Hunter informed me that the new bodyguard would be at the airport waiting to start his duty as soon as we land, which we did half an hour ago. We’ve collected our luggage, and after the attack yesterday and spending the night longing for my daughter, and the hour-long flight from Amsterdam to London, I’m ready to get home and spend time alone. Not being babysat by a stranger. Hunter collects and carries our luggage as I sluggishly walk toward a waiting Mason, who’s holding Charli. I smile brightly and my sluggish walking springs into a sprightly almost jog as I see my baby girl. My heart fills with joy even seeing her at a distance.

Charli is giggling and calling out her mumbled version of Mamma as she notices me, and I race to her. Mason smiles and hands her straight to me. As soon as she’s in my arms all the nerves and anxiety I’ve been feeling washes away and as she wraps her small arms around my neck.

“Baby girl, mummy missed you so much,” I say and plant kisses all over her tiny little face. She giggles as Mason steps forward and pulls me to him embracing me tightly with Charli between us. He leans in kissing my cheek and I look up at him as Charli plays with my flaming red hair.

“The interview went well. You did great, and Milan was generally sucking up your arse,” Mase says making me chuckle as I look at his handsome face. His brown hair is covered by his customary slouch beanie and his T-shirt is riding low showing his tattooed chest. His nose ring is in today and so is the piercing in his chin just below his bottom lip. He really is my gorgeous grunge man.

“Yeah, when his head wasn’t shoved up his arse,” I say and Mase nods. “How was our girl? Was she good?” I ask looking at her and pulling faces even though it hurts my sore face

“She was a dream like always, you know I love having her,” he says and I look at him again and smile as he brings his hand up to my cheek and caresses it tenderly. I swallow and look into his brown eyes, they’re glassy and look into me deeply. His thumb grazes over my swollen lip and I look away from him trying not to give away how sore I am.

“How are you? I heard the attack was pretty full on?” Mason asks and I turn looking at Hunter and glare at him.

“You told him?” I berate and Hunter shrugs.

“He deserves to know. Plus, he’d take one look at you and know something happened. You have a bruised eye and your lip is swollen, Amber. The question would have been asked,” Hunter says. I huff and bounce Charli on my hip holding her close to me for comfort.

Mase runs his hand down my arm in a soothing manner. “Amber, I just want you to be okay. I hate that fans did this to you, and all over this Aston bullshit again. This shit has got to stop,” Mase says.

“Yeah, it does.” I sniff and nuzzle my face into Charli’s hair, my pounding heart simmers slightly as Charli soothes me without knowing it.

“C’mon let’s go to the van. Brax will be there waiting, and hopefully this shit with the fans won’t happen anymore because he’ll be there to stop it,” Hunter says and I roll my eyes.

“Yeah, he just better not get in my space,” I say. Mase chuckles and wraps his arm around my shoulders as we walk out to the parking lot.

The summer sun is shining brightly in the English sky, the clouds are a dusky grey and the gentle breeze reminds me that summer is coming to an end as we approach the waiting van. I cuddle with Charli and as we arrive, Hunter walks up to a man and they embrace tightly. I didn’t get a good view of him because I was too preoccupied with Charli but seeing Hunter hugging someone has caught my attention. Hunter isn’t normally a hugger, except for maybe me. When Hunter pulls back from the man, I catch a glimpse of him and the first thing that strikes me is his stunningly piercing green eyes. They look right at me and straight into my soul. My entire body covers in goose bumps and a shiver runs down my spine. I gasp slightly at the sensation washing over me, as I manage to pull my eyes from his and draw them over the rest of his features. His dirty blond hair is disheveled in just the right way, and his chiseled jaw is lightly scattered with an afternoon shadow. My body tenses at how ruggedly handsome this man is, and it’s unnerving. I haven’t reacted to simply looking at someone like this before. He truly has taken my breath away. Swallowing hard, I try to rein in my composure, but I’m finding it increasingly difficult to not just step toward him to be closer to his brilliance.

