He turns to leave, but before he does, something occurs to me.
“Who’s your guy on the job?”
Bronn turns back to me, and there’s a flicker of a smile across his face before he arranges his features to neutral.
“Kieren will be on the job with you.”
Kieren. Of course it’s Kieren.
Bronn leaves the door swinging shut after him, and I wonder if he knows about our history. Is this some setup? Are Kieren’s buddies trying to force us together?
I decide I don’t care. I need the money for Layla, and if that means spending a day with Kieren, then that’s what I’ll have to do.
7
KIEREN
Light raindrops fall as I escort the client into the brown brick building where her meeting is taking place. On the other side of the woman is Jodie, her head bent inwards as the politician talks to her.
The white shirt of Jodie’s security uniform shows her heavy breasts to perfection, the fabric sticking to her skin where the drops of rain land.
I try not to stare at her, but it’s hard when she looks so damn good dressed up in a uniform. Whatever inspired Bronn to get her on the job, I’ll never know, but I’m grateful. It makes me wonder if he knows about us, if Seth has told him anything. I decide I don’t care. I get to spend the day with Jodie and that’s all that matters.
One day to convince her that I’m the man she needs me to be.
The politician reaches the front door, and her aide opens it for her. It’s a private residence, and we’re not invited inside. Whatever threat we’re protecting her from, real or perceived, hasn’t materialized in the short drive from the airport to her meeting.
The woman talks quietly to Jodie, and I can’t hear what they’re saying, but Jodie responds with a flurry of hand activity and a furrowed brow. The aide holds an umbrella over the both of them while I stand by stoically in the rain and wonder what the hell they’re talking about.
“Thank you for your insight,” the politician says to Jodie, giving her arm a squeeze before disappearing into the house.
I look at Jodie with a raised eyebrow, but she only smiles mysteriously at me.
With the politician safely inside, we retreat to the waiting car. The rain falls heavier, and I jog ahead to open the car door for Jodie.
Once she’s inside, I scoot around to the other side of the car and slide into the back seat next to her. It’s a stretched limo that smells of expensive leather and good coffee, and we’ve got it to ourselves for the rest of the morning.
“So, what were you two chatting about?”
Jodie gives me a secretive smile. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Yes, I would. It might be important for security.”
Jodie snort laughs, and I’m reminded of the carefree girl I met eighteen months ago.
“She was asking me how I felt about recent policy changes, wanted a laypersons point of view, I guess.”
“She didn’t ask me.” I turn away, mock offended.
“No. I get the feeling she wanted a woman’s opinion.”
“And did you give her your opinion?”
“I certainly did.”
I think about the heated look on Jodie’s face and smile.
“I’m sure you did.” I love the fact that Jodie’s opinionated. It’s what kept us up talking through the night on that first weekend together.