4. Rose

ROSE

We stepped outside into the crisp morning air, and I watched James slide on his sunglasses like he was straight out of a James Bond movie. The British accent that melted my panties the second he opened his mouth, the tailored suit, the totally unnecessary but hot as hell protectiveness, all had me acting ridiculously swoony.

Jorge wasn’t wrong when he’d said James could have walked off the pages of one of my sketches. He wore a drool-worthy tailored black suit with a black shirt, a shiny black tie, and a tiny pin on his lapel. The whole ensemble only served to accentuate his broad shoulders, beefy arms, and muscular legs. I’d never met anyone who looked so effortlessly perfect and also ready to pounce like a waiting predator.

Maybe it really was a good thing Jorge packed my vibrator because, if this guy didn’t make a move to get in my pants, which I would entirely let him have access to, I was going to need it.

He led me to a really nice car, not that I knew anything about cars. But it was dark and shiny and had sleek lines that the designer in me could appreciate. No way it was a rental. James tossed my bags into the immaculately clean trunk like they weighed absolutely nothing. I watched those muscles flex, even through his suit, and internally giggled at how ridiculously handsome he was with the sunlight dancing around him.

Was his skin sparkling under the rays of the sun? No, dumb, silly. That was my lack of sleep talking.?I clearly had sequins on the brain.

James opened the car door for me, his hand grazing my arm, which sent shivers across my skin just like when he shook my hand. Whoo boy, I’d better be a little more aware of where my body was because if we continued to brush up against each other, I’d be breaking out that vibrator in the plane’s bathroom. I sat down in the softest leather seats I’d ever touched and reached to buckle my seatbelt.

When I turned back to snap it together, James was already sitting beside me in the driver’s seat, staring.

His eyes lingered on... okay, I thought at first, he was staring at my boobs, but his gaze was firmly planted on my throat.

“Is there something on my neck?” I reached up to the spot his eyes were glued to and felt my own pulse going ku-thud thud thud. I was definitely that girl that always had food down the front of me or in my hair, so I would not put it past me to have a smear of cake pop chocolate on me and not have realized. Around his intense attention, I was feeling self-conscious.

“Nothing at all,”he replied, shaking his head as if to clear it. “You look lovely.”

“Oh. Thank you,”I murmured, not exactly knowing how to respond to that unexpected compliment.

The fancy high-end engine hummed as we zipped up the road heading north, out of the city. He drove like a bat out of hell.?His strong jaw clenched whenever he gripped the steering wheel to zip around someone going slower than we were, which was everyone, and his eyes were focused intently on the road.

He didn’t say another word to me after that compliment, and I was not good at silence like that. “I thought we’d be headed to the airport. We can’t drive all the way to Scotland.”

Oh my God, I sounded inane.

“We use a private airstrip out of the city. Can’t have you waiting around for a commercial flight and keeping Mary waiting.”

“Right. Of course not.”

I’d dealt with rich people, but this was next level. Security detail escort, private jet—what was next, champagne and caviar? “I’ve never been on a private plane before.”

“You’ll be quite comfortable, I assure you. Food and beverage service will be provided and there is a bed.” He glanced over at me, and I swear to God, there was definitely an invitation in his eyes. “If you’d like to rest or... relax.”

Relax. Right. That’s what I wanted to do in a bed with hot bodyguard guy for the next few hours. Jeez. I needed to get my mind out of the gutter and not be acting so unprofessional right now.

It wasn’t long before we were in the middle of nowhere, by which I mean practically in Wisconsin. This was farm country and not where I’d think a highfalutin airfield would be. We turned onto a dirt road, went through a tree lined stretch, and then, to my surprise, it opened up to a small airstrip with one of those 1940’s looking army green hangars. You definitely wouldn’t have any idea this was here if you weren’t in know.

Everything was so secretive, and it made me feel like I was in a spy novel or something.

James pulled right up to the hangar and parked beside it. He hopped out immediately, then ducked down to look at me through the car door. “Ready?”

As I’ll ever be. By the time I’d unbuckled and climbed out of the car, he had my bags in hand and waved to me toward the waiting steps up to a sleek black jet. The tail had those numbers and letters on it, but the side also had this round logo, all in black, and I wouldn’t have seen it at all if the sun hadn’t been hitting it exactly right.

There was a stylized bat with its wings outstretched in the middle.?The bat was the same one as the pin on his lapel. Must be a company logo or something. Around the outside circling the bat was the Latin?motto “Virtus, Infinitus, Aeternitas.”

I stopped and stared, then looked over at James, narrowing my eyes at him, and then back at the jet. I hadn’t checked his ID or asked any questions before I just up and walked out of my life with this dude. Was I being kidnapped and sold into some dark, mysterious human trafficking ring or something??”This is Mary O’s jet? I didn’t see her as a goth girlie.”

Not like I had any idea what I was going to do if James was a bad guy. Kick him in the nuts and run for the car, I guess? Was a bit of a shame to harm the package I hadn’t even gotten to drool over yet. I bet he had some big D energy going on behind those tailored trousers of his.

