The Billionaire's Bodyguard Bride Read online

  A woman was swimming off his private beach. The black bikini she wore hugged her curves, its daring cut leaving little to the imagination. She was as graceful as a mermaid, and, captivated by her lithe form, he watched her flirt with the ocean waves.

  His curiosity quickly morphed into arousal. A moment later both curiosity and the physical response she’d incited were replaced by concern. The woman was floundering, clearly in trouble. Sparing only a second to strip off his clothes, he dove to her aid. In hindsight it had been a dangerous move—stupid really—but his instinctive reaction had allowed him to reach her just as she was disappearing under the turbulent water again for what he’d been certain would have been the last time.

  He’d saved her life, but it had cost him dearly. He had been the one to go under, powerless to ignore the sparks of attraction flaring between them. He might have thought twice before risking his life for her that night if he’d known she was plotting to cause immeasurable damage to the Dimitriou family empire.

  He’d been convinced she was the polar opposite of his cunning and deceitful ex-fiancée, Melanie. Drawn in by Lauren’s guileless and trustworthy façade, he’d allowed her to thaw the iceberg around his heart. He’d let himself feel something beyond the purely physical for a woman for the first time in years. And, for a fleeting moment, she’d been a comforting balm to his wounded heart.

  The music stopped and, frustrated at the direction his thoughts were taking, he released her. He stepped back, spearing her with a hard glance and effectively dousing the flames roaring between them. He ignored the fiery embers that remained. There’d be time to fan them later, if he chose to. This wasn’t about the sexual chemistry between them, even though it surpassed everything he’d ever experienced. This was about revenge. He’d do well to remember that.

  It would be in his best interest not to forget what Lauren was capable of.

  When he’d learned of her deception, he’d had to face the indisputable reality that she was cut from the same cloth as Melanie after all. The realization had struck him as searingly as if someone had plunged a knife in his gut and twisted it.

  And his anger had burned even fiercer than the pain of her deceit. She’d deliberately gotten close to him in an effort to undermine the Dimitriou family empire. Learning of her plan, he’d cast her out of his life, cursing his stupidity for allowing himself to believe she’d been special.

  Now he’d exact retaliation for her deception. He needed a temporary bride, and Lauren would be perfect for the role. The chemistry between them was as potent as ever. He wouldn’t force her to share his bed if she chose not to, but he was certain she wouldn’t be able to resist him for long. Revenge would be sweet.

  “I have a full day of meetings tomorrow, so I’ll outline my proposition over dinner afterwards,” he told her.

  “I’ve already said I’m not interested in hearing what you have to offer, she shot back, her eyes sparking with indignation. “I will not be having dinner with you.”

  “I wouldn’t be so hasty if I were you, he murmured, his tone dangerous. “Your brother, Luke, is editor-in-chief for Intrepid Explorations magazine, isn’t he?”

  He knew the answer, of course, just as he was well aware that Luke was the only family she had left, and that her brother meant everything to her. He saw her gulp back the fear, determined not to let him see he’d struck a nerve.

  She raised her eyes to meet his, her chin tipped up defiantly. “I fail to see how my brother has anything to do with this.”

  “Oh, you’ll find he has a great deal to do with this. Trust me when I say it’s in your best interest to meet with me,” he warned. “I’ll pick you up at seven. Don’t keep me waiting, Lauren. You know I’m not a patient man.”

  Chapter Two

  Lauren escaped to the sanctuary of her dressing room immediately after the curtains closed on the mock wedding segment of the fashion show. As Stephanie helped her change out of her gown, she trembled in the aftermath of having just come face-to-face with a man she thought she’d never see again.

  “That was him, wasn’t it?”

  The mixture of surprise and consternation swimming in Stephanie’s eyes told Lauren her friend had guessed tonight’s pseudo groom was the man she had fallen head over heels for while on assignment in Greece.

