Guarded

Chapter 6

The sunshine reflected my mood today. I skipped out of the house feeling extra happy even going as far as far as greeting Barbosa again who of course didn't respond "good morning Barbosa... I said 'good morning Barbosa'... I don't find your silence particularly amusing this morning you know. The least you could do is answer me" I earned nothing more than a blank stare.

I knew my dad had him sign some ridiculous contract but I could tell Barbosa wanted to speak to me. Over the past month or so every time I attempted to get something out of him though he never answered me id noticed a few eye rolls and small smirks.

I moved around him to the front of the limousine, opening the door of the driver's door and yanking out the keys. I looked up at Barbosa who hadn't moved to stop but watched, confused, as I pushed the end of the key against the side of the car. His curious eyes widened as I dragged the key along the cars side, scratching the sleek car.

I resisted the urge to grin when I watched Barbosa's lips open and close as he tried to understand what was happening. This was how I would break him. I moved the key to a different position preparing to further disfigure the vehicle.

"Stop. Stop! Have you gone mad?" he slapped the keys out of my hands.

"You spoke" I'd forgotten how smooth his voice was.

"Your father is going to kill me" he pushed me out of the way and bent to examine the damage to the car.

"you spoke" a feeling of accomplishment spread through me but my enjoyment was cut short when he shot me a look of seething anger over his shoulder "oh don't look at me like that, you pushed me to it you robot. It's not like it can't be buffed out"

"And I suppose you expect me to do that"

"No of course not. I'd do it"

"What" he said as if the idea of me willing to fix the car was absurd.

"I'll sneak into the garage tomorrow and buff it out myself. Don't worry ill paint over it. Not a bit of evidence left"

"Why would you do that? You could pay for that or get the mansion repairman to restore it secretly"

"When I fuck up I fix it. The idea of having someone clean a mess I made is ridiculous, I'm a big girl"

"I guess"

"Good. Now that that's sorted we can continue tour journey" I walked back to th passenger door then stopped " and before I forget, good morning Barbosa"  he looked at me for a moment "you know what I wanna hear"

"Good morning Miss Hayes"

...

We were sat out on the porch of Anya's house but I was starting to think the sun wasn't the reason she chose for us to sit outside "will you stop staring at my bodyguard"

"I'm not staring. I'm appreciating"

"You're drooling"

"No more than you"

"How's Jacob" I changed the subject suddenly making her blush.

She took a sip of her lemonade before answering "he's well"

"I know you like him"

"You're wrong"

"See, you get all quiet when he's around or is even mention him" I had known Jacob a lot longer than her but I knew Anya just as well.

"I'm pretty sure he likes someone... someone else" she mumbled the end of her sentence.

"Well whoever she is she's got no chance. You're like the prettiest girl he knows"

"You're pretty. I mean, he's been staring this whole time" she looked over to Barbosa who was lent up against the limousine that was parked up yards from us. I didn't blame him. I could only imagine how hot it was in that defaced car.

"Him? It's a death glare"

"Death glare?"

"Yeah. I may or may not have scratched up the car but I did get him to speak to me"

"What does he sound like?"

Deep and smooth like velvet but with such hurt and strength behind it. Commanding yet gentle and playful even when he's angry: was what I wanted to say but I settled for just "deep" instead.

"He's so hot"

"I guess. If talk and dark are your type"

"Do you hear yourself right now?"

As much as I tried not to I did actually hear myself and God was I was in denial.