Close to Perfect (5 page)

Josh wasn't buying that.

Her expression changed. “My dad's a retired cop. He put in nearly thirty outstanding years on the force. It's all in the brochure. Didn't you read it?”

“I stopped on the witness protection and relocation part.”

“Sound interesting?”

“Only if it's for the paparazzo. Your dad really wanted you to be a cop, huh?”

She laughed.

It was completely unexpected, so throaty and unrestrained, Josh was unbelievably aroused, even as a wave of tenderness washed over him as he imagined how she must have looked and felt after taking down someone much bigger, someone who was armed. Damn, she was something.

“Pop yelled at me for a week,” Tess finally said. “He told me I was nuts for wanting to follow in his footsteps.”

Josh nodded, because he agreed with the man. Of course, that was all in the past. Being a bodyguard, especially his bodyguard, wasn't going to be risky, not like being a cop. “What changed his mind?”

“What makes you think his mind was changed?”

“You're here now. You're working for him.”

A smile played at the corners of her mouth. “Only because I'm very good at what I do.”

“I know. I've read your resume. So, you took down more bad guys than most?”

“I had my share of collars.”

“Do you still have your cuffs?”

Those lovely eyes widened slightly; her chest and throat flushed pink. “Think I might be needing them to secure you to your bed?”

“I'm game, if that's what you want.”

Uh-huh. What Tess wanted wasn't something she was about to share with Josh, because already she wanted him on top of her and beneath her and all over her, and if she wasn't very careful there'd be no end to her wanting. “I want a contract.”

He ran his thumb over his jaw as he regarded her. “To spell out what we're going to do with your handcuffs?”

Bad, bad boy. “To spell out the particulars of my services as your bodyguard.”

“In private. In public, we're romantically involved, remember?”

As if she could forget that? “Exactly. In public.”

“Sure you want that in writing?”

“My father will insist upon it.”

Josh's expression said that he had momentarily forgotten about the man. “Because he used to be a cop, too.”

“That's right.” Tess moved toward him. When she didn't stop, Josh instinctively took a step back. “He really liked the life,” she said, as she continued to approach and Josh continued to retreat. “He loved taking down perps and collaring bad guys and using his cuffs and muscle, and sometimes he really misses that and looks for excuses to, well, you know, get back into the game if he sees something bad going down.”

Like his little girl being hustled by a guy who was exposed buck naked on the cover of a tabloid? Josh sensed the Franklin clan was one hard nut to crack. Of course, her dad wasn't going to be around during those nights she spent in his house as his bodyguard.

Even if they were separated by numerous rooms, Josh knew he was going to enjoy her lingering scent, the gentle slapping of her bare feet as she moved down the hall, that musical, lilting voice as she talked to herself or issued more ultimatums to him. “Let's get you that contract.” He headed for the intercom.

Before he could buzz Peg, Tess said, “Wait.”

Oh, hell. She couldn't have changed her mind already, could she? Josh looked over his shoulder at her, ready to argue his case. “Why?”

“We need to figure out how we met, when we met, and other stuff about our romantic relationship, just in case anyone asks when we're out in public. That, I don't want in any contract.”

No kidding. “If anyone asks, we could just tell them it's none of their business.”

“Yeah, we could, but who's going to take that for a final answer?”

Josh nodded. “You don't want them digging into your private life.”

“I don't want my father reading their version of my private life while he's in line at the convenience store.”

Josh hadn't thought about that even though he should have. Pretending to be involved with him was going to expose Tess to the tabloid press as more than just his girlfriend, at least until this died down.

Despite his desire to see her again, hell, to see her continually, he just had to ask, “Sure you want to do this?”

She glanced at the windows. The security guys were watching as that boat left the area. “If it's done right.”

And if it wasn't? Josh wanted to assure her that everything would be just fine. Knowing he couldn't even begin to do that, he asked, “And if it falls short?”

Tess looked at him. “I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself.”

Not to mention criminals and pissy corporate attorneys like Alan. Still... “How about your dad? What's he going to think about all of this?”

Her face quickly paled, but then she shrugged. “I'll handle him, too.”

Josh wanted to ask if she were absolutely certain of that, but didn't dare. He figured she'd have him pinned to the floor with her knee on his throat in two seconds flat. Besides, she was a grown woman—nicely grown—and could do whatever she wanted even if her father didn't like it. If the man fired her, Josh would just hire her without Privacy Dynamics. “Okay.” He went to her and leaned down until their noses just about touched. “We'll do this as perfectly as possible. How did we meet?”

Those delicate nostrils continued to flare with his proximity. “Beats me.” Her voice was downright breathless.

Damn, he liked that, and not only because he had caused it.

“How do you usually meet your women, Mr. Wyatt?”

Women?
Like he had dozens of them?
Mr. Wyatt?
Like they hadn't gotten well past that? “Usually through business, Ms. Franklin.”

She smiled at his formality. Her gaze drifted to his open collar. “I could say I arrested you while I was still a—”

“Please don't.”

She lifted her gaze, then looked right back down at his chest. “We could say that you hired me to be your bodyguard and—”

“Please don't.”

She looked at him again. Her gaze and voice softened even more. “You don't want a woman watching over you?” Her brows started to draw together. “You don't think a woman can watch over—”

“I didn't say that.” And he sure as hell would never think it. Not with this woman. Josh knew he'd fight a fucking war for the right to have her watch over him. Not that he wanted to publicize the fact. “It'd just be a field day for the press given how you look.”

She glanced down, then up. “Because I'm wearing clothes?”