It’s like time stops still as his eyes meet mine again and something passes between us, a reciprocal understanding that this attraction is definitely mutual. I can hear Mason talking, but I can’t concentrate on anything he’s saying as I take a step out of Mason’s grip and toward him. Hunter clears his throat breaking the tension and pulls me to him even further.

“Amber, you remember Brax, right?” he asks and I shake my head slightly in disbelief. He’s nothing like I remember. “You don’t remember, Brax?” he asks again and Brax’s lips turn up into a slight smile.

“No. Shit, sorry. I do remember you, it’s just you look so…different,” I say my pitch a little higher than what I was aiming for.

“Well, you look different too, Amber. Much more…adult,” he says and I furrow my brows.

“What’s that even mean?” I ask and he chuckles. His voice is like warm, smooth honey that I want to smother myself in so he can lick it off.

“Just that you’ve grown up. Motherhood suits you. You’re practically glowing,” he says and I look down to Charli in my arms and smile as she grabs some of my hair and tugs on it lightly.

“Right, well don’t think for a second that you’ll get into my space. I know you have to stay near to me for this whole bodyguard thing that spaz over here has going, but I don’t like people in my personal bubble, okay?”

He raises his hands in defeat. “No bubble bursting, got it,” he says and I try to hide my smile. I don’t want him knowing I think he’s completely adorable. He needs to believe I don’t want him around at all. That way he’ll keep his distance and not invade my space. I like to keep to myself and not have people around me that don’t need to be. And he certainly doesn’t need to be around me, even though he’s excellent eye candy.

“Amber, let’s get in the van. The sun is too hot for Charli,” Mase says.

I turn back looking at him. I’d actually forgotten he was even there.

“Shit! Sorry, yeah,” I say and shelter her head with my hand. I place her in her car seat inside the van.

“There you go my pretty girl, all buckled in,” I say and turn my head looking back to see Mase and Brax both staring at my arse as I’m bent over in the van. I purse my lips and stand up shaking my head.

“Liking the view, arseholes?” I ask as Hunter turns around and looks at me while Mase and Brax both look anywhere but at me.

“What?” Hunter asks and I grunt in frustration.

“I’d expect that from Mase, but I don’t appreciate my new bodyguard ogling my arse as I bend over to put my one-year-old in the van. Thank you very much,” I snarl as I fold my arms over my chest.

Brax’s eyes open wide as he looks at me and then at Hunter, who’s glaring at him. “Seriously mate? She’s my sister, don’t even go there. She’s out-of-bounds, you got that?” Hunter demands and I smile smugly and look right at Brax and nod.

“Yeah, you got that?” I reiterate as Mase chuckles slightly to himself. I glance sideways at him and frown. He soon shuts up.

“Sorry, was a simple mistake. Eyes on the job, Hunter. You don’t have to worry,” Brax says and I smile even though something inside of me wants to frown. For some reason, I wanted him to fight a little, to say he was attracted to me. Stupid I know, but I guess it’s because it’s been so long for me. I haven’t been with anyone since I had sex with Mase and got pregnant, and that was over a year ago, nearly two, so I’m getting a little antsy I suppose. I just hate always feeling like I’m not enough. Aston proved that to me.

Don’t think about him!

My smile falters and my body slumps as I think of the man who broke me.

“Amber, you okay?” Hunter asks and I take in a deep breath and nod plastering on a fake smile.

“Sure, let’s go. It’s hot and I need to get Charli home,” I say and the three men that are now apparently in my life all nod and we slide into the van.

Hunter gets into the driver’s side as normal and I move in next to Charli. Mason is on the other side and Brax moves in opposite us. I clear my throat and try not to look at him because looking at him makes me feel anxious, and I’ve had enough of that over the last twenty-four hours. I don’t need to be caught in his green captivating eyes and be swept up in emotions I don’t understand, want or need right now. So I turn and stay focused on my little girl for the entire half hour ride home to Richmond.

