The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride (The Blushing Brides Series Book 3)
Page 16
She nodded before entering her room and shutting the door behind her.
He wondered how he would get through the next several days forced to spend quality time with this over-privileged young woman.
∞∞∞
Delaney arrived in the dining room a few minutes late. Trent was already seated, but he stood and pulled out a chair for her. She sat down and a servant placed a steaming plate in front of her. “This looks good.”
Trent smiled. “It was a special request. I asked your father what foods you liked.”
“That was thoughtful.” She speared a piece of lobster and rolled the angel hair pasta onto her fork before taking a bite. “This is delicious.”
“I’m glad you like it. I’ll let Reggie know.”
“The cook?”
“The chef. Yes.”
“Please do.” She looked down at her plate and then lifted her gaze back to his. “I thought you were going to watch me every minute. How is it that you were down here, while I was upstairs?”
“I said while I was on duty I would watch constantly. Erik is currently on duty.” He glanced to the doorway where a man stood guard. She wondered how she’d missed him.
“I didn’t even notice him.”
“He has a talent for blending into the surroundings and being unobtrusive.”
“You could never blend into your surroundings, Trent.” She admired his handsome features and the way his hair fell over his eye. She bit her lip, wishing that the attractive man beside her would show the slightest interest in her. His lack of response to her flirting made clear his only interest was in protecting her. Maybe he’d come around if she didn’t give up.
“I don’t know what you mean?”
“Of course you do.” She smiled seductively. “A man as attractive as you could never go unnoticed.”
“You’d be surprised, princess.” He stood.
“Are we allowed to go for a walk?”
“Sure, but we should stay on the grounds.” He held out a hand to her and helped her stand.
“Okay.”
He walked with her to the front door. “Are you certain you want to go out there? You might get wet.”
“I’m positive.” He took his suit coat off and placed it around her shoulders. “That should keep you somewhat dry.”
“Thank you.” She was touched by his thoughtfulness. They walked down a path across from the house. About five minutes into the walk, they approached a lake. A pair of Hooded Mergansers floated gracefully on top of the water. “This is beautiful.” She wiped rain drops from her face.
“It is, isn’t it?” His eyes bore into hers before his gaze dropped to her lips, and she wondered if she’d misread him. Maybe he was interested after all.
A fish jumped in the water interrupting the moment. She gave into her desire to play with his hair. “You should be a model.” He was close enough that she could smell him, his spicy scent was all male, and she had the urge to pull him close and drink in his fragrance.
A low groan came from deep within him. “Woman, you don’t know what you’re doing to me.”
“I know exactly what I’m doing.”
“You’re my client.”
“I didn’t hire you.”
“That doesn’t make it any more ethical.” His eyes turned to look at something, and she noticed Erik standing nearby. “Besides, we’re not alone.”
“If we were alone, would you have kissed me?” Her eyes searched his.
“You know I would’ve, but it would’ve been a mistake.”
She sighed. Maybe he wasn’t interested in her after all. “Let’s go back inside.” She walked a few steps in front of him. If he was determined to be nothing more than a bodyguard, then she’d help him out and keep her distance. The idea of staying away from him bothered her more than it should.
∞∞∞
Delaney turned on the television, but paid no attention to it as she scrolled through her social media feeds. First Facebook, then Twitter, and finally, Instagram. There wasn’t much that caught her interest, until she found a post portraying Marc Struck dancing in a Seattle nightclub. The area was only vaguely familiar to her, so she’d have to put the address in her phone’s GPS.
When she was comfortable that most of the staff would be asleep, she dressed and slipped out her bedroom door. She exited through the kitchen grabbing a set of keys from the bowl on the counter on her way.
Once outside she clicked the unlock button and listened to see which vehicle’s doors unlocked. Slipping inside the gray sedan, she turned the key, thankful for the quiet engine. A few minutes later, she was safely off the property. It wouldn’t do for her to be holed up in a safe-house while the rest of the world had fun.
She arrived at the nightclub and searched out her prey. If Trent wasn’t interested, she’d find someone who was. A mere hour earlier, Marc Struck had been here, so with any luck he’d still be hanging out. If she could find the Hollywood bad boy and capture his attention, she was certain they’d have a blast together. He’d dated Reagan a few times, before she married Brad. As uptight as she was, it was no wonder the two hadn’t made a real connection. No, Delaney was more his type. A free spirit.
After downing her first cocktail, she grabbed a random stranger by the tie and pulled him onto the dance floor. Within a minute, Marc was watching her and within two he’d pushed the other guy out of the way. They danced and drank for hours, having a grand time.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here.” Marc put his arm around her waist and steered her toward the door.
Her eyes widened in shock when she found the door blocked by several large men.
Another man came up behind her, put his hands on her waist, and pulled her close to him. She recognized Trent’s spicy scent, and her traitorous heart did a little skip. He’d come for her.
“Sorry, Mr. Struck, you’re going to have to find another date. This little lady is with me,” Trent said.
She turned and met his inscrutable green eyes. How had he known where to find her? His hand was splayed across her waist searing into her skin through the thin fabric of her dress. It felt like he’d branded her. The sensation disturbed and excited her simultaneously.
