Page 4 of Thirsty Bodyguard Summer
“That’s right.”
“I was expecting someone named Frank with no visible neck.”
“Frank’s busy. You got me.”
“That wasn’t a complaint.”
“Then we’re having a productive first minute. Turn around.”
Shane glanced past me at the strip of bright water visible between the buildings. “I’m going for a swim.”
“You’re going back inside while I check the route and your place.”
“The water’s right there.”
“So is the public boardwalk.”
“I’m not planning to visit the boardwalk.”
“You don’t have to. One person recognizes you, three phones go up, and everyone who came to Sunbreak Harbor hoping to see Shane Hart starts following the pictures. This stretch narrows beside the beach stairs. A crowd here puts children, older guests, inn staff, and you in one bad bottleneck.”
Shane stopped smiling and turned toward a family approaching behind him. Two little girls dragged a pink inflatable flamingo while their father wrestled with a folding wagon.
I shifted aside to leave them room without giving Shane space to continue toward the beach.
He moved with me before I asked.
The family passed. One of the girls looked up at Shane, frowned as if trying to place him, then continued toward the water.
Shane waited until they were clear. “You think that happens before I reach the beach?”
“I don’t test crowd behavior beside narrow stairs.”
He lifted the towel and rubbed it across the back of his neck. His forearm flexed, and sweat tracked down his chest before the towel caught it.
My pulse kicked once at my throat.
“All right,” Shane said. “I’ll go back while you check everything.”
“Thank you for cooperating.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I’m acknowledging useful behavior. Don’t make it weird.”
“That depends on how often you thank me.”
Shane smiled, slower this time, then turned toward his rental without making me chase him. He matched my pace as I guided us away from the busier center route.
“Did Tracy hire you this morning?” he asked.
“She hired SBS before today. My responsibility started when the company accepted the detail.”
“So you were guarding me before I knew you existed.”
“I was reading your threat file before you knew I existed.”
“That sounds intimate.”
