This is Love

by Foster, Melissa

  “I . . . um . . .” She caught movement over Mason’s shoulder, and a man with bushy white hair and a scraggly beard ambled into the light coming from the apartment building. He was disheveled, wearing two shirts, both too large for his slight frame, and a pair of baggy pants. His face was mapped with wrinkles, his heavy-lidded eyes underscored with puffy dark crescents that told of a difficult life. Remi stepped backward, hating the judgments taking place in her head, but unable to avoid them.

  Mason must have supersonic senses, because he didn’t turn around, didn’t give any indication that he realized the man was approaching other than saying, “Chuck, give us a second, will you please?”

  The man retreated silently into the shadows.

  “Chuck’s harmless,” Mason said. “He lives here and sits outside because he was in the war and doesn’t like confined spaces. I didn’t mean to scare you by bringing you here, Remi.”

  She wanted to say she wasn’t scared, but it would be a lie. She was totally out of her element, and she was scared, despite believing Mason would never let anything happen to her. The truth in that thought surprised her. She’d never really felt safe with anyone other than Aiden before. But now, as Mason looked at her like he’d swoop her into his arms and carry her back to the car if she needed him to, she truly believed she was safe.

  “The view I wanted to show you is right upstairs,” he said. “But you’re spooked. I’ll call a car to take us back to the hotel. This probably wasn’t the best—”

  She was being ridiculous, and she certainly wasn’t showing him that she was brave. She mustered all of her courage and said, “I’m fine. Please show me what we came here to see.”

  He studied her again, searching her eyes for something—signs that she was lying? That he needed to get her home before she lost her shit and went off on him like she’d gone off on Porter?

  She inhaled a deep breath and blew it out slowly, her eyes drawn to a scar on his left cheek, just below his eye, and another barely visible just above the scruff on his right cheek. Why am I noticing those minute details at a time like this? She didn’t have to look far for answers. Maybe because Mason was the first man who had ever really seen her—the real her, not the actress—and what she had achieved, and that was remarkable regardless of their circumstances.

  “I’d like to see the view,” she said. “I’m fine, Mason. I just got a little rattled.”

  “Okay,” he said gently. “There’s nothing wrong with being rattled, but you need to know, and wholeheartedly believe, that I would never take you anywhere if I didn’t fully believe I could keep you safe. If this relationship is going to work, it’s got to be a two-way street. You have to trust me as much as I have to trust you.”

  Trust was hard for Remi. With the exception of her few closest friends, most everyone wanted something from her. She wasn’t naive. She knew that most people who worked for her weren’t doing it because they wanted to help her succeed or because they liked who she was as a person. Even her assistant, Naomi, was an aspiring actress. Those people might like her, but that didn’t supersede their need for money, or a leg up on their résumé. But for some strange reason, she sensed she could trust Mason with more than just her safety. That was a little unsettling, so instead of blindly handing that trust over, she said, “I trust you’ll keep me safe.”

  “Then you can probably take your nails out of my forearms.” He glanced at her fingernails drawing blood through his shirt.

  “Oh my gosh.” She released his arms, leaving little red stains on his crisp white dress shirt. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize . . .”

  “I didn’t even feel it.” He gave her a reassuring look, unleashing butterflies in her stomach. “Let’s go see that view.”

  As they headed up the walkway, Mason stopped in the light and said, “Chuck, please say hello to Ms. Divine.”

  Chuck rose from a chair Remi hadn’t noticed earlier and stepped out from the shadows, his beard twitching with what she assumed was a smile. He nodded and said, “Pleased to meet you, ma’am. I’m sorry if I frightened you.”

  “Hi. It’s okay. It’s nice to meet you, too.” She lifted her hand in a half wave, wondering how Mason knew him.

  “How’re you holding up?” Mason asked him. “Taking your medications?”

  “As often as I remember.”

  Concern brimmed in Mason’s eyes. “Do I need to sic Estelle on you again?”

