Her Protector Billionaire Groom

by Taylor Hart

  Finally, he stared down at her. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded. “I was … I was just thinking how I always felt so safe in your arms.”

  “Can’t say I didn’t like you in my arms.” He grinned a little.

  Softly, she touched his face. “We were so in love, weren’t we?”

  He put his hand over hers. “Yes.”

  “I always loved going out to your ranch. Riding with you, watching you fix your bikes. It was like my safe place.”

  He squeezed her hand. “I can still be your safe place.”

  It was overwhelming how all of this had happened so fast. “Can this be real?”

  Parker leaned down and touched her lips with his. “It’s the most real thing I ever had in my life.”

  With his touch, she lost herself. She was floating, soaring, pulling this man into her and freely giving of herself in a way she’d never allowed.

  He pulled back, staring into her eyes. “I can’t believe this. I …” He turned away from her.

  “You’re confusing me,” she said, letting out a laugh.

  He sighed and moved to the couch. “There’s so much tied to all of this right now. I don’t know if we should do this, but I can’t stop the way I feel.”

  Feeling rash and vulnerable and uncertain, she said, “I know.” She went to him, taking his hand and sitting. “I never stopped caring for you. I had to find you and watch you.”

  “Stalker,” he whispered, pulling her closer.

  Their breath mingled and all she wanted to do was kiss him again. “I guess I am a stalker.”

  He traced her lips with his finger. “You have no idea how long I looked for you.”

  The sensation of his touch was amazing and his words touched her heart.

  She pressed both of her palms against his cheeks. “Sometimes, when I was lonely and feeling like I had nobody, I would pretend I was going to meet you.” She felt stupid saying this, but she wanted to tell him. “You were always there, at the back of my mind, always that place I wanted to go … home to.” Now tears did drop from her eyes.

  Gently, his lips touched hers.

  She pulled back. “That sounds stupid, right? I mean, it’s been thirteen years and we’ve both moved on, lived these other lives.”

  “It doesn’t sound stupid,” his words came out gruff, fierce. He took her hand, squeezing it. “It’s always been you, Ari. You and me.”

  She couldn’t hold back her tears now.

  And then they were kissing and crying together and holding each other.

  After a bit he pulled back, moving her hair and staring at the tattoo on her neck. “I can’t believe you didn’t get it removed.”

  They’d gotten the tattoos one summer night. A P for her and an A for him—the first letter of their first names.

  “Do you have yours?” She moved closer, pushing away the fabric of his shirt and staring at the tiny A.

  He leaned in, kissing her cheek. “Of course I do. I made a promise when I got that tattoo.”

  Her insides felt mushy and soft. She couldn’t believe he still had that tattoo and she really couldn’t believe he was talking about that promise. “I made a promise, too.”

  Their eyes held, then his turned mischievous. “And I’ll collect that promise, Arianna Claire.” He pressed his lips to hers. “I’ll collect soon enough.”

  Chapter 18

  Parker woke before the sun was up and went for a dearly needed run to clear his head. He hadn’t slept well. Of course he hadn’t. His dreams had been full of Ari. At first she’d been in her swimsuit, splashing him. But the dream had turned to her kissing Jose, then Carlos. Then she was in Parker’s arms, crying.

  He thought about how he’d offered to kill for her. Ha. It was ludicrous. He would have hated a guy like that a couple of days ago—a guy who offered to kill for a woman. But he would.

  He loved her.

  It was that simple.

  He’d always loved her and he’d do whatever it took to keep her safe.

  They needed to get the intel on Carlos Fuentes to take him down, but the truth was he wanted to kill the guy.

  All of his protective instincts had taken over. He pushed harder, wishing that the release of running could give him a release of the heart.

  Later, as Parker stood on the edge of the shoreline, watching the sun come up, Chuck appeared wearing sweats and a grey hoodie. He offered Parker a manila envelope.

  “You were supposed to come last night,” Parker said.

