Rich (Benson Security #5) - Janet Elizabeth Henderson Page 0,121

Talbot House guesthouse, Surrey

“You can’t go in there.” Megan Raast folded her arms over her pale blue bridesmaid dress and glared at Harvard. “It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”

If it had been anyone else, he would have just picked them up and moved them. But if he did that to Megan, she’d most likely shoot him.

“I only want a quick word.”

“Tough.”

It had been worth a try. “You know those state-of-the-art night goggles you saw the CIA use in Lebanon? I can get you a pair.”

The Scot thought about it for all of ten seconds before tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder and stepping aside. “Five minutes. That’s all you get.”

“I only need two.”

Her lips curled. “Then I pity Rachel for marrying you.”

With a shake of his head, he entered the guest room in Rachel’s parent’s house, where his soon-to-be wife was getting ready. Or she should have been. Instead, she stood in front of the TV with the business channel on, glaring at the stock indexes.

“This is completely the wrong climate to take TayFor public,” their new CEO said with a frown. “Isn’t it bad luck for you to be in here?”

“I think it’s bad luck to see you in your wedding dress. I think it’s my very good luck that you’re only in lingerie.” He wrapped an arm around her waist from behind and kissed her neck. “I’ll tell Megan we’re gonna need more than five minutes.”

“No, you won’t.” She leaned back into him as she shut off the TV. “I don’t want anything to delay this wedding. The sooner it’s over and done with, the better.”

“I can’t get enough of that romantic side of yours,” he said with a grin.

Rachel turned in his hold and draped her arms around his shoulders. “I think this lingerie is proof I can be romantic.”

There was no arguing with that. “A corset and stockings? Not sure I’ll make it through the ceremony knowing this is beneath your dress.”

“If you do, there will be a reward in it for you.”

“Yeah?” He teased her lips with his, feeling that sensation of coming home that he always felt when kissing Rachel.

There was a thump at the door. “Four minutes,” Megan shouted.

Harvard heaved a sigh as he rested his forehead against Rachel’s. “I might have to cut my ties with Benson Security altogether, just to see the back of that woman. I never thought I’d say this, but I’ve met the one person who tries my patience.”

“Welcome to my world,” Rachel said drolly. “And you’d miss doing the odd assignment for Benson Security. You’d be bored out of your mind if you just worked at TayFor.”

She had a point. Although it had been interesting for the first six months, working to ensure all the gaps in security were plugged and that no one else could help themselves to the company’s secrets, the novelty was definitely wearing off.

“I don’t want to work with Callum all the time,” he said. “I like working with you at TayFor.”

“Then it’s purely a matter of finding the right balance between your job with me and your job with Callum. Is that what you came in here to talk about?”

“Three minutes,” their keeper shouted.

“No.” Harvard reached into his pocket. “I came to give you this.” He pulled out the jewelry box and handed it to her.

“Shouldn’t we swap rings after the vows?” she said.

“Just open it.”

With a smile, Rachel lifted the lid and gasped. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Here, let me help you put it on.” He took the intricately designed locket from the box as Rachel held her hair up from her neck.

Once it was clasped, she lifted the locket to examine it. “It’s beautiful, Michael. Where did you get it?”

“I had a jeweler in Paris make it for you.” He pointed at the cut-out designs. “This is an English rose for you. And this is a blue violet, the official flower of the state I was born in. The vines represent the ties that bind us together, while the gladiolus stand for the loyalty, protection, and faithfulness that we give each other. The orchids remind me of your exotic beauty. And the full-petalled roses are for a love that will never end.”

Rachel blinked her eyes rapidly. “If you make me cry and ruin my makeup, I will refuse to say I do.”

“I’m glad you like it.” He brushed a kiss over her lips.

“Two minutes,” the pain in the ass shouted.

He cleared his throat. “There are a couple of flowers on there that your mom and gran picked. So, something of your heritage is represented. I can’t remember what they are, but they can tell you.”

A tear escaped to run down her cheek, and Harvard kissed it away.

“You are everything to me,” Rachel whispered.

“I love you too,” Harvard said.

“One minute,” Megan called.

“I’m going to kill your matron of honor,” Harvard grumbled.

“Get in line,” Rachel said before tugging his head down for a kiss.