The Mogul And The Muscle

Not that I blamed him.

We spent the rest of brunch chatting. Our wins and losses. Plans, ideas, and the exciting things we had coming. The food was wonderful, the drinks were great, and the company was the best part.

I was feeling a bit tipsy when we finally got up to leave. Jude led me toward the front with his large hand on the small of my back. Maybe it was the drinks, or maybe I was just that happy, but I couldn’t seem to stop smiling.

“Um, excuse me,” a woman said behind us.

Jude and I turned, and my breath caught. It was one of the romance novelists. I’d seen them sitting in the booth next to us, but they’d been quiet today, all four of them wearing headphones and typing furiously. She had long brown hair and her teal blue shirt said I turn coffee into love stories.

“Hi,” she said. “Sorry, I know this is so weird, but let’s be honest, I have kind of a weird job, so why not, right?”

Jude and I shared a glance. I was too giddy to reply. I’d never spoken to one of the romance novelists before.

She had to look up at Jude, who was well over a foot taller than her. “I was just wondering if you’ve ever done any modeling, or thought about doing any modeling, or would maybe consider doing some modeling. Specifically for a book cover. A romance novel. You’re absolutely exquisite and you look exactly like a romance hero and I can already picture the cover and it would be stunning. And I mean no disrespect.” She glanced at me and held up her left hand, flashing her wedding ring. “I’m not hitting on him. I’m super married. High school sweethearts. I know, we’re so cheesy.”

I tucked my arm in Jude’s. “Actually, he’s my bodyguard.”

Her eyelashes fluttered, her lips parted, and she made a little noise that sounded like a cross between a soft laugh and a moan. “Bodyguard. Oh my god. I just had the most amazing idea. Holy inspiration.” She dug in the pocket of her cropped jeans and shoved a business card at Jude. “That’s my card. If you’re interested, email me. I have to go. All the ideas. Must type before I forget.”

Jude looked at her card while I watched her go back to their booth, feeling a little awed.

“Book cover model,” Jude said. “I don’t know, might be fun.”

“Oh my god, Jude, is she going to write a bodyguard romance?” I breathed. “I love that idea.”

He held her card out to me. “Maybe you should email her. Tell her what happened to you. It might give her more inspiration.”

I took the card and glanced back at her table. Maybe I’d do just that.

37

JUDE

I stood in the doorway of the spacious master bathroom while Cameron slipped off her heels. Casually crossing my arms, I leaned against the frame, admiring her. Long legs. Narrow waist. The curve of her ass. She unpinned her coppery red hair and shook it out.

“Sense a security threat?” she asked, glancing at me over her shoulder.

“There’s definitely a threat. A persistent one.”

“Sounds serious. If only I had a big, strong bodyguard to protect me.”

I wasn’t exactly Cameron’s bodyguard anymore. Not always, at least. I’d put a security team in place so she had protection when it was required. She no longer needed someone shadowing her every move, especially at Spencer headquarters. But she’d agreed that she needed a more robust personal security strategy now.

Often, it was still me.

I coordinated with both the Spencer Aeronautics security team and the guys in Bluewater. Hired a couple of guys I trusted to be on hand for when we needed a little extra muscle. I was confident she was in good hands, whether she was kicking ass in the boardroom, catching up with her R&D team at Spencer’s airfield and test facilities, or attending a black-tie gala at a hotel downtown.

As for Jude Ellis, one-man security operation and professional problem solver, he was finally retired. But I’d reached out to an old contact from my days in the CIA. Turned out, he was having a bit of trouble adjusting to life as a civilian. I knew what that was like. He decided a move to Miami and all the referral business he could handle was the perfect solution.

What could I say? I was a problem solver.