  Chuck shrugged. “Too many thugs surrounding the place for my liking.”

  Parker glanced in the bag. “Nice.”

  “Fancier equipment for your little adventure today.”

  Going to Paris was a huge pain in the butt, and Parker wanted to punch someone because he didn’t want to watch Ari kissing another man all day.

  “How are you holding up?”

  The easiest target to punch would be the guy in front of him. Parker glared at his friend. “Why did you drag me into this?”

  Chuck put his head back and laughed. “You had a choice.”

  Parker stood next to him, and they both watched the waves. “That choice was made for me a long time ago.”

  Chuck held his gaze. “You’re lovesick, dude.”

  Parker just grinned.

  Chuck whacked him on the back. “You’re totally gone.”

  “Shh.”

  Chuck sighed. “Well, it’s going to be over soon, my man. And then you’ll have her.”

  “We just have to keep her safe until then.” His gut wrenched as he thought about what could happen on this mission.

  “We will.”

  “I have to run.” Parker took off down the beach.

  Chuck tagged along. “Dude, think about this. Maybe you don’t get perfect second chances in life, but when any kind of second chance comes around, you make the best of it.”

  Parker let his friend’s words settle into his mind. Second chances. Then he stopped running and started laughing.

  Chuck put a hand on his shoulder. “Hang in there.” He checked his watch. “Sorry, listen, I gotta go. Getting on a commercial flight to Paris. See you there!”

  “Have a safe trip.”

  Parker lingered there, staring out at the sunrise and thinking about his dad. The old man always got his way. He laughed even harder, then pulled out his phone and called JJ.

  His oldest brother answered on the second ring. “Let me guess: you found the woman of your dreams and you’re getting married?” He sounded out of breath. The guy was missing half his leg, but he still ran hard every day.

  Parker just shook his head. “You’ll never guess how much truth you’re speaking.”

  “What?”

  Parker filled him in on the whole story.

  “No way.” JJ didn’t dwell on it for long, though, and proceeded to tell Parker about his own crazy love thing.

  “Do you think Dad somehow could have known all this?” Even as Parker asked the question, he knew it sounded insane.

  JJ sighed. “I don’t know.”

  “Dad was always close to the big guy upstairs, so maybe he had a glimpse of it all. Maybe that’s partly why he called us back last Christmas.”

  Silence.

  “Mama knew,” Parker said. “Maybe Mama is just hanging out, being our angel, and now Dad is kicking us in the butt to make it all happen.”

  They broke into laughter.

  Parker wiped at the stray tears that had leaked out. He wasn’t a crying guy.

  “Are you okay, Parker?”

  Parker took a few deep breaths, feeling more centered. “I am now, big brother.”

  “You take care and be careful. Call me if you need help.”

  JJ would rally a team of special forces guys if he needed them. The thought was encouraging. “Thanks. Love you, bro.”

  He got off the phone and headed for the hotel.

  A text buzzed.

  It was from Ari. 911. Carlos is here
.

  Parker took off into a run.

  Ari and Carlos were getting out of the elevator when he reached the hotel’s lobby. He forced himself into the role of playful big brother. “Whoa? You guys trying to ditch me?”

  Ari’s eyes met his, and she gave him a playful smack on the shoulder. “You were out running, and Carlos decided to leave early.” Parker could tell she wasn’t happy. She lifted her purse. “But I brought your wallet and some things for you, so you can just come now.”

  Carlos reached out and patted Parker’s head. He had to reach up, actually, but the gesture reminded Parker of something one would do to a dog. “Tsk. You shouldn’t run so hard; it’s not good for you.”

  Parker fought not to punch the guy. “I’ll just run back to the room for my clothes. I’ll be quick.”

  “No. No time; we have to go. I guess you’ll just see your sister when we come back.”

  Not on his life. Parker had dealt with thugs, and he wasn’t about to let this one take this woman—who he’d pined away for the past thirteen years—to Paris without him. He shrugged and fell easily into step with them. “That’s fine. I can go like this.” Worst-case scenario, security would find the envelope of electronics under his hoodie.

