Billionaire Bodyguard

by Jill Snow

  “You did a wonderful job, Nana. You were always there for me.”

  “That’s not true, but I did my best. Although others don’t agree. Emily’s brother wanted custody of her, but I held firm. Marie, Emily’s mother, asked me to look out for her daughter so I did what I felt she wanted. Brian hasn’t spoken to me since.”

  Emily stared at her grandmother. She didn’t know that was the reason Brian was so cold. He had wanted custody of her? She shuddered at the thought of her big brother being in charge of her life. She would never had become a gamer, as he would never have allowed her to study that in college. She would have become an accountant or a banker or something solid and dependable. She would have had to live with his wife, Theresa, who was even worse than Brian. The silver lining would be spending more time with Tyler. Her nephew was a cool kid. How, with parents like his, she didn’t know.

  “Nana, thank you. I know you did so much for me and I have never been able to repay you.”

  “Nonsense, Emily. You repay me every day. You’re a lovely young woman and your parents would be proud of you.”

  Tears sprang to Emily’s eyes but she wiped them with a napkin, not wanting to upset either Conor or her grandmother.

  Chapter 32

  Nana was in bed after complaining of being tired. Emily wasn’t at all sure she was as exhausted as she let on. She’d gotten the impression her nana was matchmaking. Conor wasn’t home from work yet. She hummed as she made sure dinner wouldn’t spoil. If Carrie could see her now, she would laugh. A regular little housekeeper, keeping her man’s meals hot for when he came back from a hard day at the office. Only he wasn’t her man, was he? After the last week, they had become friends. He made her laugh, he was wonderful with Nana. He was kind, too, She didn’t really want to think about what Conor had started to mean to her.

  The elevator opened and in he walked, carrying a bunch of flowers.

  “For me?”

  “I thought they would brighten up the place. Gertie keeps telling me it lacks the homey touch.” His flushed face suggested he was making excuses, but she didn’t comment apart from to say they were lovely.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “Starving. Sorry I am so late. Where is Gertie?”

  “She’s in bed already. Said she was tired.”

  “Oh. I hope she’s not ill.”

  Looking up, she caught his eye. He smiled and her skin tingled. She busied herself serving up their meals.

  “Emily, would you like to watch a movie after dinner?”

  “Sure, so long as it’s not Jaws or Alien. I hate movies like that.”

  “What about Casablanca? That’s my favorite war film.”

  “Conor Dunne, how can you call that film a war movie? It’s like the most romantic film ever.”

  “I don’t think Bogart would like that,” he teased.

  She threw the paper towel at him.

  “Heathen. Bogart loved it. Who couldn’t adore Ingrid Bergman?”

  They chatted about this and that during the meal. She kept catching him looking at her with a funny expression on his face. When their hands touched by accident, the electricity between them tingled.

  “I’ll clean up and you go set up the movie. Emily, I insist. You have worked so hard. Here, bring these with you.”

  He handed her some glasses and a chilled bottle of wine. She wasn’t at all sure she should drink. Being around him was making her head spin.

  Conor cleaned the kitchen in record time. He didn’t want to miss a moment of the film, despite having seen it a million times. She was sitting on the couch, so he took a seat beside her.

  “For you.” He handed her some tissues.

  “Why?”

  “They say girls always cry at this movie.”

  “Hey!” She poked him in the side.

  As they watched the movie, he glanced at her a couple of times. She was mesmerized, as if watching it for the first time.

  “Why do you like this movie so much?”

  “I could ask you the same question. It’s hardly a top ten most popular movie.”

  “I asked first.” He didn’t want to answer.

  “Rick is just awesome. He loves Ilsa so much he is prepared to give up his own happiness for her. He is totally trustworthy. There is no way he would let her down.” Emily went silent for a couple of seconds before adding, “He knows Victor has an important role to play for the war effort and he won’t leave without Ilsa. He loves her for being strong and brave. She is more than a sex object to him.”

