Fit for the Job (3 page)

He rolled his eyes. “Well,” he whispered. “Looks like Bodie and I are gonna be
great
friends.”

But he had other things on his mind now than the scruffy security guard. He had research to do, and preparations to make. He was going to spend the summer training Eben Wright’s kid.

He’d just been bought.

****

After closing the door, Bodie took a deep breath, then peered out the side window, watching Jay move down the path. When Eben had explained his plan to bring on a fitness instructor for Sassy, Bodie had imagined some spray-tanned gorilla in a Day Glo tank top showing up. To say Jay Capello was not what he expected was an understatement.

The only thing hinting at Jay’s profession had been the visible bulge of firm shoulders under his over-starched IZOD button-down. It was probable he had a fit body beneath the khakis and silly school-uniform looking shirt and tie, but everything about him screamed
weak
to Bodie: his soft blond hair, the wide, trusting eyes. Sure, Jay was attractive, hot even, but he had a look that was almost angelic. But angelic wouldn’t cut it when it came to handling Sassy Wright. Bodie loved Sassy, but there were days when he swore that girl had the devil in her.

He sighed as he moved back down the hall and into the kitchen to wait for Eben to finish showering. Bodie had left the military and his job with Homeland Security because he’d had enough of distasteful things, of the stress and hateful conflict with the people he worked with. He’d sworn to himself, ever since Eben had become famous, that he’d never use it to his advantage, never ask for anything. He wouldn’t be the parasite family member asking to leech off his older cousin’s success.

But he’d had a harder time than expected finding work that suited him after he left the military. He’d needed a job desperately, and when Eben proposed handling security for Sassy, it seemed like just the change he was looking for. Watching over a fifteen-year-old girl—couldn’t go much further to the opposite extreme from his prior job.

Eben’s family and personal problems had turned out to be far more stressful than Bodie could have anticipated, though. But he was in it now. He’d sworn his loyalty and duty to Eben, and his cousin paid him well for that allegiance. He had to constantly remind himself that it wasn’t his place to judge how Eben handled his life or his relationship with his child. Bodie didn’t have kids, and he knew the teenage years were supposed to be the worst. But Eben and Sassy’s father-daughter relationship had complications that went far beyond what normal families had to deal with, he was certain of that.

And bringing another stranger into that tangled web, expecting it to go well? It never did. This wasn’t the first time his boss had tried to distract Sassy’s wrath by bringing a new toy into the fold. Eben might be in self-inflicted denial that an exercise guru was just the thing to bring Sassy out of her funk, but Bodie wasn’t fooling himself. It was going to be a bumpy summer.

Add to that the way Jay had looked at him... Bodie was pretty sure he knew which team Jay played for. Whether or not
that
would become a problem remained to be seen.

Ten minutes later, Eben scooted into the kitchen, freshly dressed and smelling of soap. “Hey, Bodie, car here yet?”

“Not yet,” Bodie said. “Will you be out long?”

Eben grabbed a mineral water from the fridge, then plunked down at the kitchen island, twisting the cap off. “Not too long I hope. The director wants to show me a location. If it goes past dinner time, just pass the torch to Evelyn, she can take over Sassy watch.”

“Yeah, speaking of Sassy,” Bodie said. “You really think this fitness guy is a good idea?”

“I think it’s a great idea!” Eben took a swill of water, then grinned at Bodie. “He’s perfect, isn’t he?”

“He’s a creampuff,” Bodie said. “He’s not gonna be able to handle her.”

Eben leaned forward. “I don’t need him to handle her. That’s your job. I need him to give her something to do besides sit in her room and hate me. And if I’m lucky, he just might gain her trust. Maybe she’ll confide in him.”

Bodie tried not to scowl at Eben’s words. “Is
that
why you hired him? I mean, I got the spiritual advisor thing, and we know how that worked out. Don’t tell me you’re trying to use a
fitness instructor
for the same purpose.”

“Of course not!” Eben said. “Well, not really. My primary motivation is to get Sassy moving and give her something to do. But...she’s tried to get other employees of mine to align with her since this all started. So there’s a chance she’ll do the same with this guy eventually. If it happens, it happens. But no, that’s not
why
I hired him.”

Bodie scowled, not sure if he believed his cousin. Eben was desperate, and desperate people did odd things. “A personal trainer’s a good idea, Eben. But have you thought any more about getting her a therapist?”

