The Bodyguard

Drinks...?

Chapter 7

"If you can't get someone out of your head, maybe they are supposed to be there." - Unknown

•••

Chapter 7 - Drinks..?

Lucas POV

As everyone started wrapping up after we called it a day after training, my mind started wandering back to the conversation I had with John last night.

~

"Why the f**k did we think it was a good idea to let her through?" I sighed sitting down and pouring myself a bourbon after we returned from dinner.

"Well apart from the fact that she's one of the best, I think you're attracted Lucas"

"Attracted my ass. I just can't get her out of my head"

"You just defined attraction"

"Okay Sherlock fine. Call it whatever the f**k you want. Now how do I get her out of my head?!"

"Do I look like a therapist?! I don't know. What is it that attracts you to her?"

"What makes me think of her.. is her sass. How she just argues with everything I say & how she always has to f*****g prove herself"

She looked f*****g gorgeous yesterday in that restaurant.. but with Chris.

I couldn't take my eyes off her the whole night. I barley remember what we discussed with David the lawyer yesterday because all I was worried about was her.

"Well then you're attracted to the challenge she gives you. Just don't give her a reason to challenge you"

"How?"

"She's being sassy whenever you are rude. So just don't be rude to her. Just talk to her and admit that you got off on the wrong foot and you would like to improve it, for the job to work in the future"

~

I took a deep breath, shaking my head and struggling to believe that I was actually going to take John's advice on something.

"Stella do you mind staying for a few?" I spoke making her look at me quite confused.

"Uhm sure" She said staying behind as everyone made their way out.

"Look.. I'm gonna be honest. I think we got off on the wrong foot when we started. I was an asshole. You weren't an angel yourself either, but I think we should move on"

"Are you alright Bruno?" She said, sarcastically I'm guessing and holy mother of god I have never enjoyed hearing my second name as much as now.

"Stella. Let me get you a drink. If we are going to be working together in the future, which doesn't seem impossible if you keep the same amount of energy up, then we should at least be able to stay in the same room without wanting to kill each other" I said hoping to god John was right.

"Fine. Where do you wanna go?" She said catching me off guard. For some reason I expected her to say no. Especially after last night.

Shit this might be easy then.

"Uhm there's this spot like 10 minutes from here. If you want you can head home and change and I can pick you up in an hour?" I said scratching my head.

"Sure. Sounds good. Just message me when you arrive. You have my address and number" she said carelessly as I nodded before she turned around and walked out.

•••

1 hour later..

"A whiskey neat please"

"I'll just take a club soda" she ordered.

"Not gonna drink?" I asked curious.

"I don't drink"

"Oh. I'm sorry I didn't know. I would have offered a coffee or something else otherwise-" I started but she cut me off.

"I know. Which is why I didn't say anything. Now what got the Lucas Bruno to change his mind so suddenly?"

"What do you mean change my mind?" I asked taking a big gulp of my whiskey that had just arrived.

"Lucas, you seemed to hate me the day we first met and now we are here having drinks.."

"Ah, I don't know. You impressed me. It won't be a big surprise if you end up getting the job Stella. But if you did and we weren't able to stand each other then I don't know how well that would end up. So, I thought it was about time we tried to fix this relationship"

"Relationship?" She asked raising a brow and she f*****g knew that I wasn't my confident self today. She enjoyed every bit of it.

"Stella you know what I mean" I spoke sternly as she cleared her throat.

"Another one please" I said looking at the bartender as Stella smiled and slightly shook her head.

"Why are you shaking your head?" I ask but she didn't even respond.

"Stella?" I said looking back at her and she seemed to have wandered off into a little bubble of her own.

"Oh, I'm sorry" she quickly said making me wonder what suddenly got stuck in her mind.

"A penny for your thoughts?" I spoke unable to hide my smile.

"Oh, it's nothing important. Anything you were saying?"

"Just wondering about you really. How did you end up here?"

"Well I always knew I wanted to enlist in the military. My dad was a solider and his dad and so on. We didn't have many females in the family, so I grew up surrounded by men and wanted to follow in their footsteps. I started my training as soon as I turned 17 and then enlisted for 6 years once I turned 18. I knew school wasn't something for me since I was a kid so when I got back I signed up for a BT class and got a few short-term contracts afterwards. Nothing long term though"

"Why not?"

"As you are familiar, people have trouble with hiring a female instead of a large, tall dude for a bodyguard gig. So, they only hired me when they needed big numbers for events and such"

"Look Stella.. I wanted to apologize about that day.. I was being a d**k" I said looking down and taking another sip of my second drink, remembering our interview.

"There's no denying that" she said making my eyes shoot up at hers.

"You're sober and you're talking smack to your boss" I teased making her chuckle.

"Well how about you? How did life for Lucas Bruno go?" She asked making me sigh.

"Oh, not nearly as interesting as yours. Studied engineering and meanwhile started investing in stocks with small amounts of money I had. I got lucky and very interested in the numbers and started a little company. Once I got my degree I understood that business was my actual passion and here we are" I said.