  Ari squeezed Carlos’s hand. “Let my brother go change, please?”

  They got to the car waiting for them. A small smile played at Carlos’s lips. Clearly, he liked that Ari was holding his hand. “We don’t have much time, but if you hop in now, then you can sit in the back.” He looked Parker up and down. “I do have a shower on the jet. And some clothes that will fit. Don’t worry.”

  Sure, he could sit in the back, just like a dog. Parker flashed his frat boy smile. “Works for me.” There was no way he was letting Ari out of his sight.

  Chapter 19

  The jet was incredible. It was amazing what mafia money could buy.

  Ari had grown up around ritzy people and places. She remembered being young and thinking that everyone had the nicest dresses and lived in gorgeous houses.

  Until her mother died.

  She hadn’t known then that Carlos Fuentes’s father, Marco, had killed her. She’d always thought of Marco as a godfather. But she remembered the night when she was sixteen

  and her father woke her up, already dressed and ready to go. She hadn’t understood why they were going on a trip, and she really hadn’t understood when she woke up and she was still in a car.

  The next couple of days had been brutal as they’d met with US Marshals and gotten new identities. When she kept trying to go back home to her mother, her father finally told her the truth about the Fuentes family. After that, something inside of her died.

  The only time it’d come back to life was when she’d met Parker on the high school track. He’d offer her rides on his motorcycle after track, and she started taking them. He was different than other boys she’d known. Kind, but aloof.

  The friendship had happened first, way before he’d ever officially asked her out. Later, Parker told her that he’d fallen for her the first day, when she’d beaten him to the finish line. When he’d taken her to the Kelly Ranch for the first time, she was blown away. Parker never alluded to the fact that he’d come from wealth.

  Now, seeing him come out of the bathroom all showered with messy wet hair and a smile, she knew he still wasn’t snooty.

  He passed by her and gave her a friendly slap on the shoulder. “Hey, sis.” He looked at Carlos. “Having fun?”

  She smiled and reminded himself that he was her brother.

  He leaned down, moving her head obnoxiously back and forth as he covertly pushed something into her ear on the side Carlos couldn’t see. “You’re so cute!”

  Dang. Had Parker just planted an earpiece?

  She swatted his butt.

  Parker stopped and looked at her in confusion.

  Carlos lifted his eyebrows.

  Ari screwed up her face into an expression she imagined an older sister might give a bratty younger brother. “Leave us alone, bro. We’re having fun.” She took Carlos’s hand and winked at him.

  Carlos seemed pleased by this, laughing at her antics.

  Parker gave her a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.” He laughed. “There’s gaming devices back here. You should check it out.”

  “I’m good.” She leaned into Carlos, who put his arm around her waist.

  Yep, he was clearly into her. The knowledge made her want to vomit all over him.

  She smiled wider and sipped from her bottle of water, imagining how she could stab something into his closest artery. She told herself to cool her jets before the temptation became too great. “So tell me what we’re doing today.” She traced the back of his hand.

  Carlos smiled and his eyes widened. “The Louvre, of course.”

  “What?” She pretended to be thrilled. “Really?” For the next two hours, she asked him a million questions about himself and flirted horribly with him.

  Finally, someone from the front of the plane called out his name, and he took his leave.

  She took the opportunity to peer into the back where Parker, true to frat boy form, was playing video games. “Come and join me,” he said, overly jovial.

  She took the controller and sat next to him. “Whatcha playing?”

  He reached into his hoodie pocket and pulled something out for her to see. “Super Mario Bros. Remember that game?”

  She laughed. “We played for hours.” She kind of even remembered how to play.

  He whispered low into her ear. “You’re doing great. Just try to get him talking about Jose and all of their organizations, anything we can bring them in for.”

