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Chapter Six

LILY

“So, how’s the honeymoon going?” Del’s snarky tone makes me grin.

“Awkward as hell.” I didn’t want to tell Payton that my true intention for leaving was to touch base with Del. She’s already done a perimeter sweep for tonight and made sure the cameras are sending signals to her phone and mine. I just needed a few minutes to clear my head and get some perspective.

“What did you expect? He’s royalty adjacent and British.” She says ‘British’ in an uppity nasal tone.

I crack a laugh. “But you Brits are always cracking sex jokes and innuendos all the time.”

“To deflect, luv. We either refuse to talk about it or poke fun at it. And I prefer the latter.”

“Duly noted.” Never a dull moment with Del. I’ve learned not take her too seriously, but I know in a life and death situation, she’s the most serious and effective person I’ve ever known.

“So, what’s on the agenda for the rest of the night?”

“Hashing out a plan for tomorrow.” Just the thought makes me sweat even more than the muggy nighttime air .

Del sighs. “Boring. You’re spoiling my fun. You know that, right?”

I choose to ignore her poke. “We almost blew it with his roommate. If Payton acts as nervous as he did tonight, I’m not sure we’ll pull off this cover.”

“Then do something to defuse the tension, luv.”

“Like what?”

She hums over the connection. “You could kiss him.”

Even though she can’t see me, I roll my eyes. “That’s completely unprofessional and would only complicate things.”

“Interesting that you didn’t flat-out refuse.” Her voice trails off with implication.

“Don’t start reading into things, Del. And I don’t want to fluster him any more than he already is.” Anticipating the end of this conversation, I turn around to head back to the apartment. So much for gaining some perspective.

“I meant in a strictly professional capacity, of course. You’re posing as a married couple. Couple’s kiss, in case you didn’t know.”

“I know that.” I bark out.

A soft chuckle accompanies her words. “Just checking, luv. I know you didn’t grow up around that kind of thing. Maybe you should do it now and get the awkwardness out of the way.”

She’s right, as always. I never knew my father, and cancer took my mother away before I even started school. “We’ll navigate that when, and if , it becomes necessary. I don’t want to rattle him more than he already is.”

“Hmmm. You sure he’s the only one rattled in this scenario?”

“Okay, we’re done for tonight. I will check in tomorrow around the same time.”

“Deflecting now. This is getting very interesting.”

“Good night, Del.” I end the connection before she can worm another unwelcome thought to take residence in my brain. The last thing I need in my head are images of kissing Payton. Although, Del made a valid point. There may come a time when we’re in a situation that warrants a show of affection.

The problem is that I’m unsure whether discussing this with Payton would do more harm than good. Sometimes, you have to keep a principal in the dark about certain aspects, but that usually has more to do with potential danger and kissing doesn’t fall into that category.

Cool air makes the dampness on my face tingle when I walk back in. Payton’s still poised in the same spot as when I left, a mix of concern and confusion on his face. I close and lock the door quietly so Luke won’t hear and wonder.

When Payton opens his mouth to speak, I put my finger over my lips and then point toward the bedroom. Once inside, I kick off my shoes in the closet and tug out a set of pajamas off a shelf to change into after I shower.

He shoves his hands into his jeans pockets, causing his shoulders to hunch near his ears. “Do you have to be with me at the arena the entire time?”

“No. Most of the time, I’ll do surveillance from outside. Del’s already scouted the facilities for weak points. Do you carpool with Luke?”

“Not really. He often has plans with his fiancée.”

“Good. We’ll use the single car as an excuse for me to drive you back and forth each day.”

He nods. “Should I make a proper introduction to the blokes so they can meet you?”

“That’s up to you.” I walk toward the bathroom. “We can be flexible with things like that. You could say I’m shy and not ready to meet your friends yet.”

He quirks a lopsided grin, bringing back those creases bracketing his mouth. They’re like giant dimples. “Not sure they’d believe that once they actually get to know you.”

“Why, Mr. Maxwell, are you implying I’m not genteel enough?” I slide in a mock British accent I know sounds horrible, because Del as much as told me so when I tried it on her one day as a joke.

A guttural laugh rumbles from his chest, which oddly spikes my pulse. “Now you sound like my mother.”

I grin. “Yes, but I made you laugh. The easier we keep our rapport, the more believable this will be.”

He seems relieved at first. “You’re good at this.”

