“Well, it’s not so much a team right now.” She let out a thin laugh. “I have a few people who help me out with things.” She made a face, which gave me the first small indication that she still had at least a tiny sense of humor and made me smile in return. “But none of them are equipped to handle any real trouble.” Her gaze moved down my body, but then as though her eyes had wandered without her permission, they shot back to my face. “I know you’re not trained either, but I think you can do a good job. You’re obviously very fit and, you know…in good shape.” I swore I saw the color in her cheeks deepen very slightly, but I couldn’t be sure. “Anyway, your job will be to have my back, watch the crowd, act as a barrier between me and any out-of-control fans. Two weeks ago, someone rushed me. He just wanted to give me a letter, but it spooked me. My boyfriend has a security team, but their job is to keep their eyes on him. So, when the guy shot forward, they surrounded Charlie, and I was sort of left hanging.”

Her boyfriend. “Got it,” I said. It sounded easy enough. I’d learned to keep my head on a swivel in prison as a matter of self-preservation. I could certainly keep Emily safe from overeager basement dwellers wielding love letters and reeking of desperation.

“You’ll accompany me to any and all social events. If it’s a party or something like that, you’ll only be expected to escort me in and out of the location. But if it’s a public affair, I’ll ask that you guard me inside the venue.”

“Okay.”

“So, your work hours may be unpredictable. I’ll have to ask you to be on call some days.”

“That’s fine.”

“If at some point it becomes clear that I need to expand my team, then I’ll make that happen.”

I nodded.

“Anyway, some of it we’ll have to make up as we go along. I’ve never had a bodyguard before. Any questions for me?”

I ran my palms over my jean-clad thighs. “I guess my only question now is whether you want me to wear anything specific?” Did bodyguards wear uniforms? I wasn’t sure. I’d let her tell me.

She seemed stumped for a moment, looking away as she twirled a piece of ice-blond hair around one daggerlike finger, her lips puckered in a shiny pout. “All black, maybe?” Her eyes moved over me again. “Hold on.” She turned her head. “Destanie?”

The petite, colorful young woman rounded the corner as though she’d been standing nearby, just waiting to be summoned. “Yes?”

“What do you think my new bodyguard should wear?”