Romance In Paradise. Sarah Mayberry
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was when the fact that she was a Moreau—part of a prominent, hugely wealthy family whose business interests could upset people even a continent away—really smacked her in the face.
That wasn’t normal. None of this was normal.
‘That’s not going to happen.’
Noah made sure that his voice was low, cool and utterly non-negotiable. In unison, James and Morgan turned to him, both pairs of bottle-green eyes surprised and suspicious.
James’s eyes hardened a fraction of a second before Morgan’s did. He could see that neither of them appreciated him jumping into the conversation but he didn’t care. He just folded his arms across his chest and narrowed his own eyes.
‘I’m not remotely interested in your opinion,’ James told him. ‘I’m making arrangements for my sister’s protection.’
‘So unmake them,’ Noah suggested calmly. ‘I will act as her personal protection detail.’
‘What?’
The siblings’ faces registered surprised confusion—and, really, could he blame them? They’d both forgotten that close body protection was what he did, was his business. And wasn’t he here for the express purpose of getting his company more MI business? That whole world domination thing?
That was a good reason why he wanted to be the one to protect Morgan, but there were others. Since leaving the unit he’d done lots of close protection before moving into training the new officers. He knew how up close and personal bodyguards had to get to their principals, and there was no way that he was going to allow any CFT hound-dogs that close to Morgan. Fact: the only person that was getting into her personal space in the near future was him.
And, lastly, he wanted the best for Morgan. And he was it. There was a reason why Amanda had offered to double his already stratospheric salary if he stayed with CFT. He was that valuable, that good. Morgan deserved the best, and that was him.
Fact.
‘I’m here. I’m already working for you.’
‘I didn’t realise that sleeping with my sister was part of your duties,’ James said, in a very cool, very dangerous voice.
Noah didn’t react. Mostly because he felt like punching James on his perfect nose... He didn’t like being caught on the back foot, but he had to respect James for calling him on it. If he had a sister he’d do the same. ‘Technically, I’m not employed by MI yet—’
‘And the chances of you ever getting on the payroll are decreasing rapidly,’ James stated.
Damage control, Noah thought, and fast. ‘I’m good at what I do, Moreau, and what happened or didn’t happen here earlier has nothing to do with that. Morgan and I are both consenting adults and we have an understanding.’
James looked at Morgan. ‘Which is...?’
Noah remained silent. Hey, this was her brother—if she wanted to explain, she could.
‘Well?’
‘This has nothing to do with you, big bro,’ Morgan stated, lifting her chin.
‘You’re my baby sister!’
‘But I’m not a baby! I can have sex if I want!’
Both James and Noah winced. Noah scratched his forehead and was grateful that his brothers didn’t require him to monitor their social life, because this was the social equivalent of a kick to the groin.
Time to end this conversation, he thought.
‘Moving on,’ he said briskly, ‘and back to the subject at hand. Call Amanda Cope from CFT and ask her who her best bodyguard was—ever. I guarantee she’ll say me. She hates me, but she’s inherently honest. You want and need the best person out there guarding your sister. I’m it and I’m already in place.’ It wouldn’t hurt to sweeten the pot. ‘I’ll also give you a fifteen per cent discount on my personal protection fees because I’m doing an analysis on the security for your ball.’
‘I don’t want you as my bodyguard,’ Morgan said.
‘Tough,’ Noah shot back.
James ignored her and held Noah’s stare for thirty seconds before pulling his mobile out of his pocket and scrolling through his contacts. He was actually going to call Amanda! This could go badly wrong, Noah thought as James greeted her.
Morgan gripped his wrist and her nails dug into his skin. Even though they were sharp, he still felt heat and lust and attraction rocket up his arm. If he got this right, then acting as her bodyguard was going to be a casual stroll through hell....with a hard-on.
‘Noah! Listen to me. I don’t want this...you!’ Morgan hissed.
Noah gently pulled her fingers off him and held her hand in his. ‘Shh, I’m trying to listen.’
‘I’m going to kill you,’ Morgan threatened.
‘Later...’
James was speaking. ‘I don’t need to know why he left, or what you think Auterlochie are doing wrong in the market place, Amanda; this has nothing to do with the rest of your guards or my personal security detail. It’s one guy, looking after my sister. I just need to know whether he’s good or not.’
When James’s frown lifted from a trench to a furrow Noah knew that she had been her customary honest self.
‘The best agent you ever had? Well, then...’ James disconnected and slapped his mobile into the palm of his hand. He glared at Noah. ‘Fifteen per cent discount on both jobs because you started off by annoying me.’
Ouch.
‘Deal,’ Noah agreed.
‘And keep your hands off my sister,’ James growled.
‘Basic bodyguarding,’ Noah agreed, and he knew that James wasn’t sure whether he was messing with him or not. James still looked like a thundercloud so he looked him in the eye. ‘I will be completely professional when it comes to Morgan, James. You have my word.’
Besides, her safety depended on it... He couldn’t look out for danger if he was eyeing her rack. Or her butt. Or imagining those legs around his hips...
And, although it was a lot less easy to admit, he was grateful for the order to keep his hands off Morgan. She was the type of woman he normally avoided. One of the few women who had caught his interest on more than a physical level. She intrigued him—mentally, emotionally. There was more to her than being the Moreau heiress, the reluctant NYC socialite. And that scared the hell out of him. Besides, he was consumed by his business. He didn’t have the time or the energy to give to a woman.
James’s shoulders dropped as the tension seeped out of him. Noah knew that James considered his and Morgan’s relationship now to be defined, bound by the two contracts he would sign with MI. But to Noah it was written in blood—because he’d given James his word. No agreement written on paper trumped that.
Noah held out his hand and James reluctantly took it. ‘Anything happens to Morgan you’re a dead man,’ James told him.
‘Anything happens to Morgan I will be a dead man—because that’s the only way they’ll get to her.’
James’s face lightened with appreciation and Noah thought that he might, maybe, be back on relatively solid ground with the brother and boss.
‘Do either of you care what I want or think?’ Morgan demanded, her hands on her hips.
Noah shook his head and looked at James. ‘Uh...no.’
Noah ducked the glass that she sent flying towards his head and winced when the crystal shattered on the expensive tiles. Maybe he should curb the off-the-cuff honest answers. Good thing she had the aim of a one-eyed toddler or that might have hurt.
And, more importantly, it was a waste of a very fine dram.