He smiled. “You're not the typical garlic-belching, in-your-face goon most people would be expecting. Believe me, I've already interviewed several.”

“Did you kiss them, too?”

He laughed. “No—I knew they wouldn't kiss back.” He sobered. “Not like you did.”

Tess arched one brow. “What do you suggest?”

“That you keep kissing me exactly as you did when I—”

“About our background.”

Oh. “We could work it out tonight, at my place. I'll call you in your room from mine.”

Where he'd be handcuffed to his bed?

Tess's gaze turned inward to that thought, the vivid images her mind was quickly creating.

There would be a large four-poster bed dominating a room flooded with golden light from the setting sun. The air would be still, steamy, thick with desire. His arms would be lifted above his head, his hands cuffed to one of those posts, his back to her, so that she could run her fingertips over that luscious tattoo.

More,
he would whisper.

Not yet... not until I allow it.

The muscles in his buttocks would tense as she slowly stroked and licked that bold design. His flesh would be slightly salty and certainly obedient, allowing her exactly what she willed.

She would draw out the pleasure, taking her time, making him wait, making him want.

By God, he would want. She would see to that, pressing close, allowing him to feel her naked breasts, her furry mound that he wasn't yet allowed to touch. Oh, no. What she wanted came first; he would have to endure as her fingers stroked his silky underarm hair, before slipping down to his pecs and nipples. She would linger on those flat disks, running her fingertips over the tiny nubs, before slipping one arm around his waist to hold him close.

Once he was fully imprisoned, she would slide her other hand down his taut belly, briefly circling his navel before she reached that thick hair above his stiffened shaft.

With great gentleness, she would stroke it until he begged for more.

Not yet... in time.

She would play with him; her touch would tempt and tease until she, at last, cradled his stiffened shaft, her fingers circling the smooth, blunt head feeling that first pearl of moisture. He would moan in pleasure, a strangled sound that demanded everything, one that came from deep with—

“Change your mind about those separate rooms?” he asked.

Tess looked at him.

His gaze noted her blush and her frown. He lifted his hands in surrender. “Just asking.”

“We need to get down to business.”

“I thought I was.”

Tess ignored that as she went to one of the chairs at the conference table. After removing a large pink teddy bear with a lewd grin, she sat. Her heart was still thudding.
Stop it,
she ordered. “I'm going to need your itinerary, including the route you take to and from work each day. If you're going to a public function that was publicized before this tabloid thing happened, then—”

“Whoa,” Josh said. “You don't actually think any woman would go so far as to check past business stories and follow me to a function?”

Tess crossed her legs.

Josh's gaze lowered to that; it lingered.

She drummed her fingers against the conference table until he looked up. “We have to consider all eventualities. You're a public figure.” Her gaze drifted to the stack of
Keys Confidential
in here. “Public figures face all sorts of danger. We should put you in body armor.”

“I'd prefer clothes.”

“Shoulda thought of that before that.” She inclined her head to the tabloid.

Josh crossed his arms over his chest. “You're playing with me, aren't you?”

Only a little. Certainly not as much as she would have liked. Of course, this was a job, only a job. She better remember that. Forcing herself to calm down, to be professional, Tess grabbed a yellow legal pad and pencil that were already on the table. “Okay, we'll skip the body armor for now.” She slid her gaze to him. “Unless you don't behave.”

“In that case you have your cuffs.”

Without warning, her mind returned to that fantasy of him and the four-poster. Before Tess got too excited or distracted, she said, “Better call your attorney in here so we can get started on that contract.”

 

 

In all of his days, Josh never knew that contract negotiations could be so arousing.

Of course, after the first hour he stopped paying attention to the particulars of that contract, focusing instead on Tess as she duked it out with Alan.

Not once did she back down; not once did she lose her cool.

Alan, on the other hand, had never looked more human or vulnerable. By the end of the second hour the man's face had color, he was actually perspiring, and finally loosened his tie.

And not because he was frustrated. Oh, no. Alan was loving this. He was unbelievably turned on and was actually flirting with her.

Tess didn't seem to mind, or maybe it was that she just didn't notice.

She sure as hell noticed when he had flirted with her.

Change your mind about those separate rooms?
he had asked, but only because her breathing had suddenly picked up, while her gaze had been blurry with what appeared to be desire.

We need to get down to business,
she had said.

Like the kind she was conducting with Alan? They were currently laughing about something as if they'd been friends for years.

And that certainly didn't bother Josh. By nature, he wasn't a jealous man. If a woman wanted him, fine; if she did not, he had always accepted that.

Tess wanted him; he had seen that in her gaze, in her touch, in her voice. Trouble was, they were never going to be alone if Alan didn't get a freaking move on and end this thing.

“So, we about through?” Josh finally asked.

Alan stopped mid-sentence and looked from Tess to him. “You'll have to ask Tess. She keeps tying my hands.”

“Oh, yeah?” Josh's gaze moved to her.
I'm hoping mine are cuffed before this is over.

“What?” Alan asked.

Josh looked at him, then Tess. Her brows were lifted. Her gaze said,
Bad, bad boy.

Had he spoken his thoughts aloud?

Alan delicately cleared his throat. “Anything you want to add, Tess?”

Josh suppressed a groan. Was there never going to be an end to these damned negotiations? He waited impatiently as Tess carefully reviewed each page of the contract that was nearly as thick as his thumb.

At last, she looked up and smiled at Alan. “Looks good. I've enjoyed this.”

His blush deepened. “Me, too.”

“Well,” Josh said, “now that we've got that out of the way.”