My Hot Bodyguard

by Mia Madison

  “You tell me. Are you harboring any python-like qualities?” I can’t help giggling at the idea of this Adonis slithering about on the floor.

  He raises his eyebrows, and I realize what I said. The blood rushes to my face. I hope he didn’t think I was referring to his… er… equipment. And then that’s exactly where my mind goes, and I blush all the harder. When am I going to grow out of that?

  He rescues me from my blunder, though I can see amusement painted all over his face. “Anyway, I just came to make sure you could find your room. The place is like a rabbit warren. You might go looking and never be found again, and it wouldn’t look good with a bodyguard in the house.”

  “Tessa showed me the room when she took me on a tour of the house, but I was trying to remember how to get there. Where is it again?” I’m really looking forward to getting to my room with its faded blue charm and hiding out there for, like, forever. Not that I’ll mind seeing this guy again, once I cool down from our initial encounter.

  But I’m not getting off the hook right away. He says, “Don’t worry, I’ll show you.”

  CHAPTER 4

  Grant

  I take the pile of things from Paige and follow her up the stairs. Nice ass. I want to hang back and enjoy the view, but she waits for me to catch up as if she’s onto me.

  Mrs. Hanson, Tessa’s housekeeper, passes us on the stairs, introduces herself to Paige, and tells her, “Tom took your bags up, but let me know if there’s anything else you need. Dinner’s in the dining room tonight in honor of your arrival. Tessa said eight o’clock.”

  Paige says, “Thank you, pleased to meet you,” and Mrs. Hanson continues down the stairs.

  “Anything you need, Mrs. Hanson will help you out,” I say. “She meant what she said.” I think Tessa inherited Mrs. Hanson when she bought the house. The place would fall apart without her.

  Paige looks at her watch, a little furrow forming between her eyebrows. “It’s seven thirty already.”

  “Yes, don’t worry, your room’s only around the corner. It’s a bit of a trek, but I’m sure you’ll make it on time and get there and back for dinner.”

  “Very funny. I want to freshen up. I’ve been driving all day.”

  Paige in the shower. I can’t help my mind going to the delicious possibilities of her naked under the spray. “If you need a hand to speed things up, just let me know.” The words just slip out.

  She gives me an arch look. “Sounds like it’s the month of the ass and not the snake.”

  “Maybe it is.” I raise my eyebrows again. “Nothing wrong with a nice ass. Sounds like my kind of month.”

  “Oh, you’re impossible,” she says. “I’ll find my own way, thanks very much.” She grabs the pile of things from me, and then looks about in confusion. We’re at the top of the big staircase. “My room’s along here, right?”

  “No, turn left along the corridor, then down the little steps, turn right and it’s the third door on the left.”

  “Okay, then.”

  Just as she turns the corner, I say, out of sheer devilment, “My room is along the hall to the right, in case you’re wondering.”

  “I’m not wondering,” she growls and goes out of sight.

  I grin after her.

  CHAPTER 5

  Paige

  He wasn’t wrong; for a moment, I totally did want to know where Grant would be sleeping and if his room would be close to mine. But I’m not telling him that. I have to get back on track with this assignment.

  Seriously. It’s turning into a nightmare. Smart-ass remarks from hot bodyguards included.

  It makes sense that Grant is in the main part of the house close to Tessa. She has put me in a quieter wing (not that there seems to be a lot of noise anyway) in a room with a big desk, where I can lay out my samples and use my laptop. I can already see I’ll need all the power of the internet to find what I need here, and probably some very soothing music. I just hope I don’t need counseling by the end of it.

  I look around the room with its pale blue wallpaper and silk drapes. Tessa didn’t say what she had in mind for this one. Maybe it’s not on her list of priorities, and there will be time enough to give me her two cents during my stay here.

  Four weeks. I try not to panic. It sounds too little time for this big house with all its rooms, but also too long to spend stressed out by one determined client with crazy ideas.

