Chapter Three

PAYTON

I should probably feel guiltier than I do, leaving my sister to deal with her new title and responsibilities. However, I know she’ll be a whiz at it. She’s built for it, whereas I am not.

Dealing with this bodyguard is proof enough of how out of my element I am in this scenario. At least she’s agreeable to my proposal. Once I’m on the plane, I won’t have to give it another thought.

Give my bodyguard another thought…

I lift my phone a little higher so I can study her without her noticing. She’s sitting across from me, constantly watching either me or what’s going on around us. I feel like I’m an ant in an ant farm, constantly under observation. The analogy even makes my skin crawl.

Though I will say Lily is madfit—our British term for ‘hot’—for a bodyguard.

I don’t know exactly what I expected, but not this.

With her light honey-brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, she appears younger.

But that could be the light dusting of freckles covering her high cheekbones, which tells me she spends time outside.

I could easily mistake her for a college student except for her attire, which seems more in line with a business executive .

She may be sitting, but my experience as a hockey player has taught me to be sensitive to a body about to change position or direction.

As a forward, that’s part of my job, so I can predict the best avenue to score a goal.

And Lily is poised to move at a moment’s notice, so that tells me she’s athletic as well—another feature I find very attractive.

Most of the very few women I’ve dated wanted nothing to do with the outdoors or any physical activity at all in some cases.

The flight attendant announces boarding is to begin, and since I’m flying first class, I rise and head toward the door.

Lily follows close behind, still doing her job.

Once I’m on the plane, I can relax for the duration of my flight without those hazel-green eyes watching me and everything around me.

I’m still convinced my cousin’s tendency for recklessness was his demise and therefore there’s no credible threat to me.

However, if I needed a bodyguard, I’m not sure I’d want one so breathtaking.

“Welcome aboard.” The attendant smiles at me as I hold my phone out for her to scan my ticket.

As I look over my shoulder to nod my thanks to Lily, the attendant scans her phone.

I step to the side and face her. “What are you?—”

Lily wraps her hand around my arm just above my elbow and, in one swift and impressive move, turns and propels me forward. “Let’s not draw attention.”

Once we get about twenty feet down the walkway to the plane, I stop and pull her aside, careful to keep my voice at a whisper. “What are you doing?”

Her gaze unwavering, she leans in and whispers, “My job.”

“But you agreed to my proposal.”

She waits for several people to pass by. “Actually, I didn’t. I shook my head.”

“But you said, ‘We’d best get you to your gate.’ Meaning my gate. ”

“Yes, your gate. And that’s where we are.”

I don’t miss her implication or how she’s handling me. A steady stream of travelers are now heading our way, inspiring a Hail Mary plan I’m begging the universe to let work. “Just go back and tell them you’re sick or have a sudden family emergency.”

Since timing is my strong suit, I launch myself in front of the latest pack of boarders, creating a barrier between Lily and me.

Once on the plane, I stow my duffel and sit, watching the front to see if my bodyguard has decided I’m not worth the trouble or if she’s as tenacious as I’m beginning to suspect.

After several people board and pass by, I pull out my phone and begin reading the book I started last night, doing my best to pretend that the movement next to me isn’t Lily settling into her seat.

The small privacy door between the seats slides open. “Did you really think that would work?”

I exhale in resignation before lifting my head in her direction. Sunlight streaming through the tiny windows to my left highlights her hazel green eyes, making her irises appear almost backlit. The effect is captivating. “I’d hoped.”

If that were true, then why do I feel somewhat pleased she didn’t bail on me?

She leans forward, ruffling in her backpack, then sits back with a notebook and pen in her hands, which she promptly opens. “I made a list of things to cover so we can get our nuptials story down. The closer we keep to the truth, the better.”

“Is this really necessary?” I probably sound like one of the petulant toddlers my sister used to treat, but I can’t help it.

I’m scrambling for some way to get out of this before I return to my normal life in Sarabella.

When I threw the idea out about a female bodyguard, I honestly didn’t expect Emalia to take me seriously.

She blinks at me. “Which part? Creating a believable story to keep your friends and teammates from knowing who you really are while I protect you? Or your continuous objections that are wasting valuable time and energy? Mostly mine.”

“Well, when you put it that way…” This woman clearly doesn’t like to be trifled with. I file that away, enjoying her forthrightness.

“Then let me rephrase. Let me do my job, Payton. That way, you can continue to do yours. That’s the crux of this, isn’t it?”

As much as I don’t want to admit, she’s right. I want to get back to the life I’ve worked hard to create outside of my family ties and responsibilities in England. Never mind that my sister outplayed me, which she’s always excelled at.

“Fine. Let’s get on with it. What’s our story?”

An almost smug expression tilts her lips, which I find myself looking at more than I should. She’s the enigma I never expected, that’s for sure.

Lily folds back the cover of her notebook. “We met the first week you flew home for your cousin’s funeral.” She glances up as if to gauge my reaction. “Sorry for your loss, by the way.”

The flash of compassion in her eyes twists something in my chest. I react with a curt nod. “Thank you.”

She returns my nod and then refocuses on her notes. “What did you do that first week?”

I tilt my head back in thought to six weeks ago. “Let’s see. I attended a polo match, had drinks at the pub with some friends, and…” I snap my fingers, “I helped my sister with her annual fundraiser event.”

Lily taps her pen against her lips, drawing my attention there yet again. “Hmm, polo might work. Drinks with friends…perhaps I tagged along with one of them as a last-minute invite. That could work. What was the fundraiser for?”

