Page 23 of Sultry Bodyguard Summer

Sienna looks at me grimly. “That’s what being a therapist taught me. If Mom went to therapy and put in the work, shecould’ve gotten over whatever barrier she had when it came to me, but she was never interested. She had two sons she loved. What need did she have for a daughter who was shy and sad?”

I can’t imagine Sienna being shy and sad. But she’s also done the therapeutic work on herself. “There’s no reason she shouldn't love you. Maybe she’ll come around. Hearing that someone you care for felt it was necessary to sell her body is pretty upsetting.”

All warmth leaves Sienna’s eyes. “Are you judging me? Are you saying I was wrong to live my life the way I wanted? It wasn't my first choice after college, but I’ve always been interested in sexual health. And sex and relationships and intimacy. I got into escorting because I needed the work and I was interested in the work. I’ve always been very careful, too. There are a lot of precautions escorts are supposed to take, and I took them all. I wasn’t careless or foolish.”

“What you did was illegal.”

She moves her jaw like she’s chewing on a blistering retort. “I’m not a fucking idiot, Oliver.” Without a glance in my direction, she goes into the spare bedroom and shuts the door behind her.

Fuck, that blistered.

The sound of the spare bedroom door opening breaks the incessant thoughts I can’t stop. Sienna was an escort. She’s not an escort now. What right do I have to judge her? How could she have knowingly broken the law for years? Is this a law worth breaking?

Part of me doesn’t want to face her. I’m scared of that part, because that part’s not doing his job. He’s not protecting her. I turn from the window overlooking the bay.

She stays on the other side of the room. “Darcy is going to text you. She didn’t pick up any fingerprints from the knife Blakeleft at the Mangroves house. We’re going to the Never Give Up On The Sea Turtles fundraiser at Bluefin Marina tonight. She’s going to have someone tip off Blake that I’ll be there. We’re expecting him to try something. Hopefully this is the end.”

“I don’t like you putting yourself out there as bait.”

“You’re a professional. You can handle it.” She turns, then stops. “You’re my date. We’re going there as a couple.”

“Of course.” Pain hits me square in the chest. What have I done?

I love her, and I hurt her.

The spare bedroom door shuts behind her as my phone vibrates with a text from Darcy.

Darcy meets us in the Bluefin Marina lobby. Sienna didn't say a word as we drove over. Just sat there looking gorgeous in the silky, V-neck cream color dress Darcy sent over to my place earlier this afternoon.

Sienna and Darcy hug and the hollow that started growing in my chest this afternoon gets deeper and emptier. Will I ever touch Sienna again?

We walk into the marina ballroom together. I glance around. No sign of Blake.

“I’m going to do a perimeter check and go through the bar stations,” Darcy says.

“Good call." Blake’s alcoholism has him at Sandbar & Sips every day at noon for a boozy lunch. Darcy had one of the bartenders tell Blake about the fundraiser and how everyone from Sunbreak Security would be there. Then the bartender gave Blake one of the extra tickets he happened to have thanks to Darcy.

I put my hand on the small of Sienna’s back. It's time to get to work. We're supposed to be acting like a couple, and that meansdoing all that lovey-dovey stuff. She stiffens, then relaxes against me like she's remembered it's her job.

We take glasses of champagne to a table with a decent view of the room. I ask Sienna if she's seen any good movies lately because we need to get some conversation going to keep up the dating facade.

She answers with a smile that's flirtatious and warm and everything I wish she genuinely felt. I listen attentively like a good boyfriend and look at her lovingly, which is never going to be an act.

“He's here,” she says in the middle of movie talk.

“Where?”

“Your two o’clock.”

I find the red face with the dead eyes.

Sienna holds my gaze. “I'm going to go get a bit of fresh air.”

This is it. She’s going to be the bait. Darcy thinks this is the only way to resolve this situation quickly, and Sienna wants it resolved as quickly as possible, so she can get as far away from me as quickly as possible.

Per our plan, I stay at the table to keep tabs on Blake while Darcy follows Sienna.

Most likely scenario, Blake attempts an assault or abduction.