“What a bloody idiot,” she mutters and shoves her phone back into the bag without replying. “In my experience, men are just horrible creatures.”
Don’t ask. Don’t ask.
Do. Not. Ask.
“What’s wrong?”
Why the fuck did I ask?
“That was Beauregard Hattenham. An absolute bore of a man with meaty hands. He asked me to marry him last week.”
I stop walking and frown down at her. “Marry him?”
“As if I would,” she mutters, still walking. “He doesn’t love me. He doesn’t even like me.”
“Surely, he must if he asked you to marry him.”
“He told me,” she insists. “Said straight out that ours wouldn’t be a love match, but with his appropriate bloodlines, we should get married. He’s an earl. And if he wasn’t such a jerk, it might have worked. But Beau likes to bully. He’s mean. He sneers and judges and told me I’d need to have a boob job.”
“What the fuck’s wrong with your boobs?”
“Exactly,” she says. “Not a thing. They may be on the smaller side, but I don’t have a large frame.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your body,” I grumble, ready to tear Beauregard Hattenshit apart.
“Thank you.” She sighs, shaking her head. “But it’s nothing new. The men I meet don’t want me. They want the Crown. Alistair, a man I saw for over a year, insisted that if I’d just get pregnant, everything would be fine. The only thing fine in that scenario would be for Alistair’s benefit. If I were pregnant, I would be forced to marry him, and he’d become a member of the royal family.”
“Christ.”
“There was no way I was going to sleep with him. He was slobbery and had sweaty hands.”
She’s met assholes. No wonder she’s a virgin. I’m proud of her for not letting any of those morons touch her.
“It’s exhausting,” she admits as we wander down the path that leads to the bridge near Lauren’s house. “Maybe I should just sleep with one of them and get it over with.”
“No.”
We walk to the top of the bridge, and Ellie leans against the side, looking down at the water.
“You don’t want to sleep with those bozos.”
She shrugs. “Perhaps joining a convent is the way to go.”
I chuckle and turn her toward me, calling myself an absolute fool.
I can’t believe I’m about to say this.
I must have a screw loose. I need therapy. A bullet to the head.
“I’ll do it.”
Her eyes widen in surprise. “You’ll do what?”
“I’ll be the one to show you the ropes when it comes to sex.” I let myself touch her and brush a strand of hair off her cheek. “But we’ll do it my way.”
“I don’t want you to agree because you pity me.”
I sigh in frustration. Jesus, this woman would drive a saint to drink.
“I don’t pity you.” I take my hand away and watch as she swallows hard, listening carefully. “I like you. And, damn it, I’m attracted to you.”
“I knew it,” she whispers. “I knew it wasn’t one-sided.”
“There will be rules, though.”
“Of course.” She stands up straight and squares her shoulders.
“No one can know. And, no, it’s not because I’m ashamed. I can’t lose my job.”
“Agreed. It’s a secret. It’s no one’s business anyway.”
“I’ll teach you on my schedule, and my way.”
“I’m the student.” She nods and licks her lips. I see her skin has broken out in goose bumps.
“The rest, we’ll make up as we go.”
“That’s reasonable.”
I glance around, relieved when I see that we’re alone. I know this is a stupid move. Someone could be hiding, taking photos.
But against my better judgement, I lean in, cornering her against the rail of the bridge.
I’m not touching her, but I can feel the warmth of her skin. Her breath comes faster, making her chest rise and fall with her heavy breathing. Her blue eyes are intent on mine as I lean closer, bringing my lips within an inch of hers.
Our breath mingles, and hers catches as her eyes drop to my lips.
It’s a long moment of intense sexual tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.
“Lesson one,” I murmur, “anticipation is everything.”
And with that, I back away and walk down the bridge toward the car. When she doesn’t follow, I turn to look at her.
“Are you coming?”
“Soon,” she says as she finally moves her feet in my direction. “I’m hoping to very soon.”
Holy hell, I’m an idiot for agreeing to this.
Chapter 4
~Ellie~
“Anticipation is everything,” I mutter, mimicking Liam from yesterday as I stare at myself in the mirror. I’ve brushed my long, blond hair at least six times. I can’t get the memory of Liam and his hard body almost pressed to me on that bridge, his face so close to mine, out of my mind. I wanted him to kiss me more than I wanted my next breath.
In the privacy of my own home, I can admit that I almost grabbed his face and pulled him to me. Kissed him silly.
Well, I would have, if I’d known how.
Instead, I stood there like a ninny as he casually walked away from me as if nothing at all had happened.
My body hasn’t stopped humming since, and he didn’t even touch me.
“But he’s going to,” I remind myself with a wink. “He’s going to very soon.”
Because he gave me his word, and I don’t think Liam’s the kind of chap to go back on a promise.
Tonight, I’m in a light, breezy summer dress for dinner at Liam’s cousin’s house. I know I was only invited because I’m on Liam’s detail, but I’m glad to go because I’m curious to meet his family.
I don’t know why I’m so interested in my bodyguard, but I am. And for the next month, I can be as curious as I like.
I hear a knock as I step into my sandals.
I reach for my small Chanel handbag and open the door.
Liam’s eyes immediately make a swift sweep over me, from top to bottom, and I feel my cheeks flush.
“It’s just dinner,” he says.
“I know.”
“There’s no need to wear a dress.”
I smile, noticing that he’s dressed down in a pair of cargo shorts and a simple black T-shirt.
“Dresses are all I have,” I say as he leads me down the stairs.
“I’ve seen you in things other than dresses.”
“When I’m home, I can wear what I like. But if I’m going out, it’s a dress or a skirt. I’ve never gone out in anything else. It’s expected.”
He doesn’t say anything for a moment as we walk past the main house to where Liam’s personal car is parked by the guest house. He opens the back door, but I shake my head.
“I can sit up front with you.”
He glances my way. “You usually ride in the back.”