  “Why do you believe all men think of women as sex objects?”

  “They do, don’t they?” She tried to laugh it off but he caught her nervousness.

  “Emily, I’m serious. You said your dad was proud of Gertie for fighting for women’s rights. So it seems a little weird, you as his daughter, would think so badly of men.”

  She wouldn’t look at him.

  “Tell me, please. I’d like to know.”

  She hesitated—he could almost see her thoughts as pain and humiliation flicked over her face. He was about to tell her not to worry about sharing when she spoke in almost a whisper.

  “I didn’t have a date for the prom. I wasn’t what you would call popular at school. They, the cool kids, thought I was too stuck-up or brainy or whatever. When my parents died, I didn’t feel like talking to anyone.”

  He could almost imagine the broken-hearted girl trying to go to school and pretend everything was okay.

  “I liked one boy, Greg Nielsen. He was the most popular guy in school, captain of the football team. But I didn’t like him because of that. I thought he was kind. He’d been nice to me. About my parents and stuff.”

  His heart beat faster. He wanted to put his arms around her and kiss away the look in her eyes.

  “They must have been blind. Not only are you stunning, but you are so witty and clever. You would be every boy’s ideal date.”

  It was almost as if she didn’t hear a word he’d said.

  “Greg asked me to go with him. I was so excited, I should have known better. But I thought he was genuine. He seemed so nice. Nana made me a gorgeous dress. He said I looked beautiful. We went to the dance and everyone looked at us. People who had never spoken to me at school came up and were talking to me like I was a real person. You know?”

  He didn’t say a word. He already wanted to grab Greg Nielsen and punch him.

  “So the dance was almost over and Greg asked me to go to the cliffs with him. That was the spot all the cool gang hung out in. They aren’t really cliffs, just a crop of rocks overlooking the town. There was a parking lot there. It wasn’t the type of thing I did but the night had been so special, I didn’t want it to end.”

  She fell silent.

  “Emily, you don’t need to tell me anything else.”

  “No I want to. For years, I wasn’t able to talk about it. That gave him the power. I refuse to do that now. So we went and Greg parked the car. He kissed me and then wanted to…. Well, he made it clear what he wanted. I refused. I told him I wasn’t comfortable and wanted to go home. He tried again but I pushed him away. Then he changed. He started calling me names. Told me I was a tease. Then he said I had to pretend to have been with him so he could collect.”

  “Collect?”

  She stared at the floor, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. He was tempted to brush away a single tear when it ran down her face. Instead, he handed her a tissue..

  “He’d made a bet that he could…be with me. That was the only reason he’d asked me to the dance. Seems I was the least likely girl in our class to fall for his charms. He threw me out of the car and drove off leaving, me on the road.”

  “How did you get home?” He balled his fists. What sort of idiot left a defenseless girl to walk home at night? Anything could have happened to her.

  “Jason rescued me. He was driving his date back to her house and came across me walking home alone. He and Carrie were the only people who spoke to me aft
er that. The team had bet Greg he would fail. He didn’t like failing. He came back and told everyone who would listen I was a tease and some other horrible things. Nobody believed me.”

  His urge to punch Gary intensified but there was nothing he could do about him. He put his hand gently on her shoulder, allowing her the choice to turn to him. She looked up at him and he pulled her into his arms.

  “Emily, he was an idiot. A hormonal teenager, dragged up by his parents. He didn’t know the meaning of respect. You were so brave, sticking to your beliefs.”

  “It was horrible. I’ve never told anyone before. I mean apart from Carrie, Jason and Nana. I only told her as she knew something bad had happened. I didn’t want her thinking it was worse than it was.” She sniffed. “It’s stupid getting upset over something that happened years ago. Sorry!”

  Conor took her chin gently in his hands and kissed her. His lips barely grazed hers. “Greg was an idiot. He didn’t know what an amazing girl you are.”