Eben’s face darkened slightly. “You know I can’t risk that. If it got out she was seeing a shrink it would be humiliating for her.”

Right, Bodie thought. Humiliating for
her
. Bodie didn’t like thinking Eben was more concerned about his own reputation than his daughter’s emotional health. Eben had always been so kind to Bodie, even when they were kids. And he seemed to genuinely love his daughter. But still...he said and
did
some strange shit that Bodie couldn’t quite comprehend. At times he wondered if Eben hadn’t become little bonkers since fame and fortune overwhelmed his life. But bonkers or not, Eben was paying the bills.

“What?” Eben said. “You don’t think Sassy will take to Jay? She likes to exercise, she’s good at sports. She plays field hockey at school. And she’s always buying those fitness magazines.”

“The timing of you hiring Jay won’t be lost on her; she’ll think you’re trying to manipulate her. Because of that alone, Sassy will likely try to drive him away just on principle.”

“Trust me, Bodie, she’ll like him.” Eben nodded, as though trying to convince himself. “Jay is just Sassy’s type. He looks like one of those blond pretty boys she posts pictures of online. Or did post pictures of before I revoked her privileges.”

Eben chuckled, but Bodie could see the distress in his eyes. Despite his misgivings about Eben’s methods, Bodie did feel bad for him. Eben was trying to be lighthearted, to put on a brave face and pretend he had a handle on the situation. But the seams were coming apart on this thing, frayed and worn, and it was only a matter of time until it exploded. Locking Sassy in with no contact with the outside world seemed extreme to Bodie, but he couldn’t say he had another alternative to the situation. He had no idea how he’d handle it if
he
was a father. A father whose daughter was currently trying to blackmail him.

“I love my daughter, Bodie. This isn’t all about protecting my own ass,” he said, seeming to read Bodie’s unspoken thoughts. “I’m still the dad. I need to teach her right from wrong. It’s my responsibility. And what she’s doing is wrong.”

Bodie nodded. “I know. I just don’t know what you think this Jay character can do to help the situation.”

“I’m not going to be around much with all the filming and she’s not allowed to have friends visit while...all this shit is going on. Not until I can find a way to resolve it with her. She needs a hobby, something healthier than sitting around watching horror movies. Endorphins from exercise will be good for her mood,” Eben said. “Sassy will love Jay, mark my words. He’s a nice looking guy, don’t you think?”

As happened often, Bodie found himself baffled by Eben’s logic. Sassy was going through a severe emotional crisis due to whatever had gone down between the two of them. But rather than take time off from working, and throw everything he could into fixing the troubled relationship with his child, Eben was more or less hiring an expensive babysitter, like he could distract her with a shiny bauble and their problems would magically go away.

“You do realize he’s gay, don’t you?” Bodie said snidely. His boss’s seeming comfort with the idea of distracting his daughter with an attractive man—
man
, not boy—added to the growing list of things about this job that made Bodie’s moral compass squirm.

Eben laughed. “Well, you would know.”

“Funny. I’m serious.”

“Of course I know he’s gay,” Eben said. “You think I’d hire a thirty-year-old man to spend time with my fifteen-year-old daughter if he
wasn’t
gay? Not that I assume everyone’s a predator, but...it just makes me feel more comfortable.”

“Thirty?” Bodie asked. “He looks about twenty-one.”

“I know,” Eben said. “She’s gonna love him. And if she spends enough time with him, she’ll grow to trust him. And maybe we can end this...madness.”

Bodie struggled not to flinch again. “You said you tore her phone, her computer, everything she owns apart. Is it possible she was bluffing, and doesn’t actually
have
anything hidden away? Maybe you should loosen the reins on her a little.”

As soon as it came out of Bodie’s mouth, he knew it was a mistake. Eben’s handsome face folded in a frown, his sparkling blue eyes set in a cold stare. “How I discipline my daughter is none of your business. If you have a problem with it, you can find another job, Bodie.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t want another job. I’ve got your back, Eb, it’s just...it’s hard to see her in distress. She is family to me, remember. I like the kid.”

