OVERPROTECTED (13 page)

I showered and dressed in jeans and a striped pink hoodie-shirt, and decided to spend the day on the patio with a book. Maybe Mother and Daddy, when they sought me out to hand down punishment, wouldn’t go ballistic with hundreds of eyes watching from surrounding apartments.

Colin’s bedroom door was open, and as I took the stairs up I caught his scent sneaking out, as if teasing me. I took a deep breath, grinned and continued up the narrow stairs to the patio.

Unable to concentrate on my novel, I set my book aside and crossed to the railing. I gazed down at the street in hopes of catching a glimpse of Colin on his way back. Sundays were a little quieter on Park Avenue. Traffic streamed at a less hurried pace. Instead of dark suits and dressy jackets striding down the sidewalks, runners in sweats jogged and the occasional little white-haired lady walked her white, perfectly coiffed Maltese.

A soft breeze streamed between the buildings. The wintry air lifted my hair and tossed it around my face so I tied the long, honeyed strands into a knot. I gazed left and didn’t see Colin. Right.

In the distance I saw his lanky form in an efficient, rhythmic run, sweeping around the random pedestrian as he headed toward the townhouse.

A tingle skittered over my skin.

He slowed and stopped in front of the townhouse, his gaze glancing up, catching me. I waved, trying to appear casual. He waved back.

Yes, I’m watching your every move.
I shrunk, grabbed my book and plopped back into the chair. The patio door opened and my heart somersaulted in my chest. I jerked around.

Daddy, dressed in a casual pair of slacks and a sweater, strode toward me.

“You’re up already?” I asked.

“Yes, I am.” He towered over me. I kept my eyes on my book.

“Your mother doesn’t know about what happened last night. I’m giving you the responsibility to tell her. I have an engagement, so I will discuss this with her later. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“The most distressing part of this is that you’d go to such a low-life establishment.”

The back of my neck started to burn. I only nodded.

His hand reached out and I jerked back, thinking he might rip the book from my hands. His outstretched hand remained poised between us, the look in his eye shock and hurt. “I was only going to touch your head, Princess.” His tone carried a wound.

“Oh.” I swallowed.

His hand slowly fell to his side, and he studied me a moment before leaning over and gently kissing the top of my head. Then he left.

A pang of guilt slapped my heart. I’d hurt his feelings, reacting like that. But, an eye for an eye, right? Did that make me a bad person?

The door opened and Mother teetered out. She had on her black, bug-eye Prada glasses, a silky white jogging suit, her hair mussed like she’d just torn herself from bed.

“Ugh,” she groaned, falling into the lounge chair I’d just fantasized seeing Colin and me in. “I need a Rockstar. My head is throbbing.”

I chuckled. Mother kept a stash of Rockstars in the kitchen. “Why didn’t you get one?”

She reclined in the seat with a heavy sigh, and I was certain her eyes were closed behind her sunglasses. “Go get one for me, will you darling? We need to talk about the Christmas party and I need my brain clear. Go. Go.”

“Mother.”

“Ash-lyn,” she commanded.

She didn’t want to get the drink because she didn’t want Colin seeing her smashed. I let out a loud sigh, set my book down and rose.

“Spare me the attitude, young lady.”

“Maybe when you quit calling me that.” Yanking open the door, I made sure it slammed behind me. On the third floor, I couldn’t resist a glance toward Colin’s bedroom. The door was open, and the fresh scent of soap tickled my nose, luring me.

I continued on down the stairs, a grin on my face as I imagined Colin—just out of the shower.

Gavin was in the kitchen, his humpty-dumpty presence lumbering about in the space, made the area feel smaller.

“Morning Miss Adair.”

“Morning.”

I opened the refrigerator and snagged a chilled Rockstar for Mother, turned and smacked into Colin’s chest. The dampness of his fresh, clean skin sent a wave of bubbles through my stomach.

“Hey.” His eyes teased. “Those are bad for you, you know.”

“That’s why they’re irresistible,” I quipped, batting my lashes.

His grin slowly faded, and his eyes drew sharp. He stepped back, swallowed. Had I said the wrong thing?

Gavin cleared his throat, drawing our attention to him.

“The items you requested are on the third shelf, left side of the pantry,” Gavin said flatly, cocking his brow at Colin. “In the future, I would ask you to leave me one of these,” Gavin pointed to a stack of yellow Post-It notes on the counter, “on the face of the refrigerator every Monday.”

