The Bodyguard (Hosie)

Chapter 5

The girls headed out for another night of drinks and dancing and this time, Hope joined them without Wendy. Work was her excuse, Hope explained. They opened another bottle of vodka and started the night off with a new drinking game that Hope taught them. Then, it was dance floor time. In a circle of five this time, they danced and moved with the alcohol introducing a little more inhibition to their system.

Through their time on the dance floor, several men tried to dance with them but the circle remained closed to them. Until Josie felt a hand on her butt. She gasped and turned around but somebody else had already acted on it. The bodyguard. She watched as the bodyguard grabbed the wrist of the offending hand and saw the grimace on the man's face.

"Are you looking for a free room at the police station tonight?"

Not wishing to invite trouble, the man shook his head, muttered an apology, and made a hasty escape.

"Oh my God, you're so tough," Penelope commented when Hope turned back to them, "and cool."

"Thank you." Josie didn't know what else to say but her friends had plenty of praise for the bodyguard and it irritated her on a level she couldn't explain.

A short while later, the bodyguard excused herself to get some water and Josie watched as the petite woman disappeared into the crowd, wondering how such a small person could be so strong.

"Hey," said Penelope, nudging her, "Your friend is cool. She's a good catch."

"What?"

Inching closer to Josie's ear, Penelope yelled to make herself heard. "Your friend! She's a good catch!"

"She?" Josie found the thought ludicrous. "She's just a bo–"

"Just a what?"

"Nothing."

"Are you interested in her?"

"Of course not!"

"Why not?"

"If you want her, you can have her!"

Penelope grinned. "I already have Lizzie!"

"So you shouldn't be eyeing other girls!"

"I'm just looking out for you!"

"Thanks! But no thanks!"

"But–"

"What makes you think she likes women?" Josie cut off Penelope and went back to their table to get away from the overzealous matchmaker that was her friend. But much to her disgust, standing near their table was the bodyguard and yet another woman, looking cozy, chatting and laughing away.

Marching straight up to them, Josie remarked, "Another friend?"

"Josie," the bodyguard looked to her with a smile, "we just met. Her name is Jade. She's American too."

"I'm sure that's very nice for you. But I would prefer you take this elsewhere, out of my sight."

The new friend tugged at the bodyguard's arm. "Let's go and dance, Hope."

Josie sat on their couch and grabbed an empty glass to pour herself some vodka. She could still see the slim figure of the bodyguard's new blonde friend, long legs striding on insane five-inch platform heels, and that irritated her even more. She wasn't enjoying herself here tonight and it was the bodyguard's fault. Deciding that she had enough, Josie got up to leave and sent a message to her friends to let them know she was heading back to the hotel.

But of course, by the time she stepped outside, it was clear to her that someone was hot on her heels. And it was none other than the bodyguard. She stepped up her pace but the bodyguard caught up with her anyway.