HER BODYGUARD

“Man on the stairs, Asher. Watch your back”

Asher swore under his breath. There was an extra man on duty tonight. Wasn’t that always the way?

He left the door, pivoted and pressed his body into the shadows. Someone walked into view, his gun drawn.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“Hey, Mildred, are you alright? There’s been some trouble. Chase is missing”

“What?”

When things went to hell, they did so at light speed. Kimberly’s female guard aka Mildred, stumbled from her seat. Asher heard the sound just as he zapped the guard. Unfortunately she tried the door and found it unlocked. There was the sound of a pistol being cocked.

Asher dropped the guard onto the landing and waited for Mildred to come out, hoping she was just stupid enough not to follow orders. That rather than staying with her prisoner, she would venture onto the landing.

Sure enough, the door cracked open. He got her in the arm before she cleared the threshold. Which left Kimberly Blake all alone.

Asher dragged a now unconscious Mildred out of the way and headed into the suite. He hoped he didn’t have to go looking for the rich princess. He also hoped she wasn’t a screamer. He hated screamers…. Well, not in bed.

But Kimberly hadn’t hidden. She still stood by the railing, watching him approach.

“I’m one of the good guys,” Asher said to her. “Let’s move”

Her long brown hair hid most of her face, but he thought he saw her smile. Coolly though. Not with relief. She wasn’t going to throw herself at him with gratitude, but at least she didn’t seem to be a screamer.

“I have always thought my rescuer would have a better line than that.” She said, “‘Maybe hold on to me and don’t let go’ or ‘Come with me if you want to live'”

Asher couldn’t help an answering grin. “Yeah, I’m a terminator fan too, but I would rather talk on the helicopter. Unless you would like to stay here?”

She didn’t answer. Instead she walked towards him.

“Shoes,” he said. “Don’t sweat which ones

We are not going to a fashion show”

Kimberly wondered why he would think she would be bothered about what shoes to wear. Especially at a time like this. But she stuffed her feet into loafers and hurried toward the door. He followed her. Once they reached the landing, he took the lead. After grabbing her hand in his, he hustled them down the stairs.

There was no point in telling the team that he had her. Everyone would have heard their conversation.

“You are clear,” James said quietly. “Chopper will be here in soon”

They headed out of the rear of the house. Asher pulled off the night vision goggles as they went. The rumble of a helicopter started in the distance while he and Kimberly hovered by the end of the patio.

“How did you find me?” Kimberly asked him.

He glanced at her like had just asked a stupid question. “That’s my job,” he said simply.

Kimberly nodded. “Ah,” she said. “The strong silent type. That must have impressed my father.”

He didn’t say anything.

“You are here because my father sent you right?” she asked. “This isn’t another kidnap right?” she noticed the way he was staring at her and she added angrily. “Oh don’t look at me like that. You could simply answer my question instead of looking at me like I’m crazy”

Nice move Kim. She thought. Really nice move. Getting mad at someone who came to rescue you. But she couldn’t help it. The man’s silence was damn annoying. Why couldn’t he just say ‘Yes your Dad sent me’. Being locked up with strangers for almost two weeks had made her so damn suspicious… Of everyone and everything. He shouldn’t blame her.

Asher looked at her for the first time. Really looked at her. Kimberly Blake was no longer a glossy photo, but a real breathing woman. Her long brown hair began to fly around her face as the helicopter started to descend. She tried to hold it at the back of her neck. One of the lights from the copter caught her full in the face.

Not much shocked Asher Adams -not anymore. But he was unprepared for the intense attraction that stabbed through him that very moment. His reaction was a filthy curse at those pictures he had seen for the shoddy portrayal of the woman who would turn heads wherever she went. Because the real life version was so much better than the pitiful digital imitation.

She was so fucking beautiful. Despite having no form of makeup on. He watched her bite her lower lip, and he didn’t know why that made him think things. He shook the thought out of his head.

Kimberly saw him watching -staring -but she didn’t blink or turn away. She stared right back. He was very handsome. She thought. And boy, were his eyes eating her up. She could feel it from where she stood.

And she was giving it right back.

The helicopter landed. Before they could board, there was a yell from behind the house. Asher swore and turned in that direction.

“Two guards,” James said into his earpiece. “Son of a bitch. Early shift change. They just drove up. Paul, get down. On your left-”

The sound of gunfire cut out the rest of James’ words. The pitch and volume of the blasts told Asher that they hadn’t come from his men’s guns. Not good. He thought grimly. His teams quietly checked in, except for Paul.

“Go” he said to Kimberly, pushing her into the helicopter.

Kimberly scrambled inside.

Asher hated stepping in next to her, but his men were trained. They would fan out and find their fallen team member. Sure enough, less than two minutes later, three men appeared, they were helping Paul as he leaned heavily on them. He had been shot in the leg.

“Get going,” James said into Asher’s earpiece. “Paul got both of the other men after they got him, but they had already made a call requesting backup. They are gonna be here any moment”

“Will do,” Asher replied. “You get out of there as well”

“I’m already gone, boss,” James replied.

Asher helped his men bring the bleeding Paul onto the floor of the helicopter, then he signaled for the pilot to take them up.