Colin nodded. “Sure. Thanks, Gav.” He crossed to the pantry and disappeared inside. Gavin rolled his eyes at Colin’s shortening of his name, but I liked that Colin felt comfortable enough to step forward with the nickname. The cold Rockstar sent chills up my arm, but I didn’t want to leave.
Go, or he’ll think you’re a loser with nothing else to
do.

“Thank you.” Mother popped open the can and the sizzle sighed into the cold, breezy atmosphere. “Ah,” she took a long drink.

“Nectar of the gods.”

I snorted. She handed me the can and I took a sip.

“Now.” She settled into the chair like a minx on a blanket. “What are you going to wear to the party? And if you say that black Betsey Johnson thing you’ve got hanging in your closet I will lock you in your room that night. I want you in something classic.”

“Something that makes me look forty, you mean.”

“Ashlyn, we have very influential guests…”

Blah, blah, blah. I’d heard the influential, carefully-selected guests lecture before. Mother wanted to dress me up and show me off—

again. But she wanted to parade me only if I wore what she deemed classic and elegant without keeping in mind that I was a teenager.

“I’ll have to remind your father to talk to Colin about security.

I’m certain Colin can handle things. He’s very adept. He’ll look marvelous in a tuxedo, too, won’t he? I’ll have my contact at Prada order one in for him.”

“Maybe he owns one,” I suggested, just to ruffle her. I could easily envision Colin in a tuxedo.

Mother laughed, sipped. “Even if he does, I’m sure it’s a cheap, tacky thing. I couldn’t have that at my party.”

“You’re such a snob,” I teased, reaching for the Rockstar.

Mother’s face froze. I couldn’t see past the dark glasses covering her eyes, but I was sure she was glaring. She held the Rockstar in a tight fist. “Excuse me?”

“It’s true and you love it.” I waved my hand for the Rockstar, which she finally handed to me.

“It’s in the genes, darling. Be careful where you toss those stones.

They have a way of landing close to home.”

Throwing stones reminded me that Daddy had left me the joyful responsibility to tell Mother about what had happened last night. My stomach turned over, anticipating the admittance. But, if I didn’t tell her, she’d hear it from Daddy and that would be far worse.

“I went to a party last night,” I said, steeling my voice.

Mother’s head pivoted my direction. “A party? With whom?”

“Um. This girl at school invited me. Danicka.”

Mother slipped the Prada glasses down her nose so her eyes could lock mine in that you-did-what way. “I take it your father doesn’t know about this.”

“He knows.”

Her right brow arched. “My. I’m surprised he didn’t blow the roof off the townhouse.”

“He was pretty calm about it.” I stretched the truth in hopes that she was too hungover to care.

“Was he now?” She slipped the glasses back in place, shielding her eyes. “And we’ll all live happily ever after in Neverland.” Mother let out a snort. “Yet you didn’t ask for permission to go, at least you didn’t ask me for permission.”

“No, I figured since it was a friend’s party and I’m almost eighteen it wouldn’t be a big deal.”

Mother laughed.

“It’s true. Millions of girls go to parties. Why shouldn’t I?”

“Because you’re not like millions of girls. Colin was with you?”

“Of course.”

“And he didn’t speak with your father or me about it first? How odd.”

“Like I said, millions of girls go to parties. I’m sure he figured it wasn’t anything out of the norm.”

Mother wagged her finger at me like a slow metronome. “Your nose is going to start growing, young lady.”

“Stop with the ‘young lady’. Okay, maybe Daddy hadn’t had the chance to tell Colin how ridiculous you guys are about my safety.”

“So you took advantage of that?” Mother asked. “Ashlyn. I’m disappointed in you.”

“I apologized to Daddy. He got over it. Can you?”

“I’m still digesting the fact that you went to a party without our permission, do you mind? I feel like I just ate a jar of cheap caviar.”

“Mother.”

“Where was this party, anyhow?”

“Ninety-Nine.”

Mother laughed and brought her coat tighter around her chest.

“Oh, I bet that got your father’s jockeys in a bunch. What did he do?

Take your phone?”

“Yeah,” I mumbled.

She nodded. “That was very generous of him. The punishment could have been much worse.”

The door opened and Colin stepped onto the patio. “Morning, Fiona.” He nodded at me.

