15
Merc pacedoutside of Caroline's bedroom door. He'd seen Harriet passing by one of the spare bedrooms and she’d told him where to find her without hesitation, easing his worry that Francis had told her about the previous night.
But Harriet smiled a secret kind of smile and told him exactly where to find the woman he sought, which was where he’d been ever since, standing sentry outside her door. He honestly didn’t know what the hell he would say to her, only that he needed to see her and make sure she was all right.
After several hours, her bedroom door finally clicked open. Excitement and nervousness leapt in him, and he spun only to see a willowy man emerge. Was he wearing makeup?
The guy raked him from head to toe, a slow perusal of appreciation that made Merc's skin crawl. If Makeup Guy didn't quit looking at him like that, he'd knock a few teeth out of his bright white smile.
“So, you’re Prince Charming.”
“What?”
“You’re the one who saved Caro.”
Merc managed a hesitant nod, and the guy launched forward, wrapping his thin, almost feminine-like arms around Merc's waist. “Thank you. Thank you for rescuing my friend.”
Merc froze, fighting off the urge to peel his body away until he started rubbing his cheek against Merc’s chest. Then he had absolutely no compunction about setting the man from him. “I was just doing my job.”
A sly look passed across the guy’s features, like he held some secret that was going to rock Merc's core. “I’m Fernando by the way, Caroline’s close personal friend. I hear you two had fun in the study last night.”
Merc’s jaw hardened. Francis had sworn she wouldn’t tell the Senator. Merc hadn’t realized he needed to impress upon her the need forcompletesilence. He was as gentle as possible talking to Francis, but he had no such reluctance with Fernando. “Spreading rumors can be bad for your health.”
Fernando’s Adam’s apple bobbed to the bottom of his little neck. “Of course. I would never spread rumors.” He let loose a nervous bubble of laughter and waived his hands in the air. “I’m happy for her. My Caro deserves some happiness.”
Merc straightened and crossed his arms over his chest. “She does. And she deserves to be protected from threats.”
Fernando took a step toward the staircase, and then another, his tan skin turning pale. “Well, I’ll leave you to it, then. I’ve got some shopping to do.”
Fernando turned and bolted down the stairs while Merc watched him disappear. Why had he had that sudden urge to crush Fernando when the man was most definitely not a threat? Was it because he had spent the last few hours alone with Caroline in her bedroom? Or called her Caro? Or was it that he seemed so close to her when Merc himself longed for that kind of connection?
Merc didn’t know for sure, not that he intended to find out. At least that’s what he told himself as he entered Caroline’s bedroom and then pulled up short at the overwhelming tide of pink.
Pink bedspread. Pink walls. Pink dresser.
He kept close to the door, afraid his mere presence would crush the dainty furniture. Then a flash of movement at the double doors to his right caught his attention and Merc forgot all about the pink.
Caroline’s dainty frame leaned against the doorway. She ducked her chin looking up at him from beneath lowered lids. Her honey blond hair hung in long loose curls. The pale green top she wore stopped just above her belly button, giving him an occasional peekaboo of her smooth flat stomach before it disappeared into loose fitting black trousers.
Stunning wasn't an adequate word.
Merc cleared his throat, trying to figure out what to say. “Hey. Um, I just wanted to check and see how you were feeling today.”
Thankfully, she stayed right where she was when she answered. “I’m a little tired but fine. Thank you for asking.” The smooth melody of her voice caressed him as if she'd trailed her fingers down his body.God, he was so screwed.
“I've been assigned to watch you personally.” Shit. The words whipped out of his mouth before he could take them back. He and Cotter had agreed Merc would be her bodyguard but that they would keep the information from Caroline after she’d chafed so much about being controlled. But seeing her like this brainwashed him, leaving him with a primitive need to stay near her.
Any trace of softness disappeared as her posture straightened and her eyes hardened. He held his breath, bracing himself for her fury, but all he got was a cold shoulder as she strode right past him out the door.
“Caroline, wait. You won’t even know I’m around most of the time.” Merc trailed her out of her bedroom, kicking himself for opening his big trap without thinking.
“Oh, I’ll know,” she said as she stormed down the hall.
“Hold up. Can we talk about this?”
“Sure. We’re going to talk about it with the Senator. Right now.” Her steps continued to chop across the carpet.
Merc had just caught up with her when Francis topped the stairs, panting and out of breath. “It's time for lunch, Miss Caroline. I'll serve you in the formal dining room.”
