by Mia Madison
I want to return to the house, but I don’t want to admit, even to myself, what I was hoping. I’m just going to walk around the walls like he asked me to, and then we’ll go back to the house and I’ll never get the wrong idea about him again.
“I can try to be friendly,” I say, masking my disappointment as much as I can. And really it makes sense to act like a friend, anyway. If I can get along with Tessa for four weeks, it will make everything go more smoothly. I just have to get Grant out of my head, and that’s easier said than done when he’s going to be around the whole time.
Think rat. The guy is a rat. He’s a player, and he’s probably using Tessa’s unhappiness to take her to bed. She’s welcome to him. Maybe she should even be warned. I try to convince myself he’s a complete jerk, but I’m not quite succeeding. Not yet. I’ll have to work on that idea.
“Even if you can’t be friends, she’s not all bad,” he says.
I wish he’d stop going on. This is getting a bit much. “Does she rescue orphans in her spare time or something?”
“She’s just insecure beneath all that bluster. You’ll find out. I have to admit, the first few days I wondered what planet she was from, but after that I got used to her.”
I’m starting to feel a bit guilty about the lampshade incident. That must have looked really bad if he cares about her. But he seemed to take it well at the time. He even laughed.
Whatever is going on between the two of them, this is starting feel like the walk from hell that will never end, and we’ve only been out for ten minutes.
“And our lives will be easier if she’s in a good mood,” he says.
His life will be anyway. I’m sure of that. If we don’t get off the subject of Tessa soon, I’m going to scream.
“Enough about Tessa, then,” he says, finally. “Tell me more about you. You just broke up with your guy…”
If he thinks I’m going to tell him I’m lonely too so I’ll fall at his feet like Tessa, he has another think coming. “Why do you want to know?”
“Because I’d like to get to know you.”
“Like you’re getting to know Tessa? Forget it.” He has got to be joking. Who does he think he is?
“Oh… you think… Oh no. Not even close.”
“What was your whole ‘be kind to Tessa’ speech about, then?”
“Nothing more than I know she’s unhappy.”
I put my foot in it again. Well done, Paige. I should just shut up and never open my mouth again. But he must know how it looked. There were plenty of signs they were together.
“What was I supposed to think? She was all over you at dinner, and I didn’t see you exactly shrugging her off. And you said ‘why does anyone get married?’ like it didn’t matter if she was or not.”
“Sorry; I was just trying to explain why I wasn’t being too hard on her. Not very well, apparently.”
“No. Right.” Suddenly the walk doesn’t seem like such a bad idea, and being nice to Tessa just got a whole lot less trying than it was going to be, even if it still won’t be easy.
“Are you going to tell me about yourself now, then?” he asks.
“One or two things, maybe. I can’t give away all my secrets,” I tease.
“You’d better tell me everything, because now I have to know, and Jack will tell me the next level of security probing is completely unnecessary for the level of threat we’re facing here.” His tone is soft, given we’re talking about potential danger.
“What level of threat do you think we have?” And at that point, somehow, I know from his gaze and the way my heart is beating in double-quick time that we are talking about a completely different type of danger from slashed tires and paint daubed on a building.
“The kind of threat that’s imminent,” he says, our eyes not moving from each other. “But not deadly.”
I don’t know how it happens, if he moves first or we both move together, but suddenly, his lips are on mine, taking possession of my mouth, his hard body against me, his hands holding me close against him. And I’m kissing him right back, feeling the scruff of his chin against my face, the strength in his arms. I kiss him like I can’t get enough of him or of his spicy, masculine scent.
What happened to caution? I forgot it completely. When we break apart, a little moan escapes my lips, as if I didn’t want it to end so soon. I look at him. I hope he didn’t notice that.
But all he says is, “There was another big thing Jack didn’t mention in his report. He didn’t tell me just how sexy you are.”
CHAPTER 8
Grant
I take Paige’s hand and we walk on. There’s nothing unusual out in the grounds, just the same as every night since I’ve been on duty. But there’s a hell of a lot that’s out of the ordinary happening here with Paige.
I’m not some doe-eyed kid just out of high school. What is it with me and her? I’ve known her all of a few hours, at most. So why am I so sure I want to get to know her better, not just in bed but out of it?
And then there’s Tessa, challenging enough when she’s in a good mood. She’s not going to like it if she finds out I have a soft spot for Paige. I wouldn’t put it past Tessa to send her interior designer home.
At the South gate, hidden from the house, I pull Paige into a copse of trees, because I want to kiss her again, and I’m not going to wait. Who cares about Tessa or any of it?
I’m so eager, I end up whisking her off her feet as I gather her up into my arms, and she laughs. The subtle scent of her perfume and pure Paige, all blended together, is intoxicating. I could get lost in her sweetness, her softness, but I let her down after a while. I don’t want to scare her with my intensity.
“I’m glad you came out for a walk with me,” I tell her, smoothing my thumb over the soft skin of her cheek.
“I like your kind of walking,” she says, “but we don’t call it walking in America.”
“What do you call it?”
