The Bodyguard by Kathryn Shay

Author:Kathryn Shay
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fathers and daughters, Romantic Suspense, bodyguard romance, single parent romance, opposites attract, starcrossed lovers, Contemporary Romance
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

“Hi, love. I’m so glad you called.” Preston lounged in the doorway of his chic condominium in Pillar’s Post, one of the many small villages surrounding Canfield. He peered over her shoulder to the parking lot. “Well, look at that. If it isn’t Clint Eastwood, Kevin Costner and Bruce Willis all rolled into one.”

Frowning, Stacey nodded. “I asked him to stay in the truck. I wanted some privacy.”

Preston’s eyes locked with hers. His leer made her shiver. And not from desire. “Smart girl. Come in.”

Stacey stepped over the threshold and moved past him; he closed the door and grasped her shoulders before she could turn around. One hand slid to span her waist and the other angled toward her breast. She squirmed away, unable to bear his touch after...

“Preston, we have to talk.”

He stiffened. “I want to touch first. I’ve been out of town for a whole week. I’ve missed you. I need what little you’ll give me tonight, Stacey.”

A hammer of guilt pounded inside her. It jarred her conscience, spurring the inevitable comparison to Helene. She pivoted to face him. “There won’t be any more touching, Preston.”

“What is it now? More limitations? I have to tell you, I’m getting really sick of this.” He strode to the black lacquer cabinet in the center of the huge, cathedral-ceilinged great room and poured himself a drink. Scotch in hand, he sat down on the white leather sofa. “All right. Hit me with this one.”

He was making it easy. In answer, Stacey slipped off his ring, crossed the room and stretched out her hand. “I can’t keep this, Preston. I’m breaking our engagement.”

His classic jaw gaped. “What?”

“I can’t marry you.”

“I never expected this.”

“I’m sorry.”

Robotically he reached out and took the ring. He fingered it for a minute then looked up at her. “Stacey, you’ve been under a lot of pressure these last few months. This isn’t a good time to make such a big decision.”

Jamming her hands into the pockets of her oversize red silk shirt, she sighed. “It’s not because of the stalking. Or maybe it is, indirectly. In any case, I’ve come to realize how different we are, how we don’t even like the same things. I can’t commit myself to a lifetime of living up to your expectations.”

“You’ve never had a problem with my expectations before.”

“I know. But I’ve changed.” Unwillingly, she looked toward the door. “Things don’t seem the way they used to anymore. I have a different perspective on life now.”

Preston was too smart to miss a subtlety. Ironically, it was one of the things she’d truly liked about him. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with McKay, would it?”

In spite of her attempt to stifle the response, Stacey felt herself blush. “I don’t want to talk about Cord. I just want to be fair to you.”

Preston slammed his drink down on the table. Glass meeting glass echoed like a gunshot. Then he bolted off the couch. “Fair? Fair? You’ve got to be kidding. You haven’t been fair to me since the first time you refused to go to bed with me.

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