James crossed his hands in front of said package and cleared his throat. Shit. Oh, shit. I’d been staring at his crotch this whole time.

“This is V.I.A.’s jet. That is... my employer. We conduct security and other special operations for Mary O. and quite a few other affluent families in Britain. Now, if you please, the crew are ready and waiting.”

Special ops? I assumed Mary O. had inherited her wealth from being a descendant of royalty, but now I wondered what exactly her family did that they needed special ops. Security, sure. Rich people are targets for all kinds of crazies, but now I really did feel like I was in a spy novel. Oooh, or if I was lucky, romantic suspense.

“What do those words mean?” I pointed to the logo.

He looked back at me as if he was surprised. “They?translate to “Virtue, Infinity, Eternity” in English. Our motto. It’s meant to convey a sense of boundless excellence, eternal virtue, and the everlasting nature of these values.”

“Virtue, huh?” I gave him some side-eye, but I wasn’t worried any longer.

He tipped his head and gave me what I could only refer to as a cheeky grin. “Yes, my lady.”

“Ooh. I like that. Keep calling me that and you might just get lucky.” I winked at him and sauntered toward the jet, appeased that I wasn’t being kidnapped. No dark crime organization had a pat line about the everlasting nature of their values.

Besides, I trusted James. For no particular reason, he made me feel safe. Even if I probably shouldn’t.

Another muscled guy in a suit stood at the top of the stairs and extended his hand out to me to help me up. James literally tossed my luggage to the guy, who had to scramble a bit to catch both the bags. “I’ve got her. You stow her items.”

His voice had gone all gruff and snappish. Geez. Maybe he didn’t care for his coworker? The other guy disappeared into the plane and James took the steps two at a time, replacing the offered hand with his own. “My lady.”

We entered the jet, all decked out in more shiny black and leather, window shades all down, and lit only by lights above the plush seats. He directed me to one that was so far beyond premium first class, it belonged in an expensive club or the very masculine sitting room of a duke or a king.

“Do you have a seatbelt extender I can use?” I’d quit feeling embarrassed about asking when I flew commercial airlines. It wasn’t like I was going to risk my safety because the tiny twenty-seven-inch seats didn’t have belts long enough to go across my hips and belly. So, I certainly wasn’t going to feel awkward about it on this fancy pants private jet.

“I think you’ll find that the belts will fit you with plenty of room.” His gaze wandered to my midsection and lingered on my hips.

“Miss, would you like champagne or another beverage before we take off?” The other guy, who I guess was a flight attendant, smiled at me pleasantly.

What, no caviar?

“I said, I’ve got her,” James growled through clenched teeth. I didn’t miss his sneer at the other guy either, who raised his hands in surrender and retreated to the cockpit.

“James? Everything alright?” Like did he need his bipolar meds? Anger management classes? A good talking to by V.I.A’s HR department about civility to coworkers?

“Of course,”he replied, his voice steady and calm once again. He took the seat next me and reached across my lap, grabbing the buckle and snapping it together. I could smell the scent of his skin, which was clean, and yet reminded me of moonlight.

What did that even mean? I was being so gaga, like I’d never been around a hot guy before.

By the time he tugged the end of the strap so the belt was tight and low across my hips, I was breathing so fast, I was going to overdose on oxygen. See? Ga. Ga.

He glanced up at my eyes, then down to my mouth, and back up again. His tongue darted out and licked his upper lip, and I then forgot how to breathe. He turned and put his own belt on, leaving me to talk my lungs into working again.

“I apologize if I seemed overly curt. I am anxious for us to get in the air and on our way.”

“Alright,” I squeaked, pretending I hadn’t just gotten completely turned on my alpha male bodyguard man strapping me down. “So, how long is the trip?”

“We’ll be in Scotland around sundown.”

That didn’t actually answer my question, but it wasn’t like it mattered anyway. I was going to need a few hours to have a stern talking to with my libido before I met my new client if I didn’t want to look like a teenager with overactive hormones.

We took off without incident, and once we were in the air for a bit, James got up and did bring me that glass of champagne. Also, some orange juice, an assortment of tiny pastries, and some kind of fancy yogurt with berries and granola on top.

I wasn’t gonna say no to tiny pastries or a mimosa, and they were the perfect distraction from staring at him and counting his muscles. “Aren’t you having any?”

“No, I, no. Thank you.” He cleared his throat and swallowed like I was about to eat a feast and he was starving.

I was feeling pretty parched myself.?”Fine. But you don’t get to just sit there and watch me eat.”

He didn’t respond to that, but his eyes followed my hand as I popped something flakey and chocolate into my mouth and didn’t stray as I chewed. I took another bite, really slowly, playing with the food just a little to see what he would do. Then I washed it down with a sip of the champagne, swallowing really, really slowly.

“Do you think I’ll have anytime to do a little sight-seeing? Any recommendations for some places nearby that I could visit? It’s my first time across the pond.”

