Last night with Miranda was like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from, and the moment my eyes opened, the pain of anxiety overtook me. It was the day everything was going to fall apart, and the looming dread of confessing to Miranda’s father was almost more than I could bear. I let her sleep a bit longer than me simply so I could take her in, mentally photographing her for posterity. I’d never be the same after protecting her.

Our entourage arrived at the venue without issue. No notes; nothing out of the ordinary. I let Miranda know I had some phone calls to make for work so she wouldn’t miss me in the small audience watching sound check.

“Is everything alright?” she asked me sweetly, scrutinizing my face. She could see something wasn’t right, and my best efforts couldn’t hide my despair.

“Of course it is. I’ll be here when you’re done. Go get ’em tiger,” I teased her, eliciting a smile. Since we were surrounded by the band, roadies, and some straggling employees of the venue, I wasn’t able to kiss her goodbye, which was all I could think of. Once she was safely out onstage rehearsing, I walked to the front of the venue, pacing the parking lot before making the call.

It was time to bite the bullet. I dialed his number, waiting for an answer. “Mr. Royal? It’s Ryan King.”

“Ryan! How are you? I told you to call me Mark. How are my girls?” he asked cheerfully.

“Well sir, there’s a bit of a situation I need to discuss with you,” I began.

“This sounds serious. What is it son?”

“Uh, well, as you know from my reports, we had an incident yesterday, with a package showing up. The police have been involved, but as usual, we have no real leads. She’s been with me most of the time, so physically she’s not been harmed or approached, and I expect that won’t change,” I said, avoiding the inevitable.

“Okay, all that was in your report, which you know I read as soon as you send along. There must be something else going on for you to call me. Has something else happened?” I could hear the concern in his voice.

“Well sir, I’m not sure how to say this. But, I’ve… uh… well, I’ll just spit it out. I’ve developed personal feelings for your daughter. For Miranda. And it wouldn’t be right for me not to inform you of this, as an employee of yours,” I confessed, running my hand feverishly through my hair as I continued to pace outside.

Silence fell over the line. “Sir, are you still there?”

Mr. Royal started laughing, taking me completely off guard. “Oh yes, son, I’m still here. So, all the close quarters did you in?”

“I.. uh.. Yeah, I suppose it did, sir, I’m sorry. And I understand if you would like to end my contract, of course. I can make arrangements for one of my employees to take over, if you still want to use our services for protection.” I tried to present a professional reply, feeling like a huge fucking asshole.

“So, let me ask you, Ryan, how does Miranda feel about you?” he asked thoughtfully.

“Well sir, I think she feels the same way. I’m not sure, though. You see, we’ve been spending a lot of… time… together,” I replied, hoping he wouldn’t ask me to elaborate.

“I see, I see,” he said. There was a lengthy pause that felt like an hour. “Ryan, are you in love with my daughter?”

A swell in my chest formed, and without hesitation, I replied, “Yes sir, I am.” Nervously running my free hand over my beard, I awaited the ass chewing that was sure to come, while still wishing I could have kept all of this to myself.

Laughing again, Mr. Royal surprised me completely. “Ryan, I could have predicted this happening. I’m not at all surprised.”

“You’re not?” I asked, completely shocked.

“No, I’m not. I’m not a foolish man, Ryan. I know my daughters. You’re most likely exactly what my Miranda has needed in her life. Now, that being said, this does pose a bit of a problem for your cover, now doesn’t it?”

“Yes sir, it does.”

“Professionally, what is your recommendation?” he asked me, which I didn’t expect. “Do your feelings impact your ability to protect my daughter?”

Contemplating the most appropriate and honest answer, I stated, “My feelings for Miranda don’t impact my ability to protect her. I think that, at some point, she needs to be told who I really am though, and I’m not entirely certain how well received that will be.”

“Oh, I can assure you that it will be poorly received,” he chuckled. “In all fairness to you, Ryan, I think that it should be left to you when she should be told at this point. You’re already out there with her, and have developed a… kinship, we’ll call it. And with the perpetrator still on the loose, I think the need for her to be protected has not changed.”

“You’re not mad?” I asked.

“Mad? No. How could I be mad? I put you in close quarters with my daughter, who is an amazing and beautiful soul. I could have placed wagers on it happening. In fact, my wife was surprised you hadn’t made this phone call sooner.” I could hear the smile in his voice over the phone.

Completely reeling, I let a chuckle escape as well. “Sir, I promise you, as long as she is with me, she is safe. I won’t let anything happen to her.”

“I believe you, son,” he replied.

“I’d like to have one of my colleagues join us in San Francisco somehow, to be safe. I’ll send you his information, and if you’re amenable to it, the Little Queens will finish out the tour with both of us. I cannot be everywhere at once, and the addition of his skills to the job may help us find the stalker and put that issue to rest sooner.”

“That’s fine with me. You let me know how you decide to present this to the girls. I assume you’ll be figuring out how to tell Miranda who you really are sooner rather than later?”

“Yes sir, I think once we get out of this God forsaken town, she and I will need to have a talk. We’re in San Diego next, and that seems like as good a place as any to end the charade, and come clean,” I said.

“Well, you have my blessing, not that you need it. You’re adults, capable of making your own decisions. And you also have my permission to let her know that her mother and I were behind the charade from the beginning. I can only guess that Carmen has figured all of this out by now?” he inquired.

“Yes sir,” I confirmed. “She and I have developed an understanding.”

Laughing heartily, he replied, “That’s not surprising at all. She’s a pistol, that Carmen. But she knows what’s best, deep down.”

“Yes sir, she does,” I agreed.

“Alright, well I have no intention of firing you, Ryan. I think my daughter is safer with you than without you, and that’s good enough for me. As for you two, I’ll leave you to work that out for yourselves.”

“Thank you, sir. I won’t disappoint you,” I replied, grateful I’d live to spend another day with my queen.

“I have no doubts,” he replied, letting me go back to the venue with a fresh perspective.

Relieved, I watched the rest of their sound check with a full heart. I was in love with Miranda Royal. If only she knew how I felt. The next forty-eight hours would tell whether or not we’d be able to get through her learning of my deceit. I suspected that, regardless of why I misrepresented myself, she would be fucking furious with me, and I just hoped I’d be able to weather the storm and keep her in my life.