She was not a duty call. She wasn’t going to be an obligation or a worry. She didn’t want to be anyone’s burden, she just wanted—
She had no idea what she wanted. Except what she couldn’t seem to have. How had she come to this point in her life? No man, no children, no one she really trusted except Martin…and their friendship wasn’t holding up too terribly well right now, either.
That was unfair. He was a busy man, and yet he made time for her every day, he brought her countless gifts, trying to cheer her up.
But she wanted someone who couldn’t wait to be with her. Someone whose day she made brighter, someone she could love as much as she wanted to with this heart of hers that was starving to death. Someone whose motives she could trust completely, who saw her as she was, the East Tennessee girl, not the Hollywood star.
As the hammock she was trying to relax in slowed, a cold nose attached to a big furry head plopped over the side and stilled her. Annabelle smiled. “Hi, Skeeter.” The Irish setter’s tail thumped the ground, and his tongue swiped her arm.
“Skeeter! Oh, Annabelle, I’m so sorry. Someone let him out of the house.” Vanessa rushed to retrieve her dog. “I’m very sorry he woke you.”
Annabelle stroked his head and smiled into the soft brown eyes, then looked up at Skeeter’s mistress. “I wasn’t asleep, and anyway I’ve slept for a year already. Besides, I grew up with big dogs, and I’d have one if I didn’t travel so much. Nothing better than a big old sloppy dog kiss, isn’t that right, baby?” she crooned. “Much better than a yappy little thing.”
Skeeter’s tail wagged his agreement.
“He’s supposed to be in his run when guests are on the grounds.”
“Well, since you’ve been kind enough to make me your only guest, I think he should get a reprieve.”
“Not so kind. You’re paying a premium for the privilege.” Vanessa was relentlessly honest, cautious to her core and ruthless in her expectations of herself and her staff.
“I should. You sacrificed bookings to afford me the privacy of being the only guest.”
Vanessa waved off her concerns. “I’d do anything for Dane’s family. And once I met you, well, I’m happy if I can help someone I like so much.”
“They’re really nice, aren’t they? I’d only met Liam until last night.”
“They are. They treat me just like family.”
Annabelle heard the wistfulness in her voice and decided to pry a little further. “From what I heard last night, Dane would like to make that legal.”
In a rare display of distress, Vanessa was practically wringing her hands. “I know, but…” Abruptly she faced Annabelle. “I’ve been married before.”
“Oh.” Didn’t she know only too well how much the past could mark you? “I apologize. I—”
Vanessa pressed on as though Annabelle hadn’t spoken. “I…we had a child.” Her voice went very quiet. “My husband and baby, they…died.”
Now Annabelle really felt terrible. She rose and laid her hand on the taller woman’s arm. “I understand. I’m very sorry for your loss.”
She began to walk, and after a brief hesitation, Annabelle fell into step beside her. “I’m over it—at least, as much as you ever get over losing your family in an instant.” She faced Annabelle. “I was in hiding, and Dane made me come out. Taught me that I could love again…but I’m scared.” She flung her hands wide. “And I don’t know why I’m talking about this.”
“I won’t tell a soul, Vanessa, I swear. It stays between us.”
“You are such a nice person. It’s not just an image—you’re really America’s Sweetheart.”
“Please.” Annabelle shuddered. “Not here. I’m just me. That’s a gift you’ve given me, Vanessa, the space to just…be. To not have to keep up appearances or worry about what I say or how I look or—”
“You’re always beautiful. You’d be easy to hate if you weren’t so lovable.”
Annabelle rolled her eyes. “Yeah yeah blah blah…let’s get back to you.”
“Actually, I came to talk about you.”
“Me? Is this about this morning? Vanessa, please don’t worry about what happened. I’ll be fine.”
Vanessa twisted her fingers together, an unusual sign of tension in someone normally so serene. “I-I arranged something for you.”
Now it was Annabelle who tensed. “What?”
“You need to get out,” Vanessa said. “And I have a solution. Sean is coming to pick you up this afternoon.”
