With one hand I scooped up the underwear, T-shirt, cardigan, jeans, and shoes I’d worn yesterday. “Normally I tidy up after myself and make my bed, I swear. This is very unusual for me.”

He just blinked.

“I just got in so early in the morning and then I slept so badly,” I said in an almighty rush. “Please don’t think I’m a slob.”

He blinked again. “There are precisely six locations in this room that an intruder could hope to hide in. That is all I’m thinking about.”

“Okay.” I smiled. “Good. Stick with that.”

His movements somewhat more stilted than before, he checked in my ensuite and extensive walk-in closet.

“Well, that wasn’t embarrassing at all,” I said. “All clear?”

“Yes.”

“Great. Excellent.”

The man just looked at me. I’m not sure what the look meant. But then his gaze dropped to the collection of items in my arms. Most noticeably, to the black lace thong dangling off my finger. Oops. Quick as possible, I scrunched it up in my hand. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Might have been the low lighting, yet I could have sworn the man almost blushed.

“Guess you’ve seen just about everything, what with being a bodyguard.” I slapped on my best friendliest smile. He wasn’t the only one who knew how to strike a pose. Even if his poses were mostly imitations of rock formations and other impassive, poker-faced things.

“Yes, miss.”

“Probably seen people doing all sorts of crazy things. My messy bedroom probably doesn’t even really rate.”

Another blink.

“You know, men usually have to take me out to dinner before they get to see my underwear,” I joked.

The man just stared.

Oh, God. “I shouldn’t have said that. That was really inappropriate. I’m so sorry. When I get nervous I tend to blather and nothing that comes out is ever any good.”

“It’s fine, miss.”

“I’m usually much more together than this. I don’t–”

“I’m going to leave now.”

I took a breath. “Um, yeah. That might be for the best.”

“If you could be sure to lock the door after me and use the security system?”

“Of course. Sorry again.”

He turned to go, then paused, a flash of irritation crossing his face. “I forgot to ask, have you decided upon your movements tomorrow?”

“Nothing much until my lunch appointment.”

“I’ll be here at nine then. There’s a few jobs I’d like to do before we head out.”

“Okay.”