  Chuck waved a hand dismissively, making a disgruntled sound. “That woman’s all over me all the time.”

  “Then you’re a lucky man, my friend. She’s a good wife.” Mason hiked a thumb toward the sky. “We’re heading upstairs. Do you need anything?”

  “No, thank you. It’s good to see you with a woman, though. Don’t blow it.” Chuck stepped back into the shadows.

  “She’s my boss,” Mason said as they turned to go inside.

  “All women are,” Chuck called out.

  Remi’s fear of Chuck now waylaid, they headed inside. The building smelled like fresh paint. There was no lobby, just a hallway straight ahead of them feeding apartments on the first floor and a staircase to their left. Remi lifted the hem of her dress as they took the staircase up several stories. She followed Mason down a hallway to another set of stairs, and they climbed two more flights. When they reached the final landing, Mason pushed open a steel door, and she followed him onto the roof of the building.

  A sea of lights sparkled in the darkness, snaking along the streets with the cars below and dotting the windows of tall buildings like thousands of secrets against the night sky.

  “Mason . . .” Words failed her as she wrapped her arms around herself, taking in the gorgeous skyline, the mazes of streets, and the plethora of smells rising around them. The city was like a world all its own, so different from Harmony Pointe. Goose bumps rose on her arms despite wearing Mason’s jacket.

  Mason stepped closer with a look of restraint, as if he wanted to reach for her, to put his arms around her, but he remained six or eight inches away, his body heat sizzling in the air between them. Remi had been all over the world, seen gorgeous cities and iconic locations in the company of some of the most sought-after celebrities. And yet the rooftop of this old building she hadn’t even known existed, with a man who had been inserted into her life against her will, felt like the most romantic place on earth.

  “This is beautiful,” she said softly. “Can we stay for a while?”

  “We can stay as long as you want, Remi. You’re the boss.”

  There it was again, a reminder that she was nothing more than a job to him. She’d gotten carried away by the breathtaking views and by the man who was not only off-limits, but who made her emotions take flight. She really needed to get a life.

  “How did you find this place?”

  “You live in the city long enough, you get to know its little secrets.”

  She wondered how many secrets he had. “Why did you bring me here?” she asked.

  “You wanted to see the city lights, and in my opinion, this is about as good as it gets.”

  They admired the view for a long time, the sounds of the city floating up around them. After a while, Remi was so relaxed, she sank down to the rooftop and slipped off her heels, tucking her feet beneath her dress for warmth. Being up there, above the rest of the world, without fears of stalkers, paparazzi, or exuberant fans, Remi felt like she could breathe for the first time in forever.

  “You should probably sit on my jacket, so you don’t ruin your dress,” Mason suggested.

  “Then I’d ruin your jacket.” She looked up at him standing sentinel over her, jaw set tight, biceps straining against the material of his crisp white shirt, bloodstains marking his forearms. His thick thighs were outlined by the thin material of his slacks. Lord help her, because she couldn’t resist allowing her eyes to graze over the bulge at the juncture of his thighs. Lust pooled low in her belly, and she once again reminded herself that he was off-limits. Aiden would fire
Mason faster than she could blink if he knew she was even the slightest bit attracted to him.

  She forced her eyes away, but she was too drawn to Mason, and like a moth to a flame, she found herself looking again . . . and again—at his face, at the strong ridges of his jaw and nose. The closer she looked, the more curious she became. Not just about how his arms would feel wrapped around her, or about why she had the urge to take his gorgeous face in her hands and taste his kissable lips. Those curiosities had been simmering since she’d first seen him outside the hotel. But now they were joined with other curiosities, like why he had taken this job when Bridgette said he didn’t do security work. And what was behind the eyes that looked like they had seen more than any one person ever should? And the most curious of all, why did she get the sense that he might be just as lonely as she was?

