“If I don’t think it’s safe, then we won’t go. My decision is final. As for all future engagements, you’ll tell me where they’ll be ahead of time and provide me with a guest list. If you cannot then your host will. No information, no engagement. If you’re in agreement, I won’t call you ‘Princess’ any more.”
She looked over at him as if considering his offer. For a minute he thought she was going to tell him to go to hell again. Then she lowered her gaze and said, “I’m having dinner with the Andersons. Matt knows them.”
That surprised the hell out of him. He started the engine and maneuvered around the circular driveway, following the road down to the gate as Colt watched them from the garage. The gate opened automatically and they were part of the real world again, and he thought he saw her stiffen. Well what do you know? Princess was scared.
Chapter Four
“Alexandria?”
That was the first time Sam actually used her name without sounding condescending.
“Yes.”
She glanced at him feeling weary all of a sudden. They’d stopped at the traffic light. Sam looked over at her as if he was waiting for an answer of some sort. Her mind was a million miles away. Whoever was following her had taken away her freedom. It made her feel vulnerable. She was already leery of people to begin with, and now she needed a bodyguard, one who couldn’t stand the sight of her.
“Are you okay?”
He almost appeared concerned and it made her want to reach out to him. Yeah, right. Reach out to the man who’d called her a spoiled brat. That hurt coming from him, and she wasn’t sure why. It could be that there was some ring of truth to his statement.
She had been called worse and it had never bothered her before. But this man sitting next to her knew how to get under her skin. She was not going to give him ammunition to use against her.
“Does it matter?” Her wall of defense went up ready to protect herself. She had discovered a long time ago that if you kept people at arms length, they couldn’t hurt you.
“I’m here to help you,” he said glancing at her. The traffic light turned green and he drove off.
“Please. You’re here for daddy’s money and to protect his property.”
The muscle in his jaw tensed. She hit a nerve. Good.
“I know you’re scared.”
“You know nothing about me.”
“This person has invaded your privacy and now you’re looking over your shoulder and around every corner. I can stop him.”
“How?” She laughed harshly. “It’s not like you want to be here.”
“And you don’t want me here. We finally agree on something. Look, in order for me to help you, this is where I need to be.”
He sounded sincere, but she couldn’t be sure. She felt like she was walking on thin ice knowing that at any moment, the surface would crack and she could get pulled under.
“I don’t know who he is or what he wants.” Alexandria closed her eyes for a moment, leaning back against the headrest, allowing the motion of the vehicle to calm her. “Matt said it could also be a woman.”
“He could be right. Women stalk other women as well.”
“I don’t know. This person was in my apartment, did Matt tell you that?” Alexandria grasped her purse tight in her lap to keep her hands from trembling.
“No.”
“A white night gown was laid across my bed a few nights ago.”
“Matt never told me that.”
“He doesn’t know. Before that items just kept disappearing. I thought I was misplacing things. Then I started paying closer attention, making mental notes of things I’d put away. The items either disappeared or they were moved. Matt even installed a camera. It’s hidden in a picture frame on the fireplace mantel. It picked up nothing. I’m being stalked by a ghost,” she smiled bitterly.
“First thing on the agenda is to get new locks put on the door and check the alarm system. We need a new system from a different company.”
“Already did that.”
“I haven’t done it. I know someone who specializes in security systems. Next, you need to back track and pinpoint when this started. Maybe this person was someone you rejected because of the lifestyle you lead.”
There was that judgmental tone in his voice again. For one split second she had the false illusion that he actually cared.
“I brought it upon myself, is that it?” Her eyes were sharp on him.
“I’m just saying—”
“I know what you’re saying, you and everyone else. I don’t have to apologize to you or anyone about the way I live my life. Since you claim you can catch this person then do your job so I can get back to my life. I’m sure you’ll be well compensated.”
They arrived at the condo in Orlando in silence. He parked in the visitors parking at the front of the building. She should let him park in her parking spot in the underground garage, but she wasn’t ready to be civil to him yet. Sam grabbed a duffle bag from the back seat, which meant he was moving in. He kept her close to his side as the exited the vehicle.
“Hello, Ms. Prescott,” Edward Cain said, as an eager smile lit up his dark, round face as he held the door for them. “I haven’t seen you in a couple of days.” He looked down at Sam’s duffle bag, then at Alexandria.
“I was—”
“We wanted to spend some time together away from prying eyes,” Sam said, putting his arm protectively around her.
The innocent contact sent heat through her body. His arm burned through her blouse as he gently massaged her waist, pulling her closer to him. Although his action was just for show, she was not prepared for her reaction to his touch.
She tore her gaze away from Sam and her eyes fell on Edward. The smile had disappeared from his face. He was always such a sweet man to her…helping with her groceries and sometimes even delivering her morning paper.
“Was that necessary?” Alexandria asked as she stepped into the elevator. When the doors closed, she moved out of his arms.
“I wanted to get a reaction from him. Did you see the way he looked at me when I staked my claim? What floor? We need to run a check on anyone that you’re in contact with. It could be someone holding a grudge.”