 

***

 

When we pull up at home, I can’t help but feel relieved to be getting out of the tension-filled van. I’m not sure if Brax and Mason can feel the strain, but it’s wafting around me like a noxious cloud filling every pore of my skin. I slide out of the van as Hunter talks about it being good to be home. I nod my head as Mason grabs my luggage and I pull Charli out of her seat and into my arms. Brax moves out of the sliding door past me and his shoulder grazes mine as he exits and I can’t help but notice his touch ignites my skin and radiates through my entire body. I turn looking at him as he pauses in the doorway and stares at me apparently feeling the sensation too.

Static electricity maybe? I’m not sure, all I know is I’ve never felt a shock like that before and now as our eyes meet, goose bumps raise all over my skin once again and a shiver runs down my spine. Butterflies flutter in my stomach and my heart starts to race a million miles a second.

What on earth is happening to me?

Charli giggles and taps me on the face making me break out of my trance. I turn to look at her momentarily and as I turn back to look at Brax, he continues to walk out of the van and toward the house.

That was intense!

I never paid any attention to him in school. He would hang out with Hunter all the time, but I was too busy spending time with my friends to worry about even talking to Alex Braxton. It’s amazing how in the space of a few years you can go from not even acknowledging someone’s presence to feeling like you can’t be apart from them. This new feeling is scaring the shit out of me, to be honest, so I have to be on my guard around Brax. I can’t let him in. Last time I let someone in—look what happened—he left me for someone else and now his fans keep at me because of our relationship. I won’t put myself out there again. I can’t. Charli is my priority now, Charli and Red Velvet and that’s how it has to stay!

The boys are laughing and joking around as they walk inside my house. It’s the one I grew up in with Mum and Hunter. Mum left it to us both, but Hunter was happy with the house he had and when Mum died we didn’t want to sell it, so we decided I’d live here. And it’s come in handy because the house is quite large, with a big yard for Charli. It even has a guesthouse out the back and a pool. It’s good because when Charli came along, I wanted her to have something nice and her room is beautiful.

As I walk inside, the house smells of the Hawaiian Breeze melts that I love. Clara must have had the burner on before we got home. She really is the best. Moving into the kitchen, I smell the soothing aromas of tropical pineapple with hints of mango, red berry, peach and warm beachwood and the relaxing scent fills my senses making me feel like I’m truly home.

The boys all gather around the kitchen island as I walk in with Charli attached to my hip. I notice Clara at the bench putting on the coffee. Clara is Charli’s live-in nanny and kind of like my housekeeper as well, although I tell her not to be. She can’t help but clean up and cook for me. That’s not her job, but she does it anyway. She has pretty much taken up a mothering role, and to be honest, I love her for it. She’s in her mid-fifties, I think, possibly early sixties—she won’t tell me how old she is. She is quite possibly the best person I’ve ever met.

“There they are,” Clara says spotting me as I walk over toward the island bench. She rushes over with her arms wide open and wraps herself around us.

“Hey Clara,” I say and hug her back with my free arm.

“Oh, I missed you girls. It was so quiet here without you two,” she says swaying us from side to side making Charli giggle.

“We were only gone for two days,” I say and she scoffs and shakes her head.

“Two days is a long time when you’re my age, and it’s your life to look after people. I spent all my time by the pool reading, I mean what kind of a life is that?” she asks and I chuckle because to me that sounds bloody amazing.

“You’re strange, Clara. Most people would love to relax by the pool, but you’d rather be running around after a one-year-old and her crazy mum,” I say. She pulls back and looks at me and smiles and it touches her eyes.

“I just so happen to love that one-year-old and her crazy mum. So yes, I’d rather do that.” She reaches out and touches my swollen eye socket and winces.

“Damn savages,” she murmurs and I half smile as she caresses my cheek. Hunter must have told her about the attack too. “Now go out to the courtyard while I make you all some lunch,” she says. She puts her hands out for Charli, I giggle and kiss Charli’s head and hand her over to Clara, who cuddles into her. I love how much she adores her.

“Thanks, Clara. Amber, Brax and I have some things we need to discuss,” Hunter says and I can’t help but look up at Brax, who isn’t looking at me. I swallow hard and look away.

