Page 13 of Better Watch Out
Frannie peeked through the hole again and found Andrew leaning a shoulder against the wall. With his jaw set and that lock of light brown hair falling over his forehead, his muscular profile was very different from Calvin’s sits-at-a-desk-all-day physique. And the contrast unnerved her for the way it was warming her insides. Or maybe that was a lingering effect of the pepper spray?
Andrew moved, coming toward the door like he’d read her thoughts—hopefully not all of them! Frannie stepped back, catching her foot on her suitcase, sending her spiraling backward. A scream escaped her lips, and she immediately covered her mouth, praying Andrew hadn’t heard—
“Are you okay in there?”
“Fine.” Frannie caught a glimpse of her tangled reflection in the wall mirror and rolled her eyes at herself. Pulling herself up to her feet and adjusting her coat and purse and the stray bits of hair that had escaped her braid, she answered, “Just fine.”
“I’m supposed to tell you that … um … seriously?”
Who was he talking to? Frannie moved to the door and peeked once more through the peephole. Andrew was staring at his phone and shaking his head. His gaze moved up and she jerked her head back.
“Your brother told me to tell you that … look, I really am here to take you to the airport.”
Frannie put the security latch in place and opened the door. “What does Ryan want you to tell me?”
Andrew’s blue eyes looked heavy with dread. He looked down at his phone and then back to her. “He wanted me to tell you that in second grade you had a crush on Johnny Castillo and tried to kiss him but Johnny said you had Grinch cooties.”
A growl escaped her lips and Andrew’s eyes rounded.
As if he expected her not to believe him, he twisted his phone around and, sure enough, there it was. The text sent by her traitorous brother revealing her childhood trauma to a complete stranger.
“Give me one second.” Frannie closed the door in Andrew Bishop’s face and then sent a message. A minute later she smiled a very Grinch-ish smile to herself before she grabbed a fresh makeup wipe and cleaned the creamer off her face.
She opened the door and found Andrew Bishop still standing there.
“Do you need help with your luggage?”
“I don’t.” She made sure her door closed and held her breath, carefully avoiding any chemical haze still lingering in the hallway. Then, pretending like Andrew Bishop didn’t know about her humiliating crush on Johnny Castillo, she walked around him toward the elevator. “You can let my brother know I won’t be needing a ride to the airport.”
“I can’t do that.” Andrew was at her side in two quick strides. “Ryan gave me implicit instructions to make sure you get to the airport and I don’t have time to argue with you.”
Frannie jabbed her finger on the elevator button, not liking the way his parental tone made her feel like a child. Ryan may not have approved of her trip to New York but he didn’t need to send some bodyguard type to look out for her.
“I’m not leaving, but when I do decide to leave, I’ll find my way to the airport just fine.”
Beneath the scruff covering his jaw, she saw the muscle there flex as if he was grinding his teeth. “Fine.”
“Fine.”
Frannie entered the elevator, moving to one side as Andrew moved to the other. Neither of them spoke, but the second more guests stepped inside, she took the opportunity to sneak a look at Andrew’s reflection in the elevator’s brass interior.
Andrew Bishop. The man had the build of an athlete. Football player, maybe? Her fingertips tingled from where they’d met the firmness of his chest, further proving that he was definitely fit. Of course, his job as a personal protector would require that. The mysterious blue eyes, chiseled jawline, and oh-so-casual hairstyle that made a girl want to run her fingers through it just added to the come-hither appeal.
Just exactly who was he protecting? Certainly no one needing to remain anonymous because Andrew Bishop had the kind of looks that were impossible to ignore.
And that smile—that smile. Her eyes darted to where his were reflecting back on her. He’d caught her staring. Heat climbed up her spine until she had to loosen her scarf. Thankfully, the elevator doors opened and Frannie made her escape.
Outside of the hotel, the icy air felt good against the embarrassment warming her cheeks. Still, she tucked her scarf into her coat and pulled out her gloves.
“Are you sure I can’t take you to the airport? Your brother seemed pretty worried about you.”
“I’m fine.” Frannie hoped her expression displayed the confidence she wasn’t entirely feeling. “My brother forgets I’m a big girl and I know how to take care of myself.”
She started walking down the street with no plan as to where she was headed but she didn’t want to give Andrew a reason to believe Ryan’s overprotective concerns. When she was a good distance away she’d pull out her phone and put in the address to—
Frannie looked to her right, where Andrew was walking with her. “What are you doing?”
“Walking.”
