Anger bubbled up inside her chest, momentarily flushing out the nerves that had jumbled in her stomach. She stomped her foot and stuck a finger in his chest. “Listen here, mister. You’re the one who told me to go and have fun today. You don’t get to send me on this shopping trip and then chew me out. This was your idea. Don’t talk to me like I’m a child. And don’t you dare threaten me.”
He raked his hands through his hair, pinning her with a frustrated expression. “Bethany, I thought they took you. Do you have any idea how that made me feel? What kind of thoughts were running through my mind?”
She felt her anger fading away as she studied his face. Of course, Troy had panicked. He’d lost sight of her and was suddenly worried that he’d failed another mission. That he’d be stuck on desk duty forever. But she was fine. It had just been a small misunderstanding.
“Look, if you’re afraid of losing your job, don’t be.” Her voice softened and she sighed. “You didn’t lose me. I’m safe. And I’m sure you’ll get that promotion at work as soon as this is all over.”
When this was all over. The thought of this ending filled her with sorrow. When she went back to her regular life, there would be no more Troy to fill the emptiness.
He tilted his head to one side and gave her an exasperated look. “You really think I’m worried about my job at a time like this?”
She wasn’t sure what he meant. She was obviously okay. He didn’t have to keep railing on her like this.
“Look, I know you’re not exactly thrilled about this babysitting job,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest in a poor attempt to shield herself from the sadness wrapping its cold fingers around her heart. “It’s not a secret. But you don’t have to worry about me anymore. I’m keeping in line. No more birthday dinners. No more elaborate cover stories. This was just an accident. You won’t get in trouble.”
She’d never mention to Agent O’Brien that Troy had misplaced her while chatting up his ex. He didn’t have to worry. His secret was safe with her.
“I don’t care about any of that.”
He stepped closer and Bethany took an involuntary step backwards until her back hit the wall. He placed a hand on the wall behind her head and stared down at her mouth. She felt an unbidden thrill go through her. He was too close for comfort. She could count every thick black lash rimming his blue-green eyes. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest against hers. There was a heat between them that burned hotter than the Nevada sun up above. He reached up with his other hand and cupped her cheek, rubbing his thumb softly against her bottom lip, sending electricity cascading down her spine.
Bethany forced herself to breathe as she stared up into his eyes. “What do you care about?”
“You.”
She felt her breath hitch in her lungs. He couldn’t mean what she thought he meant. “But...that’s your job.”
“Maybe.” A hint of a smile played on his sculpted lips as his gaze trailed up from her mouth to her eyes. “But that’s not why I care.”
Her heart fluttered in her chest. She wanted him to continue. To explain what he meant.
“Why do you care?”
“Because, Bethany.” A little line appeared between his eyebrows as he looked deep into her eyes. “You’re more than just a job. Don’t you know that?”
She bit her bottom lip, needing more from him. Could it be possible that Troy felt the same way she did? That the spark between them was more than one-sided? Her eyes trailed the sharp angles of his jaw, down to his lips, and then back to his smoldering gaze. The fire in his eyes made her stomach jolt with desire.
His face began to move toward her, slowly, as if he were afraid of scaring off a wild animal. She tilted her chin up toward him, wondering what it would be like to have him kiss her fully. Not some fake kiss in front of an audience. But a real one, no holds barred. She wanted him to pull her into his arms and prove to her that she wasn’t alone with these feelings.
Just as his lips drew near, she heard a chorus of awws. Troy pulled away suddenly to reveal Olivia and Angelica standing at the end of the alley. They were staring at the pair of them, Angelica standing with a hand over her heart and Olivia giggling through her fingers. Bethany felt her cheeks burn as she straightened herself out. It felt like she’d been transferred back to the awkward days of middle school.
“I guess we’d better get back,” Troy said, rubbing a hand along his jawline and ducking his head sheepishly.
“Yeah, I suppose so.” She looked at him from the corner of her eyes, wondering what would’ve happened if they hadn’t been interrupted. Had Troy really just tried to kiss her? What had he meant about her being more than a job? At that moment in time, nothing else seemed as important as that last question.
