“Sierra doesn’t live here full-time,” Navarre said as he unfastened his seat belt.“Where she stays largely depends on her filming schedule.She also has homes in North Carolina, California, and a penthouse in New York City.”
“Must be nice,” Sloane said.
If she remembered correctly, Ty Flint and his team were currently at the North Carolina location to inspect that home’s security features.Locks, cameras, motion detectors: if they didn’t meet Six Points’ quality standards, they’d get torn out and replaced with the best equipment available.From there, the crew would travel to the New York penthouse and repeat the entire process before flying to California.By the time they were finished, each home would be locked up tighter than the Louvre.
Pinto unfastened his seat belt.“Did Austin decide who’s going to be on her detail when she’s out of town?”
“I think he’s waiting to see how everybody interacts with Sierra before making a final decision,” Jackson replied as he reached for the door handle.“No point in assigning someone she doesn’t get along with.”
That made sense to Sloane.If they stuck Sierra with someone she didn’t like, they’d probably end up losing the contract, and they would have done all this work for nothing.
“Well, I hope it’s not us.”Pinto got out of the vehicle and offered Sloane his hand.“Nothing against Sierra, but I’d rather stay closer to home.”
“Maybe you’ll luck out, Navarre.”Hatch grinned at him over the roof of the SUV.“Now’s your big chance to land the lady of your dreams.”
Sloane’s gaze cut to Navarre.So the big, gruff security guy had a soft spot for the movie star.It shouldn’t surprise her.He’d be crazy not to want her.More likely than not, he was less than thrilled about being assigned to protect a decoy instead of the real deal.That explained his lousy attitude toward her, and it left her with an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach that she didn’t want to examine too closely.
Navarre slammed the passenger door.“It’s a job, not a dating opportunity.”
“Who says you have to date her?”Hatch waggled his eyebrows.
The look Navarre shot him was lethal.“Shut up, Hatch.”
“What, I’m just—”
“Shut the fuck up.”
Eyes wide, Hatch raised his hands in a placating gesture.“Fine, whatever.”
An uneasy silence settled over the group as they climbed the steps leading up to the house.The front door opened before they reached the top, and Austin’s large frame filled the doorway.
He checked his watch and frowned.“You’re late.”
“Sorry, boss,” Jackson said.“We would have been here sooner, but an accident on the expressway shut down a lane.”
For a moment or two, Austin didn’t seem ready to accept the explanation, but then he nodded and moved back a few steps to allow them room to enter.
Sloane followed the guys inside and…wow.The raised foyer opened to a huge living area with a warm color palette and comfortable-looking furniture.Freshly polished travertine marble gleamed under the pendant lights hanging from the vaulted ceiling, while modern art pieces decorated the walls on either side of the massive fireplace.Not that you really needed a fireplace in Florida, but it came in handy during those few days of the year when it actually got nippy outside.To the right was a formal dining area; to the left, a winding staircase that led up to the second floor.
As Navarre walked past, his shoulder brushed hers, and she did her best to ignore the way her pulse jumped at the contact.
Austin shut the door behind them and got right back to business.“Pinto, Hatch, you’ll be working with Nate.Jackson and Navarre, you’re with me.”His gaze cut to Sloane.“Sierra’s people are waiting for you so they can do the final fitting.Upstairs, down the hall, last door on the right.”
“Is Sierra here?”Navarre asked, and Sloane felt a pang of something that hovered between jealousy and annoyance.It was totally irrational; they didn’t even get along all that well, and she shoved the unwelcome feeling aside as quickly as it arose.
“Not yet,” Austin replied.“Weather delayed her flight.Her plane won’t touch down in Orlando until seven at the earliest.Ryan said he’d call as soon as they arrive.Any other questions?”
“Nope, we’re cool,” Jackson said, and the other men murmured their agreement.
“Good.”Austin’s gaze traveled from person to person.“Remember, Sierra chose Six Points because we’re the best in the business.She’s counting on us to keep her safe, and I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll exceed her expectations.You all know what to do.Now let’s get to work.”
Chapter 5
“Youhavegottocome over here and check this place out,” Sloane told Nina over the phone that night.“It’s like Disney World for adults.”
She’d been tempted to snap a few pictures of the place, until she remembered the non-disclosure agreement she signed late last week.In addition to not being allowed to discuss her experience as Sierra’s body double, the agreement also contained a clause that barred her from taking photographs of Ms.Page, her staff, or any of her property without prior written consent.Any violation of the agreement would get Six Points sued for breach of contract, and would also likely result in her immediate termination.
She understood Sierra’s desire to protect her privacy, especially after her former assistant told a tabloid all about her affair with an actor she’d worked with on one of her films.And because the actor had filed for divorce from his wife a few weeks before, Sierra had been accused of causing the split.The media frenzy had lasted for weeks; the online comments had been brutal.Even now, there were some who still labeled her a home-wrecker and refused to watch any of her movies.
