Guarding Hearts (Living Again #3) (8 page)

Ellis took a deep breath and looked back at Sam’s closed door. Her parents had gone into their room to rest before the show tonight as well, so he was all alone. He felt bad for not keeping in touch with Carl as much as he wanted him to. It wasn’t that he didn’t love the guy. In fact, he thought he might be the only person that he had ever felt anything for, other than Mason. But he wasn’t sure he knew completely what to do with that feeling, and it bothered him. Why did Carl care about him so much?

“Ellis,” Carl said, his voice softer. “I know what you’re thinking. It’s the same thing you are always thinking. How many times does someone have to show you that they love you? I’m here, son. I’m proud of where you are in your life right now. You understand that, right?”

“Yes,” Ellis said, feeling like a little boy instead of a twenty-nine year old man. “I’m sorry, Carl. I do appreciate you wanting to know about me, talk to me. Sometimes, I just…”

“I know,” Carl interrupted. “That little boy is still in there, no matter how grown up you are. The one that learned that the people that are supposed to love you are the ones that hurt you. Don’t shut me out, El. Just because you moved away doesn’t mean I love you any less, okay? I still think of you as the son I never had.”

Ellis fought against the tears that threatened to well up in his eyes. Clearing his throat, he was determined to get the conversation back on track. “I need your help with something, Carl.” To this day, no matter how many years or how many times he told him to call him Dad, he couldn’t.

“Anything,” Carl answered immediately. Ellis filled him in on what he was doing, and who he was doing it for, and what was going on with her. Carl listened, silent until Ellis was done talking.

“Wow,” Carl said, chuckling softly. “I saw that Sam on that TV show! What a sweetheart. She’s quite a looker too, isn’t she, son?”

Ellis couldn’t help it. He laughed. “Out of all that I tell you, and
that’s
what you have to say about it?”

Carl cackled on the other end of the line. “Well, son, I may be old, but I’m not dead. And you, my dear, are young and virile and need to let yourself feel something for someone.”

Ellis sighed. “I’m working for her, Carl. Now, let’s get back on track. Any thoughts about this stalker?”

Carl brainstormed with Ellis for about a half an hour, telling him about some stalking cases he had had before. Ellis took notes, getting some great pointers from him. Just as they finished their conversation, Brian came back into the room.

“I’ll talk to you soon, Carl,” Ellis said.

“Please do. It makes my day to hear from you. I miss you, Ellis. Be safe, and keep that girl out of danger. Oh, and El?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.” Ellis paused, then said a gruff goodbye, tucking his phone in his back pocket and turning to Brian.

“Anything?”

“Cleaning crew, previous tenants. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Figures.” Ellis ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “What’s the game plan?”

Ellis walked out onto the back porch of the beach house. They were leaving to go to the arena in a few minutes, and he hadn’t seen Sam since she had gone to her room. After talking to Carl, he and Brian had talked through all of the information they had, and all of the things she had received so far. Truly, they had no leads at all. The only thing that kept bugging Ellis was that someone on the inside must be helping this person, but Brian had shaken down each one and come up with nothing.

He surveyed the area, watching as regular beachgoers played in the water, walked along the water, and played in the sand. He really did love living here in Sunset Beach. It was a much smaller town that Miami, but still had everything you would want. Best of all, it was far away from all of the memories he would just as soon forget. If only it were that easy to forget his past. There were days he could pretend none of it happened, and being this far away from Miami certainly made that easier.

Just as he was turning to go back inside, he heard singing. He stopped in his tracks, knowing immediately what he was hearing. Sam. She was out on the balcony of her room, and her angelic voice was floating over him. He hadn’t seen her when he walked out, and she obviously hadn’t seen him, either.

Everyone who said that Sam had a fabulous voice hit the nail on the head. While her songs were country, her velvety voice almost sounded more soul like. The melody carried through the air, infiltrating his every cell. He didn’t know the song she was singing, but knew that after this week, he would know every song she sang by heart. He couldn’t wait to see her tonight at the show. Just watching her at rehearsal today had shown him what a fantastic performer she was. He knew he could never let himself act on the feelings he was developing for her because she not only deserved better than him, he just couldn’t get involved with anyone again. Being with her this week would probably be the closest he would get to anyone for a really long time.

“Time to load up,” Brian appeared behind him. Sam heard his voice and stopped singing, turning her head to look at both of them. Except she wasn’t looking at Brian. She was looking directly at him. Every time she looked at him, it felt like the air was knocked out of his lungs. Brian noticed Sam looking at them.

“Ready to go, kiddo? Time to go get you ready for your Florida debut.”

She smiled, standing up from the chaise lounge. Ellis almost groaned at the sight of her. He had no idea how he was going to live in small quarters with her for a week. She was wearing a small pair of jean shorts, frayed at the bottom, and a tank top that didn’t quite completely cover her flat stomach. Her hair was piled on top of her head, with loose strands framing her face.

“Ready to go,” she repeated, her voice shaking Ellis from his reverie. “Give me five minutes and I’ll meet you inside.”

Ellis followed Brian, thinking that his initial feeling was right. He was in way over his head with this one.