“You’re going to waste your time running checks. Edward Cain is the doorman for crying out loud.” She pushed the button for the 11th floor. “I don’t think paranoia is part of your job description.”
“No one is ever what they seem. People always have an angle.”
“I can see that.” Alexandria was still reeling from his touch and was a little agitated. Her reacting to him was confusing to her. The confined space in the elevator was not helping and she did the only thing she could when she felt trapped—fight back. “That little show you put on in the lobby was unnecessary. Or was it a show?”
“You think I’m making a play for you?” He half laughed. “That’s the second time you’ve brought that up. Don’t flatter yourself. If you want your life back then this is where I need to be—nothing else. I call the shots. Deal with it, Princess.”
The elevator door opened and she stalked out ahead of him. She had to get away from him or she would strangle him. It was that simple. By the time she got to the door of her condo, he was standing right beside her. He snatched the keys out of her hand and opened the door.
Sam put his hand across the door to prevent her from entering the suite.
“Wait here.”
He stepped in front of her. She waited while he went in and did what he had to do, whatever that was. The wait had her fuming in the hallway. When he told her it was clear, she pushed passed him into the living room, headed straight for her bedroom and slammed the door.
People always had an ulterior motive and even though Sam claimed he didn’t, she was sure he did. Twenty-seven years of experience had taught her that. She yanked her silk robe from behind the door, tearing off the hook affixed to the door removing a strip of the paint.
“Great,” Alexandr
ia mumbled as she headed to the shower in the ensuite washroom.
She should be happy that he had no designs on her, but the truth was, it annoyed and infuriated her because he kept saying it. She’d never met anyone that she had such a strong dislike for. Yet, she was attracted to him at the same time. Didn’t someone say the opposite of hate is love?
Love? The only thing she saw when she looked at him was red. Then Mimi’s voiced filled her head.
“Ever had your toes curled, Sweet Pea?”
• • •
“Why are you sitting in the dark?”
“What is it Mimi?” Warren wasn’t in the mood for conversation and wanted to be left alone. Dusk had settled over the room and he hadn’t even noticed. “Leave it,” he said when Mimi reached for the light switch at the door.
“She’ll be fine you know. I like Mr. O’Malley.” Mimi moved into the salon, but didn’t sit down. Walking over to the fireplace, she stared at the portrait he had painted of himself with Alexandria sitting on his knees. It was painted on her sixth birthday. The light from the hallway shined on the picture. She studied the portrait. “He’ll be good for Alexandria.”
The underlining meaning was clear. She wanted some kind of a relationship to develop between his daughter and Mr. O’Malley. He was pushed into a corner, that’s why the man had to be called in. If he knew his daughter, she would give Sam a run for his money. Warren knew his daughter, but she would be safe until he figured out what to do. That being said, he couldn’t help but sense the tension between them. Something was brewing, but he won’t let that happen.
“He’s not her type.”
“Why, because he stood up to you?” She turned from the fireplace. “He doesn’t bow to you like Matt or Colt or everyone else that works for you. I thought you would be happy.”
Warren turned on the lamp and eased up out of the armchair. Mimi straightened ready for a confrontation. She had been like a mother to Alexandria even before his wife’s death. Sometimes he resented the relationship between his daughter and Mimi. She had stood against him in alliance with Alexandria when she wanted to move out.
Moments like these, and there had been plenty throughout the years, he would have gladly fired her. He couldn’t. There was nothing he could do because if Mimi left, he knew he would loose his daughter forever. She had moved out six months ago but he wanted her back home. He could fire Mimi now but he feared Alexandria would never return to the estate. Firing her also meant the he would be alone. He didn’t want to be alone.
“What do you want?”
“You shouldn’t have tried to wipe out every existence of her mother. You should have let her grieve.”
“She was seven years old.” They’d had this conversation already. What was the point in bringing it up again? He had done what he thought was best. Princess was his only child. She didn’t come with an instruction manual.
“You destroyed everything that belonged to Sienna. You left her no connection to her mother. And now she’s not a child anymore yet you continue to treat her like one.”
He ignored her comment. “You’re more of a mother to Alexandria than Sienna ever was.”
“I’m not her mother though, Warren.”
“I’m tired Mimi. It’s been a very long—”
“Her nightmares are back.”
“Oh God!”
Warren sat heavily in the chair and dropped his face into his hand. His heart was beating so hard he had to clutch his chest. He had tried to forget that night, to pretend it didn’t happen. But it did happen—it happened to a little girl. She’d lost her mother. He’d protected her then and will continue to do so.
Living with the scrutiny of the press had become a way of life for he and Alexandria but he’d tried to shield her from it as much as possible. But as Alexandria grew older, she seemed to gravitate toward the spotlight and he couldn’t figure out why. Every time he picked up a paper and saw her picture splashed across the pages, it broke his heart. They wouldn’t leave her alone because she was his daughter.
“What did she tell you?” he asked, knowing Alexandria had confided in her as she always did.
