The Finest Line (3 page)

Joanne’s smile faded when she
saw Mairead’s tormented face. “Mairead, what’s the matter?”

Mairead shook her head.
“Nothing, I’m just tired.”

“Come and I’ll make you a hot
Milo, dear. You look exhausted.” Joanne stepped back to let her in
but Mairead turned and looked back at the car. James was staring at
her but the safety of Joanne and her home gave Mairead new courage.
This time she returned his gaze as she felt her anger bloom.

With great precision she
silently mouthed the word “Motherfucker” in his direction and
smiled sweetly before skipping through the door.

The incident played over and
over again in her mind, evoking a range of emotions. As hard as she
tried to forget it, the humiliation was almost as tangible as the
memory of his cologne. She wished a little that she had called his
bluff but the thought of what might have happened made her blush
furiously. It made her wonder what his hands upon her would have
been like.

When she could stand it no
longer her attention became focussed on her trainer. She certainly
had no fear of him. He was all mouth and liked the sound of his own
voice. When he could not intimidate her with his anger, he had
resorted to insulting her movements. The girls in her class had a
thing for him and happily added to his verbal abuse. He was by no
means the first man she had complained to her father about and had
removed.

It reminded her that there was
another man who was coming close to losing his job.

Skipping down the stairs,
Mairead froze as she saw James follow her father into the library.
Her instincts were beckoning her back to the safety of her bedroom
and a locked door, but her curiosity pushed her slowly down the
stairs and to the doors of the library.

Inside she could hear them
talking about some rugby game and then her father asked, “So what’s
all this about James?”

“There was an incident with your
daughter this afternoon which will effect my immediate dismissal
and whatever other action you deem necessary.”

“What the hell are talking about
James?”

“I threatened Mairead with a
spanking to her bare bottom.”

There was a long silence.
Mairead held her breath waiting for the bellowing boom of her
father’s wrath. She could almost feel sorry for James and a little
sad that he would be handed his marching orders. However her
compassion vanished when the next sound she heard was her father’s
roaring laughter.

“When I hired you, the agency
told me that you had been decorated for bravery in Afghanistan.”
Sean Kavanagh laughed again. “But going up against Mairead... what
on earth was her reaction?”

“I believe she was frightened
sir.”

“Mairead frightened! Is that
even possible? It’s usually my staff being terrified by her.” There
was a long silence before Kavanagh spoke again. “The last time I
saw Mairead frightened was when we lowered her mother’s coffin into
the grave. She was six years old and I’ve never forgotten the look
on her face. I resolved to do everything I could to make her smile
again. It just seemed right to let her have her own way and do
whatever she wanted to do. These last few years have proved that to
be a mistake.”

“I will forfeit all termination
pay and leave immediately.”

“Rubbish. There will be no
termination and I will not accept your resignation either.”

“Mr. Kavanagh...”

“James. In the several months
that you have been here your services have been exemplary. I do not
believe I have ever met a more disciplined and educated young man.
No doubt your time with the British Army has had much to do with
that. The fact that my daughter was able to infuriate even you...”
Kavanagh laughed again. “Tell me what she did.”

“Her vocabulary included several
words that I deemed unsuitable for her age, for my ears or indeed
for the local pub.”

Kavanagh groaned. “Yes. I’ve
been sorely tempted to take a bar of soap to her mouth myself on
several occasions.”

“I still believe Sir that my
behaviour warrants dismissal.”

“It’s not going to happen,
James.” Sean was firm. “With our government newly formed, my
appointment as Minister of Development, I need my household to
function like a machine and I need staff upon whom I can solidly
rely. You are Mairead’s driver and security and if she is a little
intimidated by you then so be it. Let’s leave it there James.”

There was another long pause
before James answered, “If that is your final decision...”

“It is James.”

Their alliance had been forged
at her expense and Mairead was furious. She was about to burst
through the doors when her father’s next words stopped her in her
tracks.

“Oh and James,” He chuckled
slightly. “Try not to leave any bruises.”

“I won’t Sir.”

Mairead flew up the stairs,
propelled by rage and betrayal. She tried to calm herself with the
belief that her father was joking yet a niggling feeling remained
that he had just given the chauffeur permission to spank her.

The nurse returned with a
wheelchair and Mairead shook her head. “I am not leaving here in
that.”

“It is hospital policy Miss
Kavanagh,” she explained. “We’re releasing you a little earlier
than we intended and we can’t have you collapsing on your
departure.”

“I’m fine,” she lied, very aware
of how drowsy she was feeling. “I can walk.”

“But you won’t,” James took the
wheelchair. “Get in Miss Kavanagh.”