  “Yes, that was him,” she confirmed with a bemused nod of her head, her heart still pounding furiously from the unexpected and totally unnerving encounter. Only her brother, Luke, her boss, Liz Meyers, and Stephanie were aware of her whirlwind encounter with Rafe and how badly it had ended.

  Stephanie whistled softly. “What is he doing here in New York of all places? I’m guessing he didn’t make the trip just to donate generously to a worthy cause. His appearance here tonight wasn’t a coincidence, was it?”

  “No,” Lauren confirmed with a frazzled sigh. Stefanie had zeroed in on the situation with her usual unerring accuracy. “He knew I was going to be here.”

  “Did he at least tell you why he decided he needed some face time after all these months? That looked like a pretty intense conversation you were having.”

  “He says he needs my help with a business deal. Isn’t that ironic? He’s gone from wanting nothing to do with me to needing me urgently enough to offer up veiled threats to ensure I meet with him. He’s using my brother as incentive.”

  Stephanie’s eyes rounded in disbelief. She knew how close Lauren and her only sibling were, and the idea of Rafe using that bond to his advantage infuriated her. “What are you going to do?”

  That was a good question, Lauren conceded. How was she going to deal with Rafe when simply being in the same room with him sucked all rational thoughts out of her head and left her at the mercy of her hormones? “Hear him out, I guess,” she asserted with far more confidence than she felt.

  “If you ask me, he doesn’t deserve the chance to be heard. He didn’t listen to your side of the story after that incident in Greece. He should have given you a chance to explain before jumping to all the wrong conclusions. He let his pride stand in the way of the best thing that ever happened to him.”

  Lauren worried her lower lip. “I need to know what he thinks he has up his sleeve. He’s left me no other option but to meet with him. But thanks for being such a loyal friend, Steph. It’s great having you in my corner.”

  Lauren had first met Stephanie after enlisting with Sentinels, an agency providing covert protection services to an elite clientele. She had embarked on her new career after learning of the agency’s existence—and her brother’s involvement with it—after she’d unwittingly stumbled into the middle of one of Luke’s assignments. A single misstep on her part could have easily blown his cover, but she’d adapted seamlessly and he’d been able to carry his mission through without a hitch.

  Lauren had been pleasantly surprised and intrigued when Sentinels’ owner, having heard how impressively she had handled the dicey situation, approached her with a job offer. Embracing the opportunity with passionate intensity, she had excelled in every aspect of her training, from foreign languages to weapons handling.

  Discovering there was another facet to her brother’s life he’d kept hidden from her had been a disappointment. Stephanie had helped her understand how important the work was to Luke and that he’d only kept his career a secret from her due to the highly sensitive and confidential aspects of his assignments.

  Lauren shot Stephanie a reassuring smile. “It’s going to be fine. Really. I’m immune to Rafe. I’m over him.”

  “Nice try,” Stephanie chided gently. “But I’m not convinced. That little exchange out on the dance floor didn’t look like ‘over.’ I could feel the heat flaring between the two of you from my seat up in the nosebleed section of the balcony. Talk about chemistry!”

  “Okay, so maybe the man still has the power to make me feel like I’m about to combust in the most amazing way,” Lauren admitted. “But it takes more than sensual fireworks to build a relationship. Besides, he despises
me after what happened.”

  If only she could truthfully say she felt the same about him. She wanted to hate Rafe for what he’d done to her, but she couldn’t seem to break the hold he had over her heart. It had belonged to him from the moment he’d saved her life.

  Safe on the beach after he’d pulled her from the ocean, she’d looked up into his handsome face and promptly found herself drowning again. She’d been sucked into the mesmerizing depths of a pair of eyes the same stormy shade of blue as the turbulent waters he’d rescued her from.

  Naïvely, she’d believed he felt the connection between them, too. She’d soon discovered that, for him, the attraction had been merely physical.

  Anxious to avoid another run-in with Rafe, she hurriedly slipped into her jeans and blouse. “I don’t want to leave you shorthanded, but I’d like to call it a night if it’s okay with you. I’d rather not be around if he decides to come looking for me.”

