Chapter 7 #2
Liliana nodded. “No, I can’t.” She lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “I’m in this fight to win it.”
Rachel stepped back and let her hands fall to her sides.
“That’s my girl. Now, get cleaned up and dressed in something that hasn’t been in an explosion.
We’ll have dinner in the resort restaurant.
You’ll want an early start tomorrow to hit the favorite breakfast spot in town when all the locals come in for a bite to eat. I’ve already got the recommendations.”
Liliana smiled at her friend and assistant. “I’m not sure what I’d do without you.”
Rachel smiled. “Hopefully, you won’t have to find out. I’m headed to the dining room to secure a table for us. See you in twenty minutes? Will that be enough time?”
Liliana nodded.
Rachel faced Dax. “I assume you’ll be staying in the suite with Liliana.” It was a statement, not a question.
Dax nodded.
“Good. That saves me from having to find another room. I’ll work on getting the dog handler and his dog a room as close to you as possible, although it won’t be on the top floor.”
“Thank you, Ms. Swain,” Dax said.
“Oh, please. Call me Rachel. When you two marry, we’ll practically be family. Oh, and do you have a suit you can wear? Dining here is pretty formal, and you’ll definitely need the suit for the formal event tomorrow night.”
“I have one in my duffel bag,” Dax said.
Rachel’s eyebrows rose. “I’ll have housekeeping collect it and press it tomorrow morning. Trousers and a button-up shirt will do for tonight. The suit would be even better.”
Liliana laughed. “Rachel keeps me in line, too. She has excellent fashion sense and social timing.”
“Nonsense,” Rachel flung over her shoulder as she headed for the door.
With her hand on the door handle, she glanced over her shoulder.
“You’re perfectly capable of dressing yourself.
” Her gaze shifted to Dax with a teasing grin.
“Jury’s still out on your fiancé. I’m betting he can’t even match his own socks.
” She cocked an eyebrow. “The challenge is on, pretty boy. Prove me wrong.”
Dax laughed as Rachel sailed through the door. “Is she always so pushy?” he asked.
Liliana’s gaze was on the door through which Rachel had disappeared. “Always. She gets things done.”
“An asset to any team.”
“Exactly.” Liliana crossed to her suitcase, rolled it into the bedroom and lifted it onto the end of the bed.
Dax stood in the sitting room, watching her every move through the open bedroom door.
From the suitcase, Liliana removed a black dress, shoes, matching lace panties and a toiletries kit.
“I’ve been thinking about our sleeping arrangements,” he said.
Her head whipped around, her gaze landing on his. “I didn’t even think about that. Is this the only bedroom in the suite?”
“It is.” He crossed to the sofa and sat on one of the cushions. It was firm but better than a foxhole, and he could see the door to the room and the entrance to the bedroom. He stood. “I can sleep out here tonight.”
Liliana walked out into the sitting room, still holding the dress. “Are you sure? I could sleep on the sofa, and you could have the bed.”
He shook his head. “That would put you between an intruder and me. Besides, I’m the hired help; you’re the celebrity.”
She laughed. “Hardly a celebrity.”
“Okay, the candidate. The resort gave you the Presidential Suite, not me. You need to be comfortable. You’re on tomorrow and need your rest.”
Liliana crossed her arms over her chest, dress and all. “And you’re protecting me tomorrow and need your rest.”
He chuckled. “You’ll make a good congresswoman.”
Her brow wrinkled. “Why do you say that?”
“You’re always concerned about others over your own health and welfare.” He touched her cheek. “I hope the voters see how special you are.”
She stared up into his eyes, hers so dark and mysterious. Her chin tilted upward, her eyelids sinking low.
Dax leaned closer. With only a few inches between them, all he had to do was tip his head downward to claim her full, rosy lips.
He lowered his head until his mouth was no more than a breath away from hers.
Liliana leaned up on her toes, making the connection complete.
Dax wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her body against his, deepening the kiss and sweeping past her teeth to caress her tongue.
With her hands resting against his chest, her fingers curled into his shirt, holding him close.
Fire burned inside, his blood burning through his veins and pooling in his groin.
A soft moan sounded in Liliana’s throat, spurring Dax’s desire into a blazing inferno.
A knock on the door barely broke through the haze of lust fogging his brain. He lifted his head.
When the knock sounded again, he stepped back, releasing his hold on her body.
Liliana swayed toward him and then straightened. She touched her fingers to her swollen lips and stared at him.
“Someone’s at the door,” he said.
She nodded.
He bent to scoop up the dress she’d dropped and handed it to her. An electric charge shot through his system when their hands touched. It was all he could do to keep from taking her into his arms again.
Dax turned away from Liliana, wondering what the hell he thought he was doing. The woman was a congressional candidate. He was her bodyguard, not her real fiancé or lover. He had no business kissing her as he’d done.
But, sweet Jesus, it had felt so good.
He crossed to the door and checked through the peephole.
Rachel stood on the other side, her hand raised, ready to knock again.
Dax opened the door before her knuckles touched the wooden panel. “Yes, ma’am.”
She smiled up at him. “Just wanted to let you know that your dog handler arrived and is in a room directly below yours. I invited him to have dinner with us.”
“Thank you for letting us know.”
She looked past Dax to Rachel. “Do you want me to have that dress pressed for you?”
Liliana shook her head. “No, thank you. I can manage.”
Rachel nodded. “I’m available tonight if you want to practice your speech.”
“Thank you, Rachel,” Liliana said.
Rachel’s brow dipped. Her gaze shifted from Liliana to Dax and back to her boss. “If you need me for anything, shoot me a text. Otherwise, I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.” She winked and turned away with a grin.
Dax closed the door, squared his shoulders and faced Liliana. “I’m sorry. That won’t happen again.” He stopped himself short of saying, Unless you want it to. He wanted to kiss her again more than he wanted to take his next breath.
“Right,” she said. “We should save it for the public.” Her cheeks flushed a soft pink as she returned to the bedroom and closed the door between them.
Dax should have been glad for the barrier, but his gut knotted. He felt as if he’d lost something. How could he have lost something he’d never had in the first place?