“I’m not sure about that. Me ma always told me to be careful of strangers.”
“You don’t have to worry about me, miss. I’m not the slightest bit strange.”
Alicia chuckled, full of mischief, as she launched herself into his arms and hung on.
“You’re a crazy kid sometimes,” Eric said, as he always did.
“Yeah, crazy about you.”
She awoke with a smile and the kind of warmth that held no relation to the blanket covering her. Because she was tempted to close her eyes again she squeezed them shut, making the memories shatter and disappear. As she pushed her way to a sitting position she realised the cover across her legs was Brad’s jacket. She slid it around her shoulders and breathed him in – a mixture of soap and a scent that was all male.
“Did you get enough rest?” Brad pried a surprised cry from her lips. She felt heat rise in her cheeks at being caught. She should have known he was watching – even as she slept.
“Yes, thank you.” She stood because he was behind her and she felt at a disadvantage. The slight chill when she removed his jacket made her want to snuggle into it again. “I appreciate the loan.”
He took it, being careful not to touch her. He was still recovering from the way she looked wrapped inside it. She had the ability to bring men to their knees with just a look. Just now, mussed from sleep, he wanted to grab hold of her and wrap his arms around her like the sleeves of his jacket a moment ago.
“No problem. You were tired and I-”
“There you are, sleepy head.” They heard Stuart’s booming voice a moment before he stepped into the room. He walked towards her to envelop her in a hug. “Happy Birthday, princess,” he whispered, giving her a squeeze.
“Thanks.” She kissed his cheek and stepped back, recognising the scheming in his eyes. “Uh-oh, what’re you up to?”
“I came to see the birthday girl, why would I be up to something?”
“Stuart.”
He squirmed under her gaze. “Okay, fine. Let’s call it hypothetical. If someone was planning a surprise party...oh to hell with it, the discreet get together this evening has become a full blown birthday celebration and it’s too late to cancel the plans now.”
She let her head fall back and laughed long and hard. He looked so cute, floundering as he tested the water. “Boy, I must be a real bitch on my birthday.” She touched a hand to his cheek. “That sounds lovely, Stu.”
“It does?” His mouth dropped open in surprise.
“Oh stop it, I’m not that bad.” She put her hand under his chin, grinning when he snapped his jaw shut.
“Several responses spring to mind, but I’m not going to spoil it. I don’t know what brought about this change, but I don’t care.” The scheming look was back. “Be ready in two hours,” he said, pinching the end of her nose, before dashing from the room.
Alicia looked at Brad with a shrug. There was a tension between them now - one she didn’t know how to deal with. Her last attempt ended in disaster. It was his turn now. But that didn’t stop her from paving the way a little.
“If I thought you’d accept, I’d ask you to be my guest this evening.”
“You understand why I can’t?”
“I know that it breaks too many rules for a man like you to accept. I imagine you need to have a certain degree of flexibility but-”
She stopped when he took a few steps towards her. “If I wasn’t assigned for the specific purpose of protecting you, I’d like nothing more than to be by your side as your guest.”
Alicia took a step of her own. “Then I guess, for now, I’ll have to make believe. I’m pretty good at it.”
They stood for a few beats, both wanting nothing more than to close the distance between them.
“Well… I only have two hours, so I’d better get moving.” When he still didn’t say anything she turned and would’ve walked from the room if he hadn’t stopped her.
“You don’t know what you’re asking of me,” he said, placing his hand on her arm.
She didn’t turn around, for no other reason than to answer the silent plea in his voice. “Maybe I should fire you. Would that help?”
Brad laughed softly, applying gentle pressure so she spun towards him. “I can’t leave you now. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with the job.”
“Then I should get ready and let you do whatever you need to do.” She smiled, trying to make it easier. “It wasn’t fair to say what I did, but it’s hard to regret it because it’s true. I do understand though…why you have to keep things separate. I don’t have to like it, but I understand it.”
“I don’t have to like it either.”
She didn’t know how long either of them could stand there without crossing a line, so she did the right thing. She left him, and hurried up to her room before she could change her mind.
Chapter 20
Alicia took a deep breath as she approached the top of the staircase. She knew her guests were waiting for her downstairs, anticipating her arrival. To give herself a moment, she paused to look at the girl she had once been, because it helped to remind her of what she had become. She wasn’t a stranger to the flutter of anxiety that preceded a performance or the moment right before she stepped from the car, when she knew the press were waiting for her to make a mistake. But this, this was a new kind of fear. It wasn’t about her friends or what the night signified, it was because she had made an effort to impress a man who was so much more than her protector. If only he could see it.
There were a sea of faces below her, but his was the only one she sought out. When their eyes met, she felt the heady kick in her blood when she saw his expression – it was all she’d hoped it would be. The sight of him in a tuxedo set her heart racing. But the thing that won her heart was when he framed her image with his hand, and clicked as though to take the shot. The symbol was an intimate touch that reached over everyone and brought them together. They could have been the only ones in the room.
