by Ellie Wild
CHAPTER 8
Colt
“Hello, Speaker Finley,” I said. I’d been sitting in the living room, reading news articles on my phone while keeping an eye on the surveillance cameras displaying the surrounding grounds of the Finley estate. When I’d seen the vehicle returning him home, I couldn’t have been more grateful. A couple of hours had gone by since I’d been with Natalie, but I was still overly aware that I was in this big house alone with her, and I’d been fantasizing entirely too much about going back into her room and asking if she would mind doing those yoga poses again, preferably on me with her clothes off.
Since the yoga demonstration in her bedroom, I’d heard her retreat to the library. I didn’t approach her again though, not even to check if she needed anything.
“Hi Colt,” the senator said, his voice friendly, but tired.
I smiled at him. “Looks like you’ve had a long day.”
“Don’t I always,” he said, taking a seat at the dining room table across from me. “How was your day? Natalie didn’t drive you too crazy, did she? I see you took me up on having a casual Tuesday.”
I laughed, hoping it didn’t really sound as strained as I thought it did. “No…She’s uhm…studying. And yeah thanks, it’s nice to be out of a suit once in a while.”
“My poor girl. She’s been studying all day, hasn’t she?”
“No…she…she went to work out for a little while earlier.”
“Well, let me see if she’s up to going out for dinner. I could use a nice meal, and I’m sure she could too. In fact, why don’t you join us?”
I swallowed. My only plans for the rest of the day had involved going back home and taking several cold showers while trying to force the images of Natalie and those poses out of my head.
“No, that’s all right, sir,” I said, trying to politely decline and disguise the panic in my voice.
But Speaker Finley waved his hand dismissively. “Nonsense. I won’t take no for an answer. It’s my treat, to thank you again for your services.”
* * *
“Right this way,” the waitress said.
Speaker Finley, Natalie, and I followed her through the restaurant, where she led us to a table for three. Once we reached the table, I faltered for a moment, trying to decide which seat to take. Two chairs were on one side of the table, and a single chair was on the other side. I hurriedly approached the single chair, so that Speaker Finley could sit beside his daughter. Once we all took our seats though, I knew I’d made a mistake. I’d been reluctant to sit next to Natalie, but failed to realize sitting across from her was a worse idea because she would be plainly in my view for the whole dinner. I’d have to carefully control my expressions, because God forbid Speaker Finley saw the lust in my eyes when I looked at his little princess.
It was going to be a long evening, to say the least.
“Can I start you all off with something to drink?” the waitress said, smiling amicably at us all.
“I’ll just take water,” Natalie said.
“Same for me,” I said. Natalie met my gaze briefly, and I averted my eyes to the menu although I wasn’t really reading it.
“Water?” Speaker Finley said. “You two are going to make me look bad! Oh, what the hell. Give me a beer.”
The waitress winked. “Coming right up, sir.”
“Looks like you have an admirer,” Natalie teased, nudging her father’s arm with her elbow.
“Oh, nonsense. I’m too old for those shenanigans,” he said.
“No you’re not, Dad. I’m sure lots of women would be more than willing to be your future first lady.”
“Let’s not jump ahead of ourselves, dear,” Speaker Finley said with a chuckle. He pulled a pair of eye-glasses from the pocket of his shirt. “Besides, you’re the one who should be keeping your eyes open for prospects. You don’t want to wind up old and alone. You’re far too pretty for that.”
“Oh Dad,” Natalie said, exasperated.
My mouth having suddenly grown dry, I looked around, wishing the waitress would come back with our drinks already.
“What about you, Colt?”
“Huh?” My eyebrows shot up. I looked across the table at Speaker Finley, noticing that he was staring at me.
“Anyone special in your life? Strappingly handsome young lad like you must have somebody.”
Right on time, the waitress returned with our drinks, sparing me from answering. “Are you all ready to order, or do you need more time?”
“More time, please. My eyes haven’t even adjusted to this dim lighting yet!” Speaker Finley said.
The waitress laughed as if he had just said the funniest thing in the world, making it seem that Natalie had a point. Either the waitress was being flirtatious, or she was simply being extra nice because she recognized Speaker Finley and wanted to be left a hefty tip.
“I’ll give you a moment then. Just wave me over when you’re ready,” she said before leaving once again.
Natalie laughed. “Goodness, she is trying so hard,” she said. Suddenly, a flush came over her face and she reached for her cup of water. She also seemed to be consciously avoiding my gaze and I suddenly realized why.
I supposed she felt a bit hypocritical, considering that whole yoga display she had staged for me earlier.
Unable to stop myself, I chuckled.
“All right, enough you two,” Speaker Finley said, his eyes narrowing at the menu’s dinner entrees.
I breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that he had been distracted from asking me about my love life again.
Although the answer to the question really wasn’t all that complicated, I just didn’t feel like talking about it in front of Natalie. I couldn’t talk about it in front of her, knowing that she was the only woman I wanted right now, but couldn’t have.
