Page 2 of Snowed in with the Bodyguard

I’ll be forced to spend time with him. I need to reinforce my walls. I can’t allow him to see how easily he unsettles me. He works for my father. He’s as unattainable as it gets.

Still, that doesn’t stop my gaze from drifting toward Jack throughout breakfast, catching fleeting glances that hint at something more than protective duty. He stands with unwavering focus, his presence a constant in the background, watching me with an intensity that makes my skin prickle and burn. His gaze is a reminder that my father’s grip extends to every corner of my life.

I shift uncomfortably under the weight of his stare and the forbidden pull it holds.

When breakfast finally concludes, Jack falls into step behind me as I leave the dining room, his silent presence close and unyielding. I can’t escape him, even as we move through the corridors. Each step reminds me of his vigilance, of the ever-present watchful eye my father has imposed.

“Holly, a word before you go,” my father’s voice stops me at the base of the staircase.

I turn, meeting his gaze with the practiced neutrality I’ve developed over years of obeying his demands. Jack stands behind me, a looming presence that emphasizes my father’s hold.

“I trust you understand the seriousness of the situation,” my father says, his tone carrying a thinly veiled warning. “Jack is here for your protection. I expect full cooperation. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir,” I reply, my voice steady but my thoughts racing. The weight of his words is heavy, the implications clear.

“Good.” His gaze doesn’t soften as he continues, “You will return directly home from any appointments today. No detours, no socializing. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.” The restriction settles over me like a cage, each command another link in the chain binding me to his will. I want to resist, but years of obedience hold me back.

I turn away, Jack’s presence close behind as I ascend the staircase. The air between us feels charged, though neither of us acknowledges it.

Once inside my room, I exhale a shaky breath, a quiet release of frustration I can’t afford to show downstairs. The walls of my room are more confining than ever, the reminders of my father’s control evident in every carefully chosen detail.

I drift toward the window, gazing at the estate’s vast grounds, longing for freedom beyond its manicured borders. My gaze lingers on the unopened letters scattered across my desk, each one a glimpse of a life I might never have.

Does Jack feel as trapped as I do, bound by duty and the weight of my father’s expectations?

I push the thought aside. Jack is a professional. He’s here to do a job, nothing more.

The hours pass, and I change into designer jeans and a thick sweater, the soft fabric offering a rare comfort. I emerge frommy room to find Jack waiting outside, his steady gaze moving over my outfit with an expression I can’t read. His eyes flicker with… curiosity? Or something darker? I can’t resist the pull of his presence, though I know it’s dangerous to think of him as anything but my father’s enforcer.

“Are you driving me to my appointment?” I ask, keeping my tone light yet careful.

“Yes,” he replies, his voice low, steady, and unyielding.

I nod, grabbing my handbag and following him out. Slipping into the car’s backseat, I watch as he settles his large frame behind the wheel, his movements precise and controlled.

Jack’s presence is magnetic, a force I can’t escape, no matter how much I try. The allure is undeniable, a dark fascination that defies logic. He’s my father’s man, a figure meant to protect me—or perhaps contain me.

But as the car pulls away from the house, I find myself wanting to know more, tempted by the challenge of piercing his cold, impenetrable exterior. Is there more to him than he lets on? Something about the way he holds himself, how he seems to notice everything without giving anything away, makes me think he’s not just here for the paycheck.

I catch his gaze in the rearview mirror, a brief, intense glance that sends my pulse racing. This attraction is more than unsettling; it’s forbidden, reckless, and wholly intoxicating. I know it could lead to trouble, yet part of me yearns to test the boundaries, to find out where this dangerous pull might lead.

He’s everything that appeals to me in a man—strong, protective. And completely forbidden. The irony isn’t lost on me.

The one man I can’t have is the one who now holds the key to my freedom—or my confinement.

Chapter 2

Jack

The reminder echoes in my mind as I slide into the driver’s seat of the sleek silver Genesis G-70, the car Holly’s father gifted her on her last birthday.

She’s only twenty-one. And my boss’ daughter.

The words hang there, a warning that clashes sharply with the inappropriate thoughts nudging the edges of my mind. She’s old enough to make what I want to do to her legal, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. My job is to protect her, not indulge in fantasies. And yet, every time I catch a glimpse of her in the back seat, the temptation is harder to ignore.

I think back to the first time I laid eyes on Holly Kemp. She was sitting cross-legged in the oversized leather armchair of her father’s sprawling library, a hardcover book balanced on her knees. She didn’t notice me at first. Hell, no one did. Her father’s staff moved like ghosts through the halls, making sure to stay out of sight and out of trouble. That was how he liked it—control. But Holly? She didn’t seem like the kind of person who could be controlled, even then.

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