“Sean?” Annabelle echoed. “From last night?”
“He’s a good guy,” Vanessa said quickly, “And he’s embarrassed about nearly knocking you down. That’s very unlike him. He’s usually great company, a lot of fun. Women love him.”
“That’s not exactly a selling point for me, you know.” Annabelle smiled wryly. “I’ve had it up to here with pretty boys. My life is full of them in L.A..”
“But he’s not like that,” Vanessa responded. “And this isn’t…he’s not asking for this. I asked him. He’s got reservations, too.”
Annabelle’s eyebrows rose. “Really.”
“What I mean is that he would never impose like that. You know he’s a cop, right? So I thought that he could be good company but also watch over you and keep you safe. I mean, you could hire a bodyguard, but—”
Annabelle shook her head. “I’d rather not. I just wanted to be able to go out and play tourist without being followed.”
“Exactly,” Vanessa said. “Which is why I thought of Sean. He’s not like a real bodyguard and he’s really a lot of fun. Everyone in the family loves him.”
Annabelle’s instinct was to say no, but she recognized that Vanessa was simply trying in a different way to give her a chance to get out and enjoy herself.
“Never mind,” Vanessa said when Annabelle didn’t speak. “I’ll come with you. I can be fierce when I need to,” Vanessa said. “Dane won’t mind sparing me for a while.”
Dane definitely would mind, Annabelle would bet. He’d been gone for three weeks, she’d learned during her stay here. He’d barely been back forty-eight hours. Plus the two of them were so crazy in love with each other that Annabelle would be the biggest jerk to take Vanessa away now.
She shouldn’t hold it against Sean that he was gorgeous. He might be perfectly nice. Hadn’t she always been one to give others the benefit of the doubt? “No, I’m not taking you away from Dane,” she said. “But Sean is clear this isn’t a date, right?”
“Of course,” Vanessa said. “He’s only doing it as a favor to me.” Then her eyes widened. “Um, I mean…good grief, you’d never know I have a reputation for being cool under fire.”
Annabelle grinned. “I don’t know if I’ve ever had a pity date,” she said. “Much less a pity non-date.”
“I should probably stop right now, shouldn’t I?”
Vanessa looked so distressed and embarrassed that Annabelle couldn’t tease her anymore. “You did fine. Anyway, it’s not your fault that I’ve made a real hash of my life.”
The other woman’s eyebrows rose. “You’re famous and beautiful and you make millions.” Then her eyes warmed. “But I guess I do understand. I wasn’t around when Liam and Raina met, but I’ve heard the family stories. Even when he was on top of the world in everyone’s eyes, his life wasn’t nearly as perfect as it seemed.”
“I hear that,” Annabelle said. “I made one of my dreams happen, but I never understood back then that it wouldn’t be enough.” She reached out and clasped Vanessa’s hands. “You have a wonderful man who loves you. You stay here and play with him. I’ll go with Sean.”
“You’ll have fun with him, Annabelle. I promise.”
It would be nice to get out, and it was the least she could do for the woman standing in front of her with worried eyes. She’d always been an optimist, and she wanted to be that Annabelle again.
She squeezed Vanessa’s hands. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Vanessa
’s delight was reward enough to balance Annabelle’s misgivings. Fake it ’til you make it, right, Mom?
Chapter Five
Good work, Doc had said when Sean called him to report in. Don’t screw it up.
There was a lot at stake here, not the least of which was that no one could be sure that Annabelle Quinn was not in on all this. Maybe not likely, but his years in law enforcement had taught Sean that motivations were not always obvious, that the most innocent-looking parties could still be guilty as hell.
Why a woman on top of the world as Annabelle was would be involved in crime, especially one that hurt women and children more than anyone, he couldn’t imagine. But just how close she and Martin Lowe were was something he’d be paying attention to. Even if she wasn’t involved in this horrifying scheme, she could know something. He took nothing for granted at this point.
