Tempted By The Bodyguard. Elle James

my life on hold because someone doesn’t like her. I’ve already missed enough time at school. I have no idea how I’m going to catch up. And holy smokes, who lives in a house this big?”

      “You will.” Daniel climbed out of the SUV and opened Shelby’s door for her, his face grim, his jaw hard. “Perhaps you need to understand a few things.” He held out his hand, pulled her out of the vehicle and stood her in front of him.

      “Don’t get all he-man on me,” she said, pushing his hands away before the feel of him made her do something truly foolish. “You’re just the bodyguard.”

      “I might only be the hired help, but Kate Winston was a good vice president and she’s an even better person. She didn’t have to come to your rescue, but she did. And she doesn’t have to provide you protection. But she will.” He gripped her arms and glared down at her. “I suggest you be grateful you’re alive, thank Kate for making that happen and stop whining about school.”

      Shelby opened her mouth to tell the man she wasn’t whining, but he stood so close she could feel the heat from his body and the intensity in his gaze. All the words she could have shouted back at him died on her lips and she shut her mouth with a snap. It wasn’t in her nature to be so angry. And, damn it, Daniel was right.

      She should quit worrying about school. Free from her kidnappers, no longer confined to the darkness, she had a lot to be thankful for. And she had yet to thank this man for saving her from the burning house.

      Her grandfather chuckled as he rounded the vehicle. “Shelby has a mind of her own, but I do believe she’s met her match.” He glanced up at the house in front of him, his smile fading. “Kate sure has done well for herself,” he stated.

      Shelby stepped back from Daniel, her voice caught in her throat as a surge of emotion welled up in her. She was lucky to be here, and she should accept a night’s protection from the woman who’d been someone special to her grandfather forty years ago.

      Slipping her arm through her grandfather’s, she leaned into him. “In case I haven’t told you yet, I’m glad you didn’t give up on me.”

      He pressed her arm to his side. “Never.”

      Shelby stared up at the house and shook her head. “Pretty impressive, isn’t it?” Shelby glanced at her grandfather.

      For a man who didn’t know a stranger and always had a smile on his face, he looked pretty grim. “I could never have given her all this.”

      A thread of anger shot up her back, stiffening her spine. “You’d have given her everything she needed.”

      His lips twisted. “But not this.”

      “Funny, I grew up in your house, and I never longed for anything.”

      “There were a few times I was hard-pressed to put food on the table.”

      “We always had plenty of love.”

      “Remember the time after the hurricane that almost destroyed the bar? I didn’t know how I’d get back on my feet.”

      Shelby hugged him to her side “Everyone on the Outer Bank helped us rebuild.”

      “When you didn’t come home…” His face blanched and his throat worked as he swallowed hard. “Hell, Shelby, I could replace a bar, but I could never replace you.”

      Shelby blinked to keep tears from welling in her eyes. All the time she’d been held in captivity, she’d worried about her grandfather. He didn’t have anyone else in the world. And neither did she. At least, she’d thought she didn’t have anyone else. Things were changing.

      The other SUV pulled to a halt behind Trey’s. Kate, Debra and Thad stepped out.

      “I hope you weren’t waiting on us.” Kate hurried forward. “Please, come inside. I’ll have Maddie make tea and coffee and find something for lunch. Lucy’s on the way. She’ll help Daniel and anyone else with injuries from the explosion.” Though her knees were scuffed, her pretty gray suit was wrinkled and dirty and her hair was mussed, Kate marched up the steps like a force to be reckoned with.

      Shelby and Patrick both drew in long breaths and followed her up the steps into the house. Shelby told herself it would only be for a day. Maybe two, then she was going back home. She didn’t belong in this big old mansion.

      Most of all, she wanted to get away from the bodyguard who had such a low opinion of her and who got her stomach all tied in knots every time she glanced his way.

      Before Kate reached the top of the steps, Trey and Sam got there and threw open the doors. She smiled at them and stepped inside, then turned to welcome her guests.

      Beneath the smudges, her cheeks glowed a soft pink as Patrick stepped past her. Her eyelashes dipped down and her gaze followed him like a shy teenager.

      Shelby was shocked by the change. From confident former vice president to shy young woman, Kate Winston was an enigma. Which was the woman who’d abandoned her baby girl and broken her grandfather’s heart?

      The wide front doors opened into a spacious foyer tiled in black-and-white marble. A grand, sweeping staircase curved upward to the second floor, trimmed in glistening rich mahogany. To one side of the entryway was a large, formal living room with shining wood floors and white furniture. In sharp contrast, a black grand piano filled one corner, ready to provide an elite guest list with subtle entertainment.

      An older woman, slightly plump with red hair, hurried forward, her arms opening to Kate. “Oh, Mrs. Winston, I’m so glad you’re not harmed.” She engulfed the former vice president in a hug and then stepped back, raising an apron to dry her eyes.

      “I’m quite all right, Maddie.” Kate patted the older woman’s back. “Just a little shaken up by the explosion.”

      Maddie shook her head. “When Debra called ahead to warn me about what happened, I nearly had a heart attack.” She pressed a hand to her chest and took a deep breath. “I had to see with my own eyes.”

      “Well, now that you know I’m fine, let me introduce my granddaughter, Shelby O’Hara.” Kate swept her hand toward Shelby. “And this is her grandfather, Patrick O’Hara.” Her voice dropped and her eyelashes swept down over her eyes, her cheeks flushing. “They’ll be staying with us until we sort all of this out. Shelby, Patrick, this is Maddie Fitzgerald, our housekeeper, the rock in our household. If you need anything, she’s the one you should ask.”

      Sam hugged the older woman. “She’s so much more than a housekeeper. She’s like a surrogate grandmother.” He kissed the top of her cap of short red hair. “She’s really part of the family. She takes good care of us all.”

      Maddie smiled and held out her hand to Patrick, her gaze going from Patrick to Kate, a slight wrinkle in her brow. “You both are welcome here.” She turned to Shelby, her smile widening, her hand reaching for Shelby’s. “My goodness, girl, you’re the spittin’ image of your grandmother.”

      “And my mother, so I’m told,” Shelby added.

      Kate stiffened beside her, her face paling. “I’d better clean up. I have a meeting with the press in an hour. I’m sure they’ll want to know all about what happened this morning.” She inhaled deeply and let it out.

      Debra leaned close to Kate and whispered, “You might want to tell her what to expect.”

      With a nod, Kate’s gaze captured Shelby’s. “If word gets out that I have a granddaughter, be prepared to be inundated by the press.” Her lips twisted. “I apologize for that, but I can’t change what is.” She glanced over Shelby’s shoulder to Daniel. “Daniel will help to keep them at bay, but you won’t be able to go anywhere without someone snapping pictures of you.”

      “We should be going,” Debra prompted Kate. She smiled at Patrick and Shelby. “Maddie will help you two get settled.” Then she ushered Kate toward the staircase, the two women walking with quick, purposeful steps