HER BODYGUARD

by Michelle Jerott

  God, she wanted him. It was that simple.

  With far more nonchalance than she felt, Lili reached up and tucked his boutonniere in his pocket, letting her fingers linger on his chest, and flashed him a smile.

  "Sure, mister." She tried to sound tough, languorous, like a Hollywood glamour bad girl – Mae West, or Jean Harlow. "You look like the kind of guy who can show a girl a good time."

  She pronounced "girl" as "goil."

  Matt stood, laughing, and helped her to her feet. He crooked his elbow, and she took it, smiling. Slowly, they walked toward the curving staircase.

  Before they reached it, Lili stopped. "One last look," she said, tipping her head back to admire the faux night sky above the pale, elegant room. "Humor me, okay? I'm such a damn hopeless romantic."

  "It's what I like about you, Lili." His voice was quiet. "Maybe I could use a little more romance in my life."

  She felt him ease closer, his arm slide around her waist, and her breath caught. She blinked several times, rapidly, before looking down.

  His face wasn't even an inch from hers, his lids half-closed, and she was suddenly struck by how long and thick his lashes were, and she had a sudden urge to lean forward and kiss those lashes, letting them tickle her lips.

  Come on, come on … kiss me…

  Lili hesitated for what seemed forever and a second, then instinctively leaned forward. As she did so, Matt brought his mouth down on hers: a soft, press of warm, dry lips, more of a question than a kiss.

  She answered his question by sliding her hands upward along his chest, over the bump of his holster, and twined them around his neck, bringing him full against her.

  It was the answer he wanted, and his kiss turned more demanding. His hands skimmed down the curve of her back to her bottom, lightly caressing her for a moment before his fingers tightened and he pulled her against his hips.

  At the unmistakable press of his erection, Lili drew back. Looking past the shadows, she saw the need in his eyes – and the uncertainty.

  So she closed her eyes and kissed him again before he could change his mind.

  Her senses filled, soaking in the waxy-sweet smell of fresh-cut flowers around her, the echo of laughter and voices shot through with the taut, longing strains of violins, the clink of silverware on china, and the dim glow of the chandelier.

  And, above it all, her awareness of Matt: the taste of coffee on his lips, the strength of arms and chest and legs beneath his suit, his warmth, the firm feel of his lips, that scent so uniquely his own … what his hands were doing to her, moving ever so slowly across her bottom.

  Matt let out his breath, murmuring her name as he broke the kiss, and he trailed his mouth to her chin, to the tender and sensitive place just below her ear. She shivered, her fingers tightening on his shoulders, and her body arched against him, wanting more.

  At her urgent and wordless appeal, Matt pulled away.

  Flushed and frustrated, Lili observed his own rapid breathing, how he touched the back of his hand to his upper lip.

  By habit, his gaze quickly swept their surroundings. Checking for danger, she thought – but what if he felt guilty, and was checking to make sure no one had caught him feeling up his client under the stairway?

  Oh, God. If he pushed her away again, she'd die of embarrassment. If he said anything, if those eyes of his went cold – Matt reached a hand above her head, and Lili went still. A slow smile crossed his face as he pilfered a white rose from the stairway swag. Carefully, he slid the stem into her chignon.

  Then, his fingers lingering in her hair, he slid his hands gently down to cup her face, his thumbs caressing her cheekbones. "You have beautiful hair," he murmured, then leaned forward and kissed her again.

  She returned his kiss, sliding her hands beneath his coat and up his broad back, delighting in the play of his muscles beneath her fingertips. When his tongue touched hers, she sighed and parted her lips to let him in, tasting his hot warmth.

  Matt made a low sound deep in his throat, and eased his hands down to the bare skin of her shoulders. He gathered her to his chest, slanting his head to better fit her against him. All his warmth, safety, and power enveloped her, arousing and yet oddly comfortable, as if no other arms, no other mouth, could ever fit her as well as his.

  Pressed against the length of his body, she couldn't miss the urgency of his body's needs.

