Brad turned and looked at Kevin Bishop. The request wasn't an easy one, but damn, the money was more than he would have asked for. He shoved his hands into his pockets, and watched the older man sit down.
"So what do you say Brad? My daughter is all I have, her mother died two years ago."
Brad sighed when he saw the incredibly sad look on Kevin's face. He ran his hands through his jet-black hair, and scanned the room with his ice blue eyes. "OK Mr. Bishop. It's a deal. Now how long do I have to keep her safe?"
Kevin stood up, offering his hand to Brad. "Call me Kevin, and until the sentencing."
Brad nodded his head. "How long will that be?"
"Two months."
Kady stood in front of the mirror looking at herself. She stood about 5'6", with curly blonde hair that hung past her shoulders. When she looked at you with her deep green eyes, you swore she was seeing into your soul. Kady turned when there was a knock on her front door. It was probably her father; he was always worrying about her now that she had moved out. She looked through the peephole and saw her father standing in his work clothes, a nice suit and tie, his hair showing signs of grey on the outsides of the black. She opened the door. "Hey Daddy."
He walked in. "Hey sweetheart. I have something to tell you."
She pulled her still damp hair off of her neck, and walked over to the couch. "What's up?" she asked, watching him unbutton his jacket to sit down. He took a deep breath and Kady could see a flicker of worry flash through her father's green eyes.
"Well, you know that client I was representing today?" he asked, and waited for her to nod her head. "Well, he was found guilty today, and he told me that my daughter’s pretty little head was on the chopping block, and I'm afraid that he will try something."
Kady smiled. "Well, I'm not afraid, Daddy, I can take care of myself."
He sighed. She was so stubborn, and hardheaded, just like her mother. "Look Kady, I know you think you can, but I hired a cop to be your bodyguard just in case. He will go everywhere you do, and please don't give him too much of a hard time."
Kady drew up her legs and curled them under her. "Fine, but I am not going to like it."
Kady watched her father walk out of the door. She crossed her arms, and tried to imagine what this cop would look like. She laughed out loud when she imagined a potbellied older man, with a balding head. She hoped he would at least be nice to look at. She jumped when there was a forceful knock on her door. She slowly got up and checked what she was wearing, jeans and a t-shirt from her old high school, yeah it had been three years since she graduated but she still loved wearing this shirt. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and she cringed, she wasn't wearing any makeup. She shrugged and looked through the peephole. Her breath caught in her throat, for standing outside of her door was easily the most handsome man she had ever seen. "Who is it?" she asked loud enough for Brad to hear her.
"Brad…Brad Pullen, the bodyguard your father hired for you," he said as he tried to imagine what she would look like.
Kady said, "How do I know that's really who you are?"
Brad sighed. Kevin had warned him Kady would be difficult. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his badge, and put it in view of the peephole. He waited a few seconds and heard the locks being unlocked and the door slowly opening. He smiled, and his stomach did a flip when he saw Kady. She was beautiful; this assignment wasn't going to be easy.
Kady stifled the instant smile that would have normally crept over her face when she saw a man this gorgeous. She turned, sighing heavily, to allow Brad enough room to come into the apartment. "You know I don't need you, my father tends to overreact," Kady said, not even looking at Brad as she closed the door behind him.
Brad looked around. It was a nice place. He watched Kady sit down. "I seriously doubt your father would have hired me for two months, if he didn't feel you are in some danger," Brad said as he made his way over to a chair opposite Kady.
Kady looked at him with her arms crossed defiantly, "Wait, did you say…two months?" Damn, this was going to be a long two months, she thought.
Brad took off the gun he was wearing at his side and laid it on the table between them, that damn thing was killing his side. "Yes, for two months I go everywhere you do."
Kady sighed. Damn, this was going to really be hard, she had to make it hard for him so he would leave. She stood up and walked over to the window. "So I guess this means you will be staying here."
Brad watched her back as she talked. "That's right, and I'm guessing I get to stay on this very comfortable looking couch."
Kady turned on her heel. "Of course, you're not sleeping in my bed."
Brad laughed. "Don't worry, I wasn't wanting to."
Kady scoffed. "You're a jerk."
Brad stood up. "So what plans did you have for today?"
