Chapter 6

Keith gripped the side of the cot and his teeth smashed together as Emily quickly disappeared into her room. She’d obviously seen his aroused condition, and he was pissed she did. Especially since she was the reason for it. Well, that wasn’t really true, it was his overactive libido and the fact that he hadn’t been ‘fishing’ in a while. It had nothing to do with how Emily’s curvy body sent his brain into full sex mode.

He felt like a teenager around her, or at least his dick did, and that didn’t sit well with him. His company was hired to keep her safe. Keith was pretty sure that didn’t include stripping her naked and burying himself deep inside her.

“Jesus H Christ,” Keith grumbled.

He pulled his hands down over his face and blew out a breath. This was not going to work for him. He needed to talk to Nelson about having one of his guys take over. Giving another reason, besides wanting to bed Emily, shouldn’t be too hard to come up with.

The blanket Emily dropped was still pooled on the floor next to the cot, and Keith picked it up. After tossing it on top of his bed, he headed to the kitchen to get something to drink. Hopefully, she wouldn’t get bent out of shape if he grabbed a bottle of water.

Her kitchen was tiny, and being in it made him feel slightly claustrophobic.  He opened the fridge and sighed when the only thing he saw was cans of soda, and he didn’t do carbonated drinks. Not only were they full of sugar but they tasted horrible.

The third cupboard he opened contained a total of three glasses and two cups. He pulled down a glass and turned on the tap. It was a good thing that it was safe to drink water from the tap. It was one of the perks of living in Hopedale. The water was clean.

While he sipped the water, he braced his hip against the counter and scanned the room. Emily didn’t have a lot of things around. It wasn’t what he would expect from someone who’d come from such a materialistic world. He’d worked for enough wealthy families, and it wasn’t uncommon to see a lot of expensive clutter. Even in her small living room the only thing that he would consider unnecessary would be a glass cabinet in the corner that was filled with what looked like glass ornaments.

Emily was such a contradiction to what he expected from a person from SummerBrook. She almost seemed embarrassed about her family’s wealth. As if she was trying to separate herself from it. When he’d suggested that she go stay with her father for her safety, he couldn’t help but notice the look in her eyes. Fear? Hatred? He wasn’t sure what it was, but it told him that wasn’t an option for her.

Keith shook his head. The woman’s mother was missing. It was possible she couldn’t face staying in the house because it had too many memories, or was there another reason?

From the information he’d gotten from the Bradshaw family, they were close. Keith had never had any dealings with them before this, he knew both Emily’s parents were old classmates of Kurt and Cora. As far as he knew his father knew them as well. Since many of the surrounding areas all attended the same high school, it wasn’t uncommon to have classmates from communities as far as Renews.

Keith didn’t know any of the family because he’d gone to a different high school. When it was discovered that he had an eidetic memory, he went to a school that had special classes for advanced students. It had been expensive for his parents, but they didn’t want him to lose interest in school.

Keith glanced out of the small kitchen window. He could see the docks that surrounded Hopedale Harbour. He didn’t get to see this part of Hopedale very often where his house was located. It was beautiful the way the lights reflected off the water. He could even see the man staring up at the building.

“What the fuck?” Keith glanced at his watch as he hurried out of the kitchen and grabbed his Glock hidden under the cot. He dashed down the stairs and out through the salon. When he unlocked the door and pushed it open an ear deafening siren blared, but he didn’t have time to worry about it as he darted to the corner of the shop.

He pointed his weapon in the direction where he’d seen the figure standing. Nobody was there. He scanned both streets but didn’t see a soul. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and tapped the last number he dialed. It rang several times before he heard a very grumpy voice.

“What the fuck, Rusty?” Smash grumbled. “It’s three in the fucking morning.”

“Do you fucking think I’d be calling you at this hour if it wasn’t important?” Keith hurried back into the salon and looked around for an alarm panel.

“What the fuck is the racket?” Smash sounded a little more alert.

“Just get your ass down here. I got to figure out how to turn this off.” Keith ended the call and shoved the phone back into his pocket.

“I didn’t even see her set the fucking thing.” Keith wandered around the shop looking for the panel.

“What happened? Did someone break in?” Keith spun around at the sound of her voice.

“Can you turn that fucking thing off? Now.” Keith held his hands over his ears.

Emily scampered behind the reception desk and reached up to a picture on the wall. She pulled it out and behind it was the panel. Keith wanted to kick himself in the ass because he didn’t pay attention to where it was. He didn’t even ask if she had an alarm. He really had to get his brain back to his head and out of his dick.

“Why did it go off?” Emily didn’t turn around as she punched in the code. Suddenly silence. At least until her cell phone rang. “That’s probably the alarm company.” She answered the phone and assured them everything was fine. When she ended the call, she turned.

“Well?” She held up her hand motioning for him to explain.

“I saw someone outside looking up here.” The color drained from her face, and he wanted to kick himself in the ass. “He was gone when I got outside.”

Emily slowly sank into the chair behind the desk. She stared down at her hands. Keith didn’t even know when he started to move towards her, but there he was kneeling in front of her holding her hands in his.

“You’re safe, Em. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” Keith squeezed her hands gently, and she lifted her face.

Beautiful.

“Are you sure it just wasn’t someone out for a walk?” Her eyes pleaded with him to say yes, but he couldn’t lie.