The movie star took a step back and surveyed the group of men. “Sorry, sweetheart.” He put his hands up in mock surrender. “You’re not worth the trouble.”
Delaney cringed at the insult. Maybe Reagan had been right about him after all. She pulled away from Trent and slapped Marc hard across the face. Rubbing her stinging hand she pushed past Trent. “Leave me alone.”
“I’m afraid that’s not how this works, princess.” He slid his arm around her waist. “I’m paid to guard your body. It doesn’t much matter to me whether you want me to do my job or not. I will keep you safe with or without your permission.”
She pulled away from him. The reminder that he was only doing his job hurt. “You ruined a perfectly good date. I don’t want you near me.”
“That only makes my work more interesting.” He put his hand on the small of her back and escorted her to his car.
“What about the car I drove here?”
“You mean the one you stole?” He opened the car door and waited for her to get inside.
“Yeah. Whatever.”
“My men will bring it back.”
Once safely inside the vehicle, she let her head fall back against the head rest. Her head was pounding. So much for a good time.
“Do you have any idea how much trouble you could’ve brought on yourself?”
“I’m not going to stay locked up for the rest of my life.”
“Nobody’s asking you to remain inside forever, but you need a few days out of the public eye, and then we can devise secure ways for you to go out.” He scowled at her a moment before turning his gaze back to the road. “Getting drunk and cavorting with strange men isn’t the way to stay safe.”
Was that a hint of jealousy she heard in his voice? She wanted to believe it w
as. “It’s a good way to have fun.”
“It’s a stupid way to have a good time.”
“Whatever.”
“Aren’t you too old for this kind of nonsense, Delaney?”
“You think I’m old?”
“No, but until about four hours ago, I thought you were an adult.”
His words cut. He was right, of course. She was behaving like a child. Yet, acting her age seemed beyond her. There was a hole inside that she kept trying to fill, but no amount of partying seemed to fill it.
Trent fell silent. She didn’t feel up to starting another argument with him so she did the same, His honesty offended her far more than the careless insult Marc flung her way. Why should she care what her bodyguard thought of her? He was a paid employee, not a potential suitor. He was nobody. If she could convince herself of that, it would make ignoring his insults easier.
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About Elle E. Kay
Elle E. Kay lives in the Back Mountain area of Pennsylvania. She loves life in the country on her little farmette. Elle is a born-again Christian with a deep faith and love for the Lord Jesus Christ. She desires to live for Him and to put Him first in everything she does.
She writes children’s books under the name Ellie Mae Kay.
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Acknowledgements
I would like to give special thanks to my husband, Joe, for putting up with the long hours of writing and editing.
This story is a product of my imagination and a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of my imagination or in the case of actual towns, historical persons, and companies mentioned, they have been used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Any errors or deficiencies are my own.
Personal Testimony
I first came to know Jesus as a young teen, but before long I strayed from God and allowed my selfish desires to rule me. I sought after acceptance and love from my peers, not knowing that only God could fill my emptiness. My teen years were full of angst and misery, for me and my family. People I loved were hurt by my selfishness. My heartache was at times overwhelming, but I couldn’t find the healing I desperately desired. After several runaway attempts my family was left with little choice, and they put me in a group home/residential facility where I would get the constant supervision I needed.
At that home I met a godly man called ‘Big John’ who tried once again to draw me back to Jesus. He would point out Matthew 11:28-30 and remind me that all I had to do to find peace was give my cares to Christ. I wanted to live a Christian life, but something kept pulling me away. The cycle continued well into adulthood. I would call out to God, but then I would turn away from Him. (If you read the old-testament you’ll see that the nation of Israel had a similar pattern, they would call out to God and He would heal them and bring them back into their land. Then they would stray and He would chastise them. It was a cycle that went on and on).
When I came to realize that God’s love was still available to me despite all my failings, I found peace and joy that have remained with me to do this day. It wasn’t God who kept walking away. He’d placed his seal on me in childhood and no matter how far I ran from Him, He remained faithful. When I finally recognized His unfailing love, I was made free.
2 Timothy 2:13
“If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”
Ephesians 4:30
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
I let myself be drawn into His loving arms and led by His precious nail-scarred hands. He has kept me securely at His side and taught me important life lessons. Jesus has given me back the freedom I had in Christ on that day when I accepted the precious gift He’d offered. My life in Him is so much fuller than it ever was when I tried to live by the world’s standards.
I implore you, if you’ve known Jesus and strayed, call out to Him.
If you’ve never know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour. Find out what it means to have a relationship with Christ. Not religion, but a personal relationship with a loving God.
God makes it clear in His word that there isn’t a person righteous enough to get to heaven on their own.
Romans 3:10
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”
We are all sinners.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Death is the penalty for sin.
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Christ died on the cross for our sins.
Romans 5:8
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
If we confess and believe we will be saved.
Romans 10:9
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Once we believe he sets us free.
Romans 8:1
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
I hope you’ll take hold of that freedom and start a personal relationship with Christ Jesus.