racing. “What could she possible need from me?”

  “I need you to take her out,” Vanessa said in a rush.

  “You need me…to take her out,” he echoed slowly. His mind went temporarily blank. The request was a little like Santa Claus showing up on Christmas, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Easter. He couldn’t even kid himself that the appeal was only its usefulness in his current case. Annabelle Quinn played a part in the dream lives of most American males. The woman could have any man she wanted. “What’s the catch?”

  “I’m not doing a very good job of this,” she said. “Okay, let’s start over. Yes, Annabelle is America’s Sweetheart. Has anyone ever broken your heart, Sean?”

  He tried to think.

  “Never mind.” She laughed. “I forget who I’m talking to, Romeo.”

  He winced. “Aw, Vanessa, don’t…” He exhaled in a gust. “I can’t help it that I get along well with women.”

  “You’ve never had your heart broken?”

  “There was this girl…”

  “Girl? How old were you?”

  “Fourteen?”

  “Amazing.”

  Somehow he didn’t think she really meant that as a compliment.

  “Then you may not understand Annabelle’s situation,” she said. “But maybe, since you’re such a ladykiller, you’ll understand what it’s like to be put in uncomfortable situations because of your looks.”

  “Come on, Vanessa. Cut me some slack. I’m not shallow.”

  “But you sure haven’t put your heart out there for anyone to stomp on, have you?”

  Wow. He’d have to think about that.

  “I’m sorry, Sean. I’m not doing a very good job of eliciting your sympathy, am I?”

  That so wasn’t his problem. He was too busy thanking his lucky stars. But he probably shouldn’t appear too eager. “I’ve sure had better sales jobs.” He chuckled. “Want to try again?”

  “I think I’d better.” She paused. “Hello, Sean. This is Vanessa. May I ask you a favor?”

  He couldn’t help laughing. “Why sure, Vanessa. Anything. Whatever you need—strong back, someone to play with Skeeter, a date for the hottest star in the known universe? Just say the word.”

  He heard the smile in her voice when she answered. “About that hottest star…funny you should ask…” Then her voice turned serious. “Here’s the thing, Sean. This goes against every principle I have to be asking without her permission, but I’m concerned about Annabelle.”

  Sean’s every sense went on alert. “Why?”

  Vanessa took a deep breath. “I’ve been very happy to provide a refuge for her here, and I would gladly continue, but…she’s lonely. She has one friend who comes to visit her, but she hasn’t left these grounds since she arrived, at least until this morning.” Her tone was grim. “She walked down to Jo’s for cup of coffee before Dane and I got up. She dressed not to be noticed, but someone still recognized her, actually a lot of someones, and people were nice, she said, but there were all sorts of cell phones taking pictures and no doubt posting them to Twitter and Facebook. So now she’s lost her refuge—I mean, still no one can get inside here, but the word is out—and, well, you know how it is for Liam…”

  Yeah. All of them knew how crazy things could be for Liam. “Doesn’t she have a bodyguard?”

  “We promised her it would be different here in Austin. We promised her a chance to live like a real person.”

  Vanessa’s intent was beginning to come clear. “You’re not saying…”

  “I just thought… Maybe it was a foolish idea.” She sounded so disappointed. “She would be safe with you, Sean, I mean, you have all that training.”

  “You want me to be her bodyguard? I have a job, Vanessa.”

  “I know.” She sighed. “Dane would do it, but he has to leave on another assignment.”

  “Dane’s a photographer, not a cop.”

  “But he’s a man, and he’s big. And everyone else in the family is married.”

  “You were going to pimp Dane out to Annabelle Quinn?” he teased.

  “No!” Then she huffed. “Do not be deliberately obtuse. I’m only asking if you would take Annabelle out a time or two. Give her a chance to have some fun, and still be safe. Take her somewhere that she doesn’t attract attention.”

  “I practically knocked her down,” he pointed out.

  “She wasn’t mad—oh, never mind,” she said. “I don’t even know that Annabelle would go for the idea anyway.”

  Okay, he’d been cautious enough. He was going to jump all over this golden opportunity to spend time with the woman whom one of their prime suspects was coming to visit every day. She probably knew he was a cop, since the family would have no reason to hide that fact, and this was the only innocuous means by which he’d have an excuse to snoop around and see what he could learn about Martin Lowe.

  “Maybe she’s the forgiving type,” he said to Vanessa, “And she’ll consider it a novel introduction to have all but flattened her.”

  Vanessa chuckled.

  It wasn’t without effort that he pretended nonchalance. “Okay, I guess. Feel free to try, then let me know what she thinks of your idea.”

  “Oh, thank you, Sean. I owe you. Of course, I already owe you for all your backbreaking labor on my landscaping.”

  Oh you really, really don’t, he thought. Not if she could give him the upper hand in his investigation. But to Vanessa he only said, “What are f
riends for? Anyway, better not celebrate yet. She might be a tough sell.”

  “I don’t think so—I hope not. I mean, women do like you, Sean. She’s such a nice person, and I really want to help her. She’s very fragile right now, and I like her a lot, not only as a guest, but as a person.”

  “You have a good heart, Vanessa. Call me back and let me know how the sales job goes.”

  “I will—and thank you so much.”

  Oh, no, thank you. You’re the one who’s dropping this right in my lap. Don’t think I won’t jump all over it. “Bye, Vanessa.”

  Doc would be ecstatic.

  He wished he could explain to Vanessa that he would be careful with Annabelle, that if she wasn’t involved in this crime, she would be fine.

  But he couldn’t tell Vanessa anything. He reminded himself that he worked undercover all the time, that the deception was necessary, that he was doing it for the right reasons, to save lives. To keep nice young women who weren’t famous safe from those who would brutalize them.

  Annabelle didn’t tell Martin about her ill-fated outing, though she wasn’t sure why. She shouldn’t have told Vanessa, but Vanessa had been outside on the grounds looking worried when she returned. What an oaf she’d been, not thinking to leave Vanessa a note. When she stayed in a hotel she never considered accounting for her whereabouts, but even though she was a paying guest here, somehow this was different. Vanessa had gone so far out of her way for Annabelle, and Annabelle had rewarded her solicitous care by vanishing and leaving Vanessa to worry.

  So somehow all the details had come spilling out. Vanessa felt terrible, not that any of it was her fault, but that was just who Vanessa was. Annabelle had assured her she was fine, that the incident didn’t sour her on Austin, that she was fine staying inside the grounds and would be returning to L.A. soon anyway.

  That only served to make Vanessa feel worse.

  Martin had arrived before they could finish the conversation and, as always, her hostess disappeared and left her to visit with Martin in private. That visit hadn’t gone much better than the morning’s outing. He’d been preoccupied and even a little irritable, so she’d sent him on his way soon, pleading that she was tired—and frankly, he hadn’t seem to mind all that much.