Kady crossed her arms. "Nothing that concerns you," she said, facing the window.
Brad let out a loud breath. Damn, she wasn't going to make this easy was she? "Look Kady, you can make these two months horrible, or not, it's totally up to you, but I'm here, and my job is to protect you, and I will do my job, like it or not."
Kady sighed, and turned around to find her gaze locked with Brad's. Her face turned an instant light pink, and she looked away. She really hated that man, and her father would hear all about it later; right now she had to get ready to go to her friend’s wedding.
"Look, my best friend is getting married later tonight, and I am the maid of honor, so looks like you're going to a wedding."
Brad said, "I guess I am."
Kady looked at Brad. "I'm going to go do some last minute stuff to get ready, do you have a suit and tie to wear?"
Brad picked up the bag he brought. "Yeah no worries, I thought about every occasion."
Kady walked into the bedroom and closed the door behind her. She took a deep breath. Having Brad living in her living room for two months was not going to be easy. Why in the hell did her father do this to her? A small smile crept across her face when she thought about Brad. He had to at least be 6'5", with broad shoulders, and his arms were heavy with muscle. The hint of stubble that was on his face almost made Kady want to slowly run her hand down his face. She shook her head, she had to stop thinking about him like that, he was going to get in the way and she knew it.
Brad walked into the guest bathroom to put on his suit. He looked at himself in the mirror. He sighed as he thought about Kady. Her father had failed to mention just how beautiful she was; and those eyes, damn if every time she looked at him a shiver didn't shoot down his spine. He ran his hand down his tanned, muscled torso. She really seemed to hate him, but he had to make her like him, especially if these two months were going to be at least a little productive. He slipped into the light grey suit, with a light pink shirt and matching tie. He ran his hands through his hair and shrugged his shoulders. He heard Kady walking into the living room, and opened the bathroom door.
Kady almost lost her breath when she saw Brad. The suit fit him just right, and the pink complimented his tanned skin.
He looked at her; she was beautiful in a low cut, light purple dress, with a slit up to her knee on one side.
"Well, let’s go." Kady picked up her purse.
"We will use my car," Brad said as he picked up his gun and secured it back at his side.
Kady rolled her eyes. "You really don't think someone will try something at this wedding? Why do you insist on wearing that thing?"
Brad opened the door. "Stop arguing with me, let’s go. You don't want to be late."
Kady sat silent in his car on the way back to her apartment after the wedding. The reception was extremely long, and they had ended up staying until 4 in the morning. She yawned, and leaned her head back against the cool leather of the seat. Brad looked over in her direction, that dress she was wearing was doing things to his control. He slowly dragged his eyes away from Kady. She hadn't spoken to him since they left the apartment before the wedding, and he was curious why. "Kady, are you really going to spend the whole time we are together pissed that I'm here? Or could we at least enjoy each other’s company?"
Kady scoffed. "Please, I don't see how anyone could enjoy your company." Kady smiled when she heard the sharp intake of breath; she had finally gotten through to him.
"Kady you are really testing my nerves."
Kady shot him a dangerous look. "I'm testing you? Are you serious? You are the most impossible person! I can't even stand to look at you."
Brad's blood pressure started to rise. This woman was impossible. "Kady, why are you being so stubborn? I haven't done anything," he said as they pulled up to her apartment building.
She gave him no answer and shot out of the car, slamming the door behind her. She stomped her way up to the elevator and pushed the button hard.
He walked up behind her. "Fine, don't talk to me, but I can promise you I will grow on you, and eventually you may even begin to like me."
She crossed her arms, the low cut dress giving her no room to hide anything. She kept her eyes on the doors of the elevator. "Me like you? I seriously doubt that's going to happen."
He braced himself on the wall with his hand above her head, so his body was very close to hers. She took a step to the side, she could feel the heat from his body and it was making her a little dizzy. She took a deep breath and stepped into the elevator. She pushed the button for her floor, and moved into the far corner away from Brad. He smiled; he could almost see her control snapping. He couldn't quite understand why she was so hardheaded; she was one independent woman, all right. He watched her and noticed her shiver.
"Here take my jacket," he said as he started to slowly shrug it off.
