“You’re going to suggest we leave Hazel with the three of them? That poor girl has been tending to Mason for a month.”
“Longer,” I said.
“What?”
“It’s been longer than a month. Six weeks that she’s played nurse to his injuries.” Mason hadn’t been one to divulge any dirty details about what did or didn’t happen between the two of them.
“Playing nurse?” Ariella let her hands slide down my back, holding me close as we danced intimately. “This is the first I’m hearing about it.”
“Would she tell you?”
“Probably not,” Ariella said, a bright smile on her face. She squinted up at me. “We should probably head back to the table. You should offer to dance with Hazel.”
“Why?” It was Hazel’s idea that I dance with Ariella, not that I hadn’t thought about it, but I wasn’t sure it was a good idea.
She untangled from around me, and the room felt several degrees chillier.
Ariella sauntered back to the booth and scooted back in to sit.
I sat down beside Mason and reached for the beer on the table that hadn’t been touched.
Hazel cleared her throat, a huge grin plastered to her face. “You’re not going to ask me to dance? I could use some of that bump and grind action.”
I nearly spit my beer out of my mouth, coughing at her words.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I dug in and reached for it to answer. Anything to get out of that conversation with Hazel. Next, she’d probably ask me if Ariella and I were sleeping together.
“Eagle Tactical?” I answered the caller and stood, taking the phone with me as I headed outside, where it was quiet, and I could hear what was being said.
“Hi, yes. I’d like to inquire about your security services. We are looking to contract out security for our on-location production shoot in your area, beginning tomorrow.”
“You do realize we’re in Breckenridge, Montana.” I hadn’t heard about any film production taking place in our town.
News like that would have traveled fast.
“Yes, our studio manager was supposed to contact you, but it appears he neglected to do so. I apologize for the late notice, but we need a full team of security to staff us during filming, and our insurance policy requires that our feature star have a bodyguard.”
I exhaled a heavy sigh. “How many security personnel do you require onsite during filming?” I asked.
“A team of four or five should be adequate in addition to someone who will babysit Harper Madison. I’ll text you over her picture along with the location for production, which begins tomorrow morning. I should warn you. Miss Madison does not, how do I put this kindly, appreciate the length that the studio goes to ensure her safety. It is required that she is not aware of your services.”
“That isn’t how we work,” I said.
We couldn’t protect her if she didn’t want us around.
“I’m not asking, Sir. The contract will stipulate that Miss Madison is not to be made aware of her protective detail by any party within or employed by your company.”
“And if I say no?”
“That isn’t an option.”