Page 9 of Cursed
“Yeah, well, I unassigned her. This business with your father changes things.”
“Then give me Caro’s guard,” Edeena suggested, a touch too quickly. “You guard her.”
“Caroline looks like she’s smart enough to stay out of trouble,” Vince said, realizing that it wasn’t his imagination—he was making Edeena uncomfortable. That didn’t bode well for their business relationship, but he hadn’t been kidding before. Now that he understood a little bit more of the unfortunate relationship the Saleri children had with their father, he didn’t think any of his basic security measures were going to be enough. If this Silas character decided to swoop in and gather up Edeena after she turned twenty-seven to be auctioned off to the highest royal bidder . . .
He focused on her more intently. “Look, I’ll change the rotation after a couple of days, but until I get a full handle on the threat you all are facing, I’d feel more comfortable being on site and in the loop. Rob is the best I have, and Caroline is safe with Cindy, so that leaves you. I figure if I’m assigned to you directly, I keep you secure and stay informed. It simply makes sense.”
He could tell Edeena was thinking about it, despite whatever misgivings she had, and he gave her a winning grin. “C’mon. Janet Mulready already has no idea whether or not we’re a couple or you’re my client, but either way she’s taken note. If you show up with another tagalong, she’ll know for sure you’ve got increased protection. From there, it won’t be a leap to figure out the tails on your sisters, and the woman’s an incurable gossip.”
“Said incurable gossip is coming our way again,” Edeena said. “So what are we, client and strong man, couple of the year, or what?”
“Whatever you prefer, as long as we stick to it.” He glanced up and confirmed that Edeena was right. Janet Mulready was heading back toward them, her smile wide and calculating, a cell phone to her ear. There was no question she’d informed management that the Cypress Resort could now add a legitimately royal connection to its clientele. “What’s better for you?”
“Would you mind…couple of the year?”
The question was so soft that Vince though he’d misheard it, but there was no questioning the hard thump of his heart against his ribcage or the immediate intensity of his body as every one of his nerve endings flared with interest.
“Not at all,” he drawled, equally quietly.
“Oh, thank heavens,” Edeena said, sounding genuinely relieved. “That woman is truly insufferable, and I’ve known her all of three minutes.” She paused another beat, then her words tumbled out in a rushed, nervous heap. “Please act like you like me, okay? I’m not very good at this.”
Before Vince could process that comment, Edeena turned to him excitedly, her eyes wide and dancing, her grin huge.
“Vince!” she exclaimed, as with one elegant hand she reached for him and encircled his neck, pulling him toward her. “That sounds absolutely perfect!”
And then she kissed him soundly on the lips.
This wasn’t the first time Vince had been kissed out of the blue by a woman, but it was the first time he remembered liking it so much. He pulled back enough for Edeena to murmur urgently against his mouth. “Has she stopped? I think she’s stopped.”
Vince didn’t care what Janet Mulready was doing. He was too busy following Edeena’s lead, wrapping his arms around her then sliding his hands down her back. She pressed up against his body willingly, and whether it was for Janet’s or his benefit, he still came out ahead in this game.
He deepened the kiss as Edeena sighed beneath him. She was sweet and soft and tasted like honey, he thought distantly, and he’d never more intensely enjoyed his job more than he did right now.
He should probably give himself a raise.
“Vince,” Edeena murmured urgently against his lips. “Is she gone?”
Pulling back, he glanced across the commons area, then met Edeena’s gaze.
“She got distracted, but she’s coming again. You going to take the lead here?”
The word that Edeena breathed was definitely not English, but had the peculiar salty intonation of a curse. She edged back a little further as well, then beamed up at him, leaning up to brush his lips once more before favoring him with a dazzling smile. “You think she bought the girlfriend schtick?”
Vince didn’t have to glance over Edeena’s shoulder to confirm that. He could feel the steadiness of Janet’s glare at twenty paces. “Yep.”
“Good,” Edeena said summarily. Then she turned in his arms to regard the woman bearing down on them.
Vince had to hand it to Janet; she didn’t miss a beat. Instead, she waved two envelopes at them. “I’m so glad you’re both still here. It seems our Southern hospitality has rubbed off already on you, Countess,” she said breezily. “Here, you simply must come to the party we’re hosting in the Sea Witch Club tonight.” She gestured to one of the looming nightclubs surrounding the pool area. “It’s going to be one of the highlights of the season, and you don’t want to miss it.”
“Oh, . . . well, thank you,” Edeena said, automatically taking the envelopes. “I’m sure it will be quite enjoyable.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve invited your sisters as well,” Janet said, and Vince could track the triumph in her expression as Edeena turned quickly. Sure enough, the over-pumped pretty boy was even now bearing down on Marguerite as she tossed back what looked like a margarita, Marks hovering close, while Caroline looked on pensively as her bodyguard intercepted another Cypress staffer bearing a similar envelope. “You’ll be our honored guests tonight! You have to come.”
“Thank you so much,” Edeena said again, and Vince suspected her good manners prevented her from saying anything further. He watched as Marguerite opened the envelope and squealed in delight, immediately looking around for Caroline. Instead she spotted Edeena, and her entire face brightened.
Vince glanced back and saw the truth in Edeena’s eyes. They’d be coming to the party tonight, because Marguerite wanted it. If Caroline wanted to go harvest organic mushrooms the following morning, he suspected Edeena would do that, too.
He kept his arm around her, surprising himself with how natural it felt. “Miss Mulready,” he said, nodding to Janet, whose gaze had turned shrewd as she took in his proprietary hold on Edeena. “We’ll see you tonight, it would seem.”
“Oh, I’m planning on it,” she said, her own southern drawl firmly back in place, as she lifted her gaze to him. “If everything goes the way it should, it’ll be a night to remember.”