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“Emmy, I just have to look at you to be hard. Seeing you in this pathetic excuse of a swimsuit, all that smooth skin, feeling these curves under my palms… That’s making me as hard as a fucking rock.”
I wrap my legs around his waist, linking my ankles together to hold them in place. Releasing his neck, I let my body float backwards in the water, stretching my arms above my head. I love floating on the water. I love the feeling of weightlessness.
“Fuck me, Em, you’re a goddamn walking pin-up.” Josh growls as his hands go around my back, picking me up and pulling my chest closer to meet his.
“Well then, maybe you should pin me,” I suggest.
Josh looks around the beach, then the water. “If there weren’t so many people here, I would have you pinned to the sand in a heartbeat, Em.”
I follow his gaze and look around. There is a good crowd of people spread out along the beach. What catches my attention is the ten men in suits standing in a line, right where I dropped my bag on the sand.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit of overkill, and why are they wearing suits? We’re at the beach. It’s odd,” I voice to Josh.
“When it comes to protecting you, there is no such thing as overkill. And they’re professionals; they’re working. They wear suits. Trust me, Em, I’m paying them more than enough to be here.” He looks over to where they stand, except one of them is now walking towards the water. Towards us.
Josh’s whole body stiffens as he watches the man approach the shoreline. He waits for him to stop at the water’s edge before he unclasps my legs and stands me on my feet.
“Wait here. Don’t move an inch. I’ll be back.”
“Okay.” I watch as he makes his way out of the water. And so does every other pair of female eyes on the beach. They can look all they like, but that man is mine. I’d die fighting for him if I had to.
Josh’s whole body tenses as he glares at something the man shows him. He spins around and runs back towards me, making it to where I’m standing in seconds.
Taking hold of my hand, he pulls me towards the sand. “Sorry, babe, we gotta leave, now!”
“Josh, what’s wrong?” I try to tug my hand free of his, which only makes him spin around and pick me up.
“Josh, stop! You’re scaring me. Tell me what’s going on!” I yell.
“I’ll tell you once we’re in the car.” Josh storms up the beach, pausing at my bag. He puts me down on my feet as his security team forms a circle around us. I’m officially freaked out. Why are they all looking around, one hand each underneath their jackets, like they are waiting for the need to draw out a gun?
I can feel my body start to tremble as the panic sets in. I search Josh’s face for answers, but all I can see is his anger, his eyes darkened, his jaw tensed.
“I want two cars in front, two behind. Do not let anyone get between,” he directs to the men surrounding us. Picking up our belongings, he throws my bag over his shoulder before looking me up and down. Cursing under his breath, he shakes out his shirt and puts it over my head.
I absently place my arms through the sleeves. Bringing the collar up to my nose, I inhale his scent. It’s somewhat soothing to my frayed nerves.
“Em, I need you to not let go of my hand right now. Stay behind me.” He holds my hand tight, like I’ll float away if he doesn’t. I just nod my head and follow his lead.
The crowd has their phones out, filming as we make our way back to the car park surrounded by the men in suits. I’m sure they think Josh is someone famous or something. Then again, he is famous. His family is one of the wealthiest in the country; they’re always in the paper.
I put my face down and let my hair curtain around me. The chances of anyone actually seeing me with all these men surrounding me are slim, but just in case, I don’t want to see my face plastered on a tabloid.
* * *
Josh wassuper quiet the whole way back into the city. I didn’t have the nerve to ask him anything. I still don’t know what to say. Whatever happened back on the beach has him on edge. If it scares Josh, then what the hell will it do to me?
I’ve never known Josh to be scared of anything; he’s fearless. He was always the one causing fear in others. To see the worry in his eyes is hard for me to grasp. I want to erase his fears. I want to assure him that it will be okay. I want to slaughter whatever or whoever it was that provoked that reaction from him.
Josh parks the car at the front of the house. His fingers grip the steering wheel, turning his knuckles white. I see his mouth silently reciting each number as he counts to ten with his eyes closed. I don’t move. When he opens his eyes and pins that blue gaze on me, I finally let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding in.
“Are you ready to have some fun?” he asks me, raising his eyebrows.
Talk about emotional whiplash. How the bloody hell did he just switch his emotions off like that? I’m relieved to see the fear gone—well, mostly gone. I can tell it’s still there in the back of his mind, but boy, does he do a good job at faking happiness. To anyone else looking at him, you would think he didn’t have a care in the world.
I know though. I can tell. “You don’t have to pretend to be okay for me, Josh. Whatever happened back at the beach spooked you. I want to help. Let me help.”
“Em, I promise I will tell you all about it. But right now, we have a bet to settle.”