  The sound of a woman's laughter sounded nearby. Matt broke the embrace first, stepping away, and Lili raised a not very steady hand to tuck away the tendrils of hair that had come loose from her chignon.

  "Lovebirds," murmured the woman's companion, chuckling. "Kids these days will do anything anywhere…"

  A blush heating her cheeks, Lili darted a glance at Matt. He was finger-smoothing his hair, straightening his tie, looking anywhere but at her. The seconds stretched on, edgy and awkward.

  Finally Lili cleared her throat. "You'd said something about dancing?"

  Matt looked up, and as he did so, tipped the fedora downward, hiding his eyes. "I gotta check in with my team first."

  Lili forced back the twinge of resentment. After all, it was The Job that was keeping her safe. She just wished…

  Well, wishing was pointless; after tonight, it would be over between them. Repressing a sigh, she waited as Matt checked in with Manny first, then with Dal, and heard him say: "You stay in the car. Yeah, I know … you can talk through the window if you have to, but don't get out of that vehicle. That's standard procedure."

  "What was that about?" Lili asked, curious.

  Matt glanced at her, and when his eyes met hers, the memory of what they'd been doing scant seconds before came rushing back and she wanted to ask: Did they teach you to kiss like that in bodyguard school?

  "A couple other limo drivers are hanging out, talking. I'm just reminding him to stay put."

  "That must be an awfully boring job," Lili murmured as they began walking toward the steps. She held her hands clasped before her, and every time her body brushed his, her nerves skittered.

  "I know it's boring. That's how I started out in the business. And I don't mind if he talks to the other drivers, but he has to stay in the car." At the stairs leading up to the East Lobby, he held out his arm. "Dal's good. Smart, reliable, and dedicated. You don't have to worry about him screwing up."

  "It's not Dal I'm thinking about," she said, slipping her arm through his.

  At her arch comment Matt sent her a quick, unreadable glance, and they climbed the broad steps toward the upper story where the orchestra was playing.

  The East Lobby was small, with marble floors and a row of high glass doors that opened to the portico and plaza. Lyrical music, mostly strings, thrummed through the night air like a heartbeat, and the lights were dim and soft – the perfect mood for a little romance.

  The more forbidden, the better. And something about the darkness made intimacy – not to mention taking risks – impossible to resist.

  Manny was still standing where she and Matt had left him. When he saw her, he nodded an acknowledgment and even cracked a lopsided, endearing smile. It struck her how much she'd miss Manny and Dal, too.

  Lili expected to join the other dancers in front of the glass doors, but Matt stayed toward the back. When she sent him a questioning look, he said, "I don't want you standing in front of any windows at night. You might as well be a target with a neon arrow pointing toward you."

  "I would never think of something like that." She took in a long breath. "God, Matt, I hate feeling this helpless."

  "Give yourself a break. You're a shoe designer. Nobody expects you to know how to handle stalkers, or how twisted minds work."

  True enough, and his words made her feel a little better. "Well, I'm still desperately grateful to have you watching over me."

  "It's been my pleasure," he said quietly, meeting her eyes. "Do you still want to dance?"

  She moved against him without hesitation. "It's a lovely night," she murmured. "It would be a s
hame not to enjoy it."

  He looked as if he wanted to say something, but instead he took her in his arms. This time, though, Matt slid his right arm around her waist and pulled her close.

  Looking out over his shoulder, Lili saw the moment Manny noticed them. If it were possible, he stood even straighter, his gaze sharpening, and a frown creased his forehead before he looked away, as if he refused to let himself see anything at all.

  Uh-oh. Trouble.

  "I feel like I should say something," Matt said tightly, bringing her attention back to his shadowed face.

  "We're both adults, we both know what we want, and we both know I'm leaving tomorrow." Lili met his gaze. "What's there to say?"

  "When you put it that way, not much."

  "I'm very attracted to you," Lili added, as Matt swung her around. "I don't think there's anything wrong with that – or with doing something about it."

  Several emotions played across his usually unreadable face: wariness and anger, hope – and a healthy, hot desire. "I messed up."

