Top Dog

I stood up from the chair to offer a hand to him. “Abigail Carter. Call me Abi for short if you want.”

“Harley Jordan,” he said, but didn’t take hold of my hand. He nodded at me instead and returned his attention to my Dad pretty quickly. “Logan mentioned you had some documents for me, Sir?”

I rolled my eyes when my Dad smiled, obviously pleased with being addressed so politely. The few bodyguards he had hired were rather brash, or impolite by his standards. Not that I wasn’t interested in Harley. My stomach did that little flutter when I caught him looking at me before flicking his gaze over to my Dad. He smelled like something fresh mixed with an outdoorsy musk. Manly. Delicious. Ridiculously good.

“Yes. These are your plane tickets.” My Dad thumbed through a pile of papers on his desk. “Oh, Julia forgot to give me the information on the hotel. Stay right here, Abi. Don’t go running off until I’m done talking to you.”

I waited until my Dad left his office before I turned to look at Harley. He stood rigidly in front of my Dad’s desk, hands clasped behind his back. It took hi

m a minute, but he finally turned to face me. He watched me for a second before arching his eyebrow. “Yes?”

“Look, I realize that my Dad is hiring you to follow Libby and me around,” I started, giving him a pointed look, “but, I’d appreciate it if you try to make yourself invisible as much as possible.”

“Whatever your Dad says, I will do,” Harley said, firmly.

“Right, but I’m also in charge over there,” I said. “This is my spring break and my last chance to do something fun before I commit myself to working at this firm. Understand?”

Harley chuckled, a deep type of chuckle of amusement.

“I don’t want to spend my time supervising you. Believe me,” he said, “but, this is what I’m being paid to do. So unfortunately for you, that’s all I’m going to do.”

I knew what he was thinking. Spoiled rich brat. I could see it in his eyes, but there was something else there too. Maybe? I didn’t get a chance to decipher it.

He turned away to focus on the windows that overlooked Manhattan, his shoulders stiff and back straight as a board. Ex-military. Had to be.

Gathering that our conversation was over, I gathered my things from where I had set them on the chair.

“Your Dad told you to stay,” Harley said as he glanced back over at me.

I slipped the strap of my purse over my shoulder. I gave Harley a withering glare, but he didn’t bat an eyelash. His face remained an indifferent mask.

“You’re not in charge,” I said, coldly. “I’d appreciate it if you don’t tell me what to do. It won’t go over well.”

I opened the office door, but it was Harley’s voice that stopped me dead in my tracks.

“I’m not in charge yet,” he said, “but once we are over there, you’ll have to listen to me whether you like it or not, sweetheart.”

Anger skittered through me at the cockiness. I debated on arguing with him, but it was pointless. My Dad had most likely already handed over a hefty check, so it gave everyone a false sense of authority. Except, there was something different about the way Harley said it.

I shut the office door instead of replying. Striding through the office toward the elevator doors, I tried to regain my composure, to find my sense of control again, but it was useless.

It was going to be one hell of a month with Harley Jordan shadowing me. That much I could tell, and I had no idea if it was going to be a good thing or not.

CHAPTER FOUR - HARLEY

The morning sun felt warm on my exposed skin as I stepped out of the airport to hail one of the many cabs lingering about in front of the terminals. While a cab eagerly pulled up to the curb, I kept one eye trained on Abigail and Libby who were following behind me in the middle of an excited conversation.

“I can’t believe we’re actually here!” Libby said. “It’s so wonderful already. Can you believe how warm it feels?”

Abigail laughed. “It was warm in Manhattan too, Libs.”

“Well, I know, but you know what I mean.” She looped an arm through Abigail’s. “Better stick with me. I’ll protect you from the scary men your Dad is afraid will kidnap you.”

I didn’t bother replying. Libby from my experience was the outspoken one who clearly dictated Abigail’s social life. She made a point of ignoring me out of irritation, but I didn’t give two shits if Libby or Abigail enjoyed my presence. Some part of me hoped that they didn’t enjoy it at all. I had a $500,000 check waiting for me either way. The less attention they paid to me, the better.

“Hola, senior,” the cab driver called out. “Do you need a ride?”

“To this address here,” I said in fluent Spanish.