“Sweeping a girl off her feet.” She giggles. “I didn’t know that was an actual thing.”
“Not sure I did either. Better try that again, to see if we just made it up.”
I lift her up, kissing her as she wraps her arms around me. I spin her around and kiss her again.
“Yes, it’s a thing,” I say.
“You’re right. But hadn’t we better finish the walking part of the walk?”
“I guess so. Tessa will send out a search party soon if she’s finished her phone call. Mind you, those calls can go on for hours. I’ve got to get you back, though, before you freeze to death.”
“I’m not cold. Not now.” She smiles, a glint in her eye. It goes right to my cock.
“No, you’re not cold. Pretty hot, I’d say from here. But I’m going to take you back just the same, and finish checking the grounds myself.”
First I pull her to me and kiss her again, because I want to, and I can out here in the dark where no one can see us. I don’t care that it’s intense. I want to possess her—all of her—and I don’t care if she knows it. Then I deliver her back to the house.
CHAPTER 9
Paige
How long have I been here? Only a few hours, not even unpacked, and I’ve kissed Grant not once but four times. Four fan-freakin-tastic times.
I go in the kitchen door, hugging the thought of those kisses to myself like a warm blanket. Mrs. Braithwaite has gone home, so I don’t have to face any awkward comments from her, thank goodness. No such luck with Tessa, though. I hear her ending her call and she comes out into the hall from the dining room as I get there.
“You’ve been out?” she asks, though it must be obvious as I’m still wearing my coat, and my hair is windswept (and probably ruffled from the kiss).
“Yes. I was just getting some fresh air.”
“Grant still on his rounds?”
“I think so.” I know so, but I’m not going to say that.
She frowns, as if wondering what I was doing out there when he was too.
“You have a beautiful house, inside and out.” I hope I can distract her from talking about him.
“And I know you’re going to make it even better,” she says. “I was just telling my friend Claudine that I stole you up here for four whole weeks. I could tell she was green with envy. But wait until she sees the pictures. It’s going to be spectacular. Of course, I didn’t tell her my ideas. She’s such a copycat; she’ll go and have something done herself at her house in Surrey before I can do mine.”
Her eyes shine with excitement at the idea of beating her friend to the punch. It feels like snatching a toy from a kid to try to calm her down right now. So I just smile and say, “I’d better go and unpack, and I’ll catch you tomorrow.”
Ugh! She thinks her house will be spectacular. Creating a spectacle is exactly what I’m worried about—a spectacle and not a home.
As I go up the wide staircase to the top level, I think of so many things I would do to enhance the house if it were mine. But then, I could make a poky little studio apartment in London gorgeous if I had one. And I’d be happy with that at the moment. I can’t stay on Alison’s couch for long. A month is already too long. Probably for Alison, too, though she hasn’t said anything. She hasn’t even hinted that I’ve outstayed my welcome. But that’s not going to go on forever.
I have to focus on what I’m here for and not let myself get too distracted by Mr. Hot.
Everything will be fine if I can get Tessa to fall in love with my designs instead of insisting on me implementing her own crazy schemes. When she pays me, I’ll have enough for a deposit on a bolthole of my own. And I’ll have plenty of work when I return. But that’s only if I don’t get a badmouthing from Tessa, or a set of pictures doing the rounds with ridiculous designs.
I can’t mess this up.
If she doesn’t like the idea of me being with Grant, she might send me home, though she won’t give Grant as the reason. No. She’ll talk about how impossible I was, how I didn’t listen to her, or how I wasn’t any good after all. She’ll tell her big circle of friends and acquaintances about the time she wasted on me, and how she has a new, much better designer.
Meanwhile, I’ll be begging space on Alison’s couch again, and worse, my business will have had a blow it might not recover from. Not without a hell of a lot of effort. And maybe not even then. I spent all my spare cash making Ian’s place beautiful before he dumped me. Buying expensive fabric, even with trade discount, set me back a fortune and gave me no right to anything.
No matter how much it pains me to say it, I really can’t afford a flirtation with the bodyguard. I can’t have Tessa catching us together. I don’t even have time for anything like that with the huge task I have ahead of me here.
What was I thinking, letting Grant kiss me? Going out on that walk in the first place?
It’s as if he looked at me and I lost all sense. Am I just on the rebound from Ian? An attractive guy wants me, and it feels so good after being rejected I can’t say no.
But those kisses. I can’t deny there was something there. How can I write that off?
Where the hell is Anna when I need her? I could talk to Alison, but she’s far too sensible. She’ll tell me I’m being ridiculous even thinking about letting this go any further. That’s the advice I need, not the kind I want. I want Anna to tell me how I can have Grant and keep my job, too.
Back in my room, I unpack my things. There’s a big cherrywood closet that matches the ornately carved bed and chest of drawers. The Frobishers must have bought the furniture with the house, because it’s not something I can imagine Tessa purchasing even though it suits the place perfectly. Does she mean to get rid of it? All of it? And replace it with something that won’t do at all? Jeez, this is going to be a tough job. I’ll need all my wits about me to make a success of it.