  “Of course, it’s fine. Go home and get some rest.”

  Drifting peacefully off to sleep wasn’t an option. Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts a minute, all starring Rafe Dimitriou.

  It was nearly daybreak when, worn out from tossing and turning, she finally succumbed to sleep. The blaring of her alarm clock woke her all too soon.

  Thankfully it was Saturday. When she wasn’t on an assignment, weekends were hers to spend however she pleased. She loved the luxury of enjoying a leisurely breakfast before tackling household chores and running errands.

  She tried to go about her normal routine but found it impossible to focus on anything other than Rafe’s unexpected reappearance in her life. Her thoughts kept detouring back to last night until she’d dissected the encounter a million times, exhausting herself both physically and emotionally.

  After picking up groceries, Lauren made the short trip back to her beloved waterfront home. The gorgeous ocean view had been a key selling point when she’d purchased the house, but the deluxe bath with its mahogany-walled shower, sunken whirlpool tub, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the panoramic view had cinched the deal. She had filled the room with an assortment of lush greenery that flourished there despite her somewhat challenged green thumb.

  She eyed the whirlpool bath longingly. She needed to shake the fatigue that had settled over her like an oppressive blanket so she could attempt to get a little perspective on last night’s unbelievable turn of events. A soothing soak would be heavenly, but she barely had time to squeeze in a quick shower before her meeting with Rafe.

  Stripping off her clothes, she stepped under the warm spray and relaxed, letting the steam loosen the tension that knotted her neck and shoulders. She sponged her favorite jasmine-scented body wash over her skin, wishing she could rinse Rafe’s imprint from her soul along with the soapy lather.

  Stepping from the shower and grabbing a fluffy towel, she paused for a moment in front of the mirror. Taking in her too-bright eyes and the faint flush of anticipation coloring her cheeks, she couldn’t deny that, despite her trepidation at seeing Rafe again, there was excitement fizzing through her veins as well. Though she’d convinced herself she was over him, seeing him again made her realize she’d never really regained control of her heart where he was concerned.

  “Get a grip,” she admonished herself, wrapping the towel turban-style around her head. Draping a second towel around her slender frame, she padded over to her closet to find something to wear.

  She was so not dressing up for him. But it couldn’t hurt to remind him of what he’d given up when he’d so coldly walked away from her, could it?

  She settled for somewhere between indifferent and alluring, choosing an off-the-shoulder batik dress in a deep shade of plum that brought out the green in her eyes and caressed her curves. Slipping on a pair of high-heeled pumps and adding a delicate gold chain and matching earrings, she twisted her hair into a loose chignon. Satisfied with her appearance, she left the bedroom and snatched her purse and car keys off the kitchen sidebar. Change of plans, she determined. She’d drive herself to the restaurant. It was a far better option than being trapped in the confines of a vehicle with Rafe.

  He’d made reservations at Armando’s, an exclusive Italian restaurant renowned for its world-class cuisine. He’d also told her where he was staying, so she phoned and left a message for him with the concierge to relay the change in their arrangements for the evening.

  Her plan was shot to pieces when a low-slung, sexy black sports car purred up to the curb just as she was unlocking her car door.

  Rafe stepped from his car, moonlight highlighting his features and revealing a masterpiece of hard lines and rugged angles. He’d paired a charcoal gray suit with a soft blue shirt, foregoing a tie in concession to the oppressive midsummer heat. The top buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing an expanse of smooth, tanned skin. She had to tamp down the overwhelming urge to let her fingers explore the muscular silk-over-steel landscape of his chest.

  He shot her an I-caught-you smile and her traitorous heart had the audacity to skip a beat.

  “Going somewhere?” he drawled, amusement and a touch of latent danger evident in his smooth baritone.

  Drat. Lauren attempted an indifferent shrug. “I thought it would be easier if I took my own car. I’d rather meet you at the restaurant if it’s all the same to you.”

