My Bodyguard

Assassination attempt

The next morning, my new shadow follows me everywhere. "If you're going to walk so close to me, the least you can do is hold a conversation. Otherwise you just look like a creepy stalker following me around." I tease as we were walking down the street.

"Yes, Ma'am."

'How can someone be so...quiet? Doesn't he ever gets bored? I've been trying all morning to start a conversation with him, but the only response I've gotten have been short sentences or one-word answers.'

"Are you always this quiet. Or is it just me who brings out this exciting side of you?"

Warren's lips twitches up before he composed himself again. "Just doing my job, Ma'am."

I saw my favorite coffee shop across the street, and I head towards it. 'Maybe some breakfast will lose you up.'

I smiled as I lead the way.

The minute later, we sat down at an unoccupied table with our order. "Not much of a breakfast man, I take it?"

"Coffee Is just fine."

"And you drink it black. How very predictable."

He raises an eyebrow at me.

"What? Don't give me that look."

"Is there something wrong with being predictable?"

I pause for a moment. That's the longest sentence he'd said to me all morning. "I suppose not. predictable is a good thing since you can be punctual and reliable. It's fine as long as you still have fun sometimes, you know?"

Warren sips his coffee. "Sometimes I add cream just to liven things up just a bit" He said with a small smile.

I laugh. "yes, how very daring of you." 'i guess he does have a sense of humor.'

He hesitates for a second, like he's unsure whether it's rude or not, but he decided to speak. "You only ordered a latte yourself. is that your usual routine?"

"You notice things don't you? But you're right, I do ider something to eat, too. it's just this whole anonymous threat business has shaken me up a bit. it's hard to believe someone would threaten Eli with my life....if there were someone close to him, they would know it's pointless. He doesn't really care what happens to me." I force myself to smile. "sorry about that. I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable.".

"Not at all, Ma'am. Relationships...have their challenges."

I grinned. "you sound like you have gone through some. Is your girlfriend upset you have to be away so often? sorry if I'm been nosy."

"I don't really have time for relationships right now. My priorities lie elsewhere."

"That's smart." I fiddle with the coffee cup in my hand. "Can we take this to go? I'd like to go home now."

"Of course."

........

It isn't long before we're back in the house. Warren finished his coffee before we even left the coffee shop, so I put mine on the table. I looked at Warren, I try to think of something to ask him. "Have you ever tried..."

"Wait! Something's wrong." Suddenly, a gunshot pierce through the air! The vase in the counter shatters, and the glass fragments flew everywhere.

Terrified, I covered my head with my hands as the bullets continue to rain down. Warren tackles me to the ground, and I felt the woosh of air as one nearly grazes my arm.

I looked at him with my eyes wide open, and I realized that he just saved me from getting shot.

"We need to leave!"

He pulls me up and shields me with his body as we start running towards my bedroom. I felt a rush of blood pressure in my eyes, my hearth loudly thumping with fright, as I run as fast as I can...But then a sharp pain slices through my shoulder, and I trip.

Warren is quick to react. "Take my hand!" He extends his arm and offers it to me, his eyes asking me to trust him. I reached out and grab his hands without hesitation.

Warren's other arm slides underneath my thighs and he lifts me up, holding me bridal style. My arms automatically wrapped around his neck, and I bury my face in his chest.

Just before we make it around the corner, he grunt's in pain and stumbles. "Warren?! Are you okay."

He didn't answer me, but his mouth is set in a firm line. We maid it inside my bedroom closet where he slams the door shut behind us and sets me down on my feet. "I have to go back there."

"But you'll get shot!"

"Nonsense. I've been through much worse than this." Even though his words are confident, I still sense slight hesitation in his body language.

"The shooter can't get us here. if you go out, you'd me at a huge disadvantage." I don't even know why I'm this worried.

He shifts his body and his arm accidentally grazes my breasts, causing my heart to skip a beat. He immediately averts his eyes and tried to step away. "Sorry. This closet is too small for the both of us."

"Your muscles take yo too much space."

He doesn't say anything, but the corner of his mouth turns up. He reaches for the knob.

'Would I really mind sharing this hiding spot with him? Should I tell him to stay with me here and protect me?'

"Warren... please don't go. I'm..." Gunfire echoes as bullets hit the wall behind me. I covered my ears and let out a scream.

His large, calloused hand is suddenly pressing over my mouth, muffling the sound. "You have to try and keep quiet."

Whimpering, I shook my head.

"Mrs. Nelson, look at me." He cups my cheeks and forces me to look up at him. I can't help but notice how close he is...How warm his breath feels on my face, how intense his eyes are. "You're safe in here. Nobody is going to hurt you."

My heart is still racing as he holds my gaze. unbidden tears streamed down my cheeks and into his hands. His face momentary softens, and he used his thumb to brush them away. "No one's going to hurt you, Ashely. I won't let them."

My heart flutters in my chest. 'This is the first time I've heard him say my name! I have to admit...I like the way it sounds coming from his lips.'

He holds my gaze for a moment longer, then drops his hands and take a small step backward. The professional look is back, and he regards me Cooly...as if the moment never happened. "Are you having a panic attack?"

"I don't know. I don't think so?" He glances down an assesses my body. He takes my wrist, turns my hand palm-side up and then checks my pulse. He's definitely done this before.

"I think you're alright... your pupils aren't dilated. But you should still try to take deep breaths, okay?" He smiles warmly.

"Okay." I nodded back with a smile of mine.

"Just follow my lead. Take a deep breath in through your mouth, and then hold it in your lungs." I do as he says. "One...two...three... Release it. Now do it again."

I focused on my breathing. I'm mindful of how Warren's chest slowly goes up and down, and I try to imitate it to the best that I can. It isn't long before the air starts to feel lighter.

"Better?"

"Better."

"You still seem a bit shaken up"

"I'll be okay." I guess it's time to ask him the question I wanted to ask for forever now.