  CHAPTER THREE

  IT WAS AFTER two o’clock in the morning when Mason drove through the gates of the massive estate where Remi was staying and crawled up the long, winding driveway. The estate was located down a dead-end street, and the road and the gate were monitored by security cameras. Aiden had provided Mason with a map of the property, floor plans, and a detailed security-system rundown when his company had first taken on the job. Mason had access to the security cameras from the vehicle and from his phone. He turned them on now, and images of the interior rooms of the house flashed on the LED screen on the dashboard. He navigated to each of the rooms and then to the exterior cameras. The property boasted six bedrooms, six full and two half bathrooms, two formal living rooms, a formal dining room, a gourmet kitchen, an office, a lower-level recreation room with a wet bar, a home theater, a gym, and a three-car garage. There was also a courtyard with a swimming pool and a hot tub. Mason wondered if the elaborate setup was chosen by the demands of the princess he was hired to watch or by her brother.

  He glanced at Remi, fast asleep in the passenger seat. His tuxedo jacket swallowed her petite yet curvy body. Her feet were tucked up on the seat beneath her pretty gown. She was an anomaly to him. He could usually get an instant read on people, but there seemed to be so many sides to Remi, he wasn’t sure she even knew which one was real. But he sure as hell wanted to find out. She’d further intrigued him when he’d opened the back door of his armored Escalade for her and she’d shot him a disapproving look and climbed into the front seat. She’d made a few comments about his vehicle being overkill, and then she’d promptly fallen asleep. He felt guilty waking her when she looked so peaceful after going through so many emotions over the course of the evening—from angry charge to polished actress to worried sister, happy friend, and finally, on the rooftop, to a softer, more relaxed woman he had a feeling the rest of the world wouldn’t recognize. Even in her beautiful gown, with probably half a million dollars’ worth of diamonds resting against her flawless skin, she looked younger and more vulnerable than her twenty-five years.

  She was truly, captivatingly beautiful, a fact he should not be noticing.

  He climbed from the SUV, doing a quick visual sweep of the property as he walked around to the passenger side. He opened the door slowly, so as not to startle Remi, but he needn’t have worried. She was fast asleep. He wanted to lift her into his arms and carry her to the safety of her bed, but he still had to secure the inside of the house, and knowing Remi, she might sock him in the jaw if he startled her.

  That thought made him smile. He liked her fierceness.

  He touched her arm, catching sight of the thin red crescents she’d left on his skin. She must have apologized fifty times when he’d rolled up his sleeves and she’d seen the cuts she’d caused. He had plenty of scars on his body. He’d proudly wear the marks of the first woman to stir something inside him that he’d never known existed.

  Remi didn’t rouse, so he shook her arm. “Remi,” he said softly. When she didn’t wake, he ran his fingers down her cheek and leaned in closer, saying, “Remi,” a little louder.

  She murmured in her sleep, snuggling against the seat.

  She was so damn adorable, it took everything he had not to lift her into his arms. He leaned close again, inhaling her feminine fragrance, which he’d been trying to ignore all night. It was a unique combination of sweetness, flowers, and Remi.

  “Remi,” he said louder.

  She wrinkled her nose, tucking her chin low.

  This was useless. Thank God her stalker hadn’t broken in when she was sleeping. That thought sent a pang of unease through his gut.

  He scooped her up, and she wound her arms around his neck, nestling against his chest. That simple move made his protective urges surge. He pondered that sensation, using it as a distraction from how incredible she felt in his arms as he carried her into the house.

  “My bedroom’s upstairs,” she said sleepily as he closed the door behind them.

  “You’re awake?”

  She blinked up at him, a small, insanely sexy smile curving her luscious lips. “You jostled me when you unlocked the door.”

  Damn. That innocent-but-sexy look nearly did him in.

  “Sorry, Remi, but I can’t carry you up to your bedroom.”

  Her lower lip pouted out, and his chest constricted.

  “I have to check the house.” He set her on her feet, instantly missing the weight of her in his arms. Pushing that unfamiliar longing aside, he said, “I need you to wait here.”

  “Here?” she said, coming fully awake and sounding annoyed. “I’m going up to my room while you do your thing.”

