Bryce: The Project (Indie Rebels Book 3)

by Miranda P. Charles

  She hooked her arms around his neck, pressing herself closer to him, when a knock on the door made her jump.

  “They’re a little early,” she said, disappointed. While she was looking forward to babysitting Jill, she could have done with another half an hour making out with Bryce.

  “Do I have lipstick on me?” Bryce asked, rubbing his mouth.

  She stifled a giggle. “No. How’s my face?”

  “Stunning.”

  Emma tried to hide her grin as she went to open the door.

  “Emma!” Jill hugged her legs enthusiastically.

  “Hi, sweetie. I missed you!” Emma bent down to kiss her sister, then straightened to greet Myra. She looked questioningly at the burly man standing behind them.

  “This is Roger, Jill’s and my bodyguard,” Myra said.

  “Good to meet you, Roger,” Emma said, awed by the man’s size.

  “Same here,” Roger said with a hint of a smile.

  “Sorry we’re a bit early,” Myra said. “But Jill was so excited to see you and I thought traffic would be worse. Do you mind if we stay for half an hour or so? I don’t want to get to the hospital earlier than five. That’s the time my friend wants me to come visit her.”

  “Of course. No problem. First, I want you to cover Jill’s eyes.”

  Myra lifted her brows.

  Emma grinned. “I have a surprise for her.”

  “A surprise? What is it?” Jill started jumping in place.

  Emma laughed. “Mummy has to cover your eyes first. And, oh, by the way, a friend of mine is here. He helped me carry the surprise home. I’ll introduce you to him first.” She motioned for Bryce to come to the door.

  “Hi,” Bryce said to her visitors, offering his hand to Myra. “I’m Bryce Green.”

  “Oh, hello, I’m Myra,” Myra said with a friendly smile.

  “And I’m Jill!” said Emma’s sister.

  Bryce bent to shake hands with Jill. “Pleased to meet you, Jill.”

  “My hands are only small because I’m only a little girl.”

  Bryce grinned. “Yes, I heard you’re three years old.”

  Jill nodded. “Are you marrying Emma?”

  Emma gasped. “Goodness. No, sweetie. Bryce is just a friend.” For now.

  “Oh. My mummy is getting married to my daddy.”

  “I see,” Bryce said. “That’s nice.”

  “Yes, I’m the flower girl. Where’s my surprise, Emma?”

  Emma chuckled. “Okay, Mummy will cover your eyes. No peeking.”

  Emma waited until Bryce finished introducing himself to Roger before ushering everyone into her living room.

  “Oh, wow,” Myra breathed upon seeing the dollhouse, but kept her hands on Jill’s closed eyes.

  “I wanna see!” Jill said.

  “Wait.” Emma took her phone and tapped the camera app before she nodded to Myra.

  Jill blinked after her mother’s hands left her face. Then her eyes rounded like saucers, her mouth opening wide. “A dollhouse,” she said in awe. Quietly, the little girl approached her gift—which was taller than she—and simply stared at it for a few seconds. Then she turned to Emma with the biggest grin on her face and started jumping up and down again. “I’ve got a dollhouse!”

  “Do you like it?” Emma asked, her heart expanding at Jill’s obvious joy.

  “Yes!” Jill flew to Emma’s arms and gave her a big hug.

  “What do you say, Jill?” Myra prodded gently.

  “Thank you, Emma. I love it sooooo muuuchh!”

  “I’m so glad, sweetie.”

  “Come play with me!”

  “I’ll make coffee for everyone first, okay? And milk for you.”

  “Okay. Mummy, Roger and…you, Byce.” Jill pointed to Bryce. “Can you play with me?”

  “It’s Bryce,” Emma said with a laugh. “You know he carried your big and heavy dollhouse from the shops? You wouldn’t be able to play with it now if he wasn’t there to help me.”

  Jill made a shocked face, then trotted towards Bryce, lifting her arms up to him.

  Bryce bent down and received a massive hug from the little girl, complete with a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Byce.”

  “You’re very welcome,” Bryce said, looking touched.

  “Sit down and play with me,” Jill pleaded. “Mummy and Roger too.”