  "That's not what a girl likes to hear, Matt," she teased. "You didn't mess up; all you did was kiss me." Stepping onto the toes of his shoes, forcing him to stop, she went on tiptoe and whispered in his ear: "And I liked it."

  A tremor rippled through his tensed muscles before he started moving again. They danced for another fifteen or twenty minutes, and Lili allowed herself the luxury of losing herself completely in his embrace. She loved the feel of him against her, his warmth, the touch of his hands. She loved how the shadows deepened the cleft in his chin, hollowed his cheeks, and made him look dark and sexy and strong.

  As the minutes waltzed along, his hand at her waist slowly slid lower, possessively cupping her bottom. In encouragement, she ran her fingers over the muscles of his arms and pressed against him. She hardly registered anybody else at all, although there must have been at least two dozen other couples dancing. The music became a mere accompaniment to the beating of her heart and her rapid breathing.

  Finally, she couldn't stand the tantalizing closeness any longer. If she rubbed against him for one second more, she'd have to drag him into the nearest dark corner and risk scandalizing half of Chicago's cultural elite.

  "I want to go back to the hotel now."

  Matt held her gaze long enough for Lili to know he'd understood her meaning. Awareness hummed between them, rich with anticipation and uncertainty.

  He nodded, drawing her away from the other dancers, and spoke into his radio. "We're heading out. Get the car over here."

  Dal must've said something amusing, because Matt smiled a little. When he looked back at Lili, he said, "Dal's on the way. Let's go."

  Matt retrieved her wrap and guided Lili toward the glass doors as she thanked their hosts, then said a few good-byes. Manny met them at the door, along with another security guard.

  "Having a nice time?" Manny asked, dark eyes snapping with anger.

  Matt's mouth tightened to a thin line, but he said nothing.

  Worried, Lili glanced between the two men. She hadn't given a thought to what Matt's team would think about this, and while part of her felt guilty, she mostly wanted to tell Manny to mind his own damn business.

  Now, however, was not the time or the place for an argument.

  "Let's go," Matt said tersely.

  Once again, Lili found herself outside and boxed in by broad masculine shoulders and chests. The night was brisk and she gathered the wrap more closely around her with a lightness in her step, even as she scolded herself for being so hopeful, as giddy and nervous as a teenager on a first date.

  Maybe nothing more would happen between her and Matt, especially now with Manny's disapproval hanging heavy between them, but the night was young. Selfish or not, she wanted nothing more than to get him out of that suit and to leisurely examine all those wonderful muscles she'd run her fingers over all night long.

  "Isn't your car supposed to be waiting here?" the security guard asked.

  The abrupt question yanked Lili from her thoughts, and Manny, walking in front of her, stopped short. She ran up hard against his back, and winced.

  "The car's not here," Manny snapped. He moved, and Lili saw a sudden gleam of metal in his hand. "Where the hell is Dal?"

  Aware that something was wrong – terribly wrong – Lili turned toward Matt just as Manny made a short, hoarse sound and slammed back into her.

  Lili stumbled under his weight, trying to catch him. She'd have fallen if Matt hadn't wedged his body between her and Manny, and shoved her away.

  Manny stumbled again, and as he dropped to the ground, Matt lunged in front of her, pushing her down as he shouted, "Stay low!"

  Hunched over, cold with dawning understanding, Lili saw Manny rocking from side to side, his knee drawn upward, his hands clutched over it. Even in the dim light, she could see a dark stain on his hands.

  Blood.

  Nine

  "Get her out of here," Manny gasped. "Go, go!"

  Matt had already grabbed Lili by the waist, shielding her with his body as he roughly shoved her head downward, making her as small a target as possible. He ran them both toward cover, pushing her ahead of him.

  From the corner of his eye, he glimpsed the security guard dive behind a row of hedges.

  "Manny! Oh, God, Matt, we can't leave him, he—"

  "Goddammit, Lili, run!"

  Hands still locked around her waist, he hauled her out of the line of fire and toward a copse of bushes and trees. He could hear the rapid sound of her breathing, feel her every stumble.

  God, Manny was down…

  Slivers of tree bark suddenly exploded near his face. He reflexively jerked his head back, cursing.

