I got the call halfway through my second session of the day. It was Tuesday, the one day during the week where I stayed later in the evening if my clients required.

I had a couple set to come in at five, so that would be three total clients for the day. My practice was still small, and some days were much slower than this one.

Ignoring the vibrating phone, I focused on the older couple in front of me.

“So…you had an assignment this past week. How did it go?”

Thirty minutes later, their session complete, I escorted the Millers to the door and smiled at them. “I’ll see you in a few weeks.”

As I turned to face Liam, I pulled my phone from my jacket pocket to see who had called.

“I got a text from your service,” Liam said, moving over to stand in front of me. He slid a hand around my neck and tugged me in closer.

The last appointment had gotten started later than normal, and I checked the clock over his shoulder. “There’s still one client left on my schedule,” I said as he went to kiss me.

“That was the call. She canceled.”

That must have been who had been calling earlier, and I glanced at my phone, pulling up the list of calls. It had been my client. My phone had two lines on it, my personal and my professional and all my business calls were set to roll over if I didn’t answer on the first three rings.

“Well.” I licked my lips as Liam’s mouth neared mine. “I guess that leaves a lot of empty time in the schedule today, doesn’t it?”

“Hmmm…” was the only response he made as he pressed his lips to the corner of my mouth.

I could really get addicted to his kisses. He kissed like he did everything else, with wholehearted dedication. Being the one who was on the receiving end of those kisses, I appreciated his dedication to the craft.

“It seems to me that you already have a good idea on how to while away some time, Liam,” I teased as he slid his mouth along the line of my jaw down to the sensitive area of my neck. I gasped as he raked the skin with his teeth.

One hand slid under my suit jacket and the feel of his fingers, even through my blouse, had me shivering in anticipation.

I eased away from him and kicked out of my shoes, backing away from him. “Come here,” I said, crooking my finger at him. I ended up with my butt up against the small table tucked up against one wall, which was exactly where I’d planned to end up.

Liam boosted me up onto the table, nimble fingers pushing my skirt up. He slid his hand between my thighs, eliciting another gasp and shiver from me. He really, really was good at this.

As he began to stroke me through my panties, I reached up and tugged on his necktie. “Let’s lose this,” I said.

“I’m busy,” he told me, nibbling along my shoulder.

And he was. He’d hooked his fingers inside the lacy waistband of my panties and was currently working them down.

I wiggled to help accommodate him.

But then we both froze at the sound of a familiar, faint clicking noise.

The door to my office had just been opened.

“What the hell is this?”

I jolted at the sound of my father’s voice while Liam hurriedly withdrew his hands from under my skirt. I wiggled until I could pull my panties back up, Liam standing in front of me like a shield.

There was a look in his eyes that made me want to stroke his cheek, but before I had a chance, he turned around, facing Christopher Golding – his employer.

“I hired you to protect her, not screw her,” my father raged. He had his personal bodyguards with him, two men that stood at silent attention in the doorway. “Is this how you think you’re supposed to protect my daughter?”

I cut in between them – or tried. Liam wouldn’t let me shelter him, I knew it. He had his hand on my shoulder, fingers squeezing lightly. The silent request only angered me more, because I couldn’t not acquiesce. I had a hard time resisting him anything, and as he stood there facing my father, something inside my chest wobbled a little.

“Dad,” I said, trying to draw his attention toward me.

It didn’t work.

He kept his gaze focused on Liam. “I want you out of here,” he said, pointing to the door.

That did it. “You don’t get to decide who is in my office, Dad,” I snapped.

He ignored me, looking at the two men who accompanied him. “Get this pitiful excuse out of here,” he said, a sneer on his face.

“Liam…”

He glanced at me, shaking his head.

I didn’t know what that meant, but I didn’t want him leaving like this.

He stepped toward the bodyguards, and I knew he had every intention of just walking out.

One of the bodyguards accompanied him while the other stayed where he was, his face implacable.

Whirling on my father, I glared at him. “You had no right.”

He glared at me. “I’m your father!” he snapped.

Fury fueled my words. “And I’m an adult. I can sleep with whoever I want – and I want Liam!”

“You might be able to do what you want, but you will not be sleeping with somebody I’m paying to keep you safe,” he fired back. “He’s not your bodyguard anymore. I’ll leave one of my men with you until I can get somebody more qualified in here–”

“Oh, no.” I held up my hands. “I’m not putting up with any more bodyguards.”

“Mila–”

“No!” I stomped my foot for emphasis. “This is my life. I’ve had to put up with bullshit because of the way you choose to run your businesses, but I’m not doing it anymore.”

Narrowing my eyes at him, I jutted my chin toward the door. “Now please leave.”