  She wanted to believe he was genuine. He had kissed her but he wasn’t making any demands. He was different than Greg. He had proved that much, but could she trust him? He had offered her and Nana a place to live and didn’t seem to expect any payment in return. He made her laugh and seemed to find her interesting. Could he really like her? He didn’t have anything to gain by dating her, did he?

  “So why do you like Casablanca? It’s hardly a man’s film”

  “My dad was a Bogart fan. He watched all his movies over and over. I was interested in the war. I think the message in Casablanca is that there is always a higher goal. Victor needed to get away to help fight the Nazis and win the war. Rick hadn’t done anything to help anyone since the war had started. He just let horrible things carry on around him. But he saw you have to make a choice. Good versus evil. All men can be redeemed, I guess. Then when he died, I watched the films to be close to him.”

  “All men? Do you believe that?” Could she trust him? Was he really being nice to her simply because that’s what good men did.

  “I’d like to think so. I’d hope all men and women would choose the right side, make the right choice. Guess you think that’s rather ironic coming from me?”

  “Why?”

  “As the owner of Sunny Studios?”

  He had to mention that, didn’t he? Remind her of what he stood for. Who was the real Conor Dunne—the man behind Sunny Studios or the one sitting her beside her? She wasn’t sure.

  “I think I should turn in. It’s getting late.”

  He glanced at her as if he wanted to say something, but he just nodded. “See you tomorrow, then.”

  She stood up and went to her bedroom, knowing sleep wasn’t going to come easily. Conor Dunne was still an enigma. Who was the real guy?

  Chapter 33

  Jude Ryan paced back and forth across Conor’s office floor. Where was he? He couldn’t get over the change in Conor. From someone who rarely took time off from the businesses to sleep, he had gone to being like someone working a regular nine to five job.

  It was all that woman’s fault. Emily Williams. The Saint of the Gaming world. Despite every effort, he hadn’t been able to find a single piece of dirt on the girl, no matter how far back he dug or who he spoke to. Even past employees of her company had nothing but good things to say about her.

  How was he going to get Conor to turn against her and stop this foolish nonsense about turning his companies away from the products that sold? People wanted the games that Sunny Studios produced.

  He didn’t want to think about how much money he had lost, having invested in Sunny Studio shares. He needed his slice of the money—while he enjoyed a good lifestyle, his recent run of bad luck on the gaming tables had pushed him over his limits. The Staglioni brothers weren’t known for their patience in waiting for payment.

  “Jude, what are you doing here?”

  “Waiting to see you. I wanted to finalize some paperwork with you. I met your Emily a couple of days ago.”

  “She is hardly my Emily.” Conor protested but Jude noticed his face flushing.

  “Oh, that’s a relief then. She looked fairly cozy with the man she was with. I didn’t want to say anything since I thought you were a couple. I was worried she was seeing someone else in secret.’

  “Emily is a free agent. She can date whom she likes. But she’s been at my house every evening. Are you sure it was her?”

  “Yes, I said hello to her. It was lunchtime. Can’t remember what day. You know what it’s like. Busy, busy—the days roll into one. Anyway I need your signature on a few forms. Got another couple of employees who have decided to take advantage of the severance package.”

  Jude held his breath as Conor signed the papers. He could tell Conor was upset about Emily. His friend hid it well but the pen shook a little. Jude felt a twinge of guilt but it was Conor’s fault. He had thrown over five years of friendship for some girl.

  “Thanks, Jude. Anything else I can help you with?”

  “No, thanks. Take care of yourself and I’ll see you soon.”

  Conor sat at his desk after Jude left. He couldn’t believe Emily was seeing someone else. Who was it and how long had they been together? She’d behaved like someone single. What was it about him that made people drop him as soon as they got close? The door opened as Crystal walked in.

  “What did that snake want this time?”

  “Crystal, that’s not nice. He needed a couple of signatures, that’s all.”

  “Why do you look like you lost a million dollars?”

  “Just busy. Did you want something?” His tone was polite but business-like. He couldn’t handle Crystal’s pity at the moment.