"No," she said simply. Kady knew very well if she took that jacket and put it on she would be overwhelmed with his scent, and that would make it damn near impossible to hate him.
He sighed. "Fine, I was just trying to be nice."
She kept her eyes on the floor, and walked quickly to her door. Brad stood close behind her, and Kady bit her lip when she swore she felt his breath on her neck. She walked into the kitchen and grabbed some water; she turned to find Brad behind her. "Help yourself, I'm going to bed," she said as she started to walk past him.
"Kady, why do you hate me so much?"
His question caught her off guard. "Because you are impossible to get along with."
He smirked. "I don't think I'm bad," he said, leaning back against the counter.
She took a minute to take his appearance in, jacket off, tie loose around his neck, and the first two buttons of his shirt unbuttoned. "I'm going to bed." She turned and walked into her room. Oh hell, it had taken everything she had not to jump him right there in the kitchen, it was only easier to hate him. Love and sex only complicated things. Her heart had been broken one too many times, and she knew Brad's type, love ‘em and leave ‘em. Once his job here was done, she would never have to hear from him again. Now all she had to do was to find a way to keep him at arm’s length until then.
Brad walked over to the couch. He pulled his shoes and socks off, while shrugging his shirt off. He took his belt off and neatly folded everything and laid them along with his gun on the coffee table. He would worry about that later, right now he needed sleep. He stretched out on the couch and quickly fell asleep.
Kady pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt. She opened her door and smiled when she saw Brad's long form fast asleep on the couch. Her eyes scanned down his tan torso, and a familiar feeling started in the pit of her stomach when she saw the enticing trail of hair disappear into his pants. She found a blanket and draped it over him, she had to or she might do something she regretted. She turned the lights off and closed the door to her room quietly. Brad opened his eyes when he heard the door close. So she didn't hate him has much as she pretended, but he had to find out why she wanted to keep him at arm’s length.
Kady rolled onto her side and looked at the clock: 10 am. She closed her eyes. She definitely didn't want to think about how long this day was going to be. She had to go to work at 12.
Brad woke up and stretched, the couch was more comfortable than he thought, although he was sure Kady's bed was much more comfortable. He stood up and got dressed after a quick shower. Kady's door was still closed. He sighed and knocked softly on her door. Kady came to the door and Brad smiled, her sleep-tousled hair was cute.
"It's 11 and I'm pretty sure you have to be at work at 12," he said, leaning against the door.
"Thank you for the update. And how did you know I had to go to work at 12?"
"Your father called."
Kady sighed. "Thanks for waking me," she said before closing the door. She sighed. Wow, he looked great in his dark blue dress pants and button up shirt. The sleeves of the off white shirt where rolled up to his elbows. She sighed again. She looked a mess.
Brad smiled as he sat down on the couch to wait for Kady. He could see the way she looked at him with lust in her eyes. Why did she pretend to hate him so much? He made a mental note to find out why on the way to her workplace.
Kady stepped out of the room a little while later and walked past Brad like no one was there. She got to the door and opened it, giving Brad no indication she was going to wait for him. Brad caught up with her, walking behind her. He bit his lip as he watched the lovely way her hips swayed in the loose fabric of the dark dress pants she was wearing. "So you're just going to act like I don't even exist anymore…is that it?"
Kady pushed the button for the elevator. "If that's what it takes to make it through these two months, then yes."
He crossed his arms and Kady saw the muscles in his arms flex against the loose cloth of his shirt. "Fine, but make note, I am not the easiest person to ignore," he said in a deep voice, which sent a delicious shiver down Kady's spine. She shrugged her shoulders, as she stepped into the elevator, followed closely behind by Brad. "Let me ask you something, Kady." He paused, waiting for her response; when she said nothing, he went on. "Why do you pretend to hate me?"
She shot him an evil look. "There is no pretending on my part, Brad," she said her voice full of venom.
Brad cringed. Damn, she was good. "I know you can't hate me as much as you claim you do."
She laughed. "And how do you know that?"
He smiled. "I woke up this morning with a blanket over me, that wasn't there when I went to sleep."
She rolled her eyes. "It was a cold night. I don't want you getting sick."
He smiled. "So there is some glimmer of hope there that you might grow to like me."
