Gilded Cage (Harbour Bay Book 6) by Camille Taylor

Author:Camille Taylor [Taylor, Camille]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

The winter sun kissed Bethany’s skin from where she sat on the patio, Jesse beside her. His skin had a sickly pallor as he eyed her stack of pancakes with disgust. She knew his stomach would revolt at the first sign of food to pass his lips but still, friend that he was, sat with her while she enjoyed the joys of breakfast without a hangover.

She took a sip of orange juice and sent him a look of sympathy.

“You look like death warmed over. What on earth compelled you to come knocking on my door last night?”

Did he remember anything at all about last night? She hoped not. Declan’s hostility was something she would rather not apologise for considering she knew he wasn’t the least bit sorry. The gall of the man to treat one of her friends like a criminal—her inebriated friend who was an heir himself to a fortune. Most people would’ve been afraid of pissing off the Copelands but not Declan.

Jesse smiled sheepishly. “I was drunk. I needed some TLC and knew you’d give me some. You always take care of me, Beth.”

“What you need is to lay off the liquor, Jesse. Have you any idea what you’re doing to your liver?”

Jesse rolled his eyes. “Jesus, Beth it’s too early and I’m still too intoxicated for a lecture on living my life right.”

“You won’t have a life if you keep up the way you’re going.”

“Speaking of lives—I dreamt that a guy with a gun patted me down last night.”

Bethany froze. What was the best way to tell him that wasn’t a dream? Fortunately, she didn’t have to as at that precise moment, Declan’s figure blinked in and out through the tree lines as he approached the house from his morning run and perimeter check.

He did it every morning, she’d learned before she usually woke so he could be done in time to escort her around.

“That’s the guy.” Jesse’s mouth dropped open as he studied Declan before turning towards her. “That wasn’t a dream, was it?

“No. I’m so sorry, Jesse believe me. You just kind of startled us and he’s not one you want to sneak up on.”

Jesse sank back in his chair. “He’s a bodyguard, isn’t he? Dad has enough around him I can recognise them on sight.”

“You’re not pissed or anything, are you?”

Jesse looked at her in surprise. “I’d be pissed if he hadn’t vetted me. You mean a lot to me, Beth, it’s almost like I have three sisters, you know?” He went quiet. “So why is he here? It has something to do with Dirk, doesn’t it?”

She knew Jesse didn’t like her father. Why she didn’t know nor did she want to. She’d had enough of learning about her father. A man, she’d been discovering she knew nothing about.

“Son-of-a-bitch! I know all about his dealings with that Hunter dude. It’s been all over the news lately. I don’t know why you put up with this shit, Beth. Just say the word and you and me are out of here.

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