Her Billionaire Bodyguard (Her Billionaire CEO Book 1) Read online

  It was for the best.

  Too bad she couldn’t claim the same. Her traitorous body tingled over the mere act of him opening her door. Maybe because it reminded her of their dating days when he would often take her into his arms for one more sweet, slow kiss before letting her slide, weak-kneed, into her seat.

  Despite the car being in the shade, she felt hot under the collar.

  Back on the road, the car cruised along above the speed limit, but the vehicle hugged the curves of the highway with no problem. An awkward silence hung between them. They pulled into a shopping center, like Chan had arranged with the hot air balloon company, where a white van waited. As soon as they pulled up, this crew of four hopped out and let them have the middle bench. They then whisked them away to the place where they would launch the balloon from.

  In a huge field, a trailer bed truck waited with the passenger basket, and the balloon itself, lying on the ground. Their van driver made a call, asking about the wind, its direction, where the spot was, and after half hour of driving around, they must have found the sweet spot, because they then proceeded to unload everything and inflating the balloon with giant fans.

  “Go on,” one of the crew l said, “check out the balloon.”

  Madison entered the balloon, still lying on its side, and twirled slowly, the colors spinning in front of her eyes like a kaleidoscope.

  ***

  Luke watched Madison circle ‘round like a kid. She saw him and beckoned him over. “Come,” she said. “Check this out.” She made him circle, too, holding his hands and giggling. Luckily, it was time to exit the balloon; Luke could only withstand being in her presence for so long, touching her but not able to do much more.

  As the balloon inflated, she murmured, “I signed autographs at a balloon event once,” she said. “But the line was so long we ran out of time for me to ride one.”

  “Today’s your lucky day then,” Luke said.

  She flashed him a dazzling smile, making his breath catch. As she turned at the approach of their pilot, Luke shook his head to clear it. They hadn’t even boarded yet, and already he felt like he was soaring in the sky.

  “Hallo!” a middle-aged man said in a Spanish accent, shaking their hands and gazing worshipfully at Madison. “I have every single one of your CDs. My wife, she like your music a lot, too.”

  “That is so kind of you to tell me,” Madison said.

  “I hope you enjoy your day on Miguel’s hot air balloon,” he said, gesturing for them to come on board. The employees helped Madison in, who had to push down on her skirt from wind, flashing him a pair of long legs, and then he followed.

  “Normally, we have ten passengers,” Miguel said from his control booth, over which were two flames, “but your friend Chan booked a private ride.”

  They took off sideways, up, down, skidded on the ground, and then eventually up. They continued to climb sideways.

  As they lifted up and over all of Nashville, Madison glowed. She pointed out the Grand Ole Opry and the river where the concert would be held, already set up with their gigantic concert canopy.

  Miguel quipped about his childhood growing up in Nashville. “My mother worked for Johnny Cash. He didn’t give her no’ much cash, though. Or maybe my dad, he got all the cash. Can’t remember the story.”

  Madison gripped the edge of the basket and leaned out.

  “No, no, no,” Miguel warned. “No leaning out, please.”

  Blushing, Madison stepped back. Her hair swirled in the wind. “This is the way to go,” she said. “Can you imagine taking a hot air balloon to work? No more road rage or traffic gridlock.”

  “You could enter a stadium in a hot air balloon,” Luke suggested.

  “Like Wizard of Oz.” Her voice turned wistful. “Sometimes I feel like Dorothy. I wish I could just go home. Much simpler times.”

  She stood there gazing out over the expanse that was Nashville, but his mind transported them back to Sunnyridge. The rough start, moving. Zero friends in a new town, thinking that this was going to be like all the other generic towns he’d breezed through before.

  Simple times, indeed.

  Until he met Madison.

  He gazed at her intently. “Would you really turn back the hands of time?”

  “I don’t know about that.” She shrugged. “High school was kind of rough.”

