On the Scent by Angela Campbell Read Free Book Online Page B

TV?”
    Hannah sighed dramatically. “Hotter. Much hotter.”
    Sarah snuck some pieces of popcorn from the bowl Hannah had left sitting there…had it been three days ago? Geesh. She really needed to clean. “What about the other bodyguards?”
    Hannah gave her a quick run-down of the men she’d met so far, and Sarah released a long breath, picked off one last piece of popcorn and then pinned her with a look. “Promise me you’ll be careful with him.”
    â€œWith Zach?”
    â€œYou’re beautiful. You have millions of dollars at your disposal.” Sarah lifted her chin. “I don’t want to see you get into another situation like you did with Eric. That’s all.”
    Every muscle in Hannah’s body snapped into painful awareness at the name. Sarah had always had a tendency to jump to conclusions that made absolutely no sense, but how she could compare hiring Zachary Collins to protect her with what had happened with Eric was beyond comprehension. “You’re nuts. The two situations are nothing alike.”
    Sarah arched a brow. “He’s gorgeous and exactly your type. I don’t want him to take advantage of you because he wants your money. You’ve got to think about things like this now, Hannah. People are going to try to use you.”
    Hannah scoffed. She should have never told Sarah that Zach was even hotter in person. “I’m not stupid, you know. I know I have to be careful.” She ticked off points with her finger. “I checked with the Better Business Bureau. No unresolved complaints against them. I had Mr. Russell check to make sure they were properly licensed.” Ellie’s attorney—now her attorney—had been a godsend. “And Brian gave me references from some of their past clients. I called and confirmed that these guys know what they’re doing.”
    They stared at each other for several seconds.
    â€œAlright then.” Her friend heaved a reluctant sigh of surrender and reached for her purse. “If you didn’t have a bigger, stronger bodyguard coming to take over for that puny guy on the porch, my rear would be planted on that sofa all night.”
    â€œE.J. is hardly puny.”
    Another snort. “He looks like a thug.”
    â€œSarah.”
    Sarah threw up a hand. “Just sayin’. Know what he said to me when I walked up?”
    Hannah shrugged.
    â€œHe got out of his car, ran over to me and said—” Sarah mimicked a gangsta’s voice and gave Hannah a salacious look up and down her body. “‘How ya doin’, baby? Come ’ere often?’” She returned to her normal voice and stance. “Like I said. He’s how old? Sixteen? My youngest brother doesn’t act that way.”
    But Hannah couldn’t conjure up any more defense. Her mind felt fractured. All because it was hanging on one stupid little word: Eric.
    Would she ever reach a point where the mere mention of his name didn’t feel like a stab to the heart? She hoped so. It had been almost four years. Why did his memory still have the power to wound her?
    Sarah hesitated in the doorway before leaving. “Han?”
    She looked at her friend.
    â€œSorry I mentioned the creep earlier. I’ve been under a lot of stress and I’m PMSing and worried and—” Her expression softened. “That’s still no excuse. I’m sorry.”
    A shrug lifted Hannah’s shoulders in response. “It happens.”
    They shared a hug. “Call me if you need me.” Sarah drew back and pushed a strand of hair away from Hannah’s face. “Remember. ‘The Bodyguard’ might have been an okay movie, but they didn’t end up together. Know what I’m sayin’?”
    â€œGood grief.” She shoved her friend out the door. “Take your overactive imagination and get out of here.”
    As she watched Sarah climb into her car,