Chapter Fourteen
Troy
Troy felt like he was going to die. The whole ride home was torture. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of Bethany sitting in the passenger seat next to him, her slender legs crossed and her hands resting innocently on her thigh. He wanted nothing more than to take her hand and feel the heat of her skin next to his.
They’d been so close. So very close in that alleyway between the shops. He’d wanted to tell her how he felt. To explain just how losing her for those few precious moments had snapped everything into perspective.
He needed her. He’d never felt like this before. She’d worked her way into his very soul.
As they pulled into the cul-de-sac of their temporary neighborhood, his heart began to race. The sun was going down over the horizon, bathing the houses in darkness. Soon, they’d be alone again. No Olivia or Angelica in the backseat to fill the awkward silence that had fallen between them. He’d have to find a way to put into words the desire burning in the pit of his stomach.
He’d never been very good with words. Action was more his style. Breaking down the door for a drug raid. Arresting an uncooperative witness. Handcuffing a perp. Those were the things he could do. Explaining his feelings for the beautiful woman sitting beside him? Nearly impossible.
“We’d better get out of their hair,” Olivia said as the vehicle came to a stop. She winked at Troy through the reflection of the rear view mirror. “These two lovebirds have better things to do than hang with us tonight.”
“Yeah, I think we got a taste of that back at the stores,” Angelica cooed. She sighed dramatically and slid out of the back seat. “You guys are the cutest couple I’ve ever seen.”
Troy avoided Bethany’s gaze and hopped out of the vehicle. The tips of his ears had begun to burn. He grunted his farewells to the ladies and then made a bee-line for the house, settling himself onto one of the kitchen stools with a cold drink. Bethany followed a few moments later, the soft padding of her leather sandals coming up behind him.
He kept his gaze set firmly on the microwave hanging above the stove. He could feel her watching him. An assortment of explanations and words jumbled about in his head, none of it making any sense. His tongue had permanently tied itself into knots.
Jonathon Troy wasn’t used to feeling so out of control of his own body.
“I picked you up some treats as a thank you.” Bethany slid a small white box in front of him and then perched herself on the nearest stool. She coughed quietly and shook her head. “I didn’t know how badly I needed to get out of here today. Thank you for setting that up.”
He nodded quietly and tore the box open. Chocolate covered éclairs awaited him inside. He stuffed one in his mouth and then offered her the box, all the while still staring resolutely at the microwave.
Bethany took one and ate it slowly, never saying a word. He appreciated her patience as his mind tried to make sense of what he wanted to say. Even if they didn’t speak a word to each other, having her next to him was a comfort he’d never known before. That had become clear these past few days.
Normally, being out of the action would’ve made him ceaselessly anxious. Like a bucking bronc just waiting to be released into the rodeo corral. And yet
, this time was different. He’d fallen into a comfortable routine with her. She was a balm on his restless soul. A person worth being around.
“I’m sorry for blowing up at you back there,” he said finally, treading softly with his words. Maybe forcing himself to speak would make the words magically materialize. “When I couldn’t find you, I panicked.”
“And I’m sorry I disappeared and nearly gave you a heart attack,” she replied quietly, pausing to take a deep breath, “but I saw you with Sarah and I guess I panicked too.”
His gaze cut suddenly to her sullen face. “You saw Sarah?”
“Yeah.” She shrugged her shoulders, her cheeks turning pink. “I saw you two hug. I’m guessing that’s the ex?”
He nodded. “That was her. It’s been almost a decade since we last saw each other. It’s crazy that of all places, we bumped into each other there.”
She gave him a thin smile and stared down at her fingernails. “And I suppose you still don’t believe in luck?”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “I figured you’d say something like that. Call it luck, or whatever you want, but it was nice. She reminded me of the person I used to be.”
