The Bodyguard (Norcross #4) - Anna Hackett Page 0,27

earrings, necklaces and tiaras.

Behind the screen, he heard Sofie laughing with a hairstylist. A few minutes later, she stepped out.

Every muscle in Rome’s body tensed.

She was wearing a black fur coat, although, knowing Sofie, it wasn’t made of real fur.

Her hair was piled up with a plait circling her head. It vaguely made him think she was a winter Viking princess. It looked like she had no makeup on her face; her skin and lips were dewy, and her eyes were smoky.

“Here you go, Your Highness.” An assistant held up a diamond-and-ruby necklace. The earrings were next, and Sofie carefully fastened them in her earlobes.

“Gorgeous,” Dani breathed. “Okay, Sofie let’s start over here against the railing.”

Sofie moved over and leaned against the stone railing. She let the coat fall open.

She wore a column of silver underneath. The dress hugged her gentle curves and made her look like a glittering statue. The neckline dipped low, showing the creamy swells of her breasts. Rome squeezed his hands together, his knuckles tight.

She posed, looking into the camera.

Dani took some shots, then checked the screen. “Gorgeous.” She took some more with Sofie smiling, frowning, looking away from the camera.

“Absolutely gorgeous,” Dani said. “Let’s change up the jewelry.”

Next was a delicate-looking tiara, and some dangly, sparkling earrings that Rome knew must be diamonds.

Sofie ditched the coat and her shoes. They did some walking shots next, with her laughing, the light catching the jewelry.

“We have to hurry, Sofie,” Dani said. “Storm clouds are moving in, so we’ll lose the light soon.”

“Okay.”

The next shots of her, she was perched on a bench, the huge, arched windows behind her. This time, she had sapphires in her ears, at her wrists, and at her neckline.

She was so beautiful.

Rome knew her real beauty was within. That smile, her generosity, the way she thought of others, and still grieved for her lost friend.

Sofie was easy to be with. Rome didn’t like loads of people close, up in his space. He liked his solitude.

He got on well with all his Norcross buddies, and he also liked the women that some of them had claimed. At least, he liked them in small doses, but they were all good women.

“Okay, let’s get the last shot done.” Dani clapped her hands.

Sofie was back behind the folding screen. She came out in the fur coat again.

She had diamond studs in her ears. Big ones. And a necklace of pink-and-white diamonds draped around her neck. It looked stunning with her hair.

“Can you lie on the rug,” Dani said.

Sofie dropped gracefully onto the fur rug. Dani arranged her.

“Hey, that’s a nasty bruise on your leg,” Dani said, her voice full of concern.

“Sorry,” Sofie said. “I bumped something.”

The photographer waved the makeup artist over. “No problem. It can be hidden.”

Rome frowned. How the hell had she gotten the bruises?

When Dani and her assistant stepped back, he couldn’t breathe, all his thoughts scattering. He felt like there was a rock on his chest.

Sofie was sprawled on her back. The fur coat covered a lot of her, but not all. Her shoulders were bare, as were the tops of her breasts, and he could see the necklace resting there, supposed to grab the eye, but all he saw was her skin.

Her slim legs were bare, resting on the fur. She looked like she’d been ravished by a warrior king, and left sprawled in the furs. What was she wearing under that coat? Was she naked?

“Beautiful.” Dani moved around, the camera clicking. “So sexy, Sofie.”

Sofie smiled—a mysterious half smile. Like a woman who knew a secret.

She shifted, tilting her head back and her gaze met Rome’s.

“Perfect, Sofie. Imagine you’re a queen, and your king will be back soon.”

Her legs moved restlessly. Her glossy lips parted.

“Hmm, no, not your king,” Dani said. “Your captain of the guard. Ready to do your bidding.”

Rome saw need in Sofie’s eyes. Desire was like a vicious punch to his gut.

He normally had rock-steady control. He liked women just fine, but he never kept any around long. And he’d never felt a desperate need for any of them.

But this one…

What he felt for her was a fucking inferno.

“Not sure you should be looking at your charge like that.”

Rome barely controlled a jolt.

Damn, Callum Ward had snuck up on him. He didn’t look at the former SEAL, but kept his gaze on Sofie and grunted. He didn’t need the reminder.

Cal gave a low chuckle. “I fell for Dani on a job. We were in the middle of the Cambodian