Eben’s frown smoothed out and his shoulders relaxed. “I’m sorry, Bodie. I know this is hard for you.” He reached over and gave Bodie’s forearm a squeeze. “You’re my blood. And you’ve been a godsend. I couldn’t ask anyone else to help me with this delicate a situation. Ingrid’s washed her hands of it, she says it’s my problem and I have to fix it, she’s no help at all. I’ve got no one I can trust.”

“You can trust me,” Bodie said, and he meant it. He might not like all of Eben’s methods. Hell, he didn’t like most of Eben’s life choices. But he’d pledged his loyalty, and Eben had helped
him
out when he was in a tight spot. He owed him.

“Can I just say one more thing about this, and then I promise I’ll zip my lip?”

Eben nodded. “Of course.”

“What if your predictions come true, and Sassy does start to trust this Jay guy. Trusts him so much that she confides in him about this...damaging material she has on you. How do you know Jay will come to you? How do you know he’ll tell you anything she said to him? You just met the guy.”

Eben shrugged. He stared at Bodie for a long moment. “I don’t. That’s why you’re going to have to make Jay trust
you
.” He shrugged. “Intimately, if necessary.”

Bodie frowned. He hadn’t planned on becoming too friendly with the fitness instructor. Sure, he’d have to spend time around him because of his security duties with Sassy. But he didn’t particularly want to watch the train wreck close up. If Jay was a normal guy, as he seemed to be, he’d quickly realize that things around here were anything
but
normal. And Bodie didn’t want to be seen as someone who contributed to that. He didn’t want Jay to dislike him. It was silly, as he’d just met the guy, barely spoken a word to him. But he found his mind kept wandering back to the flush he’d seen in Jay’s cheeks when Bodie held his gaze, the obvious interest in his eyes.

Jay wasn’t Bodie’s type at all. His prior trysts had always been with tough guys, mostly closeted military cohorts, rough and quick. Jay reeked of soft and sweet. But
something
about Jay had appealed to him. He didn’t want to deceive him, even if it was a passive deceit. But again, Eben was pulling the strings.

But Eben’s strings had limits, and Bodie didn’t like that last comment he made. “You’re not suggesting I sleep with the guy.”

Eben shrugged. “Would that be so terrible?” He grinned. “He does play for your team.”

“You pay me well. But I’m not a whore.”

Eben was silent for a pause, his expression blank. Finally, he smiled. “Of course not. I was joking, Bodie.”

Bodie gave him a pointed look.

“Okay, I wasn’t joking,” Eben said. “But you’re right, I’m sorry. I say stupid shit sometimes. I’m a fuck-head. I don’t think before I talk, I’m sorry. Just try to be a friend to the guy, all right?”

Bodie forced himself to calm, and not lash out at Eben again. “Okay. But I hate to say it...I doubt we’ll have to cross that bridge anyway. The guy’s too soft to handle Sassy. I predict he’ll cave within a week.”

A horn blared outside, and Eben stood. “Car’s here, I’ve gotta go. I’ll see you later.” Eben started out of the kitchen, the paused. “And Bodie?”

“Uh huh?”

He glanced back. “It’s your job to make sure Jay
doesn’t
cave within a week. Got it?”

Bodie frowned, but nodded. “Sure thing. You can count on me.”

After Eben left, Bodie made his way up to the second floor and knocked on Sassy’s door. “Sass, can I come in?”

There was no response. He tried the knob, and it was locked. He could hear the television blaring inside though, and knew she was ignoring him.

“Sassy, you know I have a key. Just open the door. I only want to check on you.”

He sensed more than heard her heavy sigh, then the door pulled open. Sassy didn’t spare a glance at him before moving back to the sofa and plunking down, pulling her feet up. She turned up the volume on the television, ignoring him. The oversized tee shirt and leggings, along with curly hair tied up into a ponytail on top of her head, made her look younger than she was, and he couldn’t help seeing her as just a little girl, regardless of her frequent outbursts and hostility.

“Are you here to tackle me again?” she said in a bored tone, eyes still on the television. “Remind me to add physical abuse to the list of charges when I get my emancipation hearing.”

Bodie rolled his eyes. He couldn’t help being amused by her constant threats to legally emancipate herself from her parents. She knew as well as he did that no judge would buy the poor little rich girl routine. If she thought so, she wouldn’t be trying to extort her father directly.

He moved to the couch and leaned against the arm, looking down at her. “Don’t try to steal my phone again and I won’t have to wrestle it away from you. How are you doing? Do you need anything?”