Page 12 of Last First Kiss
“Did you hear what I said? She body-flipped me. Like over her head and on my ass. She’s qualified. The fact she’s hot is just a bonus. With her by my side, no one will suspect she’s my bodyguard.”
Paul rolled his eyes. “She probably slid you her personal cell number before she kicked your ass.”
“Negative.” Rocco tossed the water bottle into the garbage can. “Didn’t even know who I was.”
“You know that’s bullshit. She may not drool all over you, but she knows who you are. And eventually, you’ll do whatever it is you do that makes women want to sleep with you.”
“I don’t do anything. Haven’t you read People magazine? I’m charming,” he teased his friend. “Women can’t help it.” This was all in jest because the truth was that no amount of charm would work on Annie. He knew that from the few minutes they’d been in the same room. But even so, he wanted to know more about her. She was intriguing and he wondered whether she was always that confident and tough.
If he got to know her, would she be soft and sweet? Or was she always that feisty? And why did she have that big chip on her shoulder? Was it just because of her brother, or was there more to it than that?
“I think this is a mistake but you’re a big boy and you seem hell-bent on this, so not much I can do about it now, is there?”
“Nope, there’s not,” Rocco said as he walked out of his personal gym. “I’m gonna grill some burgers, want any?”
Paul looked at his phone and then stood. “Nah, it’s late. I need to go. Be good and keep me posted on the bodyguard situation.”
Rocco patted Paul on the shoulder as he walked him to the door. “Her name’s Annabelle and it’s going to be great.”
The next day, after his morning routine and while having breakfast, Rocco’s phone beeped with an incoming email from Paul.
Just read the contract, and it’s a go. Studio is signing it since they’re paying. ICS will be in touch to set up an initial meet to go over logistics.
Great, Rocco thought.
In forty-eight hours he’d be living together with a woman for the first time in his life, and ironically it was the same woman who hadn’t looked twice at him before kicking his ass.
He doubled up on the gym again that day.
* * *
It was Tuesday morning and Rocco was fluffing the pillows on his couch.
Fluffing fucking pillows.
He’d never fluffed a goddamn pillow in his life.
But he wanted the house to be presentable, inviting, perfect for Annie. He’d even resorted to Googling her. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much online other than she was a decorated Military Police for the US Army and an employee of ICS. She didn’t have any social media accounts, as far as he could find, or old blogs, vlogs, or YouTube tutorials. In fact, in the last couple of days, he’d become rather obsessed with Annabelle Clad, and he needed to calm himself before she arrived. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was hoping a short frumpy ugly woman would walk in instead. That he’d somehow gotten the wrong impression of her in those few minutes. Because he’d never felt such an instant attraction to anyone before and he wasn’t sure he liked the feeling.
Definitely, he didn’t like the way his heart pounded in anticipation of her coming over. Or the fact that he’d bet his right arm that she’d taken the job reluctantly.
The first clue was when Rocco had called Joey at ICS and asked if he’d be so kind as to give him Annie’s phone number. Joey had said they didn’t give out employee information, but he would relay the message to Annie who would call him within the hour. Two days later, Rocco was still waiting for her call.
The second clue was when two boxes of protein powders and bars were delivered to his house that morning after he had made his housekeeper, Wendy, stock his refrigerator specifically with his new shadow in mind. Apparently Annabelle was not planning on having any meals with him.
Luckily, Rocco was patient and persistent. She wasn’t going to even try to let him get to know her. How could they have a wild four-month fling if she didn’t even try to get to know him?
The buzz at the front gate had him tossing the pillow down. He looked out the window to see a brand-new Ferrari. From where he stood, he could see the sleek red paint and the iconic yellow logo on the hood. Damn—the car was gorgeous. The woman truly was a badass. He pressed the button opening the gate, and the car rolled in with a hum.
She rounded the driveway and parked behind the fountain as he waited by the front door. Rocco was about to step down to help her out of the car when the driver’s side door swung open and Joey stepped out. So maybe it wasn’t her car after all.
Now, he found himself wondering what she drove. Just one more thing to add to the growing list of things he wanted to know about this mystery girl.
* * *
Annabelle hated Joey’s douchey car, which he had won at some sort of nerd convention, but she needed a lift to Rocco’s house and Joey had volunteered. Well, more like demanded to take her and “check out the joint.”
“You better behave, kid. You’re representing ICS,” Joey warned her as they stepped out of the car. It pissed her off to no end that he talked to her as if she was a bratty child. She was a twenty-seven-year-old, grown-ass woman who didn’t need to be told what to do or how to act. And this wasn’t about some sort of misplaced concern for his little sister. This was just him being an ass—plain and simple. In response, she gave him the middle finger.
