“So are you single, Gage?”
“I am. There’s not much opportunity to settle down with this job since I have to live in the carriage house with West.”
I moved toward the island to grab a handful of grapes from the fruit bowl. Popping one in my mouth, I said, “Well, that’s true, but you might have a girlfriend. It’s not like you have to work twenty-four-seven.”
“Nope. No girlfriend.”
“That’s good. I mean, you having a girlfriend might make what we have to do a little harder.”
In truth, it was good because that meant Jordan had a chance. I was happy to hear that he was single and couldn’t wait to tell her all the details about him.
“Are you from around here?”
“No. I grew up in Wyoming, the Cowboy State. That’s the nickname for Wyoming.”
“You don’t look like a cowboy,” I said with a smile, hoping he recognized that I wasn’t trying to be insulting.
He reached across the island and picked a few grapes off the bunch. “I’m not. I got out of there as soon as I could. Spent some time in the Navy and then spent a few years bouncing around the country before I got into this line of work.”
I subtly scanned his muscular frame, imagining him in Navy whites. Jordan was going to melt when she heard he was former Navy. That May we got to experience Fleet Week had made quite an impression on her, and she’d said for months afterward that she’d love to have a sailor. Hell, she might melt when I told her he was from somewhere they call the Cowboy State.
“Ever been married?” I probed.
He smiled broadly. “No. No ex-wife and no kids either.”
Check. Single and unfettered. He was looking better and better by the minute. I filed these facts away and popped another grape in my mouth. “Don’t you want to know anything about me?”
Varo folded his arms across his chest and shook his head. “Since I’m not scoping you out for a friend, I figured I’d just let you tell me about yourself when you felt comfortable.”
Caught red-handed! Damn.
I felt my cheeks grow hot as a blush of embarrassment spread over me. “I…it’s just…Jordan’s a great…” I stammered out, not having much success in getting my point across.
“It’s okay. I’m flattered, even if I can’t ask her out.”
“Why? She’s fantastic. She’s a teacher, a wonderful person, and she’s a great time. I think you’d like her.”
“I already do, but it doesn’t change the fact that we can’t get together while I’m on this job. It just wouldn’t work out.”
My shoulders sagged under my disappointment at his words. “Oh. Are you sure?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea as long as I’m guarding you. Conflict of interest. Plus, I don’t think my boss would like it.”
All of a sudden there seemed to be a light at the end of the tunnel. “Then it’s all good because I know your boss and he’d be fine with it,” I said grinning with satisfaction.
Varo stood silently for a moment and nodded. “You make a convincing argument. Maybe when all this is over I might try to see if we can get together.”
A might was better than a no, so I clapped my hands together in triumph. “That’s great! I’m not going to say anything to her, though, so I don’t ruin it. I don’t want to meddle.”
“I think they call that matchmaking instead of meddling.”
Shrugging, I explained, “I just like to see everyone as happy as Tristan and I are.”
Varo looked at me oddly, as if he couldn’t believe what I’d just said. I could understand that. It’s not like Tristan was anywhere nearby for months now, but I still had hope. “I know that sounds strange, but we are happy. It’s just that we’re not together now. Soon, though. I have to keep believing it’ll be soon.”
“I’m all for being happy, but as far as I can tell, very few get that blessing.”
Hmmm, the bodyguard is a little jaded.
“Well, as Jordan always says, good things happen to good people. She says that to me, and I’m saying that to you. They do.”
“I’ll have to take your word on that, Nina. I haven’t seen that to be true yet.”
“Just you wait and see, Gage. Trust me. I know about these things,” I said as I grabbed another handful of grapes and headed out of the kitchen. “Now let’s get your stuff moved into your room.”
By the time Jordan got home after work, Gage had moved all of his things into his new room next to mine. Not that he had a lot of belongings to his name. A large garbage bag would have held every item he owned. The man certainly traveled light. Even though I’d been uncomfortable about Tristan’s idea to make the world think he was never coming back, the part that involved Gage wasn’t so bad, after all. I still hated the idea that anyone would believe I’d be able to move on so easily and replace Tristan, but at least I’d found out my partner in the deception was a decent guy. I’d be happy when he and Jordan finally got together.
I met her at the door, thrilled to tell her the small part I could about him moving into the house. Since Daryl had warned me against keeping her in the loop, I had to come up with a story that sounded somewhat believable.
“Hey, you! How was your day with the little darlings?”
She looked up from putting her keys in her purse and frowned. “Awful. Two of my students got into a fight, and now I have to go back at six tonight to meet with the parents. The worst part is that my principal thinks this happened because I can’t handle my classroom.”
“I’m sorry you had such a bad day. Come into the kitchen and sit down with me so we can talk and eat a little dinner before you have to go back to the city.”
Jordan shook her head. “I can’t. I’m just going to grab a quick shower and get ready. I hope you don’t mind me asking Jensen if he’d take me back.”
I took her bag and walked with her down the hallway to her room. “Of course. It’s not like you’re going to take a bus there. I can come with you, if you like. I didn’t get out today, so I can get dressed and be ready to go in no time.”
Pushing her bedroom door open, she took the bag from my hand and threw it on the bed. “No, that’s okay, Nina. I better do this alone. When I get home, hopefully I’ll be in a better mood.”