She scoffed. "I wouldn't count on it." Kady stepped off the elevator and walked slowly to Brad's car.
"Look, Kady, I don't know why you instantly hated me, but I promise you, it isn't going to make me go away."
She stood next to the passenger door and gave him no answer. He sighed and figured this argument was better for when they were in her apartment. He sensed there was something underlying, some hurt or pain, and that was why she would let him in her life. Although he didn't need to let his lust for her over cloud his desire to protect her.
After work Kady rubbed her neck, as she walked slowly out of the building. Brad followed close behind her. She sighed. She really couldn't handle the way he looked at her, and her defenses were down after work.
Brad caught up to her. "Kady, we really need to talk."
Kady said nothing. She reached for the door handle on his car, and Brad stepped in front of the door. "Kady, you can't ignore me for two months, you eventually have to talk to me."
Before Kady had a chance to answer a black SUV pulled up, and a shiver of cold fear went down Brad's spine. The window in the SUV's passenger side rolled down just enough for the end of a gun to pop out. Brad was on top of Kady as soon as the first shot was fired. The next shot was aimed extremely close to Brad's leg and hit his car instead. The SUV sped off, and Brad jumped up, firing two shots, barely missing the SUV's left back tire.
Brad looked at Kady. "Are you okay?" She shrugged, and turned toward the car. Brad sighed. "Damn," he said under his breath. He walked over and looked at what the shot did to his car. He noticed Kady crying. "Are you sure you're alright?"
She wiped a tear away from her eye. "I'm fine."
"Kady what’s wrong, why do you want to keep me at arm’s length?"
She looked away from him. "Because I don't need you. If anything, your presence makes me more of a target."
He shook his head. She wasn't making any sense. "Kady, you need me, and I think that little episode just proved it."
She crossed her arms, not saying a word.
"Why are you so stubborn?"
Kady scoffed, still giving him no answer. She was really starting to piss him off. He just saved her life and he still got anger from her. "Kady, I just saved your life, so I'd say you need me."
She looked at him with disgust in her eyes. "I do not need you. I can handle someone with a gun, I've had a gun aimed at me before and came out just fine without a man, thanks."
Brad had had enough. "Yeah, and your mother ended up dead."
The color drained from Kady's face, and Brad almost threw up, he couldn't believe he had said that. Damn his big mouth.
He reached for her arm, and Kady moved away from him. "Kady I am so sorry, I didn't mean it."
She looked at him. "How did you know?"
He sighed. "Your father told me." He looked at her face, and wanted to cry himself, he could see that he really hurt her. "Kady…" he said quietly.
"Just take me home, Brad."
He sighed. Damn, he had really messed up now. He couldn't help it, that woman knew how to get under his skin. The ride to her apartment was silent, but you could cut the tension with a knife.
Kady thought about that faithful night on the way home. A man had broken into their house while her father wasn't home. The man had grabbed Kady and put the gun to her head when the police showed up. She tried her best to talk him out of it, when she saw her mother walking up to the man from the side. Kady tried not to let the man know she was coming, but he saw her look at her mother, and out of fear he turned the gun on her mother, and without warning, he shot her. Kady shivered when she thought about watching her mother die, knowing there was nothing she could do. The police eventually shot the man, and he died with is arm still around Kady's neck. She hugged herself, as she watched the street go by, and a silent tear slipped down her face.
Kady didn't say anything to him for the rest of the night, and was sitting on her bed reading a book, trying not to think about him, or her mother, when there was a knock on her door. With a sigh she opened it and walked past him into the living room.
"Kady, we really need to talk."
"I have nothing to say to you, Brad."
"Well then you can listen." She got up to walk away from him. "Kady please, just listen to me."
She stopped and looked at him. "What?"
He stood up. "Look, I didn't mean what I said, it's just that…well no one has ever been able to make me mad like you did tonight, and I wanted to make you just as mad, but I shouldn't have said it. I just really don't understand why you automatically hated me."
She sighed, and Brad grew hopeful. "Look, Brad, just listen," she said. She sat down. "When we got shot at tonight, that brought back all the memories of when my mother died. I had to watch her die, because he was holding the gun to my head Brad, the same gun that had just killed my mother." She hugged herself, and her voice cracked as she went on. "The police eventually got a clear shot, and shot the man, and when he fell down, I went with him, because his arm was still wrapped around my neck." She took a deep breath, "I had to feel him take his last breath."