  “Yeah,” he said, steely-eyed. “I wouldn’t want to go back either.”

  What a liar he was.

  Luke would give anything to bring back the past. Just the past two days had him in a perpetual state of yearning.

  She had moved to the rail, her hair streaming behind her. He wanted to hold her against his body and wrap his arms around her tiny waist. Then he would nuzzle her cheek, ear, neck, and, lips, cheek, lips…

  He averted his gaze, his jaw tightening.

  Miguel glanced at him with knowing eyes. “I am doing my part, Señor,” Miguel said, gesturing to the balloon. “So romantic. Now you make a move.”

  “I can’t,” he said in a low voice, hoping that Madison wasn’t listening. Or maybe he wished she was listening.

  “I don’ believe that. She give you the smile, and the eyes.”

  “It’s kind of complicated.”

  “Love is complicated, si,” Miguel intoned formally. “I am on wife dos and I’m still figurin’ things out.” He held up two fingers.

  Luke smiled. “Good luck, my man.”

  “You, too.”

  Madison turned and beckoned at him excitedly. “It’s so pretty!”

  They were soaring over a green ridge of wilderness. Pine trees dotted a valley of green nearly blue mountains and clouds hung low. “The Great Smoky Mountains,” he said.

  “I’d love to go there someday.”

  “You will. Gatlinburg’s at its foothills.”

  She sighed. “I wish I could just do this all the time. Forget performing.”

  “Don’t they say, ‘All work and no play makes Madison a dull cowgirl?’”

  “I’m the biggest phony cowgirl ever,” she said, laughing. “I love horses, don’t get me wrong. But I haven’t ridden one in a long time. And I sure don’t have time to own one. Otherwise, I would.”

  “Doesn’t stop people from owning horses.”

  “I’m not going to be one of those kind of owners.”

  “I have a neighbor like that in Gatlinburg. The horse’s main purpose is to make her front yard look pretty.”

  “That sounds dreamy.” She rested her chin on her hand and sighed.

  Luke studied her profile, his chest tightening with longing. He turned away and walked back to where Miguel stood.

  “Ay, but you got the love bug bad, Señor,” Miguel said. “What the matter with her and you? Is she married?”

  “No.”

  “Are you married?”

  Luke shook his head.

  “Then what is the problem?”

  “I’m her bodyguard.”

  “Ah. Well, why should that stop you? Rich and poor people can marry now.”

  Luke chuckled. “If only that was the problem.”

  “You are being loco, like my uncle once was. He was cra-zy. Had a girl who loved him, but he left her for someone else.”

  Madison turned, looking from Miguel to Luke, and swung back to the scenery.

  “She’s hearing every single word,” Miguel said. “And she not complaining. You understan’?”

  “She could be laughing at us. Me.”

  “Very possible.”

  ***

  Madison could hear them, loud and clear. She didn’t know what else to do but to let the conversation roll off her back. Miguel was funny. But Luke was not being funny. She didn’t know what to make of his comments. Did he want her back? Could they make things work? After Nashville, did they have a future together?

  Her thoughts felt scattered like her hair, waving in the wind.

  Thing was, she really had no room for him at this juncture in her life. A pu
nishing pace of concerts. Fan meet and greets. Rehearsals. And surely, with his business that took him all over, he couldn’t afford to escort her around. Sooner or later, one of them would have to choose.

  Then what is the problem?

  I’m her bodyguard.

  Sure, getting involved with a client was bad for Luke’s business. Sir Luke Parker was so noble. Well, he’s right. It was best if she nipped anything in the bud right now. That was safer. That made the most sense. Then he wouldn’t need to be tempted.

  She sensed him standing to her side just as the balloon started its descent.

  “I guess the balloon ride is almost done,” he said.

  “I guess.”

  “Did you have fun?”

  “I had tons of fun,” she deadpanned.

  He stared at her. “Are you being funny?”