The person who was with Sarah believed that he could have it all. He hadn’t yet resigned himself to a life without love. Seeing her again and then finding Bethany safe and sound had snapped everything into place. He still wanted that—a family to come home to, a committed relationship with a good woman, and most of all, love.
“Listen, Bethany.” He turned his body toward hers and placed his hands on his knees. She peered up at him through her eyelashes. “I need to talk about what happened between us back there.”
Biting her bottom lip, she nodded. “I’d like that.”
With a sudden rush of courage, he reached out and took her hands. Her skin felt soft beneath the calluses on his fingertips. They were small and feminine. He could engulf them with only one of his. He ran a thumb over the palm of her hand, feeling electricity spark between them.
“Seeing Sarah again made me realize something,” he said, swallowing hard. “That maybe, a hardheaded guy like me still has a chance at finding someone. That I’m not a complete lost cause.”
She tilted her head to one side, her long hair falling partially into her eyes, and laughed softly. “Of course, you’re not. I mean, you’re definitely hardheaded, but you’re not a lost cause.”
His heart thumped so loudly he swore he could hear it. “I’m glad to hear you say that, because this hardheaded man is struggling to find the right words to say. I’m not a fancy guy. I don’t think I’ve ever read a poem in my life. So here’s the thick of it: I like you, Bethany. This might have started as just a job. Just a fake marriage. But, I feel like there’s something more between us. Something real.”
Her hazel eyes grew wide and she stared at him for a long, torturous moment. Finally, she blinked and a small smile played on her lips. “I like you, too, Troy. As more than just my bodyguard and fake husband. And I don’t think it’s because I’m being held captive against my will.”
He winced, but she squeezed his hands and moved closer.
“Being forced into the witness protection program is the best thing that could’ve happened to me,” she added with a warm smile.
With her right hand, she reached up to touch his cheek, leaving a scorching mark where her fingers traced. He closed his eyes as the sensation rippled down his skin. She moved closer to him and once again he could smell the delicious scent of jasmine in her hair. He opened his eyes to see her staring up at him, a sensual glow dancing in her gaze. It was intoxicating to see her like that. It made him want to grab her by the waist and never let go.
“How about this?” he offered, squeezing her other hand that he still held enclosed in his. “Let’s go out tomorrow night. Pretend there’s no witness protection program. No bodyguards. Just a guy and the beautiful woman who, for some unknown reason, agreed to go out with him. Will you do me the honor?”
She beamed up at him, giving off a musical sigh. “I’d love to. You know, the last date I was on, I witnessed a murder. Might be nice to steamroll that memory with something better.”
He chuckled and traced a finger down her jawline, marveling at the perfect shape of her lips. “That’s exactly what I need. A date with my pretend wife.”
His thumb traced the line of her bottom lip and she inhaled sharply. Flicking his gaze up to hers, he saw the same desire reflected in her eyes. The same heat he felt burning deep inside his gut. Gone were the nerves he’d felt the whole ride home. In their place was a soaring confidence that was flying high on the total look of adoration this wonderful woman was giving him.
He leaned in closer to taste her mouth, his lips brushing softly against hers. She surprised him by putting her hand on the back of his neck and pulling him closer. The fire inside his gut flared to life. He slid off the stool and placed both of his hands on her hips, guiding her backwards into the nearest wall.
Pressing his chest against hers, he deepened the kiss, relishing the sweet taste of her lips. His skin was ablaze now. Fire burned in every extremity. As her hands moved down his neck and onto his arms, he was afraid he’d scorch her. Their lips worked perfectly together and he pressed even harder against her. She moaned into his mouth, nearly bringing him to his knees with desire.
He was supposed to be impenetrable. An iron fist ready to do battle. But somehow, Bethany had broken through his walls. He needed this woman. He needed to feel her hand in his. To hear her laughter. To listen to her crazy theories about luck. To be by her side for every moment of the day. To feel her lips against his.
How long they stayed like that, he couldn’t be sure. But it wasn’t until they heard a firm clearing of a throat did they finally break apart and catch their breaths.
