The car ride to his house was deathly quiet. His barrier was back up as soon as he started the engine. My safety became his first priority, as it always is.
He pulled down a long driveway, surrounded by trees.
“Where are we?” I asked.
He didn't respond. It felt like we drove down the driveway for a good 5 minutes before I finally spotted a house coming into view. It was enormous. It looked like a Victorian home with a giant porch that wrapped around the porch. The grey brick and white columns blended perfectly together, creating a homey feel to it.
“Wow,” I muttered.
Jaxon parked the car. I began to unbuckle but he grabbed my hand, stopping me. I felt my skin tingle again. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
“Is everyone in location? Good. Did you check the house? It's clear? Good. Stay alert.”
He hung up and reached over. Chills ran over my body at his closeness.
“What are you doing?” I sounded winded. I mentally slapped myself.
He smirked. He unbuckled my seatbelt for me but didn't move. His face was so close to mine, I could smell his minty breathe and his cologne.
Gosh, he smells good.
His eyes held mine for a minute and I took that time to examine every part of his face. His exquisite green eyes held a mischievous glint in them. His lips were so plump I wanted to reach out and touch them. His strong jaw looked like it could slice through anything. His nose was a tad bit crooked.
Must have broken it, I thought.
I finally let out a breath when he leaned back into his seat, unbuckling his seatbelt as well. He hopped out of the car and ran to my side but I had the door open before he could do it for me.
“You've got to stop doing that,” he groaned.
“Yeah, yeah.”
“I'm serious Lyla. I could lose my job and then you'd be stuck with one of these dimwits as your head of security.”
“You're making me unsure if staying here is a good idea if they're all dimwits.”
“They're good at their jobs. I just don't think they could protect you like I can.”
I smiled and lightly touched his arm. “I know, thank you for taking such good care of me.”
His eyes glanced down to my hand and I pulled it away as if I had been burned.
His face held no expression as he quickly pulled me inside before bolting the door. He signaled for me to stay where I was and checked the house very quickly.
“Okay, we're good. You hungry?” He asked as he came back into the foyer.
“Not really.”
He nodded. “Let's go sit in the living room.”
His house had a very rustic, homey feel to it on the inside. There weren't very many windows. I guess that's a good thing. He sat on a brown loveseat and I sat on a black sofa.
“Such a bachelor pad,” I laughed.
“I'm rarely ever here. It's sad.”
“You don't ever come home?”
“No. I'm always with you. I have to make sure you're safe.”
“I think the other guys could handle a day or two.”
“No,” he said sternly. “I have to protect you myself. I already told you I don't trust them to do it.”
I half-smiled. “So, what did you do before you became my bodyguard?”
“I was in a couple of different jobs.”
“Like what?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Nothing major. Just little side jobs.” He was being very secretive but I decided to let it slide.
“How old are you?” I asked.
“28.”
“I'm guessing you know how old I am.”
“I know everything about you Lyla.” There is was again. The chills. He's so sexy.
“25 years old. Daughter of billionaire, Chad Johnson. Loves to read, write, cook and volunteer in childcare centers and animal shelters. Black hair, green eyes, button nose, full plump lips.”
I shivered and bit down on my bottom lip. His eyes fell to it before shooting back up. “Never dyes her hair. Wears her glasses on occasion. Wants to be a teacher but her father wont allow her. Shitty boyfriend-” I laughed. “Great underwear drawer.”
I rolled my eyes and groaned. “Shut up.”
He chuckled.
“So, Mr. Myers, tell me more about you. You know so much about me. Too much about me,” I said, referring to my underwear drawer.
He smiled. “Well, I grew up in a humble family. We had money, sure, but we weren't the family to flaunt it. We still acted as a middle class family. My mother's name was Cindy and my father's name was Jeff. I had a little brother named Carson. When I was 19, they were in a car accident. A drunk teenager decided to drive. He killed my family.” I gasped.
“It's okay. He paid for what he did,” he stated darkly. His tone frightened me a bit but I quickly shook it off. His entire family was murdered by a drunk driver. He has every right to be angry.
“I'm so sorry Jaxon.”
“Trust me. I'm fine. It was a long time ago.”
“It still must be hard. I can't even imagine.”
He smiled sadly at me and changed the subject quickly. “So, there's one thing I don't know.”
“What's that?” I asked.
“Your mom?”
“Oh,” I said. “She left before dad got rich. Tried to come back afterwards but he didn't want any part of it.”
“Wow.”
“So,” I decided to change the subject. “What do you do for fun?”
“Fun? What's that?” He chuckled.
I laughed and shook my head. “Seriously.”
“Promise not to laugh?”
I held out my pinky. “Pinky promise.”
“Well I'm into fitness,” he began.
I scoffed. “Obviously.” He stared at me for a moment, a smirk resting on his face. I blushed.
“I also enjoy boxing.”
“Okay, neither of those are embarrassing. Why would I laugh at that?”
“That's not all,” he said. “I'm also a photographer. But, do not tell your father. He would think I'm soft.”
I chuckled. “Noted. What kind of photography do you do?”
“Mainly nature stuff. Occasionally people. No ones ever seen my work though.”
“Wow, that's amazing.”
“You're amazing,” he whispered.
I laughed awkwardly. “Could you be any more cheesy?”
“If I was allowed.”
I cleared my throat. “Well, I'm going to get some sleep.” I leaned back in the chair.
“What are you doing?” He asked.
“Going to sleep.”
“Not here you're not. Come on.”
He held his hand out to me but I didn't take it. I was afraid to touch him anymore. He's causing me to feel things I shouldn't feel. I stood on my own and his face fell slightly. He nodded and began walking upstairs.
He led me to a bedroom. “This bedroom is joined to mine so that you can get right to me if needed.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
“Well, I'll be in my room if you need me.”
I nodded and he walked into his bedroom. I laid down on the bed and felt my phone vibrating in my back pocket. I answered without looking.
“Hello?” I said.
“Lyla?”
“Who is this?”
“Lyla Johnson?”
“Who is this?”
“I'm coming for you. Don't tell your bodyguard or else I'll have to kill him too.”
The line went silent. I began to cry. I tried to push my face into the pillows to hide my sobs.
What does Dad do? Why me? Why are these people after me?
I obviously wasn't doing a good job at hiding my sobs because the door connected to Jaxon's slowly opened.
“Lyla? You okay?”
I didn't respond. I felt the bed dip next to me. His hand rested on my back.
“What's going on?”
“I can't-” I sobbed.
“You can't what?”
“Nothing,” I said, wiping my face.
I can't tell him. They'll kill him if I do.
“Lyla, something is wrong. Tell me.”
“Just shook up about earlier, I guess.”
He looked at me for a second. “Try and get some rest okay?”
“Yeah,” I said.
He stood and walked to his door but before he walked into his room, he turned his head.
“Next time, don't lie to me. I'm your head of security. I have a bug on your phone.” The door closed forcefully.
I sat, shocked.
How did you not think of that, idiot?
.......
The Bodyguard of the Mafia boss's daughter (part 4/32)