Beyond all that, he wasn’t a trained bodyguard. Yes, he had formidable self-defense skills, and he kept them honed. He didn’t just run daily, he lifted weights and he’d studied various forms of self-defense. With luck, none of that would be needed. As far as he was aware, she had no stalkers, no crazed fans lurking in bushes. Doc had tagged an old FBI buddy stationed in L.A. to check that out. Annabelle Quinn was much loved, but her reputation for sweetness shielded her from the worst of the crazies.
He pulled into Vanessa’s and used the code Vanessa had given him when they’d spoken earlier. After the gate opened, he drove inside, still debating over the options for entertaining one of the world’s most famous women.
Could he actually be nervous? He didn’t remember the last time he’d been nervous on a date—not that this was a date, but he really didn’t know what the devil to call it.
He emerged from his truck, dressed in his usual attire of jeans, a T-shirt and boots, with a ball cap on his head from his beloved Texas Longhorns. Austin was a casual place, and Ms. Bigshot Star would just have to deal with it if she was expecting some guy in a silk shirt.
He started for the front door of the hotel, thinking he’d seek out Vanessa first, but just before he made it to the steps, he heard Skeeter bark, followed by feminine laughter. He backed up several steps and peered across the grounds, seeing the woman he was here to pick up kneeling and rubbing Skeeter enthusiastically.
She looked about seventeen, her hair caught up in a ponytail, curls escaping all around her face. She, too, had on jeans, though he imagined hers probably cost much, much more than his. Whatever the cost, though, they were worth it. America’s Sweetheart had one very fine derriere and impressively long legs for someone barely medium height. She looked amazing.
Whoa boy. She’s a case, not a woman. Certainly not a woman you’ll ever find in your bed. Still, he changed course and crossed the grounds with long strides. Skeeter saw him first, barking a greeting, then racing his way.
When he reached Sean, he leapt to his hind legs and planted his forelegs on Sean’s chest.
“Still not doing so hot at the obedience lessons, huh, boy?” Sean grinned and scratched behind Skeeter’s ears, then darted sideways, exciting the dog. They began to roughhouse.
Annabelle approached. “He’s a great dog.”
He was staring, he knew it, but couldn’t seem to do anything about it.
The woman was just too beautiful to believe.
Her head tilted curiously, then disappointment crossed her expression and she looked away.
“I’m not thinking about how beautiful you are. I’m picturing you with a big wart on your nose.”
Her head whipped back. “What did you say?”
“You don’t like hearing that you’re beautiful. Picturing you with a big wart will keep me from being just one more person saying that.”
A sideways glance. “You’re not into warts?” There was a tiny curve to her lips.
“Well, now don’t get me wrong, with the right woman a wart could be just fine.”
This smile was genuine.
“I’m much more evolved than that. I couldn’t care less what a woman looks like. I’m blind to all but inner beauty.”
At that she laughed. “I think I’ll try that wart image myself. I suspect you already have enough women falling all over you.”
He grimaced. “Please, not you, too.”
“But here’s the thing: handsome men are a dime a dozen where I live. I’m immune.”
He stared at her. “That’s good…I think.” His forehead wrinkled.
“I’m just saying…”
“Consider me forewarned.” He saluted her, then cleared his throat elaborately. Well, now, this was…different. “So what’s your pleasure ma’am? Where would you like to go?”
“Surprise me,” she said.
He considered her for a moment. “So are you a risk-taker?
“I left for Hollywood the day after my high school graduation against my family’s wishes and with the sum total of three hundred dollars in my pocket, which I proceeded to lose the first week.”
“That only says you’re not too bright.”
She laughed instead of taking offense, and that impressed him.
“So how about now? You still adventurous, Ms. Quinn?”
Her smile dimmed. “I’m trying to be. It’s harder to do these days. Too many eyes watching. Too many people hoping I’ll screw up. I brought it on myself, though. If I hadn’t been ambitious, none of this would’ve happened.”
“So where would you be now, if you hadn’t been ambitious?”