I stared at the menu before me, trying to focus. But the only thing I could really focus on was Natalie’s presence across from me. Under the table, her foot brushed against mine. She looked at me, startled, and mouthed a ‘Sorry’ before turning her gaze back to her menu.
Just at the brush of her foot, my heart had begun to race. It didn’t make sense, the effect this woman had on me.
I looked up again when she cleared her throat, and gave a start over the fact that both she and Speaker Finley were looking at me. I raised an eyebrow, confused. And then I realized one of them had likely said something to me and I had been too lost in my thoughts to realize it.
“I’m sorry?” I said.
Speaker Finley laughed. “Was just wondering what you were having, but I see you need your concentration right now.”
I forced a laugh. “Yeah, sorry…” I said, remembering that he was treating me to dinner.
“And don’t worry about the price of what you want. Get whatever looks good to you,” he added, as if sensing my thoughts.
“Well, I’ve got simple taste,” I said. “I’ll settle for baked chicken, steamed vegetables, and mashed potatoes.”
“Simple, but hardy,” Speaker Finely said. “I like it. I think I’ll have the same, but I’ll switch out the chicken for a nice steak. Do you know what you want, dear?”
Natalie closed her menu. “I’ll just have a grilled chicken Caesar salad.”
“Looks like we’re all set then,” Speaker Finely said, and waved his hand to alert our waitress. She had been on the other end of the restaurant, but it seemed that she had been watching our table the whole time, waiting for the Speaker’s signal.
She returned with a smile on her face. “Ready for me to take your orders?”
“Certainly,” the Speaker said. “I’ll take the steak—medium rare—with vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes. And if you got any more beer back that, that’ll be welcomed too!”
“Of course, sir. And for you, ma’am?”
“Grilled chicken Caesar salad.”
“And you?”
“Baked chicken breast, steamed vegetables, and mashed-potatoes.”
“All right. Coming right up.”
“I don’t know Dad…” Natalie said once the waitress had left again. “Seems to me you should take a chance every now and then. You’ll never know if the right woman is out there if you aren’t willing to take a leap of faith.”
She stared off into the distance as she spoke, but something told me she was well aware of how her words resonated. I halfway wondered if she had noticed the way I looked at her after all, even though I had been trying so hard to keep my feelings hidden. I should have known better though—Natalie wasn’t dumb.
“I guess you’ve got a point there,” the Speaker said. He fixed his gaze on me, clearly about to say something else, but my attention was suddenly drawn elsewhere.
It appeared the waitress wasn’t the only one keeping an eye on the Speaker Finley.
A man dressed in dark clothing, sitting a few tables away, filled me with apprehension I couldn’t immediately place my finger on. Speaker Finley was building quite a name for himself, and he was undoubtedly starting to get recognized by more and more people on a regular. It had to be expected that he would start drawing more attention when he was out in public. But there was still something unusual about the way this particular man stared at him.
Only vaguely aware of the back-and-forth conversation occurring between the Speaker and his daughter, I stared at the man as a waiter approached him. They had a quick exchange before the waiter left his table.
That’s when I noticed there was only one menu at the table, and that the man was alone.
There was nothing wrong with going out for a meal alone; I’d done it on several occasions myself. But once again, something just struck me as off about this particular guy.
Whenever he wasn’t staring at the back of the Speaker’s head, he was casting cautious glances around the restaurant, as if waiting for something.
“I tell you, Natalie, you must be exhausting this poor man,” Speaker Finley said. I realized he was looking at me again.
“Have I really been that much trouble?” Natalie said, staring right at me. It was the most direct stare she had given me since her yoga workout.
“Of course not,” I said. “I’m just tired today, that’s all. I didn’t sleep too well last night.”
“Well, hopefully a good meal will help you get some good rest tonight then,” the Speaker said. “Here’s our food now.”
I turned in my seat, seeing the waitress rolling a tray with our plates on it.
In the second it took for me to turn my head, a loud screech filled the restaurant.
I turned back around, seeing that the mysterious man from a few tables away had abruptly stood, an ugly grimace on his face. As if in a hurry, he sprung forward, and reached for something at his hip. As he pulled his jacket back, several piercing screams filled the restaurant.
Confused, Speaker Finley twisted around his chair.
Reflexively, I jumped up from my seat, knocking over the plate of food that had been placed before me.
Everything was happening so fast, yet it seemed as if I was seeing in slow motion.
I sprung at the man just as he drew a gun, aiming for Speaker Finley’s head. The shot fired into the air, causing a chandelier to explode and making the whole restaurant erupt in screams—Natalie’s being the loudest of all.
* * *
“Thank you, sir.”
“No—thank you,” the police officer said, shaking my hand.
The restaurant had been evacuated and the shooter had been taken away. Yet, everyone remained thoroughly shaken, none more so than the Finley’s.
Before returning to his vehicle to be driven home, Speaker Finley approached me, a grim look on his face. “I don’t know what we would do without you, Colt,” he said, clasping my hand.
“Don’t mention it,” I said. “Just doing my job.”
“That’s what I want to talk to you about.”
“Oh?” I said, my eyebrows raised.