Ellis stood off to the side of the stage, watching Sam work her magic. He found himself tapping his foot to the beat, despite his normal distaste for country music. She moved around the stage, shaking her hips back and forth as she sang about going to a line dancing bar and meeting her friends for some fun.

Glancing up at the television screen above him, he watched as the camera zoomed in on her face. They were so close, Ellis could see sweat beads gathering on her forehead. Her perfect lips touched the microphone as she crooned her next song, a slow love song. Her eyes sparkled at the audience, and they ate it up. He knew that all the men were probably all wishing she was singing that song for them. He was torn between watching her beautiful face on the screen, or looking at her from his perch off the stage. Now she was sitting on a stool, Jason and Luke playing softly in the background as the light illuminated only her.

He was glad that she was as comfortable as she was out there, because she had been very shaken by the flowers at the house. Brian had talked to the roadies again when they had gotten to the arena, but said he still didn’t think that one of them could be in on it. Ellis wasn’t convinced, but he didn’t say so. He needed to keep his mouth shut before he got himself in trouble.

Her glittery dress caught the light and his attention went back to watching her as she moved into one of her most popular songs, My Girls. As she motioned for the audience to sing along, they went wild, yelling the lyrics back at her. She twirled around, motioning for Jason and Luke. The crowd went wild, still singing along. Sam laughed, clapping her hands as the two guys stood up and bowed, then she put the microphone back up to her mouth and started singing again, the crowd still singing with her. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. They loved her, and he could see why. She wasn’t just an amazing singer, she was relatable. They felt like they were her friend, like she was the girl next door.

“She’s something up there, isn’t she?” Brian appeared next to him, adjusting his earpiece that allowed him to talk to the whole security team at once.

Ellis looked at Brian and nodded. “She’s amazing out there. They love her.”

Brian looked proudly back out at Sam. “Everyone does. There’s something special about Sam. But then again, I’m sure you’ve figured that out already.” He looked at him pointedly.

Ellis felt his face flushing, and he willed it to stop. Could Brian really see through him that easily? “Bri…”

Brian clapped him on the back, stopping him from finishing. “I see how you look at her, Ellis. I’m not blind. I get it. But, you’ve not even known her one day yet. I would just be careful around her dad, man. I’m like her protective uncle, but I’m nowhere near what her dad is.”

“Brian,” Ellis said again. .”I don’t know what you are talking about. I’m here to do a job. That’s all. We’re going to find this asshole, and when we do, Sam will be safe again.”

Brian looked back out at Sam, finishing her song. “The show’s over after this song. I’m going to check her dressing room.”

Ellis breathed out, grateful that Brian dropped it. “I’ll stay here and walk her back, then?”

Brian smiled. “Yes, you bring her back. I’m sure she’d rather it was you, anyway.” Ellis groaned inwardly, shifting his attention back to the stage. What was wrong with him? He had been great at masking everything for his whole life. How was it that not even twenty-four hours after meeting her and he could be read like a book?

Sam was walking to the edge of the stage, flanked by Luke and Jason, so Ellis stepped up, holding his hand out as she stepped down the stairs. She looked up at him, her face flushed and her eyes bright, and stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes locked with his, and then she looked at his outstretched hand. Luke and Jason looked at her, then at Ellis with questions in their eyes.

“Brian is back here,” Ellis spoke, breaking the silence between them. “He asked me to take you to your dressing room.”

She smiled, and the feeling that crept into his stomach was unfamiliar and not entirely welcome. Putting her small hand into his, she allowed him to help her down the stairs. As she came down the last step, she fumbled on her heels and he reached out automatically, catching her in his arms.

Her face was mere inches from his, and he swore he could hear her heart pounding. Maybe it was his heart pounding. He could smell the flowery scent of her perfume, and see every speck in her beautiful eyes.

“You okay?” He cleared his throat, standing her upright. God, he needed this night to be over.

Sam laughed. “I’m such a klutz. Thank goodness I didn’t do that on stage. Thanks, Ellis.” She linked her arm with his and they walked silently down the dark hallway to her dressing room. He was hyper aware of every single movement she made. Her arm brushing against his ribs; her small hand resting on his forearm, and his arm gently touching the glitter on her dress. He was a good six inches taller than her, but with her heels on she was much closer to him.

They reached the door and Ellis opened it, letting her arm go. He knew she was watching him, but he had to get away from her, and fast. He scanned the room, not noticing anything out of the ordinary.

“Ellis?” Sam had stepped out of her shoes, and he looked at her bare feet. Her toes were painted red, and he wanted to groan. Everything about her was killing him.

He looked her in the eyes. “Yes, Sam?”

“Thanks for being here. I already feel so much safer with you here. Even with the crazy flowers today, I know that you will figure it out. I have faith in you.” She laid her hand on his arm, and it took every single shred of self-decency he had to not shove her against the door and devour her. But he knew he never could. God, he needed a cold shower.

He smiled thinly at her. “I’m going to get whoever this is. I promise you that.”

Sam stepped closer, and Ellis wished he could move back further, but he was against the door. It felt like the air was sucked out of the room. What was she doing?

“I want you to be my security,” she said, so softly he barely heard her.

“I-I am your security,” he stammered, wanting to crawl under the floor. What was wrong with him? He had never acted like such a fool before.
Get your shit together, Ellis Warner!