  Still, I can’t dwell on that. I have to get ready for dinner, and I can’t lie to myself about wanting to impress her bodyguard. Just a little. Well, maybe a lot.

  But I’m deluding myself again. After taking a shower at lightning speed, corralling my hair into submission, and applying a touch of makeup, I feel like I might as well have worn a sack instead of my new, jade, body-skimming dress. Grant’s eyes light up when he sees me, but then he barely glances my way during the meal.

  Call me contrary, but now that I don’t have to fend off his flirtatious remarks and wisecracks, I miss him making them. I really shouldn’t care. I’m supposed to be acting professional, after all, not looking for attention from the help. Even if the help is hot enough to set fire to the curtains.

  Tessa holds court and fills all the silence in the vast dining room. How does she choose which of the people she’s paying get to eat dinner with her? There must be some form of modern manners-type etiquette that says the bodyguard and interior designer get to dine with you, and the rest of the staff don’t.

  And then I realize what’s going on. As the wine flows, and Tessa picks up the pace, she’s flirting with Grant, and he’s taking it all. Not that he could say anything, because there’s nothing you could actually put your finger on and tell Tessa not to do. It’s only teasing, a few looks, and running her fingers through her hair, obvious preening, giving the game away. With all this going on, I’m starting to feel like my presence is an excuse so they can dine together without the rest of the staff batting an eyelid.

  Grant is not saying much. Maybe he doesn’t have to make an effort with Tessa. Is this a display of Mr. Big Ego in action and how Grant is around women, basking in their admiration? Does he play them all?

  I shouldn’t be surprised, but I’m disappointed by the idea. More than I want to admit.

  How stupid of me to think I would be the only one here he would flirt with. He probably does this all the time, and it comes easy to him to make conquest after conquest. Yeah. I got that one in the palm of my hand, all right. Check. Onto the next.

  Why did I even think the way he looked at me was anything special?

  I’ve got to put on my big girl panties and stop being so naïve like I don’t know hot guys do this all the time.

  Even feeling as deflated as I do, like a balloon a week after a party, there’s something positive I can take from this. If one guy like Grant can make my heart flutter with a look and a bit of banter, it shows I’m starting to get over Ian. And more quickly than I expected, given how much of the first week or two I spent in tears.

  When I think about it, we had gotten into a routine, and I was always busy, otherwise I might have noticed things had changed before it all blew up. There’s no excuse for Ian doing what he did behind my back, but the end result? Just the same. A breakup eventually.

  I sip my wine, and think on that. After I’m done here, I can start again. On my own, and I don’t need Ian and his apartment, or Grant and his snake. I snort as the image of that flutters across my mind, and Tessa and Grant look at me.

  “Sorry, wine went down the wrong way.”

  That was attractive, Paige. For goodness’ sake, get a grip.

  Tessa goes to see what the holdup with dessert is, and Grant winks at me. Is he playing us both now? To hell with that. He gets a filthy look back from me, but all that does is aggravate me, because I don’t think it wounds him one bit.

  CHAPTER 6

  Grant

  This is awkward. Dinner with Tessa, who has been making it clear she wants me to be more than a guard with all th
e subtlety of a billboard since I arrived two weeks ago, and Paige, who is the one I actually want in my bed. No question about it.

  Tessa comes back into the room, and I try not to look too much at Paige, because if I do I can see the evening is not going to end well. I can imagine Tessa taking out her jealousy on Paige, and from what I’ve seen so far and know about Tessa, Paige’s job here is going to be hard enough as it is.

  Not that mine is any easier. Dodging bullets has nothing on this. I have to somehow fend Tessa off without insulting her. Or hurting her, for that matter, because annoying as she is, she’s clearly unhappy.

  Her husband Jeremy saw fit to buy her this huge place up here in Scotland, and I get the feeling it’s so that he can do what he likes in London and not have to pay her too much attention. I expect he thinks (if he thinks at all) that cash makes up for lack of affection, but anyone with an ounce of sense can see it’s a poor substitute. You can’t hug a diamond no matter how many carats.

