Mountains of Dawn

"Judith, Mr. Miller is expecting you," Mike said.

She opened the door. "Perhaps Mr. Miller should dine without me tonight," she said, her voice trembling.

Mike smiled. "Judith, the dress fits you perfectly. You look lovely."

"That's the problem. I don't look like a professional. I look like I'm ready for a party…for a wild party," she said, and felt a blush spread across her breasts and into her face.

Mike's smile broadened into a grin. "I assure you, Judith, Mr. Miller is accustomed to beautiful women. No wild thoughts will enter his mind…" He chuckled.

"…at least, not until after dinner," Brian said, appearing behind Mike. He took Judith's arm and led her to the dining room.

Judith felt even more uneasy when she realized she and Brian would dine alone. Mike had vanished.

The awkward feeling wouldn't leave her. She felt naked, exposed before her client. Brian looked suave and relaxed in a three-piece dark suit with a yellow tie decorated with little blue sailboats.

"Do you sail?" she asked.

"Less now than in the past. The partner I sailed with moved out of town. I don't like to sail alone and it takes time to find a partner you really feel comfortable to be with-for hours and hours." An intimate, warm smile touched his mouth.

He cleared his throat. "My mother called earlier today. She's concerned about my confinement, as she calls it. I reassured her, explaining I'm in good company." The smile returned as he looked into Judith's eyes. "Very good company indeed. She'd like to see me soon. I told her we'd arrange a visit in the next week or so."

Judith nodded and looked down at her plate. The food seemed tasteless, though she knew it was probably very good. With an effort, she swallowed.

"Tell me about you, Judith. Do you plan on being a bodyguard all of your life?"

"I don't think so."

"Are you worried about being assigned to difficult people?" he asked, with a wry grin.

"No," she said, shaking her head and laughing. "I worry about a weapon. You see, when I carry a weapon, I'm bothered by the thought I might hurt someone, either intentionally or unintentionally."

"I hope you don't mind that I managed a sort of 'date' with you," Brian said, his expression wistful. "I know so little about you, Judith. You work all day and then all night, managing your computer network and checking the security system. The evenings should be your time off, your time to relax."