A distinct wolf whistle from the crowd caught her attention and the spell was broken. Her eyes searched for Josh, but came to rest on Greg. Giving in to the excitement, she took the stairs two at a time, virtually flying down them. Josh surprised a laugh out of her when he caught her in his arms.
“Hey, little lady,” he said, hugging her close.
“I can’t believe you’re here. What about Italy?”
“I worked my charm on Ericsson and he gave me a few hours grace. You know he has a soft spot for you.”
She smiled against his shoulder. “I suppose it helps that he comes with his own jet.”
“Yeah, baby.”
“Move over, big guy, and stop monopolising our girl,” Greg said, putting a hand on his shoulder. With some reluctance, he let her go.
Brad watched the scene with a touch of envy. When he’d seen her round the corner, he felt a burst of need so strong it almost floored him. It was like forgetting how to breathe. In that moment, he knew he was in love with her.
It was impossible to take his eyes off her – quite a few people were having the same problem. It wasn’t the figure hugging ball-gown in burnt gold, or the way her hair, made up in soft curls accentuated her pretty features, it was her aura. That alone was pure gold.
He noticed the bruises from the accident had been expertly covered, unless you knew they were there they were invisible to the eye.
Shaking his head to clear it, he surveyed the room. He knew every guest; had memorised their faces and background. So he recognised the notorious director, Scot Ericsson, when he entered the room. He followed at a discreet distance.
“Jelly tot!” Ericsson’s voice boomed around the hall.
Alicia squealed and rushed to meet him. “Thank you for bringing him. You’re one in a million.”
“Anything for you. Besides the BFG has been no fun at all these past few days.”
Sarah stepped in beside Brad and lowered her voice so only he could hear. “Scot is a hoot, you’ll enjoy him. He
likes to give pet names.” She motioned to Alicia. “She’s jelly tot, you know, because he loves her a lot. Josh is the big friendly giant; Stuart is Arty, though I have no idea why. Dad is Duke, and I, well I’m...”
“Hey, Red, get your hands off the action hero and come give me some sugar.”
Brad grinned as she walked over to do just that. As an artist, Scot Ericsson was extremely talented, but as a man, he was a kid at heart. He’d arrived ahead of the rest, giving Brad the time to get to know the person behind the reputation, and he liked what he saw.
The smile disappeared when Alicia stepped forward and looked up at him. His eyes dropped to her mouth, the plump lips highlighted with a slash of red.
She took in the tuxedo with a secret smile. “You really don’t need any qualifications at all,” she said, grinning.
All her saw were her lips moving, so he missed what she said. It didn’t matter, her attention had already diverted, which saved him from a response. She was a gracious host, and allowed herself to be whisked from one person to the next. He stuck close without being intrusive.
The sound of laughter filled the air, along with a dozen conversations at once. That was until Stuart announced dinner, in a voice loud enough to wake the dead.
Alicia moved to Stuart’s side, linking one arm through his and the other through Greg’s. “Relax, Stu Pot. I’m sure James anticipates delays such as this.”
He bent to kiss the top of her head. “Sorry. I just want this night to be perfect.”
“It already is.” She couldn’t help smiling as they moved towards the dining room. “Two of my favourite men as escorts – what more could a girl ask for?”
The only person missing was Jack, and since they’d had their own private party it made up for his absence.
She didn’t have any time to dwell on it. The meal was a hive of activity, reminiscent of Stuart’s earlier events. Her attention was swept up trying to share her time with those around her – it involved a few rounds of musical chairs but it was a great deal of fun.
She didn’t know whether to be grateful or disappointed that Brad made himself invisible during the feast. If she’d had her way he would be a guest at the table.
He’d certainly missed out. James had outdone himself. She could only hope he was able to sample the delights separately, perhaps with other members of the residential team.
“You really do look great, honey. It benefits the soul to see that first hand,” Josh said, sneaking the left over sweet from her plate.
“Go on then, you can say it…I’m the man, right?” Scot enjoyed gloating.
Josh nodded. “Scotty, you are indeed the man. How will I ever repay you?” He put a hand on his heart, his face a picture of the utmost sincerity. “Oh yeah, that’s right, I could star in your movie and make you tons of money.”
Scot barked out a laugh. “You’re a son of a bitch, Joshua, but I’ll be damned if you’re not right.”
Alicia jabbed her friend on the arm. “You don’t fool me for a second. All that arrogance is just cover for your generous nature. I have the gifts to prove it.”
“The t-shirt was great, wasn’t it?” Josh was feeling a little smug.
“It’s like I told you when I sent the picture, I give it a solid six points.”
He looked outraged. “It’s worth at least a seven.”
“I have to warn you, jelly tot, his birthday gift is worth quite a lot more.” Scot shook his head. “This competition you’ve got going could get ugly.”
“I’m way ahead on that score.” She looked at Josh. “Come on, hand it over.”
He walked into the other room to retrieve his package. Alicia couldn’t help goading him when he came back in. He looked as roguish as a child with a secret too big to contain.
“Is this thing for you or me?”
“Oh, for goodness sake, get on with it. I’ve never known such a pair of prima donnas,” Sarah said, from her place a few seats down.
