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JOE O’HARA
He was asked to protect
Leigh and he has done it well. He had been there for
Leigh during the times she needed someone.
**********
Brenna continued, “I
sent Joe O’Hara to the pharmacy to pick up the
prescription.”
It took Leigh a moment
to realize that Joe O’Hara was her new chauffer-bodyguard.
Not only had she forgotten his name in the chaos of the
last few days, she’d forgotten that Matt and Meredith
Farrell had insisted on loaning O’Hara to her before they
left on their world cruise. He was staying at their New
York apartment, but he was supposed to drive Leigh about
in the Farrell limousine and protect her from further
approaches by her stalker.
Dismissing the entire
matter with a shrug, he hung his overcoat in the closet
and approached the kitchen table carrying a little white
bag from the local pharmacy in his meaty fist. “Mrs.
Manning,” he said, his gravelly voice tinged with calm
resolution. “I realize you don’t know me, and you probably
don’t want a stranger underfoot at a time like this, but
your husband and Matt Farrell both told me to look after
you and make sure you stay safe. If you’ve got a spare
room I could use, I think it would be a good idea if I
stayed here until things settle down.”
“That’s very nice of
you, but I’m not alone. Hilda stays here.”
His reply made Hilda
whirl around and glower. “I’m real sure Hilda could beat
up an omelet or wallop the dust right out of a rug,” he
mocked, “but until your husband comes back, I really think
you need a man around here to deal with people problems.
The lobby’s crawling with reporters, you got fans lined up
out on the sidewalk, tand you got a stalker who knows your
husband is out of the way now. There’s no telling when
somebody’s gonna pay off your doorman or find some other
way to sneak up here, but sooner or later, it’s gonna
happen.” Sensing that Leigh was wavering, he quickly
played his trump card. “I’m sure your husband would expect
me to stay here and look after his womanfolk,” he stated
emphatically, and to Leigh’s shock, he cast a benevolent
look around the room that encompassed indignant,
self-sufficient Hilda and displeased, independent Brenna
in the category of “womenfolk” O’Hara felt obliged to
protect.
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