Page 7 of Thirsty Bodyguard Summer

“Follow the routes we clear. Tell me before you change plans. Don’t invite anyone over, and don’t respond to live-location posts.”

“What happens Saturday?”

“You rehearse and perform unless the risk changes enough to make that unsafe.”

Shane faced me. “You’re not here to tell me to cancel.”

“I’m here to get you to the stage without letting anyone get hurt along the way.”

“That includes the fans.”

“It includes everyone in the route.”

Shane released a breath. “Then I can work with your rules.”

“Those are today’s rules. We’ll adjust when the facts change.”

“You negotiate after all.”

“I respond to evidence.”

“That sounded less romantic.”

“It was supposed to.”

Tracy set a paper bag on the counter and pulled out wrapped sandwiches, fruit cups, and small bags of chips. “Before either of you turns this into a competitive sport, eat.”

“I’m not hungry yet,” Shane said.

“You were going swimming on an empty stomach in late-June heat. You need food and water.”

Shane raised his eyebrows. “That sounded like an order.”

“It was nutritional guidance from someone who doesn’t want to drag one hundred and ninety pounds of dehydrated rockstar off the beach.”

“I’m one ninety-two.”

“I’m relieved you identified the important part.”

He took a wrapped turkey sandwich. “You’re enjoying this.”

“I’m staying hydrated.”

Shane laughed and reached into the refrigerator for water. He handed the first bottle to Tracy and the second to me before opening one for himself.

We ate at the kitchen counter while Rafi checked in through my earpiece.

“No live-location posts have appeared,” he said. “The inn’s access list is clean, and our exterior agent has the approach in view.”

“I understand.”

Shane checked a revised lighting cue on Tracy’s tablet. “Thanks for getting that changed.”

An inn employee arrived with a bowl of cut fruit.

“Thank you,” Tracy said. “You can set it here.”

Shane moved his towel and sunglasses out of the way. “Let me clear that for you.”