The Bodyguard Affair

“And you did like it?”

“I did. Knowing that I could wear it however I wanted, and nobody was around to comment on it or turn it into an extension of themselves? It was freeing. I’ve only had the split ends trimmed since I started growing it back out. I kind of like how the bun feels. Nice little pressure pulling at my head.”

Bianca smiled. “Are you saying you want your hair pulled next time we have sex?”

“Absolutely not.”

Bianca lay on her stomach, chin cupped in her hands and feet kicking out from beneath the covers. If she weren’t naked, she would look like a schoolgirl listening to her favorite music and daydreaming about the next day of her life.

“I like your long hair,” Bianca said. “Can I play with it? With your permission, of course. I won’t turn into your mother, I swear.”

How could Sam say no to that sweet face? “Fine. Just don’t start putting flowers in it.”

Bianca motioned for Sam to roll away from her. Although Sam knew what to expect, she was still surprised by the tugging at her head. Ow. From the feel of it, Bianca was parting her hair into thirds.

I haven’t had my hair braided in years. Sam pushed down the slight panic it gave her. Bianca had promised to not be Sam’s mother, after all. A simple braid wouldn’t hurt. Hopefully.

“I’m glad I met you,” Bianca said. “You’re one of the most incredible people I’ve ever met. And one of the kindest.”

Sam turned her head slightly in Bianca’s direction. “What do you mean by that?” Kind was not a word anyone used to describe her.

“Even when I get on your nerves, you don’t treat me like a child. Not when it matters, anyway. And you’re not just interested in me for my money, or my connections, or because of some favor I might do for you.” Bianca began braiding carefully. “You’re interested in me for me. Everyone else sees me as something I’m not. My friends. My parents. Even my sisters.”

“You can be a handful,” Sam said, “but you’re a grown adult. You should be able to be your own person and choose how to live your life.”

“And that’s what I like about you. You’re assertive. Firm. Protective. Even when I think you’re being overprotective, I know you have my best interests at heart. Unlike when everyone else treats me that way, you make me feel safe. You fill in the gaps that I can’t accomplish, instead of telling me what I can and can’t do.” Bianca’s fingers stilled for a moment. “But maybe you should teach me some self-defense techniques. You know, just in case.”

“I’d be glad to. I think it’s a great idea. Every woman should know how to protect herself in dangerous situations.”

“Ooh, can you give me a taser of my own?”

Sam shook her head. “Not happening. You need training to be able to use a taser properly, and a lot of it. But I can get you some pepper spray. The good stuff. And I’ll teach you how and when to use it, too. Use it wrong and all you’ll end up doing is pissing your attacker off.”

“I guess that’s okay…” Bianca tugged on the now complete braid that wound itself down Sam’s back before reaching over to the nightstand for a hair tie. “You know, even though you’re perfectly my type, I never saw myself falling for someone like you.”

“Really? I’m your type?” In Sam’s experience, rich heiress types weren’t interested in anyone who hadn’t come into the world with a seven-figure trust fund in their name.

“Sure. You’re tough, but feminine. You’re confident, but vulnerable. And, most importantly, you put me in my place when I’m being a brat.”

“Can’t argue with that part.”

“I’m glad we met each other,” Bianca repeated, fastening the hair tie around the end of Sam’s braid. “I’m even more glad that you’re here to look out for me through all this shit my family is dealing with. And everything with my mom tonight.”

Bianca’s hand snaked over Sam’s shoulder. She took it, thumb dipping between Bianca’s fingers.

“You can count on me,” Sam said. “To protect you. To be there for you. And… I’m glad you convinced me to take this job.”

“Convinced you?”

Sam laughed. “I mean, I know you didn’t faint and end up in the hospital on purpose, but I couldn’t say no after seeing how much you needed someone in your corner.”

Instead of laughing along with Sam, Bianca spooned her from behind. “What made you stop doing solo jobs? You made it sound like it was something you used to do but stopped.”

A pang of anxiety threatened to snuff out the warm feelings in Sam’s heart. “I haven’t done any real field work since starting my own company. In fact, one of the reasons I did that after so little experience is because I didn’t want to keep working at my old job. I guess you could say one of my jobs went badly.”

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but…”

A sigh rattled Sam’s body. No matter how much Bianca showed her affection, the images playing before Sam’s eyes reminded her that she was still beholden to her past mistakes.