  Too damn close. Where was the bastard?

  Ducking behind nearby bushes, he crouched beside Lili. In the darkness, her face was a pale blur, her eyes dark and wide. He swore under his breath again.

  They'd been set up, by at least two gunmen, maybe more. One must've taken out Dal within seconds after he'd talked to Matt. A sniper with a rifle and silencer had dropped Manny with a disabling hit to the knee – most likely thinking Manny wore body armor – but none of the shots was directed at Lili.

  So much for his stalker theory.

  As he looked around, searching for a way out, a line of cars parked a short distance away snagged his attention. Not a great way out, but it wasn't like he had a lot of options.

  "Lil, I want you to go to those parked cars … the big white one. See it?"

  Too scared to talk, she only nodded.

  Matt squeezed her shoulder, then gave her a push out of the bushes. He stood before her, retreating backward to cover her as she darted toward the parked cars.

  The instant he stepped onto the sidewalk, the shooter opened fire again. Pain burned in his arm as he dived toward the curb. Ignoring it, he rolled behind the car. Crouched over, hugging the line of cars, he grabbed Lili by the waist and ran a short distance down the road before steering her between a van and a Mercedes-Benz.

  Lili huddled between the bumpers, the dark fabric of her wrap keeping her in the shadows.

  What the hell was this about? There was something here he wasn't seeing. An answer, a clue, something.

  "What are we going to do?" Lili whispered.

  "We're going to try to slip past the shooter. The darkness keeping him hidden from us also gives us the advantage of cover. We're all running blind."

  "Manny—"

  "Forget Manny! I'm doing what I need to do and he knows that. Getting you to safety is the only concern."

  "How can you just leave him lying back there? What if—"

  "Don't talk," he snapped. He wouldn't let her finish the sentence. He forced himself to ignore the memory of Manny falling, the twisted look of pain on his face. "You do what I tell you to do. Got that?"

  She flinched at the harshness of his voice, but he couldn't do anything about that now, either.

  Jesus. He was trapped, and on foot with a vulnerable
client.

  "We're going to run across the street, and I'll stay between you and the shooter. You ready?" When she nodded, he got into position to cover her, muscles tensing, then barked, "Go!"

  They darted across the street, bullets slamming into the pavement behind them as they made the sidewalk. "Keep going!" he shouted, yanking her along down the darkened, residential street.

  Headlights unexpectedly split the darkness, and Matt slowed, staring at the car slowly coming toward him.

  Perfect. Or as perfect as he was going to get. "Stay put," he said, pushing Lili down behind a parked Blazer. "Don't even move until I tell you to."

  Before she could question him, Matt stepped out into the street and raised his gun at the dark Lexus coming his way.

  The headlights flared across his face, and the car squealed to a halt. Through the windshield, Matt could see the frightened face of a young man, both hands tightly gripping the steering wheel.

  Matt aimed the gun at the man's head. "Do exactly what I tell you, and you won't get hurt."

  The man stared, mouth agape, frozen in place.

  "Put the car in park. Now!"

  Jumping at the harsh tone of Matt's order, the man did as ordered.

  "Open your door."

  The driver's side door swung wide, and as Matt moved toward it the skin between his shoulder blades twitched, as if waiting for a bullet to hit. He ducked down and stared at the driver.

  The man raised his hands in defense. "Jesus, don't shoot me. You can take my money—"

  "I don't want your money. I want your car. You'll get it back." Matt kept his voice calm, but didn't lower the Glock. "Get out."

  "Okay … okay," the man said, his breathing rapid, perspiration glistening on his face as he eased past Matt and stumbled onto the street, then ran.

  Matt climbed in the car, shutting the door and cutting the headlights. With one eye still on the driver's retreating back, Matt reached over, opened the passenger side door, and yelled, "Lili, get in!"

  At his order, she darted forward, and all but dived onto the front seat.

  "Shut the door, buckle up, and get down," Matt said. Ahead, he glimpsed lights coming toward him – fast. Too fast. Grimly, he added, "And hang on."