Bodyguard Beast

Immediately, Gemma got on her knees to help me.

I caught her hand. “Don’t do that,” I told her softly, “I can put my own shoes on, Gemma.”

“I know that. I just wanted to help you.”

“The way you can help me is to sit on the bed and entertain me while I put my own shoes on.”

Amused, she sat on my bed and watched me. “Haven’t you had any boyfriends at all after these years abroad?”

A bundle of memories instantly came to mind, none of which I particularly wanted to revisit, so I just gave her a summary, “Not really. There was no one that I really clicked with. Somehow, it was never right. I could never imagine any of their pee-pees inside my body.”

“You’ll find someone. Someone who deserves a beautiful soul like you,” she said softly.

When I was done with the shoes, I stood and walked towards the full-length mirror.

Gemma clapped her hands with sheer delight. “I love the cut of that dress,” she said.

“It’s beautiful,” I agreed, turning and looking over my shoulder to inspect the back of the dress. A perfect fit. The cream material had an off-shoulder neckline while cinched at the waist. The skirt was cut to swirl gently around my knees.

I sprayed perfume into the air and walked into it a few times, then turned towards her. “All done,” I announced.

“Sei Bellissima, amore mio,” she complimented in Italian.

You are very beautiful, my love. It had been a long time since I heard that. I felt my cheeks heat. I walked up to her and kissed her cheek. “You know, I love you, right.”

“I know,” she whispered.

A brief knock came on the door. We both turned as it was immediately pushed open.

My mom appeared in a stunning, form fitting floor-length black gown. Her dark hair had been pulled into a chignon at the back of her head, and pearl earrings adorned her ear lobes. As beautiful as a movie star, no one could imagine she was my mother. “You’re ready,” she said. “Finally! Everyone is waiting. They can’t wait to meet you. And Gemma, Nonna needs you.” She waved her hand in the air. “She was complaining about her stomach. Apparently, only you can help.”

“On my way, Senora,” Gemma replied and immediately left the room.

My mom came up to me and critically inspected me. “Turn around,” she ordered.

Obediently, I twirled for her.

“Gorgeous,” she approved. “All eyes will be on you. Let’s go.”

“I really don’t understand why eyes need to be on me,” I grumbled.

“Don’t be silly,” she said as she dragged me along. “These are your friends and family, and they haven’t seen you since you were a little girl.”

"I’m pretty sure I won’t know more than five people down there. They’re your friends and family.”

She stopped. “Are you going to be grumpy about this?”

“No,” I groaned. My mother and I didn’t see eye to eye. I would never be able to understand the need for throwing a banquet to welcome a nobody back home.

But since I had returned for good, I couldn’t pick a fight and not be haunted by it for weeks because my mom actually could keep a grudge for that long. I always had London to escape back to when my holidays came to an end. But for now, I needed to keep the peace as much as I could.

If I let my mother have her way for now, it wouldn’t count as a strike against me in the future. I had a list of difficult requests I wanted granted later. Things she wouldn’t like. Things she didn’t consider women should be doing.

Chapter 4

Sienna

The party was held in the foyer, an expansive glistening area that could have passed for a mini ballroom. Exquisite marble columns, black and white granite floor, crystal chandeliers, and the grand piano by one corner, made the area a perfect hosting space.

When we reached the top of the stairs, I looked down and the base of the dramatically sweeping staircase was filled with elegantly dressed, chatting people holding flutes of champagne.

Families and friends, I was told they were, although I couldn’t pick out a single familiar face. I had been away too long. First boarding school, then college. It had been my father’s way of protecting me and keeping me out of the way. Once he realized my mother could bear no more children, I became precious to him. I was just about to descend one side of the dramatic winding staircase, when I realized my mother had halted at the top.

“Aren’t you coming?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Go ahead. I want you to make an entrance. All of the spotlight needs to solely be on you.”

It took all of the restraint I had not to roll my eyes at her or argue with her. This was exactly the kind of thing I hated. I was no society belle and this kind of attention would probably just make me trip and fall. But the window for protesting had closed as some of the guests had already began to notice me. I let out a sigh of resignation, and with my head held high, I began my careful descent. The prospect of falling and breaking my bones seemed very real.