He leaned back into the seat and stared up at the ceiling instead of me. I was still entirely tickled that he needed to distract himself from drooling over me. The good girl in me chastised the naughty side completely obsessed with wondering just how unprofessional it would be to have a whirlwind affair with one of my client’s employees. Currently the good girl part was winning, but it was a close call.

“I believeMary will want your full attention while you’re preparing her garments for the party. But I am at your beck and call during your stay, so, should you have some free time, I would be happy to... arrange for a tour of the local sites.”

“James,” I breathed, my heart racing at the prospect. Of seeing the Scottish sights. Yeah, yeah. That’s what had my internal organs doing the mambo. “That sounds incredible. I’d love that. It’s a date.”

He hummed his agreement, his voice low and sultry.

“Wait, no,” I stammered, realizing the implications of what I had just said. “I mean, not a date–a professional outing.”

What had I just told my libido about hormones and not looking like a fool in front of Mary O.? And I would if I thought I had a date with James for later. That’s all I’d be thinking about. Not her dress, not my job, not my reputation.

A date.

With James.

At a Scottish castle.

“Of course,” he replied smoothly, though a mischievous glint danced in his eyes. “Strictly professional.”

Good girl Rose got in a death blow at naughty Rose after that gaff. I full well knew that if I impressed Mary O., I’d have all her family and friends coming to me for bespoke clothing too. That was too good of an opportunity to screw up because my mind was in the gutter, rolling around with a sexy-ass bodyguard.

I yawned and didn’t even have to fake that I was tired so I could avoid flirting with James for the rest of the flight. “I think I’ll nap for a bit so I’m wide-eyed and bushy tailed when we get to Scotland.”

“Would you like me to show you the bedroom?”

Man, had I ever walked straight into that one. Because yes please. Ack. “No, no. This is fine. If I get into bed, I may never come out of there. I sleep like the dead. You don’t need to hear me snore.”

I pushed the little button to tip my seat back and turned my face toward the wall. At least that way James wouldn’t see how hot my cheeks had gone. My exhaustion finally took hold and allowed me to escape from my ridiculous and slightly embarrassing attraction to James.

It felt like only a few minutes, but James gently shook my shoulder and said we were about to land. I had a lightweight blanket across me, and my chair had been reclined so my feet were up, and I was half prone. Geez, I hope I didn’t slobber on this fancy leather.

Getting off the plane was much the same as getting on. Other guy pulled my luggage out from wherever it was stowed all this time, James bit his head off, other guy winked at me, James slugged him. You know, normal arrival stuff.

“James,” I finally said after we’d gotten down the stairs and other guy had stayed in the plane, probably to ice his eye socket. “I know you take your job very seriously, but you don’t need to protect me from every pair of wandering eyes.”

“Forgive me,”he replied, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his face. “Just doing my job, my lady.”

Our eyes lingered on each other, and I felt as if we were both teetering on the edge of something dangerous and exhilarating. The connection between us was undeniable, but I had chosen to prioritize my job over my love life.

That’s what I did. That’s what got me ahead in my career.

“Rose…” His voice trailed off, and I glanced up to find him staring at me with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. The last rays of the setting sun flickered in his eyes like a flame that neither of us could quench.

Without another word, he reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from my face.

“James?” His name was nothing more than a breathless whisper, and I was unable to look away from his piercing gaze.

“Forgive me,”he murmured, his lips hovering mere inches from mine. “But my resistance to you has worn thin and I need...”

Before I could react,he tilted my head back and pressed his lips to my throat. The sensation of his cool breath on my skin sent a shiver down my spine, and I gasped as he lingered over my pulse, taking in my scent. To my surprise, he gently nipped at my skin, just enough to make me feel alive in ways I never thought possible.

“James…”My voice trembled as I spoke his name, feeling the electric need between us grow stronger by the second. “We shouldn’t… we can’t…”

“I know,”he whispered against my throat, his voice heavy with regret. “I’m sorry, Rose. I just couldn’t help myself.”

He straightened his spine, grabbed my bags, and pointed me to a waiting car. Oh crud. I wasn’t going to be good at sitting next to him in such tight quarters again. I hoped this ride wasn’t as long as the previous one in Chicago. Which was only like twenty minutes.

This time he opened the back door and I gratefully slid in. Just having those mere extra inches between us was going to help.

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the Scottish landscape as we zipped along to our destination. The sight was breathtaking, and yet all I could focus on was the man in the seat in front of me, his strong profile silhouetted against the fading light. He glanced at me in the rear-view mirror, catching me staring, and I didn’t look away like I should have.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”he asked, gesturing towards the castle I hadn’t even seen popping up in the not-so-distant landscape because I was solely focused on James. “Welcome to Caisteal Dubh Mhaothlinne, more commonly known as the Black Castle of Moulin.”

“Absolutely amazing,”I agreed, my voice barely more than a whisper.

I was so screwed, and because I was choosing career over some straight up sexy times, I was not going to be screwed in the fun way.