Page 54 of Protected
At four-thirty that afternoon, Darci was preparing to leave work and put her plan of bribing Bradley with dinner and sex into motion. She stepped out of her office to tell her detail she was ready. To her surprise, she found Bradley chatting with the guard stationed in reception.
“Bradley! I thought you were working late.”
He turned from his conversation and grinned. “I rearranged some things because I want to take you to dinner. I have a surprise for you at the restaurant, but you have to promise not to get pissed at me.”
She frowned. That didn’t sound suspicious at all. “Well, I was going to surprise you with dinner at your place, but I suppose we can go out. I’m worried about a surprise you think I’ll get pissed at, though.”
He held out his hand. “Come on, it’s not bad I promise. We’re going to Old Ebbitt Grill. Nice and touristy.”
Doing her best to ignore the security guard following them, she took his hand and walked they walked out together.
In the car, she took a deep breath. Did she really need a bribe to ask for what she wanted? Her therapist had been encouraging her to learn how to speak up when she wanted something. This could be good practice.
“I was planning to soften you up with dinner and wine before I asked this. Can we please cut the security detail in half?”
“What’s wrong with two?”
“It’s smothering. Why can’t I just have one stand outside my office building?”
“Two is better. I wanted twelve, but Michael said that was overkill.” When he winked, she shot him a withering glare. “Look,” he said, picking up her hand, keeping one on the wheel. “I understand that it's hard on you, baby. I promise it won’t last long.”
“I just want this to go away. It would be so much easier for me to sort out my feelings for you without all of this looming over my head.”
He ran his thumb across her knuckles. “I know, baby. But until it is over, I need to keep you safe.” She sighed and squeezed his hand. “I understand you hate the security, but let’s try to forget about that for tonight. You’ll probably be too mad at me after dinner to think about the protection detail, anyway.”
She eyed him warily as he pulled into the parking structure next to the restaurant.
“You’re starting to scare me. What kind of surprise is this?”
“I’ve invited some guests to dinner is all. You’ll meet them soon enough,” he said before climbing out of the car. Out of habit, she waited for him to come around and open her door.
When he held out his hand to help her from the vehicle, she smiled.
“Shall we go eat, Miss Sanders? I picked an extra touristy place just for you.”
Her smile turned into a grin as she linked arms with him.
“I noticed that. I’m excited about dinner but nervous about your guests.”
Inside the restaurant, Bradley led them past the hostess station as if he knew where he was going. Apparently, he did. Sitting at a table in the far corner was an older couple. Darci froze in the middle of the restaurant and pulled her arm from Bradley’s.
“You didn’t,” she hissed.
“Come on baby, I want you to meet my parents,” he said, grasping her elbow and steering her closer to the table.
“I would have changed if I had known. I’m so embarrassed.”
“Stop. You look beautiful,” he whispered in her ear as they approached the table.
The couple stood, and the woman threw her arms around Bradley.
“It’s so good to see you, son,” she said as they embraced.
Stepping out of her arms, Bradley held his hand out to Darci to pull her closer.
“Mom, Dad, this is my good friend, Darci Sanders. Darci, these are my parents, Ailene and Steve Givens.”
Ailene immediately pushed her son aside and wrapped Darci in a hug.
