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“And yet, it’s still effective.” She smiled serenely. “Do bring me a sherry when you return with your man.”
“Honestly.” Rachel let out a huff as she stalked to the bar. She asked them to deliver a sherry to her smug grandmother, then took the drinks she’d ordered for herself and Harvard and made her way back across the room.
“I hear you’re Rachel’s bodyguard,” Preston said, in a clear attempt to change the subject away from his father’s many wives.
“Yep. Have been for a few months now.” He went with the story his team had come up with when they’d first taken the job of investigating the thefts at TayFor.
“Why on earth does she need a bodyguard?” Marcus seemed genuinely bewildered as he knocked back his scotch. By Harvard’s count, that was his third since they’d started talking.
“Benson Security deals with some shady people. Rachel was in the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up on the radar of someone we’d rather didn’t know about her. I’m sticking close until the situation’s resolved.”
“In other words, Rachel managed to irritate the wrong person,” Marcus said with a guffaw. “No surprise there.”
“Don’t blame her,” Samantha reprimanded. “She can’t help how she is.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my sister,” Jonathan told her.
Samantha shrugged. “That’s what I meant.”
Marcus held up his hands. “We all know that Rachel delights in offending everyone she meets, why pretend otherwise?”
“She doesn’t delight in it,” Samantha said. “As I already told you, she simply can’t help it.”
“Oh, but I can.” Rachel stepped up beside Harvard. She handed him a drink, making him grin. “I got you your usual, darling. Sorry it took so long, but I got waylaid by Grandmother.”
Preston and Marcus gaped at him as Samantha started to giggle.
“Your usual is a strawberry daiquiri?” Jonathan asked.
Harvard took a large gulp and managed to quash the resulting shudder. “Can’t get enough of the stuff.” He draped an arm around Rachel’s shoulders. “Thanks, honeybunny.”
Her cousins and brother all worked hard to stifle their laughter as they looked anywhere but at Rachel, who stared at him with the promise of death in her eyes. Harvard made a mental note to Google more annoying pet names for her as soon as he got home.
“Let me see the ring,” Samantha gushed, taking Rachel’s hand.
To Harvard’s surprise, she didn’t tug it free. Instead, she sighed as Samantha admired her engagement ring.
“Platinum and diamond.” Samantha arched an eyebrow at him. “Very chic setting too. Your man has good taste. And deep pockets for a bodyguard it would seem.”
Rachel extracted her hand. “I do hope you aren’t being so crass as to question how he could afford it.” Her eyes narrowed at all of them. “Because that would be beneath you.”
Damn, she was glorious. Harvard tugged her to him, earning himself a frown of disapproval. “Rachel’s worth every penny I spent.” And wasn’t that the truth?
“Rachel,” Preston said, obviously over discussing her ring. “Who did you insult to earn a bodyguard?”
Rachel didn’t miss a beat. “The South American drug cartel that blew up Father’s private plane.”
Jaws dropped.
“Are you crazy?” Marcus said at last.
“No.” Rachel calmly sipped her red wine. “Just very angry. I promised Father I’d return it in one piece, not thousands.”
“And now you can’t go anywhere alone because your life is in danger.” Preston shook his head at her. “You’ve become reckless. I’m not sure being involved with a security company is good for you.” He glanced at Harvard. “No offense intended.”
Harvard inclined his head at him. “None taken.”
“I don’t think it’s all bad,” Samantha said, her eyes on Harvard. “After all, it did get her a bodyguard and a fiancé. I’m actually quite jealous. I think I need to get a bodyguard too.” Her eyes widened. “It just occurred to me that you’re paying your fiancé to take care of you. How very liberated.”
