Isabelle

I hated that this was my new reality—that I wouldn’t be able to take a single step outside my home without my every move being shadowed by armed men. I just wanted to focus on my research and live a normal life. Not that I really knew what a normal life entailed.

No…instead of birthday parties and school field trips, sleepovers and playing at the park, my childhood had been filled with language lessons and etiquette classes, formal events and being shipped off to boarding school. And then when I was older, it was balls and society galas, and being groomed to be some rich man’s wife, all in an attempt to join our already outrageous wealth with someone else’s, with the hope of it being even more outrageous and our family even more powerful.

It was all so preposterous—and not at all the life I wanted for myself. And though my father had wanted me to have a somewhat normal childhood, knowing what it was like to be groomed as the heir to a fortune, my mother had always chastised him for not being strict enough with me, always telling him that he was too indulgent. He had only ever wanted me to be happy, without the constraints and dictates expected when you bore the name Rutherford. Yet my mother had had other ideas, and she usually got her way.

My father had been my one true friend, someone I could talk to easily and speak my mind without having to watch my every word and my every move. Except that my father was now gone, and had been for over ten years.

As if my mother wasn’t difficult enough to deal with under normal circumstances, we now had the added worry of death threats—and that certainly wasn’t helping her normally dour mood, nor was our recent trip to Seattle.

This had been my father’s family home, rather than hers, and I think she resented him for being happy here when she couldn’t be. Although that would imply that she was happy elsewhere, and that certainly had never been the case. That said, the English countryside tended to suit her best, and that was where she’d be returning in just a week or two, whereas I’d be staying behind to work on my research.

Yet when our new security detail walked in, I had to admit that having a bodyguard might not be such a bad idea after all. Especially not when they all looked lethal and gorgeous, quite unlike the men I was used to meeting at my mother’s society events or in the lab where I worked on my project. And the one standing closest to me? He was the most stunning of them all.

That was when his gaze met mine, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief, and though he remained professional and serious, I could see a smile pull at his lips, making me blush at having been caught staring at him.

“Isabelle.” The tone in my mother’s voice was all too familiar, always sounding frustrated or scolding me for something I had or hadn’t done. “Are you paying attention?”

“Of course, Mother.” Except that I hadn’t been, too distracted by the man standing before me.

“These are two of the men who’ve been assigned to guard you until this is all over with. I just hope that it won’t take the authorities an eternity to track down the wretched man who’s threatening us. It’s just horrible. How does anyone expect us to live our lives while dragging around a security entourage? Hardly appropriate, now is it?” My mother went on and on, though I wasn’t quite sure who she was speaking to. Not that it really mattered when we were all stuck listening to her complain. “I suppose this is the changing of the guard then?”

It clearly was—and I had no doubt that Pritchett, Rollins, and the rest of their men, would be looking forward to heading home, and most especially, not having to deal with my mother, even if they were always professional with her.

I got to my feet, hoping that this meant our little family meeting was over with, and I’d be able to get on with my day. “If that’s all, I’m going to get going. I have to get back to the lab.”

Mother rolled her eyes at me and went over to the bar cart to pour herself a brandy, even though it was barely noon. “I don’t know why you bother wasting your time with that nonsense. But go if you must. Just remember that we have the gallery opening this Friday night—and since it’s several days away, I expect you to squeeze it into your schedule. There’s no reason for you not to be there.”

The guy in charge—Emerson, I believe was his name—stepped forward. “We really don’t think it’s wise for you to go to a public event where we can’t really secure the area or control who’s coming or going. There will be no way of guaranteeing your safety, and I’m highly recommending that until the authorities have someone in custody, you should limit your exposure by staying in controlled environments.”

She scoffed, looking at Emerson with a fierceness I had no doubt few would dare attempt with a man as intimidating as he was. “If you think I’m going to stay cooped in this house indefinitely, I can guarantee that you are mistaken. I go where I please, and I’m not going to let some deranged lunatic change that. Now if I could just get my daughter to give me an answer, without me having to ask my question yet again.”

I stifled my groan and resisted the urge to argue with my mother, knowing it wouldn’t change the outcome any, and in the end, I’d have added the trouble of dealing with her wrath. Not showing up, or defying my mother in any way, just wasn’t worth the hassle. I’d learned that a very long time ago, and at a very young age.

“I’ll meet you there, if I must—though I think it’d be far wiser for us to listen to the security professionals, since that’s what they do for a living.” I made my escape before an argument ensued, heading for the door, though I was surprised to find the guy who’d caught me staring at him was one of the two men assigned to me. I suppose I’d know that if I’d been paying attention when my mother had been speaking to me.

As we headed down the hall, I shyly turned to them. “I’m sorry if I missed it, but…what are your names?”

“I’m Slater Blackthorn. And this is my cousin, Colton Blackthorn. Blackthorn Security is a bit of a family affair.” When Slater smiled at me this time, it was full on, sending my heart racing like never before.

I had clearly led a far too sheltered life, if a mere smile from a good-looking man could have such an effect on me, though I was sure he’d have this effect on any woman with a pulse. Tall, muscular, dark hair, and striking blue eyes…and though he was wearing a suit—and looked damn good in it—there was something rugged and wild about him. Like he might be more suited to jeans, a leather jacket, and a motorcycle—or maybe that was just me fantasizing a little.

“I’m Isabelle, but you can call me Izzy if you’d like. All my friends do.” Not that there were a whole lot of them, given my years abroad and never staying in one place for too long. Truth be told, I’d never quite fit in with the other girls at boarding school. Most of them were happy to make the most of their enormous fortunes, always trying to one-up each other with their latest purchases or gifts, and that had never really been me.

Instead, I’d spent most of my life with my nose in a book—and happily so. What few friends I had were scattered around Europe and busy with work, which meant I rarely saw them.

Colton stopped at the front door, and radioed to one of the drivers to come around. “So, Izzy…where to?”

“Nowhere terribly exciting, I’m afraid. The two of you are going to be bored to tears looking after me.” That wasn’t an exaggeration either. “If I’m not at one of my mother’s events, then I’m here or at my place in the city. Or at the lab, which is where I need to go at the moment, and where I spend most of my work week.”

As soon as the town car pulled up, Colton and Slater escorted me outside, the day absolutely stunning for November, albeit a bit brisk, with the sun high in the sky, unobstructed by clouds. Slater got the door and took my hand, helping me into the vehicle, before taking a seat next to me, while Colton got in the front passenger seat.

That meant I had Slater all to myself while we drove into Seattle. Not that it mattered when I’d never muster the courage to do anything more than smile at him.

Lucky for me, Slater wasn’t at all shy.