Jordan
Jordan responded to the radio call that everything was clear at his end. He stood, clutching his hands behind his back, acting like a human surveillance camera. Nothing could slip under his radar.
His task was the protection of a billionaire mine owner who was in town for a week. As much as he loved his job, Jordan couldn’t wait for the week to end. With fourteen-hour shifts and around the clock surveillance, he had little time to protect his own safety. It was exhausting acting as security for a big shot who was hated by so many in the community for the money he’d made from the natural land, and at the same time, keeping an eye out for any further attempts at his own life by the mystery bomber.
On top of all that, he couldn’t get Luna out of his mind. It had been a week since their meal. He’d had no time to call her or drop into the shop. Obviously, she’d found no leads in the investigation, as she hadn’t called either. He couldn’t tell which he wanted more – news of the bomb, or just to hear her voice. He shook his head. Pathetic. There was no time in his life for this. One slip up in his job and someone could get killed. After the things he’d seen in the past, he never wanted to let anyone get hurt again.
The final day of his task came, and he breathed a huge sigh of relief to deposit Mr. Billionaire onto his private jet – which had been fully investigated beforehand, of course.
He nodded his approval to several of the team, signaling it was time to stand down and they all made their way to the black company vehicles to return to HQ. It was interesting to see their body language change instantly from robotic, upright, and fully aware to easy, floppy and relieved as they made small talk about their plans for their days off. Jordan kept a stiff lip. He was too focused on the other matters at hand to ease into off-duty mode.
He ran his usual checks over his Kawasaki before riding home, where he collapsed in a tired heap on the bed, still fully clothed. It was eight p.m. He was starving, but so tired he could barely move to cook something.
His phone buzzed in his jeans pocket, causing him to groan and roll on his side. He was too tired to speak to his mom or to accept another job. He was supposed to have five days off. His frown straightened out when he saw Luna’s number on the screen, and he quickly picked up.
“Hey,” he said, a smile creeping across his lips.
“Hey,” she replied. She sounded shy.
“I’ve been meaning to call, but I’ve been on non-stop bodyguard duty all week,” he said. “I’ve literally just finished. Thank God that asshole’s out of state and off my hands now.” He laughed, hoping to break the tension.
Luna laughed too. “Who were you protecting?”
“That would be telling.”
“Of course. I can’t compromise your professionalism, Mr. Rockford. Anyway, I’ve been up to my neck in engines.” She let out a sigh. “Owen’s had so many jobs come in this week, I could barely look up. But I’ve got a few days off now.”
“So do I,” Jordan said, his heart fluttering slightly as he considered asking her out again. But before he could, she snuck in there first.
“Owen just called me and says he has some important news.”
He sat up straight on the bed. “Oh really?”
“Can you meet us tonight?”
“Tonight?” He looked down at his grubby clothes. He was sweaty, worn out and hungry - no fit state to be seeing Luna. Shit. “Sure. Give me an hour,” he said, forming a quick mental plan to shower, eat and be out the door in that time. “Meet at the Frontier’s Angels clubhouse?”
“Sure. I could use a beer,” she added.
He leaped up and showered at top speed, adding an extra splash of cologne afterward. He then hesitated. Was it too much? Would he smell of desperation, like he was trying to impress her? He reached for the towel and wiped some off. Better to be understated. Shit. He really liked this girl. He never considered minor details like this so much before. He laughed at how much thought he was putting into getting dressed just for a beer.