“She says in the nightmare someone pushes her mother over the banister, but she doesn’t see his face.”
“What did you tell her?”
“I didn’t say anything, but you need to tell her the truth.”
• • •
“That went well,” Sam grumbled to himself. He’d watched Princess enter her master suite and slam the door. He had a feeling he wouldn’t see Her Highness again until they were ready to leave for the dinner party. Fine by him.
Who was he kidding anyway with his little speech in the elevator? He’d wanted to kiss that stuck up look off her face. The problem was with him and his raging hormones but he was determined that he wasn’t gonna go there—not with Little-Miss-Sunshine.
Before he crumpled the sheets with anyone, he made sure the ground rules were set in stone, that way there were no expectations and no strings attached. Falling for Princess would have repercussions. This was a job, that’s all. When it was over he would go back to his life and Little-Miss-Sunshine would go back to her castle.
A castle fit for a Princess. That was his final assessment when he’d taken the grand tour of Alexandria’s palace. Everything from the sofa to the bookshelves was white and the legs of the furnishings chrome.
There were accents of red splashed everywhere from the pillows to the picture frames. The double doors from the living room led out into a glassed enclosed solarium that had to be about four hundred square feet. That also was decked out in white wicker furnishings with red pillows.
Sam grabbed his bag and started toward the second bedroom across from the kitchen. White marble counter tops and stainless steel appliances, did he expect anything less? He became acutely aware of the financial differences between Princess and himself.
Nothing was going to happen between them, he reminded himself. It was something he’d let creep into the back of his mind when he had his arm around her in the lobby and had felt the heat of her body against his.
He had three hours to kill before the dinner and decided to call Matt to ask about the doorman. There was just something about the man that didn’t sit well with him. Picking up the cordless phone, he dialed Matt’s number staring toward her bedroom, waiting for his friend to pick up.
After he bended Matt’s ear about the Princess and the dinner, Matt laughed and told him to have a good time. A full report on Cain would be sent to him the following day via email, which meant he had to borrow Alexandria’s laptop.
Matt also told him the Andersons were upstanding citizens that meant he was going to a dinner party. Sitting around with a bunch of rich snobs who would look down on him was not his idea of having a good time, but he would make the most of it. He was a professional.
It wasn’t a formal dinner. Just a couple of friends she’d said. He opted to wear a black shirt, black slacks and a tanned sport jacket, that way he could conceal his shoulder holster.
Sam was dressed and waiting by the door at five-thirty for Princess. When she opened the bedroom door and strolled out with her shoes dangling from her fingers, he shook his head and cursed under his breath. Her back was bare again, smooth. This time it was a white all-in-one jumpsuit outfit with a white collar around her neck. It also had a wide sequenced silver belt and a plunging neckline.
He wondered what it would feel like to touch—off limits he told himself before his thoughts drifted further into dangerous territory.
Which part of informal did that red carpet get up fit into? And the bling she sported, diamonds hanging from her ears and around her wrists, probably cost more money than he would ever see in his lifetime. She stopped by the door that led into the kitchen, held on to the wall while she slipped into the shoes, a strappy number that matched the silver belt.
Anger mingled with desire bubbled up inside him. It was no contest. Anger won over.
“I’m
against this,” he said and didn’t even bother to mask his anger. She had started the war and chosen the weapon. And there would be casualties.
“Noted,” Alexandria replied, without looking at him then started digging into her purse. She had replaced the suitcase purse with something the size of a small paper back novel. It appeared she didn’t find what she was searching for and hurried back into the bedroom, heels scraping against the hardwood floor. She returned with her cellphone glued to her ear.
“…yes, Dennis, not a problem.” She laughed, throwing her head back. “I can pick up another bottle of wine. What kind? Okay. See you soon.”
Princess was flirting with Dennis Anderson. He had assumed the Anderson’s were married, but the way she was carrying on, he had to wonder if something was going on between her and Dennis.
The same feelings he felt when he’d thought she was involved with Matt assaulted him again.
Possession.
Jealousy.
Dennis was probably a clone of Prescott. Why should he care?
She ended the call with Dennis. “We need to stop and get—”
“No,” Sam cut her off. He made the rules and he wasn’t going to let her bulldoze over him. “We had an agreement,” he reminded her and she rolled her eyes. “I need to know where you’re going in advance or you don’t go.”
“You are supposed to adapt to my schedule. Not the other way around.”
“For me to do that you need to follow my rules.”
“You can’t be serious. I’m not a child.”
“Then stop acting like one. If we leave this apartment tonight, we go to the dinner and that’s it. Your choice. I couldn’t care less one way or the other, Princess.”
She stood staring at him, eyes blazing with anger. Her right hand balled in a fist at her side and she wound up and went for his chin. He caught her fisted hand in mid air and felt a sharp stab in his palm. Disappointment registered in her eyes when her fist didn’t connect to its intended target.
“You want to try again?”
“Awwww!” She turned on her heels, marched toward her bedroom and slammed the door. He figured at the rate they were going, she would probably level the building in a couple of days.
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