Brad sat down next to Kady, lightly putting his hand on hers. "Kady, I'm sorry."
She looked at him through tear-filled eyes. "Brad I..." She sighed and stood up, and Brad followed.
He wanted to kiss her so bad, to take her pain away, but he didn't know how she felt. He came up behind her, his mouth inches from her left ear. "Kady I'm so sorry I brought up your mother, it was in no way your fault she was killed, please don't hate me anymore."
A shiver shot down her spine, and she turned around. She kept her eyes on the floor, and Brad used his forefinger to tip her chin up. "Kady…" he said, before brushing his lips across hers.
Kady hesitated, but it felt too right. She returned the light kiss, and brought her hands around his back. Brad deepened the kiss, licking his tongue around her bottom lip. Kady responded and opened her mouth. Brad ran his hands up her back, and Kady moaned softly into his mouth.
Kady pulled away when there was a loud knock at the door. She looked at Brad, and almost melted into him again, because of the raw lust she saw in his eyes. He turned and reluctantly walked to the door.
"Who is it?" he asked without looking through the peephole.
"It's Kevin, Brad." Brad looked and saw Kevin.
He opened the door, and turned to look at Kady, who had composed herself, which was more than Brad could say for himself. He followed Kevin after he closed the door and sat across from him and Kady.
"So, Brad, tell me what happened."
Brad recounted what happened, and Kevin looked at Kady.
"Well it's late, and both of you look dead tired, so I'll come back tomorrow. You two get some sleep." Kevin hugged Kady and shook Brad's hand.
After he was gone, Kady started to walk to her room. "Kady wait…"
"Brad, please save it for tomorrow, I don't have the strength." She walked into her room and closed the door. Brad sighed, and undressed. He fell onto the couch, but sleep didn't come so easily.
The next morning Brad woke and noticed that Kady was still asleep. He decided what he needed was a hot shower and a good shave. After a good shower, he was standing in front of the sink with only a towel wrapped around his waist when the door opened. Kady's breath caught in her throat, and she couldn't speak. She watched a bead of water slowly make its way down Brad's back, and disappear inside the towel. He watched her with the razor still poised in the air.
"Kady, something wrong?"
She cleared her throat. "Yeah, I just need to borrow that toothpaste." Brad smiled, and Kady watched his muscles flex as he reached to hand her the toothpaste. "Listen Brad about last night."
Brad took a step forward as he finished wiping the shaving cream off of his face. "Kady, we both know it was bound to happen sooner or later."
Kady took a step back, and her back hit something solid, the door, dammit, why had she not left the door open? Brad cupped her face in his hand, and made lazy circles on her bottom lip with his thumb. Kady pressed her lips to his thumb, and a shiver went down Brad's spine.
He took a step closer, and brought his lips to meet hers. Kady fell into his kiss, the heat from his body melting into her. Brad ran his hands through her hair, pulling her mouth closer to his. There was a loud knock at the front door, which seemed to pull Kady to her senses. She tore open the bathroom door and quickly walked to the front door, looking back at Brad, who threw her a gorgeous smile that made a shiver snake its way down her spine.
"Who is it?" Kady asked.
"It's Lacey," came the muffled voice from the other side of the door.
Kady turned and looked at Brad. "My best friend."
Brad nodded and closed the bathroom door, not before winking at Kady. She blushed, and opened the door. "Hey, what's up?"
Lacey walked into the apartment. "Kyle broke up with me, and kicked me out of the apartment," Lacey said as she sat down on the couch, a tear falling down her face.
Kady sat down next to her. "Sweetie, I'm sorry. You can stay here if you want to."
Lacey smiled through her tears. "Thank you." The toilet flushed and Lacey looked at the bathroom door, "Who's here?"
Kady suppressed her smile. "He's my bodyguard, name’s Brad."
Lacey smiled. "Is he hot?"
Brad ran his hand through his hair, as he finished dressing in black dress pants and a black button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He opened the bathroom door and turned to look at the two girls.
Lacey smiled at Kady.