  “Your mom called again. She needs to see you. Says she can’t stay around much longer. She has to get back. Things to do.”

  “Tell her to go. I won’t see her so there is nothing for her here.” The first woman to abandon him. Typical she would turn up now.

  “Conor, please talk to her. She is desperate to see you.”

  “Crystal, you know how much I value you. Not just as an employee but as a friend. Don’t ask me anymore. If I never see that woman again, I will die happy.”

  “Conor, please—”

  Conor gave her a look and Crystal withdrew from the office, slamming the door behind her.

  Conor stayed until midnight at the office. When he got back to his apartment, his dinner was waiting in the oven. There was a note from Emily saying she hoped he was okay but she’d gotten tired waiting up for him. He took the dinner out and put it straight in the bin. He didn’t have the stomach for it. Any of it.

  Emily tossed and turned all night before getting up to check if Conor was home. It was silly, but she’d been hurt the night before when he hadn’t even called to say he would be late. She’d thought they’d made progress, especially as she’d told him her deepest secrets. Maybe he had been so busy he lost track of time.

  She wandered out to the kitchen, just in time to hear the door slam. He had gone to work already despite it being close to sunrise. Was he avoiding her, or was he just busy? She wanted to go after him but that would be a bit desperate. She would call to his office and surprise him by taking him out to lunch. That was the least she could do.

  Whistling As Time Goes By, she showered and changed. After doing a little bit of work and telling Nana she was heading out, she rang Conor’s cell. It went straight to voicemail. Instead of leaving a message, she phoned the office. Conor was busy, so the receptionist put her through to Crystal. After exchanging pleasantries, she confirmed he was free and gave the address of the restaurant to Crystal for lunch at one p.m.

  Nana had told her to be nice to him. That’s exactly what she was going to do.

  Intrigued when Crystal told him Emily wanted to meet for lunch, Conor quickly rearranged his day. Jude must have gotten things wrong. He wasn’t exactly the romantic type so he probably misread whatever he had seen. Jude called him just as he was leaving.

  “Conor,
can you check your desk for me. I seem to have mislaid an important file?”

  “I can’t look right now, Jude. I’m on my way to lunch.”

  “Please, it will only take a second. It will save me having to come back to the office. If Crystal is there maybe she can look.”

  Conor looked toward Crystal’s desk but she was nowhere to be seen. She had probably left for lunch already. Sighing, he returned to his office and looked at his desk. Nothing was out of place.

  “Jude, it’s not here. “

  “It must be. I had it in your office. Can you check the coffee table?”

  Conor glanced at the table. “Right, it’s here. I will leave it at the front desk for you.”

  “Are you passing Shiels on your way to your lunch date? I am meeting Mac there for lunch. Too bad you have plans or you could join us.”

  Shiels. That was where he was meeting Emily. He almost groaned aloud at the thought of Jude bumping into Emily. Maybe they wouldn’t see each other. That was a bit much to hope for.

  “I will bring it to you. See you in a few minutes.”

  Emily arrived at the restaurant.

  “Emily Williams, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, do I know you?” Emily thought the man looked familiar but she couldn’t place him.

  “Jude Ryan, Conor Dunne’s attorney. I’ve just left his office. I was there when you spoke to Crystal. He asked me to tell you he wouldn’t be able to make lunch.” Jude’s lips curved but she noticed his eyes remained cold.

  “Really? Why didn’t he call?”

  “He said he tried but couldn’t get you. Maybe you lost signal? Anyway, I am free. Would you like to have lunch with me? I am starving.”

  “Sorry, but I have to be somewhere. I was actually going to ask Conor to come with me. I’ll see him later. Nice to meet you, Jude.”

  She walked away without looking back. Why would Conor send that nasty man to meet her? Didn’t he realize she disliked him? Well, his reputation—as in all fairness she had never met him. She checked her cell. It seemed to be working. Then she called Carrie.