“Underprivileged children. She started it not long after she went into private practice. ”

Something flashes behind Lily’s eyes, then disappears with a smile that’s decidedly forced. “Drinks with friends, it is. We wound up talking all evening and spending almost every day together after that.”

She falls silent as she writes in her notebook. Does she not enjoy children or fundraisers? That seems highly unlikely.

I find myself wanting to learn more about her. Where did she come from, and how did she wind up being a close protection officer? What was her family like? Did she have any siblings?

“What about you?”

Her gaze jumps to mine. “What about me?”

“I should know details about you as well, correct?” I add a whimsical tone to my voice. “Seems odd that we talked for hours, yet I know nothing about you.”

She checks her watch. “We met barely an hour ago.”

“At the pub, the night we met. I’m practicing my part.” I wink at her, just for effect.

A flight attendant stops next to my chair. “Would you like something to drink or something off our menu?”

I grin up at her. “Just some water, please.”

“Are you sure I can’t get you something more…enjoyable?” One side of her mouth lifts in a sly smile.

She’s flirting with me. Normally, I’d engage and enjoy this rare occasion. In the States, one of the other guys on the team, such as Luke or Wade, would get the attention while I hung about like their wingman.

I swing my gaze to Lily. “I’m sure my wife would enjoy something.”

The attendant’s momentary flash of shock settles into a contrite expression. “So sorry. Of course! What can I get you?”

Lily’s lips twitch up just so on the sides. “Some water, thank you.”

The attendant nods, then turns around to walk back to the galley.

“Well done…husband.” Lily’s voice drops to a husky whisper.

If I weren’t in on the ruse, I’d believe it myself. Suddenly uncomfortable, I shift in my seat. “Might as well start practicing now.”

The flight attendant returns and hands us each a cup of water. I guzzle mine down, then hold my cup out to her. “I think I need a refill.”

“Did you always want to be a hockey player?” Lily waits for my answer, pen poised over what I guesstimate to be her fourth page of notes.

In the last two hours, we’ve covered everything from food and entertainment preferences to quirky details like my complete intolerance for anything sweet that’s been salted—why eat it then? The entire purpose of eating a chocolate or a caramel is to enjoy its creamy sweetness. Why ruin it?

Yet, I still think I’m lacking enough details about Lily.

“I started playing as a child in a junior league and never looked back.”

She tilts her head. “How did your parents feel about you wanting to make a profession of it?”

Not sure how this is pertinent to our convincing people we’re married, but I don’t mind answering it. “They’ve always been supportive of my choices, even if they don’t entirely understand them.”

Her mouth tenses for a moment. “That’s nice.”

“What about your parents? Do they approve of their daughter being in such a dangerous line of work?”

She clears her throat and studies her notebook. “They passed away when I was very young. ”

The twist I felt earlier in my chest returns twice as hard. “So sorry. That must have been difficult.”

Her shrug doesn’t hide the wariness I see on her face. “I don’t remember much about them.”

“Did your grandparents raise you, then? Mine like to play second parents to my sister and me, always nosing into our business.” I finish with a chuckle.

She shakes her head. “My parents didn’t have any family, so I grew up in the foster system.”

I don’t recall ever meeting someone who spent their childhood as an orphan. At the moment, I dearly wish I had some of my sister’s diplomatic abilities.

“Sorry again.” I let out a self-deprecating laugh. “I’m honestly not sure what to say.”

“You don’t need to say anything. It’s simply the facts. On the bright side, we won’t have to make up any stories about meeting my parents. Makes things easier.”

As much as I wish at times that my parents—and grandparents—would show less interest in my life, I can’t imagine not having them in my life. And my sister, of course, whose penchant for bossing me around is either her way of showing she loves me or her superpower. Maybe both…

I run my hands down the front of my trousers. “Right. So, what’s your story then? Do I tell my teammates you’re a…you know, a…”

“Bodyguard?” A gleam of mischief sparkles in her eyes. “After high school, I did a short tour in the Army, then moved into the private sector, doing security in London. It’s vague but detailed enough.”

“You mentioned keeping things as close to the truth as possible, so is that true?”

“Pretty much.”

“Why did you leave the military?”

She studies me. “That’s complicated. Let’s just say I realized I wanted something different.”

Color me intrigued and completely fascinated.

I want to ask her to expound, but I get the sense she holds this close.

If I planned to spend more time with Lily, I’d wait for her to trust me before asking her for details about her past. But somehow, I have to find a way to cut this arrangement short before I’m back with the team.

“Hmmm. I can relate to that. That’s how I wound up playing ice hockey in another country. I wanted something different.”

“But for different reasons, I’m sure.” She says this with a finality that tells me the subject is closed.

The lights dim in the cabin, drawing our gazes upward. A yawn bubbles up before I can squelch it.

Lily closes her notebook. “Get some rest, Payton. We’ve covered enough for now.”

I nod as I reach to close the small door between our seats, but she stops me.

“Sorry, but I need to keep eyes on you at all times.”

“But we’re on a plane.”

“Whatever threat’s out there?—”

“If there even is one,” I interrupt.

“A single moment of vulnerability is all it takes, Payton. Trust me on that.” Her gaze never wavers as if to bring her point home.

Aside from the jitters now coursing through me, I confess I find the thought of her watching me as I rest somewhat unsettling yet comforting at the same time.

On the ice, I can count on Luke or Ethan to have my back, but in life, I’m largely on my own in the States.

Returning for Sebastian’s funeral reminded me how much I’d missed our family gatherings.

And as my eyes close, shutting out a last glimpse of Lily’s ever-watchful presence, I’m struck with the thought that she must feel the same.

All the time.