ONE
Rule
“Shouldn’t you be leaving?”
I frown and look up into the smiling face of my best friend, Wesley King.
“What?”
“You’re late.”
“For what?” I ask, looking around my new office.
I just got back to the states and I’ve been hard at work setting up my new bodyguard and protection company. Ten years in the military has provided me with the skills to keep someone safe and to anticipate attacks, but not so much to handle the paperwork that comes with starting your own business.
“Hey,” Gavin says as he walks into my office.
He’s eating a banana, so I know that he stopped by my kitchen before he wandered back here. He’s carrying some package in the other hand and he sets it down next to my desk before he drops down in the chair across from me.
“What’s up?” he asks Wesley.
“Rule is late.”
“For what?” Gavin and I ask at the same time.
“For the Diamond Kings meeting,” Wesley reminds me and I curse as I glance at the clock.
He’s right. If I don’t leave right now, I’m going to be late.
“Thanks,” I say as I stand and grab my leather jacket from the chair that I tossed it on. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“Oh, not much,” he says with a smile that I know means he’s got big news. “I just might have found you your very first client.”
“Really?” Gavin asks excitedly.
“Seriously?” I ask him at the same time and he nods.
“Yeah, it’s a friend of my sisters. They’ve been best friends since childhood but she’s been traveling. I guess she’s got some kind of stalker.”
“Do you have any more details?” I ask, switching into work mode.
“She’s a model, so the suspect pool is pretty big.”
“A model?” I ask with a frown and he nods.
I look over to see Gavin already scribbling down notes on a notepad. He’s my only other employee right now but I know that between the two of us, we can handle this. Gavin was in the military with Wesley and me and he’s a good dude. I know that he’ll have my back.
“Yeah. Her name’s Harvie James. She grew up here in Diamond with us, so she’s like a little sister to me. The only reason I suggested you is because you’re a good guy and I know that you’ll keep it in your pants since she’s a client.”
“I can keep my hands to myself,” I say with a frown and he grins.
“I know. I saw that it was one of your rules. Keep clients at arm’s length,” he quotes and I roll my eyes.
I’ve been getting teased for my rule-following for years. I think that it’s part of what made me a good soldier, but the guys in the military always used to give me shit about it. They can laugh all they want about it though. I know that it’s what kept me safe and alive while I was fighting overseas. It’s how I got the nickname Rule.
“Any other details or leads?” I ask, switching back to my new potential client.
“No, but you can ask her yourself. She’s going to be stopping by tomorrow.”