Dropping The Ball - A New Year’s Billionaire Romance - Weston Parker Page 0,73

now?” Rylee asked, a nervous edge in her voice. “I really, really don’t want anyone else on me.”

She flushed and ducked her head when she realized what she’d said. I tightened my grip on her hand, leaning in to whisper in her ear. “I don’t want anyone else on you either.”

Bart huffed out an exasperated breath, drawing my attention back to him. He was smirking when I looked at him, though. “I don’t even want to know what you just said, but unfortunately, I think I already do. That being said, I might need to add someone else at least when you’re out in public, but that puts us back to people finding out you’re being guarded. Let me think it through, and we’ll come up with something.”

“You’d do that for us?” she asked, sharing a smile with Tani when she caught her gaze. “Wow, you really are one of the good ones.”

Her friend went the color of an overripe beetroot when she realized we’d heard her. “Who’s ready to order? Didn’t we come here to eat? I think that’s enough revelations for one night.”

I fully agreed with her, but that didn’t make me any less anxious about what was going to happen when I talked to Bart tomorrow. He seemed relaxed about it now, but I knew I’d put him in a tough position with this. If he ignored it and it came out, the others would think it was nepotism because they knew we were friends.

Hell, that’s probably exactly what it is.

On the other hand, I was already playing the role of her boyfriend in public. What happened between us in private was our business unless it started affecting the way in which I did my job, at which point I would be the first to suggest another bodyguard.

Bart looked at me like he knew exactly what I was thinking, inclining his head before he draped his arm casually along the back of Tani’s chair. She inched closer to him, her eyes bright while she talked to Rylee about Christmas.

This time, I was the one cocking my head at him in a silent question. He shrugged a shoulder and flashed me a grin before turning back to her.

We exhausted the subject of the holidays before Tani brought up New Year’s. She leaned forward, keeping her voice low. “Are you getting excited yet? I sure am. I can’t wait to see you back in your element.”

“Excited, yes, but nervous too.” She withdrew her hand from mine to fidget with her fingers, her gaze glued to her nails suddenly. “My primary doctor went to Bermuda for Christmas. He only just got back this morning. I’m thinking about going in for another checkup.”

Ah, so that’s what it’s about. While Rylee and I had been hot and heavy almost every night this week, she’d started pulling away from me again the last couple of days. I’d assumed it was because of her nerves, but I was happy to know now that it wasn’t anything more.

A part of me was still waiting for the other shoe to drop—the moment when she’d realize I wasn’t good enough for a shining star like her. But I was also hoping that maybe she didn’t feel that way. When we were together, it didn’t feel anything but right. Hell, maybe it was even a lifelong dream of hers to marry an almost-thug like me.

I blinked when I realized the M-word had crept into my mind just like that. Where the hell did that come from?

Sure, I’d wondered about what a future with her would be like. But marriage?

It was probably too soon to even think about it, but something inside me clicked into place when I did. The strangest feeling of peace settled over me, and I smiled.

“You two are super cute together,” Tani said, grinning as she watched us.

Rylee opened her mouth but was interrupted when a young girl appeared next to her at the table. Every muscle in my body clenched and I felt Bart’s eyes on me. The girl didn’t look like a threat, but until we found out what she was doing here, that didn’t mean that she hadn’t been sent as some kind of distraction.

“Excuse me,” she said in a sweet but nervous voice, clearing her throat when Rylee looked at her. “Are you Rylee Naples?”

“Sure am.” She gave the girl a radiant smile. “What’s your name?”

“Amy.” The poor child looked about as starstruck as they came, but my attention wasn’t on