  He smelled good. It was the shampoo from the jet, but when he was so near, all kinds of alarms went off inside of her. She tried to focus on the controller in her hands and making her character move on the screen for a few minutes.

  What?” He was staring at her.

  She stood, pushing the controller back to him. “I’m bored.”

  It was lucky that she got up and went toward the door, because Carlos showed up just then.

  “I’ve missed you,” she said, putting on her prissy, whiny voice.

  Carlos smiled and took her into a hug, but for her, all of this was an act. And she wasn’t sure how long she could keep it up.

  “Are you having fun playing these games?” Carlos asked.

  Parker kept his hand on one controller, holding up the other. “Wanna have a go at me?”

  “Uh, no. These games are for children.”

  Parker grunted. “I’ll make you a wager.”

  Carlos frowned, taking a sudden interest in Parker. “And what could you possibly give me that I may want?”

  “I want to go to the Louvre with you guys.”

  “Parker.” Ari scoffed, playing her part but also really meaning it. What the heck was he doing? “That’s our time. You can’t go.” She broke off, looking pouty. “Find some friends or something for the day.”

  Carlos smiled at her. “He thinks he can beat me.”

  She smiled back. “I don’t think you two should play.”

  Carlos unbuttoned the gold cuff links on his white shirt and began rolling up his sleeves as he moved toward Parker. “I may have played a round or two.”

  Parker turned a cocked eyebrow at the man. “Then it’s on like Donkey Kong, brother!” He held up his hand for a high five.

  At first Carlos seemed hesitant; then he high-fived him back. “It’s on.”

  Chapter 20

  Parker won the game. Of course he had. He’d played more than his fair share of Mario Kart. What else did FBI guys do when they were stuck in a van on a stakeout?

  Carlos hadn’t seemed that upset about it. If Parker didn’t know the guy was a psychopathic, murdering drug lord, he might actually like the guy.

  Now, Parker stayed close as Ari held to Carlos’s arm and walked casually down rows of art, pretending to be interested in them. He’d slipped the microscopic earwig in
his ear while Carlos was up at the front of the plane, and now he was connected to both Aria and Chuck. Chuck had arrived an hour ago, and he was on the ground outside the museum.

  “I love Venus de Milo,” Ari said, stopping next to the statue. The place wasn’t that busy, but there were a few tours walking together in packs.

  Parker didn’t hesitate to join them. “She’s a beauty.”

  Carlos rolled his eyes at him. “Calling Venus a beauty is a monumental understatement.”

  Parker ran his hand lightly across the plaque with the information about the ancient Greek statue. “Whatever. I’m going to head that way.” He pointed in a random direction. Even though he wanted to remain close, he knew it was important to give them some breathing room.

  Parker went from masterpiece to masterpiece for over an hour, keeping his distance while more or less keeping an eye on Ari and Carlos. Art wasn’t really his scene, and he was bored. But their conversation seemed to be flowing well. He could tell Ari was really trying to win the man over and collect as much dirt as she could.

  It was annoying that Carlos’ own private security was lurking in the shadows around them, too.

  “…the Mona Lisa has a special place in my heart,” Carlos said.

  Parker watched the way Ari froze as he spoke. Something was off.

  She stared at the painting for a long time. “It has a special place in my heart, too.”

  Carlos put his hand on her back.

  She shrugged it off. “Sorry,” she said, her voice unaccountably emotional.

  Carlos gave her a quizzical look. “What is wrong?”

  She shook her head. “Nothing.”

  They both stood there, and Carlos let out a long sigh. “My father’s friend had a da Vinci in his home. A replica, of course, but it was beautiful.”

  Ari didn’t move. Parker knew she and Carlos had known each other for a brief time when they were young. He wondered if this painting was somehow tied to all of that.

  “My father would take me to his friend’s home, and I would stare at this picture. I never understood why it was so interesting. The woman who lived there always used to say this painting showed the surface of a woman’s emotions. That a woman had to hold her emotions in and put a smile on her face.” He snorted. “It was the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”