  “I’m just trying to match your mood,” she said.

  “My mood?” He raised an eyebrow. “And what mood would that be?”

  “Indifferent. Neither happy nor sad. Neither warm nor cold. Just here. Like a cold fish.”

  “Now I’m a fish?” There was an edge to his voice.

  “I’m just warming up with lyrics for a break-up song,” she said sweetly, before moving away.

  Miguel expertly guided the balloon to land. As Madison prepared to get out of the basket, he touched her elbow.

  “M’ija,” he said. “I must tell you that you are making a big mistake. Big mistake. You and the boy seem made for each other.”

  Madison glanced around nervously. Luckily, Luke was already moving away from the balloon. He was out of earshot.

  “He doesn’t seem to think so,” she pointed out.

  “Because you aren’t very nice to him.”

  Madison stared at this little man with an arsenal of advice. “Thanks,” Madison said. “I’ll think about it.”

  “No,” Miguel said, tapping his temple. “Thinking no good.” He tapped his chest. “Feeling is good.”

  “Do you do a relationship radio talk show?” Madison teased.

  “As a matter of fact, I do. In Spanish.”

  “Drats. I won’t be able to understand it.”

  “No, m’ija, you wouldn’t.”

  ***

  Luke parked the car in the driveway, letting Madison out.

  “Aren’t you going to put this in the garage?” she asked.

  “I will in a minute.” It was already dark, and for a change he wasn’t wearing his shades. His eyes glinted.

  “I said something mean back there,” she said softly, raising her eyes to his. “I actually had fun.”

  He nodded. She tried to move past him, but he said her name. “Back there, in the balloon,” he said. “I’m sorry you heard what Miguel was saying.”

  “It’s okay. He was just trying to be helpful.”

  He searched her eyes. “It’s funny, I used to fantasize about seeing you again. I thought maybe you would have a couple of little kids in tow, and be married to an accountant.”

  She made a face.

  He smiled. “Or a bodybuilder.”

  She shook her head. “Not that much better.”

  “Anyway. Settled already and happily married is what I mean.”

  “The first, yes,” she said. “The second, no.”

  “Madison.” He said her name like a caress. “When all this is done, maybe…” His words trailed as he took a half-step forward.

  “Maybe what?” she whispered as his mouth came closer and closer to hers.

  “Madison, hon,” Sally called out from the front door. “Did you have fun?”

  Luke took a step back and cleared his throat. “I’m going to park the car.”

  He caught a glance of her crestfallen face before he turned at his heel. Within a minute, the women’s voices became muffled as Luke got in the Corvette. He drove it to the detached garage and killed the engine, stuffing the keys in his pocket.

  He expelled his breath slowly.

  What a fool he was, suggesting to Madison that he was interested in a future between the two of them. She didn’t need him, just as she didn’t need him ten years ago. She could have anyone she wanted. And why would she want him anyway?

  As he brooded over these dark thoughts, he was surprised to hear a car moving down the street. He hadn’t seen lights or anything, and yet a vehicle was definitely moving away from the gate and down the street. He walked over to the gate and pushed the combination lock to open the man door.

  The street was empty. Whoever had been there was gone.

  He was about to turn back to the compound when he saw something odd on the ground near the curb, to the right of the gate.

  An oil leak.

  He knelt to look at it closer. It was fresh, the fumes rising in the summer evening heat.

  Frank Dell?

  As he straightened up, he hoped his hunch was wrong.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “Places,” Chan said, clapping. “Madison, you need to walk just slightly ahead of everyone to make the best entrance.”

  Madison glanced at the others—Luke in his shades and suit, Sally in her pantsuit, and Thelma with her dyed hair—and rolled her eyes.

  “Chan, this is the Grand Ole Opry,” Sally teased as their group started making their way from the limo to the front of the building. “Not some musical.”

  “My dear, life is a performance.” He straightened his collar. “The trick is to do things well without looking like you’ve been practicing for it.”

