Chapter Four

"Hey, man,” Aidan had called, his Texan drawl more pronounced than usual. Curtis knew that he did that to warm up to the ladies, and damned if the fucker didn’t get away with it every single time. On many, many occasions, Curtis had watched the female Curves clientele practically melt into a puddle right in front of Aidan, shedding their panties as they went down. “C’mon over and meet Tessa Mahoney. Darlin’, this is Curtis Manning.”

Tessa. Fucking beautiful name.

He’d stalked over, stood next to her. She wasn’t a small woman, and she'd been in sexy-as-all-hell high-heeled boots that added about three inches to her height, but he still towered over her. He'd stuck out a large hand, wishing that it wasn’t so rough.

“Hi,” he'd growled at her.

“Hi,” she'd responded, her hand disappearing in his. “You work here too?”

“Yeah.” He’d jammed his fists into his jeans pockets. Fuck, his hand was tingling from even that minute contact with her soft skin. “I bounce.”

“Curtis is one of your personal bodyguards,” Aidan had explained smoothly, knowing full well that conversation wasn’t Curtis’ strong suit. “His job is to watch your back, keep you safe.”

Tessa had nodded, gazing up at him, taking in his broad shoulders and rippling arm muscles. “I can see that.”

“So,” Curtis had said curtly. “Any shit starts, you back your ass the fuck up. Leave it to me and the boys to take the dickheads out in pieces, got it?”

Aidan had rolled his eyes and sighed. “Really, man?”

“What?” Curtis had snapped back.

“Language. We are in the presence of a lady, you know.” Aidan had grinned at Tessa, who’d been staring at Curtis in shock. “He’s OK, I promise you. Just a bit rough around the edges.”

At that exact moment, Curtis would have killed on the spot for just a tiny bit of Aidan’s natural charm. By this, Curtis meant that he’d have killed Aidan on the spot for charming Tessa this way. How did Aidan do it, anyway? How did he always know just what to say and do with women? It was incredibly fucking annoying.

“Uh-huh,” she'd said, still a bit taken aback.

“But when trouble starts, there’s nobody better,” Aidan had said. “You just step back, leave it to Curtis. He won’t let anyone so much as touch you if he can help it, but if someone makes a move, he’ll make sure it’s the last thing they do before kissing the ground outside and picking up their teeth.”

She’d smiled at Curtis then, and his stomach had tightened up at the sight. What a fucking gorgeous smile – so bright and open. Real. Yeah, Tessa Mahoney was the real deal, and he was screwed. No way she’d ever go for a rough, foul-mouthed ass-kicker like him, but she was all he wanted now.

“Never had my own bodyguard before,” she'd said.

He’d stared down at her incredible body, and thought that he wanted nothing more than to keep every inch of her in his sights, at all times. If he could just watch her move, keep her safe and secure, he’d never even need to touch her. Just knowing that she was out in the world smiling that smile was enough; just knowing that she’d walk into his life once in a while, and bring it some light, was everything.

“At your service,” he'd said gruffly, taking a small, pathetic stab at charm. “You need me, I’m here.”

Tessa had nodded, turned, and picked up her serving tray. With a final smile at both men, she’d headed over to one of her tables. The semi-drunk men had watched her approach with clear interest, and Curtis narrowed his eyes as she'd chatted and laughed with the customers. It still made him weirdly jealous to see other men flirting with Tessa, and seeing her lightly flirting back. But that was the deal at Curves, and Curtis knew it: the ladies serving up the alcohol had to keep the clients happy and relaxed, and flirtatious conversation was a big part of that.

“She’s cute, huh?” Aidan had commented.

Curtis had grunted.

“Yeah, I know you think so.” Aidan had shaken his scruffy blond head. “Christ, man, you actually smiled at her. It was terrifying to behold, but it was also kinda nice to see. I had no idea you even could smile.”

“Shut it, Carter.” Curtis had stalked away again, his glower firmly fixed back in place.

And that was it. That was how it had been for over a year since Tessa had come to work at Curves. She’d shown up and sparkled and shone, and Curtis had stood with his massive arms crossed and a scowl on his hard face, watching her. Keeping her safe.

Over the course of that year, and against all the odds – the odds being Curtis himself – they’d become friends. It was inevitable, really, since Tessa’s humor and kindness had just demolished every single one of Curtis’ defenses. It was a sweetness offensive, and he was pathetically helpless in the face of it. He didn’t even want to resist it, and that was the most baffling part of it all.