  The three dutifully obeyed the youngest in the room.

  Emma hurried to the kitchen to make hot drinks, thankful that she could see and hear what was happening in the living room. She couldn’t wait to join the fun.

  “Byce,” Jill said. “Me and Mummy saw a little baby today.”

  “Did you?” Bryce asked. “Was it a boy or a girl?”

  “A girl. Like me. I gave her clothes.”

  “That’s so nice of you. I’m sure she’ll love them.”

  “Yes. They’re princess clothes and dinosaur clothes and…and…boring clothes…”

  Bryce let out a laugh. “Why are they boring clothes?”

  “Because one is only white, and another one is only blue, and another one is only yellow. They don’t have drawings.”

  “I see. But I’m sure the baby and her mummy were still happy with your presents.”

  “Yeah. Are you coming with us tomorrow?”

  Emma chuckled. Her sister clearly liked Bryce.

  “To where?” Bryce asked.

  “Only you and me are going, darling,” Myra interjected.

  “Roger’s going too.”

  “Yes, just the three of us.”

  Jill looked at Emma, pouting. “I’ll miss you tomorrow, Emma. I’ll miss you sooo much.”

  “I’ll miss you too, sweetie.” Emma inhaled deeply, her heart expanding. She was so smitten by Jill, and she couldn’t believe how much it meant to her that she had a sister—a whole family, as a matter of fact. They made her feel like she belonged—that she wasn’t alone.

  Could all her dreams be coming true? Had life turned with that one decision to forgive her father and reconnect with his family? Because she certainly hadn’t expected all these things that were happening to her.

  Not everything was fun and laughter because of those scumbag Indie Rebels. But due to the threat to her safety, she was realising just how much her family, especially her father, truly cared for her.

  Emma’s eyes misted. For so long she’d believed that her dad didn’t give a toss that she existed. But his recent actions certainly didn’t support that belief. Maybe this was finally the time to let go of all her negativity towards her father and fully embrace him.

  Yes, Addison was still the travelling businessman, but he was doing it for his family’s future. And Myra seemed to have made it work by simply joining him every now and again.

  Wasn’t it time for Emma to figure out how she could also make her relationship with her dad—and her whole family—work, despite the distance? Surely there was a way. And if she could find it, then there was also hope for a romantic long-distance relationship, right?

  She glanced at Bryce, her heart skipping.

  Her barriers were crumbling all around her; perhaps that was why all these incredible things were pouring into her life. Not only had she been warmly welcomed by her Fern relatives, but the man she’d never forgotten was right here in her living room, playing with her sister. And, just earlier, he’d kissed her too.

  Roger got up from the floor and answered his ringing phone. He went to a far corner and spoke quietly. Then he walked to the kitchen and handed his phone to Emma. “It’s your dad.”

  “Oh. Thanks.” She put the phone on her ear. “Hey, Dad,” she said cheerfully.

  “Hello, Em. How’s it going?”

  “Good, thanks. Roger told you Myra and Jill are here?”

  “Yes. And a friend of yours. Bryce.”

  “Yes. He helped me carry Jill’s dollhouse that I bought for her. Actually, Dad…” Emma turned her back to the others. She didn’t want Bryce to hear her talk to her father i
n case Addison rejected her suggestion.

  “What is it?”

  “Bryce used to work at Plank Island at the Whitsundays. That’s the island next to the one you used to visit, according to Sharryn.”

  “Yes, I know Plank Island.”

  “Well, since moving here to Sydney, Bryce has been working as a security consultant. I was thinking it might be a good idea if we talk to him and see what options he could give us apart from having a bodyguard each. I mean, it can’t be cheap having full-time security detail for several of us.”

  “What exactly did you tell him about our situation?”

  “I told him Edgar Fern is my uncle, and that the Indie Rebels set him up. He said that he’s heard some bad things about those IRs too.”

  Addison was silent for a moment, and Emma waited anxiously. She might have divulged information that her father hadn’t wanted anyone else to know. Well, too late to take anything back. Besides, she trusted Bryce. She just wouldn’t be able to justify why, though. It was only a feel thing.