She got this faraway look on her face. “Maybe back in Tennessee, maybe married to one of the boys I grew up with, a house full of kids…”
He considered and rejected any number of responses. There was an element of wistfulness about her, but would she really trade being queen of the universe, arguably the most famous woman in America, for a life that mundane?
Before he could decide, she straightened and tossed her head, sending that ponytail swinging. “So, what’s the plan, Mr. Bodyguard?”
He winced. “Sure you don’t want to just hire a real bodyguard?” Immediately he cursed silently. Why had he even asked her? Ten minutes in, and he was letting emotion and a beautiful face make him forget why he was here.
“Vanessa said I’d be safe with you. Was she wrong? Aren’t you a cop? Protect and serve, and all that?”
Here’s where it got dicey. He couldn’t hide his profession, but he had to walk a fine line. He’d already decided to give himself a different career path. “I teach at the Academy.” It wasn’t a total lie; he did teach a class now and again on undercover tactics. And the amount of time he spent undercover meant he was adept at lying, anyway.
But somehow he didn’t like lying to her.
No other choice, son. Doc’s voice rang in his head. No one knew who she was to Martin Lowe or how much she was aware of Lowe’s illegal activities. He had to keep his eye on the prize.
She scanned his body. “You’re pretty fit for a teacher,” she said.
He couldn’t help reacting. Down boy. It was hard to ignore the impact of a beautiful woman letting her eyes walk a lazy trail over your flesh.
“I like to run,” he said.
Her expression brightened. “Me, too. Every day?”
He nodded. “Five miles, rain or shine.”
She sighed. “I miss it. It’s probably part of why I’m going stir-crazy. I haven’t left this place in two and a half weeks—until this morning, that is.”
“Well then, there’s your answer. You got your shoes here?”
She glanced down at his boots. “Yes, but you don’t.”
He grinned. “Au contraire, darlin’. I keep my gym bag in my truck. You game?”
Caution crept in. “But where?”
“Oh, honey. Austin is full of places to go run. You get changed while I grab my bag and go say hi to Vanessa. How far do you normally run?”
“Three miles,” she said. “But only three times a week.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll go easy on you.”
“Tennessee girl, huh?”
She glanced back. “Yeah.”
“So you probably think pork is real barbecue.”
“It’s the only barbecue,” she responded.
He walked backwards, still talking. “So you’re not completely ruined by the land of fruits and nuts? I don’t have to produce macrobiotic organic vegan food for you? I mean, I can, you know. Austin’s nearly as weird as California.”
Her smile spread. “Barbecue will be just fine, even if it’s only beef.”
“Oh, sugar, you are so going to eat your words.” He turned and headed for his truck, smiling as he heard her laugh behind him.
Annabelle raced through changing clothes. While the respite from her demanding trainer had been pretty nice up until now, she was antsy to stretch herself, to push hard, to feel the heat of well-used muscles.
So he was a runner, was he? He must lift weights, too. You didn’t get those broad shoulders and ripped arms from simply running.
He was friendly, but he was clever, too. He was still too charming by half, but he didn’t kowtow to her, and that was worth a lot.
Anyway, she wasn’t obligated to anything. She would gamble today and go on this outing. At worst, she’d get some badly needed exercise and the chance to be outside. She hoped very much he’d take her someplace where she didn’t have to be so guarded, where it could be just her and the outdoors, the sun, the breeze, the rhythm of the run.
She’d hurried so she could beat him outside, but instead he was throwing a ball for Skeeter, while visiting with Vanessa and Dane. There was an ease among them that she envied. Her exposure to the Sullivan family the other night had reminded her so much of what it was like to go home. Or, actually, what it used to be like before she became famous. Now she brought trouble along with her everywhere she went.
But when she was with her family, it was so wonderful to just relax and be herself. She’d watched Liam doing the same thing the other night, being teased by his brothers and giving as good as he got. Playing with his children, dragging his wife onto his lap and kissing the socks off her. He made everything seem so normal when she knew very well how difficult achieving that state was.
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