“That’s my job.” I pat my pajamas. “Let’s talk more after I shower.”

Payton drops his gaze to his feet, appearing awkward again.

At this rate, I predict this facade will last barely a day, which would make this assignment much easier if he would just come clean about his situation.

But I get it. I’ve worked with enough clients to understand the intrusion personal security creates when the principal isn’t accustomed to it.

I toss my PJs onto the counter and start the water, still mulling over ways to solve this predicament. Unfortunately, Del’s voice about kissing Payton won’t go away. Maybe I should have had her switch places with me. Then again, I’m not sure Payton could handle Del.

Washing off a day of travel and humidity never felt so good.

I wrap a very plush towel around me and step out of the shower.

The large closet and oversized bathroom confirm my assessment that Payton prefers creature comforts, which I’m sure he has the money for but doesn’t like to make it obvious.

Most likely, part of his desire to keep his family connections unknown here in the U.S.

A loud thud comes from the bedroom. I pause to listen, then raise my voice. “Payton?”

When I don’t get a reply, my adrenaline kicks in. With one hand holding the fold of my towel, I bolt out of the bathroom, yet I don’t see Payton or anyone else, for that matter. The bedroom door is closed, and no sounds are coming from the living room .

“Payton?”

He pops up from the other side of the bed, rubbing his head. “Yes?”

“What are you doing? Are you all right?”

He glances down. “I was making a pallet on the floor and hit my head on the nightstand.”

I rush over to make sure he’s not bleeding and push his hand aside. “No blood, but you’ll have a nice little bump there. Are you dizzy or nauseated?”

He doesn’t answer, so I search his face for signs of incapacitation. He seems fine except for the way his blue eyes make a slow drift from the top of my towel, up my neck, and then to my face.

Our gazes lock, making me acutely aware of the tension building between us. And that I’m dressed in only a towel. Those blasted images induced by Del’s comment about kissing him flood in like a raging storm.

Feeling exposed, I grab the bottom of the towel to keep the overlap closed and spin around. “I’ll be right back.”

After dressing and combing out my wet hair, I return to the bedroom to find Payton lying on the pallet, reading a book.

“Payton, sleep in your bed. I’m fine on the floor.”

He lowers his book. “That wouldn’t be very gentlemanly of me, now would it?”

“That’s unnecessary. This is a professional arrangement. And I’ve probably slept on the ground or a floor more often than I have in a bed, to be honest.”

He’s quick to hide his surprise but not fast enough in hiding the flash of concern lingering in his eyes. “All the more reason you should take the bed.”

“I’m your bodyguard, Payton. Nothing more. Perhaps this would be easier if you didn’t think of me as a woman.”

He sits up, draping his arm over his leg. In doing so, the blanket he’d casually draped over himself falls away, revealing the rest of his torso. And an impressive six-pack, I doubt comes just from playing hockey.

Warmth spreads in my belly. Since when do I react to a bare chest like a blushing schoolgirl? And I saw plenty during my military days. This should be no different. I want to turn away to hide the heat rising in my face.

But the look he gives me is borderline smoldering. “That’s impossible, Lily.”

Is that why he’s acting so awkward around me? Because he’s attracted to me?

I’d be a fool and bad at my job if I didn’t admit—if only to myself—that I’m drawn to him as well. And that is something I will have to work double time to shut down, especially since we’ll have to share a room indefinitely.

This assignment just turned way more complicated than I ever expected.

Before he heads to the arena for practice, Payton likes to take a morning jog on the beach.

I’m not complaining, mind you. Here, I thought I’d have to squeeze in a workout here and there when time and circumstance permitted—and when Del was on watch. But I may wind up in even better shape once this assignment is done.

I will say I found Payton’s efforts not to wake me this morning rather endearing.

Although, the way he jumped when I said good morning still makes me laugh.

He didn’t appreciate my humor at his expense, though, but his expression bordered on sheer delight when I walked out of the closet dressed in workout clothes and sneakers.

Just shy of sunrise when we arrived, the beach was nearly deserted, but now shell hunters and fellow joggers dot the sandy shoreline in growing numbers.

The sound of waves crashing on the shore settles something in me, and for the first time in a while, I feel like I can breathe. How did I miss how wound up I was?

“How much further do you want to jog?” I keep my pace matched to his, which turns out to be almost the same as my norm.

“Getting tired?”