  “What else did he say to you?” Addison queried.

  “Just that he’d be happy to talk to you.”

  “That’s it?”

  “We didn’t really talk in-depth about it. I just happened to mention it because…” Emma sighed. “To be honest, I don’t like the thought of having someone follow me around all the time. It’s too intrusive.”

  “It’s not going to be forever, Emma. Only till we get on top of those Indie Rebels.”

  “When are you going to get the police involved? Maybe we should call them—”

  “No. Look, Em. Just trust me on this, okay? There are things you don’t know yet, so just please follow my orders.”

  “I’m just confused. You said all this is just a precaution, yet you’re so insistent on safety that you’re scaring me. Then there’s the not wanting to call the police and I don’t know if it’s because it’s not that serious…”

  “Like I’ve said before, I’d rather be safe than sorry. I’m not going to apologise for that. Anyway, text me Bryce’s phone number. I’ll call him when I get a minute.”

  “Okay, I’ll do that.”

  “Good. Now, Sharryn said you’re having dinner with her, Kallan and Kerrod tonight.”

  “You talk to Sharryn a lot, don’t you?” she said with a chuckle.

  “She does a few things for me that her dad used to do.”

  “Oh, I didn’t know that. Anyway, I want to discuss privacy and stuff like that with Kallan before he starts.”

  “I’m sure he’ll cooperate with you, as long as you don’t stop him from doing a good job.”

  “But if there are other options we can consider…”

  “Then we’ll consider them and make changes down the line if need be.”

  “I guess I can live with that,” she said resignedly.

  “Good. I have to go now. Tell Myra and Jill I’ll talk to them later.”

  “Okay. You take care, Dad.”

  “I will. Bye.”

  Emma returned Roger’s phone and relayed Addison’s message to Myra and Jill. Then she bent to talk in Bryce’s ear. “My dad’s happy to talk to you. He wants me to text him your number. Is it okay to give it to him?”

  “Yes, of course,” Bryce said.

  “Great.” She immediately sent Bryce’s contact details to her father before going back to the kitchen to attend to her drinks. She might be hiring Kallan tonight, but she hoped Bryce would come up with a different option. Anything was better than being followed wherever she went.

  Come to think of it, if she and Bryce started going out, she wouldn’t need Kallan, would she?

  She rolled her eyes. She was getting ahead of herself here. They’d only just kissed once—which had been super sweet.

  But it wasn’t as if he’d instigated their lip-lock. She’d quite obviously asked for it, albeit wordlessly. So what if Bryce had only felt sorry for her?

  She couldn’t wait to find out.

  Chapter 9

  Bryce felt his phone vibrate in his jeans pocket and pulled it out. It was a text from a private number, but it was clear who’d sent it.

  Leave my daughter’s apartment and be ready for my call in five minutes. Don’t tell her about this.

  He hid a smirk, noticing that Roger was also checking his phone. Addison had probably sent a message to Myra’s bodyguard to see to it that Bryce followed his instructions.

  He put the wooden doll he was holding in the living room area of the toy house. “Jill, I’m afraid I have to go.”

  “No!” Jill looked stricken.

  “I’m really sorry. But I got a message from someone I work with. He needs my help right now.”

  “No! My doll needs to play with her brother.”

  “I’m still playing with you,” Myra said.

  “But you’re not a boy! The brother is a boy!”

  “Roger’s a boy. He’ll take Bryce’s place,” Myra said in a soothing tone.

  Jill’s face crumpled, her lips quivering.

  And Bryce’s heart melted. “Hey, what about the brother goes to school? Then he has to be away for a while, right?”

  Jill stared at the little male doll, pouting but appearing to consider Bryce’s suggestion. Then she looked at her bodyguard. “Roger, you be my brother doll. He needs to play at home.”

  “Okay,” Roger said a little reluctantly.

  “You’re leaving?” Emma asked, carrying hot drinks on a tray.

  “Yeah. A client just texted. He needs to talk to me urgently.”

  “It was nice meeting you, Bryce,” Myra said.