  I’d better fill Paige in as soon as I can on the whole setup here, because she’s not happy with me ignoring her. My wink did not go down well, for sure. If looks could kill! But I like that it matters to her. It matters to me, too. I want to look at her all night in her sexy green dress, but I can’t.

  If we can just get through dinner, I’ll cry off in future and plead pressure of work or a need to be vigilant in the evenings or something. I don’t know. Something. Anything rather than spend a meal in between these two women. The food is good. The cook, Mrs. Braithwaite, is the best. But the indigestion isn’t worth it.

  “Do you feel safer up here in Scotland than you do in London, Tessa?” Paige is obviously making an effort to be polite.

  “A little. But with Grant around, I know I don’t have to worry. He’ll keep me safe, won’t you, Grant?” Tessa uses her words as an excuse to stroke my hand.

  I catch Paige’s eyes on the not-so-subtle movement, and I want to wrench my hand away, but politeness wins as usual with Tessa.

  “Yes, I’ll keep you both safe,” I say. “Though I’m sure you’re not in danger here.”

  Tessa likes to extract maximum drama out of everything, though. “It’s not like Scotland is on the other side of the planet, is it? If we can get here from London, so can anyone else. How long did it take you to get here, Paige?”

  “About ten hours with a couple of quick stops.”

  “There you go. The threat is only ten hours drive away. Much less with a plane.”

  The only threat I’m feeling right now is the one from Tessa. I run my finger around my collar.

  “Are you too warm?” she asks, picking up on the slightest movement I make as usual.

  “No, I’m fine; this shirt is a bit stiff is all.”

  She smiles and for a moment I think she’s going to make a risqué remark about my stiff comment, but she doesn’t. “Why not take off your tie and undo the collar? It’s not like we have company for dinner. There’s no need to stand on ceremony.”

  Like I’m going to undress at the dinner table, right? Wrong. “It’s okay. I’m still on duty.”

  “Just say the word, and I’ll stand you down. Have some wine. You can have a night off for once.”

  “Thanks, but that’s not what Jeremy hired me for.”

  “To hell with Jeremy. He can afford it. He should get his own bodyguard.”

  For a moment I think she means he can get his own man in the same way it’s obvious she wants to use me. Maybe she does mean that, but it’s none of my business. Does her sadness go another layer deeper than I thought? I can’t be cruel and lash out at her, no matter what she says.

  Paige asks, “Is it a general threat then? Are they targeting you both?”

  “We’re not sure. They spray painted comments about me on our house, but I’m sure they think Jeremy is to blame for whatever grievance they have. I’m just a soft target for them. They try to get at him through me. Good luck to them on that score.” She makes the last comment under her breath.

  When Paige doesn’t ask any more, it doesn’t matter to Tessa. She goes on anyway with her view of the situation.

  “My husband is the head of an investment empire. That used to be a good thing, before the financial crisis hit.” She takes a sip of her wine and looks to make sure we’re listening, though she knows I’ve heard the story before.

  “A lot of people in the industry blame him for their own misfortunes. And they think I’m guilty by association because I have the kind of life they still want. We have a house in the South of France, as well as this place and the house in London. A yacht, too.

  “We don’t know if there’s more behind the incidents than jealousy and spite, and whether they’ll go further than they already have. But that’s why I have Grant here until we know the extent of the problem. Jeremy thinks I’m being over-sensitive, but we can’t be too careful, can we?”

  “No, and I’m sure Grant is very efficient at his job. He could repel anyone,” Paige says, and it’s clear she’s having a dig at me.

  “Tell me,” Tessa says. “Have you been thinking about my ideas for the drawing room? Egyptian is going to work so well, isn’t it? I can’t wait to show the results back in London. They will fall off their chairs with envy.”

  Paige’s face is a picture of concern, but Tessa has gone off on one of her “how it’s going to be” speeches. I almost want to laugh to get Paige back for her “could repel anyone” comment, but I manage to contain myself.