“Agent Troy.”
O’Brien stood in their living room, his face a mask of displeasure. His dark eyes flicked between Troy and Bethany as they did their best to rearrange themselves into innocent poses.
“Boss. You’re here.” Troy hated the sound of his voice breaking. He’d never gone from such a high emotion to a low in such a short range of time. The sensation was dizzying. He could only hope O’Brien hadn’t seen too much. Or, that he’d just pretend he hadn’t seen anything at all.
“The front door was ajar.” O’Brien tugged on the front of his black suit and pursed his lips. “I was worried something had happened. You might be more careful in guarding your witnesses in the future, Agent Troy.”
“Sir, yes, sir.” Troy nodded his head. He could feel Bethany moving closer to his side, as if she meant to protect him from the wrath of his employer. His heart swelled at the thought of this woman trying to take on a man like Agent O’Brien for him. She really was crazy. And so very wonderful.
“I’m not staying long. I’d just like a word about the status of the case,” O’Brien continued. He nodded in greeting to Bethany. “If you wouldn’t mind giving us a moment, Miss Reed.”
“Of course.” Bethany smiled confidently, although her cheeks burned bright red. “I’m going to head to bed. Call it an early night. It was good seeing you, Agent O’Brien.”
Troy watched her call Samson to her side and then lead him up the stairway. It wasn’t two seconds after they heard her bedroom door close when O’Brien turned his scowl on Troy. He crossed his arms over his chest and huffed.
“This isn’t just a house call, Agent Troy.” O’Brien’s frown deepened and he crossed the room to sit himself in a chair at the dining table. “My contacts tell me Void’s got people searching high and low for Miss Reed. The prosecutor is getting ready to move on this case, whether we have a body or not. It’s all circumstantial, but it could put a real dent in Gerald Void’s campaign. He’s feeling the pressure.”
Troy’s ears perked up. He took the seat opposite of O’Brien and rested his hands on his knees. “Are we still safe here?”
“I think so.” O’Brien rubbed a hand along his smoothly shav
ed chin and sighed. “But I’m not taking any chances and neither should you. No more field trips, do you understand me? Void’s determined to get his hands on her. One slip up and your whole cover could be blown.”
Fear gnawed at Troy’s gut like a hyena on a carcass. He didn’t know what he’d do if Void got to Bethany. The very notion was likely to drive him mad. He’d come to care deeply for her and the thought of losing her so suddenly was unbearable.
“I’ll protect her, sir,” he said, the muscles in his jaw tightening. “I know how important my job is.”
“If that’s the case, then what did I just walk in on over there, Agent Troy?” O’Brien cocked his head to one side and scowled. “Please don’t tell me that act was for your cover, because we both know I can spot a lie from a million miles away.”
Troy gulped. He should’ve known better than to hope his boss would pretend that kiss had never happened. “I’m sorry you walked in on that, sir.” He sat a little taller, wishing he were wearing his suit again instead of a plain white tee and faded jeans. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“Of course not.” O’Brien raised one eyebrow and pierced Troy with a glare. “Because you were too busy fooling around to do your job. I already demoted you once, Agent Troy. Don’t make me do it again. Do your job and do it correctly.”
Lead settled in the pit of Troy’s stomach. He nodded solemnly. “I apologize, sir. I won’t let you down.”
“And that means keeping the relationship between you and the witness strictly professional. Or this will be the end of your career at the FBI.” O’Brien raised his chin. “Do I make myself clear?”
Troy’s heart seized in his chest. He couldn’t agree to that. They’d just professed their feelings for each other. It was the first time in years he’d opened up to someone. He couldn’t just turn around and end things between him and Bethany. Not when what they had seemed to be so good.
But the look in O’Brien’s eyes meant business. Could Troy risk everything he’d built over the past decade for her? His career meant the world to him. He’d been on this path since he was a young boy. It wasn’t fair that he had to choose. He wanted both.
Faking Ever After with the Bodyguard: A Sweet Fake Romance Page 10