Page 18 of My Bodyguard’s The Boss

“Oh yeah?” Austin sat up, trying to quell his excitement. “Should I get dressed, or do you want me naked and tied up in the front hall?”

Dominic laughed, surprised. “You can wear whatever you want. But we’re eating first. And I’m bringing something for you to put on—after.”

Austin’s brows shot up. The pause made Dominic sound like he was nervous about it. What the hell was he bringing him?

“Like what?” Austin asked. “I had a girl who wanted me to wear nothing but that leather jacket from the Scarnut movie. You know, the one I⁠—”

“Stole from the wardrobe department,” Dominic said. “I remember. There’s no leather jackets, don’t worry.”

He hesitated again. Austin rubbed his waxed chest and wondered what could make Dominic, who had ordered his boss to suck his dick less than twelve hours ago, nervous.

“Have you heard from the morning security team?” Dominic asked finally.

Austin tapped his phone to check. He had an email from his agent and yet another promo from Uber Eats he would never use, but otherwise nothing.

“No,” he said. “Should I? Shit, don’t tell me. There was a sexy, buff guy sneaking out of my house last night.”

To his immense disappointment, Dominic didn’t laugh.

“The gun that went off in that wait staff locker last night,” Dominic said. “We just confirmed who it belongs to.”

“Okay,” Austin said, his stomach sinking. “Who?’

“Gail Dain.”

A name that could make Austin soft no matter the situation. He pushed himself out of bed, suddenly itching to lift some weights or go for a run.

Gail Dain was—as of two years ago—his most dedicated stalker. He’d only talked to her once, when he signed a napkin for her. She ran into him outside a restaurant she’d followed him into, evading the front-of-house staff who asked for her reservation so she could find him.

She seemed cool at first. Tall, tattooed, and muscled, just like him. Gail hadn’t gotten flustered as so many fans did. She actually looked him in the eyes. It was nice, before he realized how intently she was watching him.

I just think we’re so alike, she had told him as he scribbled her name down on a napkin. Kindred spirits.

Totally, he had agreed mindlessly. Thanks, man. Keep it real.

Then he’d walked off. He hadn’t thought anything about it until he started seeing her around the neighborhood. Everywhere he went, there she was. And when she started showing up to his jobs several states away…

Well. That was a problem. So were the notes, which arrived with increasing frequency and frustration. According to Gail, she was serious about them being kindred spirits. And she did not appreciate being ignored.

“I didn’t think she was that kind of crazy,” Austin said. “That wasn’t, like… an attempt, right? If I can’t have you, no one can?”

“Not that we can tell,” Dominic said. “But I’m calling in extra security until the police can access her properly.”

“Uh-huh.” Austin scratched anxiously at his oldest tattoo: a lighter along his bicep, faded with age. She had one a lot like it. She had a lot of tattoos like his, all flames and knives and eyes. The kind you let the tattoo artist pick because you didn’t care what they were, as long as they fit the vibe.

Gail fully bought into his tough guy persona. She wanted him to be the “Joker to her Harley,” as she put it. Which just showed how little she knew him.

“Maybe if we tell her I’m just some guy who likes being told what to do and has a favorite spoon, she’ll leave me alone,” Austin joked, heading toward the bathroom.

These were his least favorite fans. Even without the stalker shit, he hated knowing so many people really believed his tough guy schtick. He had assumed people would know it was an act. But no, they really bought into it.

“You don’t need to be worried,” Dominic started.

“Who’s worried?” Austin sighed. He passed by the bathroom mirror and flexed, reminding himself how much bigger he was than Gail. Then again, if she had a gun, it wouldn’t matter.

“You’ll keep me safe,” Austin continued when Dominic started to say something else. “Every evening. And you’re gonna be around more, right?”

He watched his reflection grimace. Fuck, could he sound any more pathetic? He was never this bad with past flings. Or situationships. Or whatever the fuck they were.