My Grant-or-no-Grant decision could go on and on at this rate. I can’t deny I like him, and he makes me feel good. More than good. Yet I have to be firm myself, and stop things right here. I have to.
CHAPTER 10
Grant
I finish doing my basic checks around the perimeter, and as usual, nothing needs my attention. This assignment is killing me. I might as well be a store security guy, keeping an eye out for shoplifters, if it weren’t for the amount the Frobishers are paying me. And I don’t even need the money, so that’s not a big draw.
But now there’s Paige on the scene, Miss Take-one-look-and-I’m-toast Newman. She wasn’t the kind of excitement I was looking for when I started my company. Far from it. Jack and I set up the business to give us something to do after Afghanistan, something worthwhile to keep us on our toes.
This whole thing with Paige escalated fast. I’m supposed to be the cool one, the one who calculates risk and acts accordingly, not the one who invites risk to take a walk with me.
If I’m honest, I’ve been in danger since I first caught sight of Paige with a ridiculous lampshade on her head, walking with all the solemnity of a model along a catwalk in six inch heels instead of her Converse. And there she was, mouthing off, albeit quietly, about my client. Exactly what sort of calculation did I make about the risk here? None!
I need to speak to Paige and set her straight. If she wants love and hearts, she’s not going to find them with me. I don’t do relationships, not since I came back to my girl after Afghanistan and found she wasn’t my girl anymore.
She waited for me to get home on leave so she could tell me it was over to my face, that she’d been too lonely waiting for me at home. She didn’t want to put me in danger, she said, not with everything happening out there. But a letter or phone call would have been better than the shock of seeing her pregnant with another man’s child.
I was fearless after that. I didn’t exactly run in front of bullets; it’s not that I wanted to die. It’s just that my job was the only thing I had, and I gave it my all. Until I was thoroughly burned out with it. Too many friends lost their lives out there. In a single incident five were wiped out, while Jack and I were the lucky ones who escaped with minor injuries. We’d served our time and got out.
Anyway, no one deserves to make do with the shell that’s left of me.
Not if they want more.
As soon as I return to the house and check Tessa is okay and that the CCTV monitors are working, I stop by Paige’s door.
It’s only ten thirty. Will she be asleep already? Should I knock?
No, it’s too late to talk to her now. I’ll do it in the morning and put off this whole “I’m not good for you” speech. But as I turn to leave, she opens her door.
“Oh,” she says, her eyes wide.
Just seeing her, I want to kiss her all over again, and run my hands through her hair and drink in her scent, and fuck her until she can’t stand.
“I was just going to see if I could find someone who knows the wi-fi password. I should have asked earlier,” she says.
“You’re in luck. I can help you with that.” Our eyes are glued on each other as if neither of us can bear to look away from the other.
“Don’t tell me you’re psychic. You just happened to be passing my door at the right time on your way to…?”
“I was on my way to see you.”
“Were you?”
“With the wi-fi password.”
“Right.” I can see she doesn’t believe me.
“Can I come in? I want to talk to you.”
“Can’t it wait?”
“I don’t think it can.”
“All right then, if it’s going to be quick.”
I want to quip back about quick not being the best way to do everything. But I don’t.
CHAPTER 11
Paige
I wanted to speak to Anna on Skype so I could work out what to do about Grant, but I’ve got the man himself here instead. Just as well I finished putting away my clothes. The place looks tidy, though why I care, I don’t know. I doubt he’s here to inspect the state of my possessions, army background or not.
He follows me into the room, and I turn, wondering what he’s here to say, and then my heart picks up the pace. Maybe he’s not here to say anything. After those kisses he thinks he’s here for something else… oh.
“About earlier,” he says.
Huh, he just wants to talk. And now I’m disappointed. I don’t know what I want with him; one minute I want to be with him and the next to leave him well alone. It’s confusing.
“Yes, earlier…” I prompt. He’s not very forthcoming.
“I just wanted to say… Fuck! I don’t know what I want to say.”
He pulls me into his arms, and I get the Grant Maddox full kiss experience again, the kind that you don’t want to end, the kind where bodies seem to get involved even though they’re fully clothed. Mine wants to get involved anyway and I feel him hard against me. Pretty full on. I mean are you supposed to feel a kiss on your mouth right down into your panties? So far that’s every single kiss with him.
My hands take on a will of their own, venturing inside his shirt, feeling the smooth skin and strength of his back.
And then he says, “Wait, I really do need to talk to you.”
I pull away. “First you confuse walking and now talking. I’m starting to think everything leads to the same thing with you. Dancing, swimming… skiing should get interesting.”
“Sorry,” he says. “It’s just with you. Usually, I manage to walk and talk just fine.”
“But you really want to talk? That sounds ominous.” If he’s going to tell me the standard I’m not looking for anything serious line, am I ready for that? The hot bodyguard off the hook special. Guy doesn’t want commitment at its finest. But at least he’s mentioning it, if that’s what this is. I’ll give him some credit for honesty.