“Colin, darling.” Mother sat upright and fussed with her hair.

“You’re seeing me very unkempt, I’m afraid.”

Colin clasped his hands behind his back. He wore jeans and a black sweater. The simple outfit fit him with the perfection Mother had intended. “You look lovely, Fiona,” he said.

Mother’s cheeks pinked. “That’s very kind of you to say.” I half expected her to extend her hand to him for a royal kiss. “Ashlyn and I have been discussing her adventure last night.”

Colin and I exchanged glances.

“Not to worry, dear boy. Is that why you were waiting for us in the entry last night? Hmm?”

“Yes.”

“Well.” Mother’s admiring gaze swept him from head to toe.

“Very admirable. I won’t ask you what Charles had to say on the matter, that I can figure out on my own. Colin, I want to tell you about our traditional Christmas party. We invite about two hundred of our closest friends, so, you’ll need to hire some additional security, but I’ll let Charles discuss that with you. My only question for you is, do you own a tuxedo?”

“Uh, no, I don’t.”

Mother stood. She flicked at Colin’s shoulders, her hands slowing to gentle caresses as they swept down his arms. “I’m going to order one for you. It will fit your physique… perfectly.”

I stole a gulp of Rockstar to choke back an embarrassed laugh.

Colin shifted. “Okay.”

“Are you going to be here for Christmas? Or home?” I finally interjected, annoyed Mother assumed he’d be staying.

Mother’s jubilant expression faltered. “Of course he’ll be here.

He works for us.” She turned to Colin. “I need you here.”

A tricky silence spread between us. “I appreciate you thinking of me.” He shot me a glance, then returned his attention to Mother.

“I—I’m not sure where I’ll be.”

“What?” Mother nearly shrieked.

“Mother, people—even employees—go home for Christmas. It’s only fair.” Though thinking about Colin absent from the townhouse left me with a hole inside.

“Not employees who are integral to our home,” Mother snapped.

Colin cleared his throat. “I can probably stay, if—”

“I insist. Charles will too. What would we do with Ashlyn?”

I wanted to laugh.
Heaven forbid they spend some time with me.

Mother continued, “I realize that Christmas is a family time of year, but Barb will understand. I’ll call her myself.” Snagging the Rockstar, Mother gulped. “Now, I need you take Ashlyn to the Christmas Spectacular tonight. We have tickets—gifts from one of Charles’ clients—but I’ve got too much to do to go. Besides, I’ve seen it a million times.”

Colin nodded. “Of course.”

“Wonderful. Ashlyn. No more partying, hmm?”

I nearly rolled my eyes, but Colin looked over. His lips curved up a little, his eyes narrowed with… what? Warning? Challenge? A zing of wonder trembled through me.

“Don’t forget our lesson,” Colin said. Mother’s brows cocked from behind her dark glasses. “Self defense lesson. Before the Spectacular,” he clarified with a grin. “Meet me in the music room in ten minutes. Wear something comfortable.”

CHAPTER TEN

My palm drenched in sweat, I grabbed hold of the doorknob ready to meet Colin in the music room. Colin. Touching me.

I cracked open the door, peered in. He stood alone, gazing out the window. After tip-toeing in, I closed the door and pressed my back against it, my heart beating like a hummingbird.

“What are you going to do to me?” I asked, voice squeaking.

He turned. His dimples beamed. “
Do
to you?” He strolled my direction and my nerves jangled. “I’m going to show you how to defend yourself.” He stopped close. His scent swamped me with nervous fluttering. “First, always be aware of your surroundings.

Know where exits are. Keep your eyes open for anyone out of the ordinary.”

“Like, all the time?”

“When you’re out in public. Anywhere but home.”

“I’ve never had to do that before.”

“Well, it’s time to start. You won’t always have a bodyguard looking out for you.”

Nice dream, but I doubted I’d be independent anytime soon.

“Yes, you’re right.” I nodded.

“Along with being aware of your surroundings, you should know some defense basics.” He stepped behind me, his nearness sucking the strength from my muscles. “If you’re grabbed from behind,” his hands latched onto my shoulders, and my knees nearly buckled.
Get
a hold of yourself. Show some dignity.
“You’ve got a couple of options.”

His body pressed against mine. His arms wrapped around and pinned me. Panicked, I wondered if I’d be able to keep breathing. He was so strong.