Speaker Finley sighed. “I couldn’t live with myself if anything ever happened to Natalie because of me. I never knew how dangerous politics could get and how many people had something against me. I’ve got to keep my distance from Natalie from now on, at least until all this nonsense blows over. So from now on, I want you to be her personal bodyguard. Please stay with her at all times.”
“Of course sir, it would be my honor.”
His precious daughter. The woman that filled my lusty dreams.
Untouchable.
Hell.
CHAPTER 9
Natalie
My bottom lip trembled as I looked toward my father, who waved goodbye to me from the front porch of our home. Although it was just a temporary arrangement, I didn’t like how it felt regardless. While I knew there was nothing I personally do to protect him, I hated the idea of leaving him. He, on the other hand, felt the only thing he could do to personally protect me at the moment was to stay away from me. His political ambitions and prowess had made him a target in ways we never could have imagined. The assassination attempt at the restaurant felt like the biggest slap in the face; just when we had finally started moving on from the shock of the bomb explosion, our world had been turned upside down all over again.
There was no doubt that the gunman had been hired by political opponents, yet, there was no solid way to prove it. And going public with such allegations would only cause more problems than it would solve.
The world of politics was a twisted place, but Dad had now gotten in too deep to do anything about it. In a sense, we had been naïve due to his popularity as Speaker of the House. Nonetheless, it was common knowledge that he supported policies that were despised by his opponents. Furthermore, he had never been hesitant in discussing the shortcomings of opposing parties to popular news outlets and anyone else willing to listen. While this behavior had always been championed by his supporters, it had clearly made his opponents want to retaliate. And now that he was in the running for one of the highest positions in the world, unnamed opponents were willing to stoop to new lows to take my father out of the picture, permanently.
All of this had led him to decide that the farther away I stayed from him, the better. He didn’t want me within a mile of harm’s way.
I stood outside, my arms wrapped around myself even though the air held no particular chill in it, as Colt loaded my suitcases and bags into our ‘escape’ vehicle. We were to go to a designated safe-house, and I was to live there until further notice—or in other words, until my father felt it was safe for me to be around again.
“Take care of her, Colt,” my father called out, a somber expression on his face.
Colt held open the passenger’s door for me. “I will, sir. I promise.”
* * *
The safe house felt foreign. Despite the welcoming atmosphere its comfortable plush furniture, warm colors, and overall cozy décor provided, it wasn’t home, it wasn’t where I wanted to be, and there was nothing that could make me stop worrying about my father.
I lied awake, well into the night, staring at the ceiling of my new bedroom. Colt was staying in the guest bedroom down the hall, although from the constant creeks I heard on the wooden floors, I knew he wasn’t sleeping well either. I kept hearing him going into the living room, likely looking out the window and checking out the premises, making sure everything was in order and that no one had followed or found us.
When I couldn’t stand staring at the ceiling anymore, I climbed out of bed.
The floor cold on my bare feet, I crept into the living room. Colt didn’t hear me; he was too busy staring out the window. He wore plaid pajama pants, and nothing else. There was just enough lighting from the windows to display his muscular back and smooth taut skin, covered in tattoos.
A swooping sensation went through my lower belly, and I suddenly realized how badly I wanted to feel his arms around me—not just because I yearned for his touch again, but because I just wanted to feel safe.
I stopped behind him, barely breathing,
and just taking in his silhouette in the moonlight.
Sensing me, he slowly turned around. “Natalie…” He ran a hand through his silky hair. “Are you all right?”
I shook my head.
“I’m sorry. Of course you’re not. Not after today…”
“Thank you, Colt. For saving my father’s life.”
He swallowed and nodded. His eyes trailed my face, and then down to my thin camisole and pajama shorts. “Can’t sleep?”
I shook my head again.
“Do you need anything? Cup of tea, or…I don’t know. Something to eat? Some places around here are probably open late. I could—”
“Colt, stop,” I said, cutting him off.
“Natalie?” He frowned and closed the distance between us in two strides, stopping right in front of me. “Shit. You’re not okay at all.”
I sniffed and looked away, embarrassed that he had to see me at my lowest.
“I’m sorry. I don’t want to be a burden to you...”
“What are you talking about?”
He cupped my chin and made me look at him, a touch so gentle that my heart melted. His beautiful blue eyes held concern in them—not even an ounce of reproach.
“You aren’t a burden. I’ll always be next to you and protect you. That’s my job, after all.”
I tensed, hurt by his words. Right. This was just his job. He was probably worried about me because I was his client and his duty was to keep me safe from harm...
He noticed that my body had tensed, and his frown deepened. “No, Natalie. That’s not what I meant... I.. Shit. That didn’t sound how I wanted it to.”
Without a word, he pulled me into embrace, his strong arms holding me close to him, and my heartbeat increased. This contact was so unexpected, yet it was something I wanted for a long time. Now that we were touching like this I never wanted him to let me go.
I inhaled his manly scent, clutching onto his shoulders as his hands traveled across my back soothingly. I needed this. I needed him.
“I don’t want you safe only because this is my job. I genuinely worry about you.”
