The Real Baxter (The Baxter Chronicles 1)

I couldn’t read him, and it frustrated the hell out of me. I wanted more than I was entitled to for all the wrong reasons. Sex reasons.

Okay. Fine. And other schmoopy reasons I would never in a million years say out loud. Like…I’d wished we’d said a proper good-bye.

True. I would have given my left nut for another hour or two with Seb. Just to be with him, eating his surprisingly good avocado toast and shooting the shit over a cup of joe. I’d held the real Seb Rourke in my arms and talked to him all night and into the next morning. It was over far too soon and too abruptly.

But I wasn’t here to play the sentimental lover role. I was here ’cause I was angry that what had happened between us had turned into a sideshow with a ridiculous contract. Actually, I was irate.

And just like that, my focus was back.

“Why is your son suddenly in my dish?”

Seb frowned. “Charlie?”

“Yeah, Charlie. He showed up at my place of employment to ask my intentions. And you know, for half a second, I thought that was kinda sweet. But before I could assure him what we did was a one-night-only boinkfest—”

“Boinkfest?” Seb’s lips curled in amusement.

I ignored the interruption and continued. “Charlie came up with some wacko idea to shut me up and sideline my acting career. Did he tell you any of this?”

“He did. It’s not a bad idea.”

“Really?” I swiped my hand through my hair and let out a beleaguered sigh. “He wants to buy me off.”

“It’s not ‘buying you off’ if you work for him.”

I scoffed. “Somehow I knew you’d say that.”

“Then why did you come by?”

“I don’t know. I guess I wanted to hear it from you. Although now I gotta wonder why you let me wait here for you like a chump.”

Seb arched a brow. “I didn’t ask you to come to the studio. I’m glad you did and I’m glad you waited, but that’s on you.”

I glowered at him for a beat. “You’re right. Now that I’m here, I’d like to tell you in person that I think your son is a nut.”

“No, he’s a genius.” Seb smiled, his eyes twinkling with mischief and a good dose of paternal pride. “I taught him well.”

“Hmph. So how is my career suicide a good idea?”

“Career suicide? That’s a bit dramatic,” he huffed.

I paused mid-pace to skewer him with a WTF look. “Easy for you to say. This is my life we’re talking about.”

“Trent…”

“Did you know that Charlie sent me a contract this morning?”

“No, but—”

“A goddamn huge contract! I didn’t give him my number, tell him my last name, or where I worked. Yet suddenly this guy I met twenty-four hours ago and talked to for less than five minutes, has enough info on me to show up before my shift and cordially invite me to join his staff to be a bodyguard in name only.” I shook my head ruefully. “I feel like I’ve accidentally stumbled into the middle of a heist, and I can’t tell who the bad guys are ’cause everyone’s smiling like this is all so fucking normal. And this is not normal.”

“Perhaps not normal, but it doesn’t sound so terrible,” he replied, seemingly unperturbed by my outburst.

“But why is it necessary at all?”

“Well…” Seb hedged, tapping his chin thoughtfully. “What exactly did Charlie tell you?”

“Somethin’ about his other dad and the rock star and how any press around all of you had to stay clean and clear during your movie release and their engagement.”

“Hmm.”

“But I don’t see how having a couple of drinks with me is interesting to anyone. The sexy parts…okay, sure. That was hot, but no one besides your kids knows anything about that.” I stopped pacing and winced. “And now that I’ve said that out loud, I’m kinda hoping your younger son believed the bodyguard story.”

“He’ll believe it if you let Charlie hire you.”

“So you’re nuts too,” I huffed irritably. “Good to know.”

Seb chuckled. “Everyone is a little crazy.”

I frowned at his flippant response. “What’s in it for you?”

“Nothing.”

“I find that hard to believe.” I narrowed my eyes when he didn’t respond. “What’s the point? Please tell me, ’cause as much as I hate to admit this, the money is a little too good for me to laugh this off. And trust me, I want to.”

Seb furrowed his brow and glanced toward the window, seemingly lost in thought. When he met my gaze again, I saw a flash of the sorrow and pain I’d noticed the other night.

“Charlie’s suggestion isn’t for you or me. It’s business. He wants to protect his client. Gray’s fiancé is—”

“Famous. You told me. Yeah, yeah, I know. Good for him.” I threw my hands in the air in frustration. “So, I’m supposed to put my career on hold for a coupla guys I’ve never met?”