don’t know. I could lose myself in Vegas. Or I could head to San Diego. I can go anywhere with a big population and lots of tourists.” He didn’t look very happy, and Maya couldn’t stand it. His nervous energy bounced off the walls as he paced back and forth across the room, and she had half a mind to grab him and sit him down before she lost her mind.
She didn’t; he obviously needed to work off the adrenaline. “I have a better idea,” she finally told him, and he looked at her with an expression full of doubt. “Don’t give me that look. Why don’t you believe me?”
He shook his head. “I believe you think you have a better idea, but you’ve never had to deal with anything like this. I can’t imagine you coming up with a solution better than going off the grid.”
Maya jutted her chin out. “I’m offended. At least hear me out.” He stopped pacing and waited, looking impatient. “Come with me to L.A.”
He scoffed. “You’re kidding, right? Maya, if they found me, and I was with you, that puts you in danger, too. I won’t get you killed because you feel sorry for me. Or because I’m selfish.”
But Maya already had an answer for that. “I’m in danger anyway. I’m on top of the industry right now. My face is everywhere. One of the Scorpions had to recognize me, and I’m not that hard to track down. If they can’t find you, they’ll come for me. I’d be safer if you were there to protect me. And it would give me peace of mind.”
He stared at her, and Maya watched the realization that she spoke the truth sweep over him. His expression hardened, and his shoulders tensed. “Could I be with you all the time, even while you’re working? And what happens when the shoot is over?” he asked.
“You’re my bodyguard,” she told him. “It’s simple and believable. You look the part, as long as you lose the vest.” She smiled at his pained expression. “We’ll keep it with us, but it just paints a target on your back.” He nodded in agreement. “We’ll talk about what we do next after the shoot. Maybe this will blow over. And if not, we’ll have a backup plan.”
She watched the thoughts spin in his head, as he mulled it over. Maya figured he was trying to think of any negative repercussions of going with her, but he wouldn’t find any. This was what he wanted. Whether they wanted to be together or not, this was necessary, and if Maya could figure out her own feelings, maybe she could give Vance the shot he asked for.
“When your things get here, grab the minimum. It’s got to fit in a saddlebag.” He walked out of the room and returned with some of his own things. “I hope your hot little ass can handle several hours on a bike, pretty lady.”
She grinned at him. “It’s another adventure, hot stuff.” And leaving so much of her stuff behind would only add to the sense of adventure. She’d been terrified when they’d gotten here, not knowing what to expect or how much danger there might be. However, knowing that Vance would be with her, she felt much more confident and definitely safer.
She watched him pack his things, and Maya hoped she could be as efficient with the other bag, but whatever didn’t fit could wait for her. She’d be back here soon enough. She had to believe this would all come to an end sooner than later. If it didn’t, the fear would return, and she’d be terrified to step out her front door.
CHAPTER TEN
Vance’s soft, rhythmic breathing was the perfect thing to wake up to in the morning, and Maya smiled as she came to life. The sunbeams were warm and caressed her face through the window, much the way Vance’s hands touched her body at night. She’d never been so satisfied, and it could only get better.
Yesterday had ended her photo shoot in LA, and Maya didn’t know what came next. She’d been kept in the loop regarding the bad blood between the Scorpions and the Mojave Boys.
She didn’t; he obviously needed to work off the adrenaline. “I have a better idea,” she finally told him, and he looked at her with an expression full of doubt. “Don’t give me that look. Why don’t you believe me?”
He shook his head. “I believe you think you have a better idea, but you’ve never had to deal with anything like this. I can’t imagine you coming up with a solution better than going off the grid.”
Maya jutted her chin out. “I’m offended. At least hear me out.” He stopped pacing and waited, looking impatient. “Come with me to L.A.”
He scoffed. “You’re kidding, right? Maya, if they found me, and I was with you, that puts you in danger, too. I won’t get you killed because you feel sorry for me. Or because I’m selfish.”
But Maya already had an answer for that. “I’m in danger anyway. I’m on top of the industry right now. My face is everywhere. One of the Scorpions had to recognize me, and I’m not that hard to track down. If they can’t find you, they’ll come for me. I’d be safer if you were there to protect me. And it would give me peace of mind.”
He stared at her, and Maya watched the realization that she spoke the truth sweep over him. His expression hardened, and his shoulders tensed. “Could I be with you all the time, even while you’re working? And what happens when the shoot is over?” he asked.
“You’re my bodyguard,” she told him. “It’s simple and believable. You look the part, as long as you lose the vest.” She smiled at his pained expression. “We’ll keep it with us, but it just paints a target on your back.” He nodded in agreement. “We’ll talk about what we do next after the shoot. Maybe this will blow over. And if not, we’ll have a backup plan.”
She watched the thoughts spin in his head, as he mulled it over. Maya figured he was trying to think of any negative repercussions of going with her, but he wouldn’t find any. This was what he wanted. Whether they wanted to be together or not, this was necessary, and if Maya could figure out her own feelings, maybe she could give Vance the shot he asked for.
“When your things get here, grab the minimum. It’s got to fit in a saddlebag.” He walked out of the room and returned with some of his own things. “I hope your hot little ass can handle several hours on a bike, pretty lady.”
She grinned at him. “It’s another adventure, hot stuff.” And leaving so much of her stuff behind would only add to the sense of adventure. She’d been terrified when they’d gotten here, not knowing what to expect or how much danger there might be. However, knowing that Vance would be with her, she felt much more confident and definitely safer.
She watched him pack his things, and Maya hoped she could be as efficient with the other bag, but whatever didn’t fit could wait for her. She’d be back here soon enough. She had to believe this would all come to an end sooner than later. If it didn’t, the fear would return, and she’d be terrified to step out her front door.
CHAPTER TEN
Vance’s soft, rhythmic breathing was the perfect thing to wake up to in the morning, and Maya smiled as she came to life. The sunbeams were warm and caressed her face through the window, much the way Vance’s hands touched her body at night. She’d never been so satisfied, and it could only get better.
Yesterday had ended her photo shoot in LA, and Maya didn’t know what came next. She’d been kept in the loop regarding the bad blood between the Scorpions and the Mojave Boys.
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