Prologue
Chris Westbrook sat quietly in his favorite cushioned chair holding a note left behind by his former girlfriend. Leaning his head back, his mind drifted to all the events which led to her brief departure. Chris knew that he had been good to her. Treated her like a woman, like a queen, but she wanted more. It wasn't money that attracted her. No. She wanted his time and attention. Chris' long periods of absences didn't sit well with her, so she left.
Chris had been in law enforcement before looking for the slower and quieter job in security and became quite good at it. It wasn't until he, by chance, took a job protecting a CEO that he became well known. He slipped onto the radar of the United States Secret Service, who kept their eyes on each of his jobs, until a few years later, they offered him a job working for the government. He had gained so much experience and became so good at his job that he earned the nick name, “The Bodyguard.” He was well trained in hand to hand combat and specialized in the use of weapons, making him important to missions of National Security.
Chris met Dawn Scott on one of his assignments. With a little time together, they began dating. And when he came back to Philadelphia, Dawn traveled with him and eventually fell in love. It all seemed so serious, with Chris meeting her parents and gaining their approval, and even toyed with the thought of marriage. It all changed when the jobs started coming in. If he didn't have to travel with the President, then he had national security missions, which put a strain on their relationship. No matter how many upscale places he took her to, or even the influential people she met through him, it didn't seem to help their love. He confessed to her that he could spend the rest of his life with her, but she still left and now Chris was upset and lost without her. He lost the woman he loved and he wanted to go after her and bring her back, and marry her. Just then his cell phone rang and he quickly answered it, hoping that it was Dawn, hoping he could talk her into coming back home. “Mister Westbrook, I'm agent Green. The President needs you. Come to the usual meeting place and we'll pick you up from there.” Chris sighed heavily and pushed the end button to conclude the call, feeling frustrated and angry.
Dawn knew what he did for a living. He never kept anything from her. “Damn it, Dawn! You know I love you and I will find you, when this assignment is over, I'll be right there telling you how much I need you,” he said with a tone of determination.
#
Dawn shut down her computer and made sure her paperwork was neatly put away in her filing cabinet. She worked as a secretary for a pharmaceutical company since moving from Philadelphia over four years ago. She'd all, but forgotten about Chris. Deep down she loved him and wanted to be with him, but she couldn't for the life of her understanding, why she had a need to be the center of a man's attention, especially Chris'. She wanted him to come get her so much, but after how she'd acted, also accused him of neglecting her, made her feel cheap and selfish, when the truth was that no man loved her better.
Moving back to her parent's home in Hampton, Florida, allowed her the time she wanted to get herself together, also a chance for Chris to come find her, but after four years, he hadn't come for her. After securing her office, she walked to the elevator, saying goodnight to her co- workers and friends. Dawn had decided to move on with her life and try to put together the happiness she once had some time before. The elevator doors opened and she got on. She thought that her parents were right. She should have went back to Chris and convinced him that they have something special together, and how much she loved him and wanted to stay with him.
Dawn was leaving twenty minutes early and most of the employees cars were still parked in their spaces. Exiting the elevator, she walked towards her car and noticed a black infinity blocking her burgundy SUV. Frustration set in as Dawn looked around, hoping that driver would magically appear. She stood there a few minutes waiting, before she would call security to have the car towed. Just then, a handsome, tall, brown skinned man walked up to catch Dawn's frustrated stare. She noticed how well dressed he was in his suit and wondered if he worked there, because he should know the rules of the garage. Even though he caught her eye, she wasn't interested and just wanted to go home. It was an hour drive to her parents house and the traffic would be bad enough without getting caught in the rush hour.
“I've been waiting here to get out for the last fifteen minutes. Why would you block me in?”
Looking her over, he saw that she was beautiful. Her powder blue blouse and gray jacket and mini skirt made her look even more beautiful, showing the shape of her hips. Her jet black hair was down to her shoulders and was curled at the ends. Her black purse dangled from her left shoulder and her black framed glasses were pushed up above her brow.
“I'm sorry, but I was running late and had to park somewhere,” he apologized. “I was applying for a position here.” He couldn't take his eyes away from her soft brown eyes and the lovely figure of her body.
“Well, did you get the job?”
“Yes, thank you. I did,” he said. “By the way, you are absolutely beautiful.”
Dawn, out of habit when she flirted, would brush back the hair from her face. “Don't change the subject.”
“Did you have any plans for dinner tonight?”
“Excuse me, but what did you ask me?”
“Do you have any plans for tonight?,” he repeated.
“What business is it of yours?” Dawn was still annoyed, but a part of her was still flattered.
“Because I would love to take you to dinner and talk about the concert,” he offered.
“What concert?,” she curiously asked with her arms folded across her chest.
“The one that I'd love to take you to,” he told her.
“That still doesn't tell me why I should go out with you.”
“Because I'm handsome and you're beautiful,” he told her.
“We make a perfect couple.”
“We do?”
“Yes. I'm Allen Hawkins, by the way,” he said introducing himself.
“Dawn Scott.”
“So?”
“Okay,” she said, hoping not to regret the decision she made.