  “Uh-oh, but we haven’t been,” Thelma pointed out.

  “Well, you are all a natural.” He turned to Luke. “As for you, Luke. Do you need to look so…bodyguard-like?”

  Luke folded his arms across his chest without cracking a smile.

  “He does it so well,” Thelma said.

  Beside him, Madison grinned. She loved this little posse of hers.

  Even Luke. During the day, he was all business again. The girls had gone swimming but Luke stayed in his street clothes, reading a book at the cabana, his eyes hidden behind his shades. She thought that maybe he would come over to talk, but he didn’t.

  After their fun non-date the day before, Madison felt a stab of disappointment. But then again, what was she expecting? They’d made a deal to keep things platonic. She could hardly expect him to start flirting.

  With her, anyway. He smiled at something Thelma said, and jealousy flared within her.

  Inwardly, Madison sighed. Thelma was like a sister to her. Resolutely, she turned to Chan and talked to him. By the time they reached the giant guitars at the start of the walkway leading up to the Grand Ole Opry’s doors, he had told her that he was Filipino-American, he was named after the martial arts actor Jackie Chan, he moved to Nashville because of a girlfriend, and that said girlfriend left him for a country singer.

  “He dumped her, so we’re even,” Chan said. “And I still can’t stand country music.” He shuddered.

  “What about tonight?” Madison asked. “It’s all country.”

  “Oh, but it’s different. It’s more of stand-up comedy with music, if you ask me.”

  Some girls were posing by the guitars. One of them turned to Madison and slapped the phone into her hand. “Can you take our picture?”

  Madison stifled a smile. “Sure.”

  The girl did a double-take, her mouth forming an O. The other girls whispered among themselves until someone confirmed, “It’s Madison Kay!”

  “Go,” Chan said, grabbing the cell phone out of Madison’s hands. “I’ll take your picture with them.”

  A trickle of autograph-seekers turned into a gush, then a downright deluge. Luke shadowed her, a hand occasionally guiding her by the elbow. Madison barely got in through the door just as the house lights were going down. An usher, recognizing Madison, led their group to empty seats towards the front. As the house lights dimmed completely, the chatter in the auditorium reached fever pitch.

  Once the show got going, it was non-stop music
, entertainment, and schtick throughout. When banjo player Al Groker took center stage, he shielded his eyes and looked right at Madison.

  “I see someone special in the audience,” he said.

  Madison mouthed, “Who, me?”

  He replied, “Yes, you.”

  Madison stood up, followed by the spotlight, and the audience cheered wildly. She was about to sit down again but Al motioned for her to come up to the stage.

  Madison was so glad she decided to dress up tonight. She was wearing her favorite sunflower yellow dress, and had even done up her hair with a matching scarf. The audience applauded with lots of wolf whistles.

  Al patted a chair across from him. “Whatcha doing in our neck of the woods, sweetheart?”

  She probably should be a little nervous, but Al had a kind twinkle in his eyes, and the audience was smiling and friendly. “I’ve got a concert at Riverside two Saturdays from now,” she said, “and you’re all invited.”

  “Didja all hear that?” Al said.

  The crowd clapped.

  “Can we give this group a taste of your concert, Madison?”

  “Of course.”

  Down on the floor, Sally was holding up tickets.

  Al squinted. “I do believe your friend there has some giveaways for that.”

  “How should they win it?” Madison asked.

  Al thought for a minute, then said, “How about if they can name all your songs in the past year correctly, they get the prize.”

  A young man with a yellow shirt and cowboy hat raised his arm.

  “Your twin can’t enter,” Al said. The audience laughed. “Okay, you look like a through and through country music fan. Go for it.”

  He recited a complete title listing to Madison’s nod and the audience’s approving roar.

  “Young man, if you can sing like her, you can win…my day-old donut.”

  Madison’s fan grinned and started to walk up to the stage.