  She took a step past him and he grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks. Their eyes collided with such intensity he had to fight the urge to haul her into his arms and kiss the challenging look off her beautiful face.

  “I’m here to protect you,” he said sternly as a reminder to himself as much as to her. “If you fight me every step of the way, it’s going to be a long few weeks.”

  Her eyes dropped to his mouth and then to his hand on her arm, lingering there. She lifted her other hand and ran her fingers over the cuts on his forearm. Then those bottomless hazel eyes found his again, soft and alluring, sending desire and empathy coursing through his veins. He wanted to give her what she wanted, to take her in his arms again and carry her upstairs just to see that little smile one more time.

  “Sorry about your arms,” she said softly. “I’ll wait here.”

  He was going to get whiplash trying to keep up with her sass, challenges, and suddenly sweet disposition. He released her arm, struggling to pull his mind out of the Remi haze consuming it, and focused on securing the house. “What’s your phone number, Remi?”

  Confusion wrinkled her brow. “I’m right here. Just talk to me.”

  He pulled out his phone and waved it in front of her. “I need to check out more than eight thousand square feet. I want you to have my number in case you get spoo—” He worried saying the word spooked might set her off, so he said, “In case you need me, you can just push a button.”

  “Do you think someone is in here?” Fear rose in her eyes.

  “No, but I need to be sure.”

  She rattled off her phone number, and he called it from his phone.

  “My phone is off, in my clutch,” she said nervously.

  He lifted the lapel of his jacket, which she was still wearing, and withdrew the clutch from the inside pocket, handing it to her. “Please turn your phone on and check it.”

  She did as he asked, and added him as a contact. “There’s no one in the house. Aiden has me gated in like a criminal.”

  “Or maybe like a sister he adores,” he said. “If you call, I’ll be here in three seconds flat.”

  “Not if you’re in the basement,” she said challengingly.

  His eyes narrowed. “Try me.”

  He left her by the front door as he checked the house, starting on the lower level and searching every nook and cranny. He was in security mode, every sense on alert, his body buzzing with readiness as he moved from room to room. He wasn’t surprised that none of
the rooms looked lived in, except for the last one he checked, a third-floor bedroom and bathroom where Remi was staying. He didn’t allow himself to slow down or get tripped up as he thoroughly inspected her rooms, looking under the bed and in the closets, which were filled with boxes. It wasn’t until he was sure both rooms were clear that he breathed easier.

  His eyes swept over her bedroom one last time, seeing it for the first time through the eyes of a man and not just a bodyguard. He felt like he’d walked into the very heart of her. Where he’d expected to see expensive perfumes, jewelry, and makeup, the dresser was covered with framed pictures of Remi and Aiden and the girls she’d spent time with tonight and their significant others. A worn and frayed stuffed golden retriever lay on the nightstand, and a flowered blanket that had seen better days was draped across the arm of an equally well-loved leather recliner by the window. An old book with a pink bookmark rested against the arm of the chair. But it was a collage of pictures in a larger frame propped up against the wall on the second dresser that held his attention. It was full of pictures of Remi as a little girl with Aiden and their parents, whom Mason had seen pictures of during his due diligence.

  In one picture Remi looked to be no more than three or four years old, dressed up in a frilly rose-colored dress with shiny white shoes and socks with lace trim. She clutched the stuffed golden retriever, which looked new. In another picture she stood in front of her tall, distinguished father, who Aiden closely resembled. Her father was holding both of Remi’s hands. She had her head tipped back and was smiling up at him as he gazed down at her with love in his eyes. Another picture showed Remi and her mother, a honey-haired, hazel-eyed beauty. Remi, a little girl of maybe five or six, sat on her lap in front of a Christmas tree, holding a present with a big red bow. Another picture showed Remi and Aiden standing with their father. Remi was dressed in a leotard and tutu, holding a certificate that was too small for Mason to read, but her ear-to-ear smile and the pride in her brother’s and father’s eyes told him it was an important one.