He leaned towards her. His left hand stroking her knee. “I like how you look a lot.” She held her breath, mesmerised by the desire in his eye. “I like how you taste even better.” He growled softly before his lips touched hers.
Caroline didn’t have time to panic about kissing in public. In fact, she didn’t have time to think at all. One touch of Josh’s lips and she sank towards him. His hands held her tight; otherwise she’d have fallen off the stool and flat on her face before him.
“Better than steak,” he murmured against her lips.
She couldn’t think. His tongue teased its way inside her mouth, and all she could do was sigh. He tightened his grip as flashes went off in her head.
Suddenly Josh was gone. The flashes hadn’t been in her head. There was a photographer brandishing his camera at Josh. Caroline gripped the counter to steady herself.
“Get lost, McInnes. I got what I needed. I’m out of here. Get your hands off me or I’m gonna sue then watch this on E! News.”
Caroline sucked in a breath as her hand went to her mouth. Josh had his fists twisted into the T-shirt of a lecherous-looking man. He was short and acne scarred, and reeked of smoke. Josh’s face was thunderous. Caroline felt everything still within her. Suddenly the fact he didn’t have a bodyguard made perfect sense. Josh could obviously take care of himself.
He shook the photographer. “You know the rules, Pyro. No paparazzi in Harrods.”
The smaller guy sneered, making his face twist into something ugly. “I got the shot I wanted. I’ll make ten times more than whatever fine I have to pay here. Kicking me out won’t make any difference.” Pyro poked Josh in the chest. “Thanks for the payday, bud.”
Josh snarled. “Don’t think I won’t hurt you.”
“You do and you’ll be front-page news. I’m not the one assaulting someone. Everything you do is money to me. So go ahead,” the photographer spat out. “Hit me. I’ll live off that payday for a year.”
Caroline sprang from her stool and put her hand on Josh’s arm. He didn’t look at her. She wasn’t sure he even felt her.
“Maybe,” Josh said to the worm, “that seems like a good deal to me.”
At the far end of the room, Caroline could make out security uniforms running towards them.
“Josh.” She held his arm tightly. “He’s not worth it.”
“Better listen to the little lady,” the photographer sneered. “Seems like she’s got the brains in this setup. You were always a grinning idiot. I mean, look at you. You could have had anyone you want, and you pick her.”
Caroline went still. Josh’s biceps flexed. His eyes were dark. Something in Caroline snapped. She let go of Josh, snatched the camera from the photographer’s side and clicked it loose from its strap. She held it in her hands.
“Get your hands off my property, bitch!”
Josh took another step towards the photographer. Looming over the man. Itching to strike out. “Don’t talk to my woman like that.” His voice was thunder. “Don’t look at her. Don’t take pictures of her. She doesn’t exist for you.”
“Or what?” the idiot demanded.
Caroline had heard enough. “Is this one of those cameras that can email photos?”
The guy’s glance flicked to her. She saw worry in his eyes. “What do you care?”
“I’m guessing by the look on your face that you didn’t have a chance to send the photo yet.”
He wet his bottom lip. Nervous.
“Good,” Caroline said. “I’ve had enough of this discussion.”
She took the memory card from the camera, dropped it on the floor and crushed it with her heel. A stream of cursing cut through the gasps. The photographer fought to get at her. “I’m going to kill you for that. Bitch!”
“Done here,” Josh said.
He pulled back his right hand, made a fist and aimed.
There was a sickening crunch. Pyro bent double and held his nose. Blood dripped onto the floor.
“Well done, asshole,” he spat. “That’s money in my pocket.”