“It’s possible, but at three in the morning? In Hopedale? I don’t think so.” Keith wiped a tear from her cheek.

“So this is real. My dad isn’t overreacting.” Emily sighed.

“I don’t think so, Princess.” Keith cupped her cheek. What was he doing? “This is why I believe we need to renegotiate where you stay for a bit.”

Before she could speak the door opened, and Keith jumped up with his weapon pointed at the door. Smash held up his hands, and Keith lowered his gun.

“What the hell happened?” Smash walked further into the salon.

While Keith explained the events, he heard Emily giggle behind him. Keith turned. She pointed at Smash. When he glanced down, it was evident what had amused Emily. Smash was wearing a pair of pajama pants covered in Sponge Bob cartoons. That didn’t surprise Keith because he’d seen Smash’s collection of cartoon clothing. It was what he had on his feet that made Keith shake his head. On one foot he had a running shoe but the other one he was still wearing a Sponge Bob slipper.

“Did you drive here?” Keith asked.

“Yeah, Why?” Smash still didn’t know what Emily was giggling at, and Keith was doing his best not to laugh himself.

“I bet you have another pair of shoes home just like that don’t you?” Emily pointed down.

“What do you expect when someone wakes you out of a dead sleep at three in the morning?” Smash groaned.

“I’m sorry.” Emily’s smile disappeared, and Keith wanted to throat punch Smash.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m used to it.” Smash smiled. “I’m Gage Hodder by the way, but you can call me Smash.” He introduced himself and held out his hand.

“Why Smash?” Emily asked the question that everyone asked when his guys were introduced with their nicknames.

“Because of the way I smash the computer keys.” He grinned.

“That’s what he likes to tell everyone anyway.” Keith rolled his eyes.

“It’s the only answer that matters.” Smash laughed and then his smile faded. “Seriously, how do you want to handle this?”

“Emily, you can go back to bed. We’ve got everything under control.” Keith didn’t want to scare her. If she was going to be insistent on staying in her apartment, then security was going to have to change.

“Sure, I’ll go back to bed and let you men discuss my safety. I mean I really don’t need to have a say in this.” Keith didn’t miss her sarcasm.

“Emily,….” Keith began, but she held up her hand.

“Don’t Emily me, Mr. O’Connor. I’m not going to let this person have me hide under my bed.” She crossed her arms over her chest and raised her head defiantly. “And you’re not going to tell me what to do.”

This was exactly what he was afraid of. Emily wasn’t going to make things easy in any way, and it seemed she was going to call him Mr. O’Connor when she was being stubborn. He glanced at Smash. He’d suddenly become really interested in a poster of a model showing off her new haircut.

“Please don’t be difficult, Emily,” Keith said.

“How is me wanting to be involved in my own safety being difficult, Mr. O’Connor?” He was sure her glare could probably cut him in two.

“If you’re so interested in your own safety, Ms. Bradshaw, then you’d have agreed to stay with your father or at the N.S.S. compound.” Keith didn’t miss the roll of her eyes or the way her body stiffened when he called her by her last name.

“Do you have all your clients stay at your compound? I’m guessing, no.” She snapped.

“If I feel it’s the safest option, yes they do.” Keith stepped closer to her, but she didn’t back down.

“Not sure I remember any staying….” Smash began to say,

“Shut up, Smash,” Keith growled.

“Don’t tell him to shut up.” Emily stepped closer to Keith.

“Look, I’m going to take a look around the outside while you two figure this out. I’m assuming if she’s staying here you’re going to want some surveillance outside.” Smash didn’t wait for an answer as he left them alone.

Keith was no more than an arm’s length away from her. She glared up at him like a spoiled brat who was trying to get her way, and it pissed him off that it was as arousing as hell.

“Do you always try to bully people into doing things?” Emily said.

“I didn’t bully anyone.” It took everything he had not to pull her against him and kiss the hell out of her.

“You told poor Smash to shut up. Was that you being nice?” Emily raised her eyebrow. She was baiting him and damn it only made him want her more.

What the hell is wrong with you?

“Just go back to bed, Emily and let me do my job.” Keith was about to step back from her but then she moved one step closer.

“Don’t tell me what to do, Mr. O’Connor. You work for me, remember.” Emily narrowed her eyes and tapped her finger against his chest.

Keith grabbed her shoulders and backed her against the wall. The move had her eyes go wide, and her mouth dropped open. Keith pressed his body against hers and bent over just enough so that his eyes were level with hers.

“Just so we get this straight, Ms. Bradshaw. I don’t work for anyone but myself. Your father is a client, not you, and until he says different, I’ll do what it takes to keep you safe, but don’t pull that princess shit with me.” For a moment he kept her pinned and her warm breath fanned his cheek like a gentle caress.

When her tongue flicked out to moisten her full pink lips he stepped back so fast, Emily almost fell. “Now, would you please go back to bed and get some rest.” He turned and stomped out of the salon without looking back to see if she was going to do what he asked.

Outside the cold, crisp air took his breath away. He took a couple of deep inhales and let them out slowly. This woman was going to be the death of him, and he hadn’t been with her for more than a day.

There was something about Emily Bradshaw that had his brain turning to jelly. She was sexy, smart and defiant as hell, but she had a vulnerability that he could see no matter how she tried to hide it. She was scared, and he wanted to be the one to take that fear away.

I’ll protect you with my life, Princess.