  “It was great meeting all of you. I hope to see you again sometime soon. And Jill.” He knelt next to the three-year-old. “Thank you for playing with me. I had so much fun.”

  To his delight, Jill gave him a hug and a kiss. “Bye-bye.” And the little girl went back to her toys.

  Chuckling, he got up and waved to Myra and Roger. Then he turned to Emma.

  “I’ll walk you out,” she said.

  Oh, good. He’d like to say goodbye without being watched. Hopefully, Roger wouldn’t follow.

  They went out her unit and walked towards the lifts.

  “It’s a shame you can’t stay.” Emma gazed at him as if trying to read something in his eyes.

  His chest heaved. “I’d like to come back later tonight, if you won’t mind.”

  Emma smiled apologetically. “I’m having dinner with Kallan, Sharryn, and her fiancé. Dad wants Kallan to be my bodyguard and we’re going to discuss how we’re gonna go about it.”

  He swallowed his disappointment. “Right.”

  “I hope my dad still calls you, though. He agreed to consider other options, and I’d prefer something less intrusive.”

  He nodded. “I’ll start thinking about it so I’m prepared when he rings.”

  “Great. And if he doesn’t within a day or two, could you let me know? I’ll follow him up.”

  “Thanks.” He wanted to probe further regarding Addison’s whereabouts and activities, but he was mindful of the time. Addison Fern wasn’t a man to be messed with. If Bryce wanted to gain Addison’s trust, he better follow his orders to a T. “I’ll call you later then. Maybe we can have dinner on Saturday night? I’d say tomorrow, but I’ll be tied up with work.”

  “I’d like that,” Emma said with a happy smile.

  Without further thought, Bryce leaned to kiss Emma’s lips. He’d only intended to give her a peck, but Emma curved her arms around his neck. Sighing, he pulled her closer and deepened their kiss.

  Damn. This felt so bloody good.

  And the thought of what could be much better than this entered his head, stirring his loins.

  He let her go. His phone would be ringing soon.

  “See you Saturday then,” he said, his eyes not leaving Emma while he tried to feel for the elevator down button.

  Emma giggled and helped him out, pushing the button herself. The lift arrived immediately.
/>
  Reluctantly, he got in. “See yah.”

  “Can’t wait,” Emma breathed, watching him through the closing metal door.

  He let out a heavy sigh as it shut and the elevator started descending. He wished it was already Saturday night.

  “Focus, idiot,” he muttered, shaking his head. Addison would be calling anytime now.

  The lift doors opened on the ground floor and Bryce’s phone started ringing. This was it. It had to be Addison as the screen showed No Caller ID. “Hello?”

  “Bryce?”

  “Yes. Addison?”

  “Yes. What the hell are you doing with my daughter?”

  Whoa. This wasn’t a good start. “I didn’t know she was your daughter. I met her at Plank Island two years ago. Even back then I didn’t know who she was. She never gave an inkling that you were her father and, of course, I’m not in the habit of telling people who I really am.”

  “What did you tell her?”

  “Well, it became clear to me she had no idea that being a security personnel at Plank Island meant I was connected to the Flowers. So I haven’t spoken a single word to her about the syndicate. No offence, Addison. She might be your daughter, but I can’t trust her with my secrets just because of her relationship with you.”

  “You know that Sharryn knows.”

  “Yes. She tried to get me to admit who my father was, but I wasn’t sure if I could trust her. Plus, we were in a public place.”

  “So are you dating Emma again?” Addison asked in a demanding tone. “Sharryn said you two had a fling.”

  Bryce sighed quietly. This was his chance to burrow deeper into this project. “I guess you could say we’re dating again. It’s very early days, but I really like Emma. I was very surprised to learn she’s your daughter. The only reason I didn’t pursue her when she went back to Brisbane was because I knew I couldn’t introduce a total stranger into the Flowers. It was too risky. Now that I know who she is, I don’t see a reason to hold back again.”

  “I forbid it.”

  Bryce snickered. “With all due respect, Addison, Emma’s a grown woman. She’s a person capable of making her own decisions. And what have you got against me all of a sudden? We’ve met a few times before. You liked me then.”