The Bodyguard Affair

“Uh-huh. They sound great already.”

Bianca sighed. “You know, don’t you? That they’re a ‘she’?”

“Of course. I figured with you, it could go either way. And I’ve never seen you with a boyfriend that lasted more than a month.”

“More like two weeks,” Bianca murmured.

Parker sat back again. “Go on. What’s wrong with this amazing woman you’ve been fooling around with?”

“Well, she’s acknowledged that she’s very into me. But she doesn’t want to act on it or take it to the next level. And I like her a lot. I mean, I haven’t thought about anyone as much as I think about her. She’s…” Bianca swallowed. “Different. Special.”

Parker said nothing, but continued to listen intently.

“How do I get her to stop pretending there’s nothing between us? It seems silly for us to not be together if we’re both into it. She doesn’t have anyone else as far as I know.”

“This sounds familiar.” Parker glanced toward the hallway her girlfriend had disappeared down earlier. “That’s exactly how it was with Julia. She refused to acknowledge the mutual attraction between us. It was quite the pain in the ass seducing her, let me tell you.”

Bianca grinned at the thought. If only you knew what a pain in the ass it was finally getting Sam to make a move.

“Boundaries are important,” Parker continued. “Prove that you can respect them, demonstrate patience, and your sweet lady will come around soon enough. I’m sure of it.”

“Is that what you did with Julia? Respect her boundaries, I mean?”

Parker chuckled. “Absolutely not. Looking back, I’m lucky she didn’t sue me for sexual harassment.”

Bianca tossed the pillow at her sister, who managed to duck right before it smacked her in the head. “Thanks, Parker. A fount of wisdom, as usual.”

With the pillow now in Parker’s lap, Bianca crawled across the couch and flopped into her sister’s hold. They had never been an affectionate family, but Bianca could count on Parker to provide a comforting lap more often than not.

“Don’t worry so much about this woman of yours,” Parker said, hand on Bianca’s back. “She’s probably deciding whether it’s worth the risk of getting involved with a family as messy as ours.”

You have no idea. “She assesses risk all day long,” Bianca muttered.

Parker was quiet for a moment. “I’m sure she’s just considering whether it’s a good move or not. She’s in a difficult position.”

Bianca lifted her head and stared up at her sister, Sam’s name hovering between them. “I swear you can read minds sometimes.”

“What can I say? Being the forgotten middle child in a family as insane as ours has given me a knack for uncovering things people try to hide. God knows this family has more than our fair share of secrets.”

Like whatever their mother was hiding from Bianca when it came to this security threat?

“Don’t worry,” her sister said. “Your woman will come around.”

“I hope so. Thanks, Parker.”

Respect Sam’s boundaries. Give her time.Bianca would trust her older sister’s judgment. It wasn’t like she had a choice.

In the meantime, she had other problems to deal with. And another sister to talk to.