  The chocolate mousse arrives; not my favorite. I leave them to it, saying I’m just going to have one last tour of the grounds. As I shut the door, I can’t help glancing back at Paige. She’s looking right at me, and our eyes meet. How can one look from her make me hard?

  CHAPTER 7

  Paige

  Tessa has a good cook I met briefly on our tour. She makes a chocolate mousse to die for, and the roast beef was good too. If I keep eating like this, I’ll be ten pounds heavier by the time I go home in a month, but one night is not going to hurt.

  And if Tessa doesn’t calm down, a few extra pounds will be the least of my problems. Mr. Attractive and Knows It is another hazard I’ll have to get over. Sleeping on a friend’s sofa has never looked so appealing, but I can’t refuse the contract now. If Tessa starts telling people I’m unreliable, it’s almost as bad as creating a set of tasteless designs.

  When her phone rings just as we finish dessert, she picks up the call after telling me to make myself at home. I whisper that I’ll just go up to get unpacked, and she nods, already chatting away about her day. Whoever she has on the other end must be a good friend. Because he or she is not getting much of a word in.

  Grant is coming down the stairs, coat on, as I go up.

  “Oh, you’re finished,” he says. “I thought the discussion in there would go on for a while.”

  “Tessa’s friend called.”

  “Right. She spends hours on the phone. Do you want to see the grounds? There’s no danger out there, but a lot of fresh Scottish air.”

  “I haven’t unpacked yet.” He’s kidding about there being no danger. I can see one right in front of my eyes, six foot three if he’s an inch.

  “And your things can’t stay in your bag for another few minutes?” The way he smiles at me, my resistance melts. What harm can it do? At least, I tell myself that.

  “I guess I can unpack later, and I could do with some air. I’ll get my coat.”

  He’s only asked me to go for a walk and my heart is hammering already. Over the top reaction, or what?

  I grab my coat and scarf, change my pumps for knee-high boots, and meet Grant downstairs. Tessa’s voice is still loud from the dining room.

  “We can make a quick getaway through the kitchen,” he says, and I follow him because I still don’t have my bearings in the house.

  “Great dinner, Mrs. B,” he says when we meet the cook, doing the washing up.

  “Yes, it was lovely,” I say. “Thank you.”

  “Glad
you enjoyed it. Where would you two be off to at this time of night?” she asks.

  “Looking for intruders, Mrs. B,” Grant says.

  “The same intruders who are never there and unlikely to be every night, by any chance?”

  “The very same.”

  Mrs. Braithwaite laughs. “At least you have company tonight, Grant. Don’t get distracted and let them get past you when you’re not looking.” She shoos us out the back door. I’m feeling a bit embarrassed by the exchange, but Grant doesn’t comment.

  “We’ll start at the East Wall,” he says, “and work our way around. You get the best views from there during the day. If Tessa gives you a break, make the most of the grounds. It’s a great place, though not the best time of year to enjoy it, I guess.”

  The wind whips up, and I shudder as we get to the wall.

  “Hey, you’re cold,” he says. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have dragged you out of the warm house.”

  “It was good to escape. I don’t know how I’ll cope with the endless enthusiasm for crazy design schemes for four weeks.”

  “I’m sure Tessa will calm down. She’s very lonely, you know.”

  “Has she said that?”

  “She doesn’t need to.”

  “Because you understand women like the back of your hand?”

  He laughs at that. “No. It’s just she’s by herself here, and her husband rarely calls. From what I can gather he has a full life in London, and it doesn’t include her.”

  “Why did they get married?”

  “I don’t know. Why does anyone?”

  “Love, I guess.”

  “Right. Anyway, I just wanted to say go easy on Tessa, if you can bear it.”

  “I’m not going to be rude, she’s a client. I’m not going to bully her or anything.”

  “I wasn’t saying you were. But you could be her friend.”

  She’s so far from being like any of my friends I almost laugh, and then I realize that’s what this is all about. He wants me to be nice to Tessa because he cares about her. That’s the whole purpose of him inviting me out on this walk.