Alicia pulled a face that wasn’t polite in the least, even though her own curiosity got the better of her. She tore into the paper and pulled out a framed poster advertising skin care products. Alicia looked fresh-faced and innocent staring out at them from the glossy colour photograph.
“Oh, Josh, this is...it’s wonderful.” She hooked an arm around his neck. “It’ll take something pretty special to beat this.”
Brad recognised it as the commercial that started Alicia’s career. It caused quite a commotion as the table was cleared and the guests were guided to the ballroom.
“Well,” Josh began. “Our work here is done.” He pulled Alicia to her feet to give her a firm hug. “I’m glad I could share this with you.”
“Me too.”
As she turned to thank Scot for what was probably the seventh time, Josh cast a glance in Brad’s direction. “Make sure you look after her.”
“We all will,” Sarah said, taking his hand for a brief squeeze. “Call me when you land.”
As his men escorted them out, Brad followed Alicia to where the guests were already packed on the dance floor. He watched her dance with a variety of partners and tried not to wish he was the one holding her close. It was a physical pain, his need to touch her, and it was several hours before his shift ended – several hours of torture before he could slip away and busy himself in familiar routine.
It helped to be in a world where he belonged. He felt in control again. He still had the ache in his gut whenever he thought of Alicia; it was part and parcel of being with her. But the distance helped. Research allowed him to focus on something other than the way Alicia felt in his arms, so instead of retiring he went over Susanna’s notes on Helen’s past. They were missing something, of that he was sure.
He skipped through her childhood because there was nothing out of the ordinary, certainly no indication of what she would become. The first real occurrence was a cameo role in the movie that shot her to fame. Her life changed dramatically and she didn’t have the skills to deal with it. After a few bad choices, people soon got bored and she disappeared for a while. Being Helen, she clawed her way back to the limelight by marrying Donny Smitts, one of the most successful cinematographers of his time. They had two children soon after, and for a time they were a family, at least on the surface. Helen still partied a little too hard, but people got bored of that too.
For a moment Brad wondered what life would have been like for them had they stayed together. It was likely Alicia and Jack would have gravitated towards the industry because that much was ingrained. Perhaps they would even have found happiness. But they were robbed of that when Donny Smitts died of a heart attack, leaving Jack, aged one, and Alicia, who was almost three, alone with their mother.
After a string of unsuccessful affairs, and just as many failed television appearances, Helen decided to reinvent herself. She discarded her children as easily as she would an old wardrobe that no longer fit her image.
Soon after, she started dating an upcoming actor, Johnny Sommers, a young man almost half her age. She even found a new audience, one with a short-term memory.
Brad felt the old anger bubble to the surface when he read the rest. It made him sick to his stomach.
Not satisfied with destroying her children’s lives, she publicly ruined her new lover, revelling in the drama as an addict might savour the first hit. It ended when Johnny Sommers totalled their car – some said in a suicide pact. Helen sustained major burns in the collision, and required months of care, which is where his father came in. Duncan Morgan – the surgeon she chose as husband number two.
He didn’t need to read about that – he’d lived it.
He backed up a few paces because something else was bothering him about the car accident. It set alarm bells ringing. He couldn’t pinpoint what it was, all he knew was he couldn’t ignore it. He sent a quick message to Susannah requesting a follow up and went out to get some air.
***
It was quiet in the house now. The party was over and s
o was her birthday. ‘I survived it,’ Alicia thought with a smile. More than that, she’d enjoyed it. The smile lingered, making her light on her feet as she walked through to the kitchen. She crossed to the fridge, skimming her fingers along the clean surfaces and wondering at the magic James wove in his domain. As she passed the Breakfast Island, an image of Brad popped unwarranted into her head. She cursed softly at the memory. She’d made a fool of herself. It helped to remember his response. She knew he wanted her too. It was just a matter of his self-control. It was enough to drive her insane.
Brad walked back in the direction of the house. The darkness hadn’t settled him, neither had the solitude. The only thing he thought about as he walked the grounds trying to clear his mind was the one person he was trying to avoid. He couldn’t view her objectively anymore. It was part of the job to keep the principle at the forefront of his mind, but his thoughts of her were not all based on professional concern. That was the problem.
He crossed through the conservatory, trying not to make a sound. The rest of the house was sleeping and he wanted to keep it that way. As he moved into the kitchen, he stopped dead in his tracks.
Alicia was standing by the counter, as surprised as he, lit only by the moonlight; her dark hair a contrast to the gold dress she wore. It was loose now, flowing around her shoulders, with just a hint of the curl he’d seen earlier. The bruising was more prominent, but that wasn’t what made her look vulnerable – that was something else entirely. She looked breath taking, that beautiful face clean of make-up, her mouth curved in a pout of surprise.
“Hi...I was just.” She turned away from him and began rummaging through a cupboard. “I was thirsty and came down for a drink.”
He wanted to touch her so badly that he stuffed him hands in his pockets. “I couldn’t sleep either. I thought a walk around the grounds would help.”
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