“Yes, I couldn’t help but notice the new tall and handsome stranger in the house. I’m gathering you’re the new bodyguard?” Clara asks and I tense up slightly thinking of the reasons I need a bodyguard in the first place.

“Yep, I sure am,” Brax says and his voice vibrates right through me making me shudder and swallow hard as I try to keep my composure.

Pull yourself together Amber. You do not need him near you. He’s a bad idea—keep your distance!

“Well, as long as you take care of my girls then you’re all right by me,” Clara says. “Right, let’s get you fed little miss, then we can get these big kids fed,” Clara says walking Charli over to her high chair and placing her in it ready for her lunch.

“C’mon lets go sit in the courtyard,” Hunter says.

Opening the double glass doors, I pull them back to a bright, beautiful summer’s day. The backyard is bustling with birdlife as the birdbath glistens with the birds fluttering around taking a bath. Moving into the courtyard with the three men following me, I feel all their eyes on me and it’s unnerving. Taking a seat on the stone bench, I look at the vines growing up the lattice work behind me. They’re blooming in bright purple flowers. The sun shines in as Mason takes a seat next to me and Hunter and Brax sit on the stone bench on the other side of the small section of the courtyard. The round stone table in between us is worn and the cracks are getting bigger. I really need to buy some new, more modern furniture but this is all Mum’s stuff and I can’t bring myself to part with it.

I look over at Brax and bite my bottom lip, but he’s paying me no attention as he chuckles at something Hunter has said.

“You okay?” Mase asks wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me to him.

I take my eyes from Brax and look at Mase and nod. “Yeah, sorry, I’m fine. Just glad to be home,” I reply and Mase nods and leans in kissing my head.

I cringe at the gesture because it’s in front of Brax, but I don’t want anything with him so why should it matter?

“Right, so we’re here to talk details about how this is going to work with Brax and Amber,” Hunter says breaking my thoughts.

“Yeah, I’d love to know how this is going to work,” I mumble and Hunter half laughs.

“Take a chill pill, Amber. Brax’s going to be around you every time you step into the public. He’ll be here for you and for Charli. He’s here to protect you both,” Hunter says and Mason huffs.

“I can protect, Charli,” Mase barks and Hunter shakes his head.

“And what about when you’re not here, Mason?” Hunter asks and Mase exhales and sits back his eyes squinting and folding his arms over his chest with a huff.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Brax is going to be around a lot, so you need to get used to the idea Amber, you too Mason,” Hunter berates.

I roll my eyes and shake my head.

“As long as my girls are safe that’s all I care about,” Mase says and I roll my eyes once more but notice Brax looks up suddenly, looking between Mase and me.

“So you two are together then?” Brax asks.

I raise an eyebrow as Hunter looks at him furrowing his brows.

“Well, we’re—”

“No, we’re not together,” I say interrupting Mase because knowing him, he’ll twist his words to make it sound like we are. And for some reason, I don’t want Brax thinking I’m in a relationship when I clearly am not. “Not that that’s any of your business mind you,” I say and Hunter nods.

“Yeah man. Why do you need to know that?” Hunter asks folding his arms over his chest.

“I need to know who’s in your life, Amber. I need to know who I can let near you and who I can’t. It’s part of my job,” Brax says.

I bite my bottom lip and nod. Maybe he didn’t want to know for personal reasons and it was just a work thing?

Shit, I gotta stop thinking this way. This man’s too hot and he’s my bodyguard—do not go there, Amber!

“Right, well, Mase is the father of my child and the lead guitarist in my band. He’s going to need to be able to get to me,” I say and Brax smiles and nods.

“Okay, so Mason is on the good guy list. Got it,” he says and I nod and smile at him. He smiles back and my insides quiver slightly at the intense feeling I get when he looks at me.

“So now the living arrangements. I thought seeing as you have the guesthouse you wouldn’t mind Brax staying there? That way he’s here all the time, and that way you and Charli are covered twenty-four seven,” Hunter says.

I open my eyes wide and shake my head in disbelief wondering why the fuck Hunter just asked Brax to move in.