She didn't look convinced, but she didn't say anything more.

"How did you get into engineering?" She asked stretching the 'you'.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I asked fake offended making her laugh.

She looks adorable when she laughs..

"What..?" She asked as I looked at her.

"Nothing" I quickly snapped out of it. "To answer your question, I have no f*****g clue" I chuckled.

I honestly don't know myself why I picked nuclear engineering specifically.

"Well what do you do apart from work? Does Lucas Bruno have a social life that's not work related?" She teased making me playfully roll my eyes.

"What is it with people calling one by their full name as soon as they get the least bit famous?" I asked making her shrug.

"I don't know. It sounds better though. You know what would make it even better?" She asked.

"No?"

"A middle name" she smiled whispering it as I shook my head.

"Dream f*****g on" I said thinking there's no f*****g way I'll give her my middle name.

Until I did a few hours later when I had one too many drinks. I think that's what happened anyways.. not completely sure. I don't entirely remember the whole evening now that I look back at it. I was nervous and thought the whiskey would help. It helped too much though which was a problem.

"Shit.. where are my keys..?" I asked eventually after hours of us laughing & chatting.

"No no no, there's no way in hell you're driving" Stella said holding them up.

"Honestly, I'm not even drunk" I said standing up but as soon as I did my head started spinning.

"Okay f**k yes I am. You're right" I quickly changed my mind making her chuckle as I leaned on her for support.

God how I loved her laughing.

"Let's go. I can drive you home, big man" she said throwing my arm around her shoulder as we made our way out of the bar.

"I'm just tipsy I'm not drunk"

"Sure, you are Lucas Timothée Bruno" she said laughing as I rolled my eyes.

"Wait" I said making us stop in front of the bar entrance.

"What?" She asked concerned.

"How are you going to head home?" I asked and she just shrugged. 

"I can get John or Chris to drive me home. It's not the end of the wor-"

"NO!" I quickly interrupted and she looked strangely at me.

"What?" She asked confused.

"I meant no. Just take my car back home and then you can drive it to training tomorrow"

"That's if you even make it to training tomorrow"

"Just do as I tell you for once"

"Fine. Now can we please walk to the car? It's freaking cold out here" she said, and we started walking. As soon as we got to there, I headed to the driver seat.

"Wrong seat, mister"

"I know. I'm just opening the door for you. Obviously" I said, and she laughed again getting in.

"Why thank you. Look at you being a gentleman" she joked getting in as I held the door for her.

"My lady" I said doing a dramatic bow making her laugh again and the world started spinning around me again.

"Oooh s**t"

"Oh, let me help you" she said getting out and helping me into my seat.

"Now you're the gentle lady" I said making her smile before she put my seat belt on and got in the driver’s seat.

"You have a pretty sweet ride, not gonna lie" she spoke admiring the car. I loved it.

"Thank youuu. You should get one of those" I said, and she shook her head.

"I could never afford it" she said before taking out her phone and messaging someone.

"All good?" I asked.

"Yeah. It's just my roommate checking on me" she explained as I nodded.

Eventually we ended up pulling out of the parking lot and I reached over and turned on the radio. We sang along, well if you can call our yelling singing, to Ed Sheeran, Michael Bublé, John Mayer and most importantly, Elton John - Daniel started playing when we arrived at the house. She stopped the car, but I quickly reached my hand to cover the keys.

"What?" She asked confused.

"Don't turn it off"

"Why?"

"Just get out of the car" I said increasing the radio volume.

"What are you doing?" She asked confused.

"Just trust me. Get out but don't turn off the engine" I said, and she sighed before unbuckling her seat belt and Daniel echoed through the neighborhood.

"Will you give me this dance?" I said offering her a hand as she shook her head smiling.

"Sure" she said making me excited like a little kid.

She put her hand in mine and put the other one over my shoulder.

"May I?" I asked before placing my hand on her hip and she nodded.

I couldn't remove my eyes from hers. She was so.. captivating. It felt like something was pulling me towards her & I couldn't let go. Maybe it was the alcohol.. but I had a feeling she felt it too.

I spun her around before holding her close to me.

"Stella?" I spoke.

"Lucas..?" She replied.

"You feel this too, don't you?"

It went quit for a second. Even the song ended. We both stopped moving. We just looked into each other’s eyes.

"I.. I do"

Holy s**t she does too..

"I better head home. Becca is already nervous. Let me help you inside" she said as I shook my head.

"No. You should go. I'll be fine" I smiled but she didn't seem completely convinced.

"Stella I'll be fine. Now go & be careful with my baby" I reassured her looking at the car making her turn around and look at it too. She grinned widely looking at it making me sad that she couldn't afford one of her own...

"Alright fine. Goodnight Lucas"

"Night Stella" I said, and she made her way to the car. I waited until she pulled out of the driveway and could no longer see her & the car before I headed in.

I took out my phone and dialed John's number.

"What?" He asked picking up eventually.

"Hey dipshit. I need you to raise the team's salary for the training"