  “We’re playing by my rules tonight,” he asserted. “Rule number one is you’ll allow me to drive. Shall we?”

  She ignored the arm he offered, shooting him a look that could have frozen bubbling lava. “Just because I’ve agreed to meet with you doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you for the way you used me.”

  “Used you? Now that’s an interesting perspective coming from the woman who muddied my father’s name for a byline.”

  Okay, that one stung. Lauren felt his verbal barb slice through her heart. She hadn’t set out to hurt his father; in fact it had been entirely the opposite. If he’d given her the opportunity to detail her side of the story, he would have understood why she’d had no choice but to do what she’d done. Instead he’d frozen her out, refusing to let her explain.

  She’d been devastated to see the pain and shock on his face when he’d seen the article that had run in the evening edition of the newspaper with her byline. Tasked with deterring an assassination attempt against a high-ranking official in the Moroccan government, Sentinels had discovered that terrorists planned to carry out the hit while the man was a guest at a prominent Greek businessman’s private estate. The agency wouldn’t have been able to covertly protect him within the estate’s compound, and the host’s own security detail would have been no match for a professionally orchestrated attack.

  Lauren’s job had been to photograph the Greek host, who was rumored to be involved in dealings with the Mafia, and to write a speculation piece suggesting the man’s activities might not be entirely aboveboard. The hope was that alluding to possible impropriety might spur the Moroccan official to cancel his planned visit. It was an election year, after all, and that kind of conjecture could ill be afforded.

  The story had achieved the desired results, but not without collateral damage. Lauren’s heart had taken a direct hit. Though she hadn’t been aware of it when she snapped the photograph, Philip Dimitriou—Rafe’s father—had been one of the subjects in the picture. Rafe, convinced she’d deliberately set out to insinuate herself into his life in an attempt to undermine the Dimitriou family, had ousted her without a backward glance.

  The article’s placement had been critical to the official’s security, but if Lauren could have retracted her story at that moment, she would have been tempted to.

  Recalling the way Rafe had cast her aside without giving her a chance to utter a single word in her own defense made her blood boil. “That’s not true,” she refuted passionately. “But then you never gave me a chance to tell you my side of the story.”

  Pinning her with a scathing glare, he opened the passenger door to see her seated. “I wasn’t intere
sted then, and I’m not interested now. The time for explanations has long passed.”

  Still seething, Lauren studied his profile while he drove. There were fine lines on his face that hadn’t been there two years ago, but oddly they only enhanced his handsome features.

  She’d been captivated by his movie-star good looks from the moment she first laid eyes on him.

  After he’d saved her from drowning, he insisted she accompany him to his villa so his personal physician could make certain she was none the worse for her close call. Once assured of her well-being, he urged her to stay for dinner. She readily agreed, eager for the opportunity to get to know him better.

  His chef had prepared a veritable feast for them, and Rafe charmed her throughout the meal. Before the night was over she’d become a convert to the love-at-first-sight school of thought. Too bad she hadn’t realized Rafe didn’t share the same depth of feeling before she’d allowed his tender caresses and passionate kisses to lead to so much more.

  “I don’t understand how you think you can walk back into my life out of the blue like this,” she challenged now. “You made it very clear you wanted nothing more to do with me when you left. What’s changed?”

  “Circumstances have changed,” he responded curtly. “Circumstances that compel me to enlist your assistance. I’ll explain over dinner.”

  He pulled the car up to the restaurant entrance and a valet rushed to greet them. Armando’s had garnered accolades for its culinary excellence, and under any other circumstances she would have looked forward to enjoying a meal here. Tonight her appetite was on strike.

  The maître d’ escorted them to a corner table overlooking the peaceful harbor. The view was like something out of a fairy tale with scores of twinkling lights accenting the sheltered breakwater. The full moon hung fat over the bay, illuminating the scattering of yachts and small pleasure boats bobbing dockside.