Again she reluctantly complied
but she was growing tired of his audacity. She had no idea why she
was still so cautious of him. He had never enacted on his threat of
physical discipline and she was annoyed that she had ever believed
he would. He certainly wasn’t going to try anything now that she
was an adult.

Mairead showed no interest when
the nurse explained her aftercare. All she heard was that alcohol
was off the menu for a while. James was more attentive.

There was another delay at the
nurses’ station where she was asked to sign some papers. A
clipboard was placed in her lap and she was about to test its
prowess as a Frisbee when James took hold of it.

“Would you like me to fill those
out Miss Kavanagh?”

She nodded sulkily. Her mood was
rapidly descending and she stared at the lifts across from her. The
doors of one remained open beckoning to her. Her wheelchair was
facing it and she pondered if it was possible to get inside without
being noticed.

She glanced up at James whose
back was towards her and a smile crept across her face. Mairead
casually got up and quietly walked the few steps until she was
inside.

The doors were closing when she
saw James turn around. She got a glimpse of his angry face as he
failed to reach her. It was hardly an act of revenge but she felt
immensely satisfied. She planned to go no further than the front
doors and allow him to catch up. His annoyance would be spectacular
and she could hardly wait to see his face.

When the doors opened again she
was startled by the amount of people. Those that weren’t sitting
down, looking sick or injured, were rushing about. Everything was
unfamiliar and her need to escape was becoming desperate. She
looked about hoping to see an exit.

She had barely moved when part
of the crowd began to surround her. As first she thought her
imagination had got out of hand until the bombardment of questions
began. Microphones were shoved into her face.

“Miss Kavanagh is it true that
you were on the balcony from which Joshua Mason fell.”

“What was your relationship with
Joshua Mason?”

“Why did the police want to
question you?”

Mairead stood trembling under
the assault of the media. She couldn’t see past them and had no
idea where the exit was. Her heartbeat and breathing had
accelerated and the fog was swirling through her head.

Her legs were about to give out
when she was suddenly caught firmly around her waist and pressed
into a hard body. The smell of his cologne was enough to recognise
James. The media backed off a little as he half walked, half
carried her out of their reach.

She was content to bury her face
into his chest and not look at him until he had put her in the
backseat of a car. Even then she was reluctant, but he turned her
chin towards him.

His fury was evident. “Don’t you
ever do that again, do you understand?”

She nodded timidly.

He said nothing more and Mairead
curled up in her seat, grinning to herself. He still scared the
crap out of her but in no one else’s presence did she feel so safe
and cared for.

CHAPTER THREE

Mairead lay stretched out on a
comfortable sofa surveying her hotel room. It was spacious and
quiet, with its own kitchenette and two bedrooms coming off the
lounge. There was a door leading out to a small balcony which
overlooked the busy city street below. It was a relief to know her
father still cared enough to provide her with decent
accommodation.

James had remained quiet even
through a long ride in the lift to the twelfth floor. The young
cheerful porter would have been a welcome companion but James
dismissed his services, opting to carry the bags himself.

He came out of a bedroom and
went straight to the bar fridge where he began to remove the small
bottles of alcohol.

Mairead sat up. “This is my
room. Go and raid your own fridge.”

James ignored her and dumped
them into a plastic bag. He took it out of the room and returned
locking the door behind him.

“You can go to your own room now
James.” Mairead dismissed him. “I’ll send for you if you’re
needed.”

He smirked, “My apologies Miss
Kavanagh, but your father has requested that I stay close by you at
all times. Hence I have acquired a room with two bedrooms.”

Mairead’s mouth fell open and
her anger erupted. “This is not acceptable. I am not a child and I
do not need a babysitter.”

James went to speak but Mairead
jumped to her feet to continue her tirade. “All this is his fault.
I didn’t live up to his expectations as some champion gymnast. I’m
a huge disappointment or as Daddy called me ‘A fucking little
bitch,’ his words, not mine.”

Tears began to sting her eyes.
“If I had been anyone else’s daughter, no one would have given a
shit. But no, our entire lives under the gaze of the media, who are
just waiting for us to fuck up. So I gave them something they could
write about: Newsflash. Mairead Kavanagh would rather get smashed
and have a good time than become an Olympic champion. I’ve abused
all the privileges that have been bestowed upon me because I’m a
spoilt brat, but I don’t care. I don’t fucking care! I didn’t hurt
anyone, did I?” Her face was pleading for confirmation. “Well...
did I?”

James’ gaze softened and he
shook his head, “Just yourself.”

Mairead nodded as tears streamed
down her face. “There was this boy. His name was Josh and he was
really nice to me. I think I hurt
him
but I thought I’d
fixed it but now he’s dead and I’ll never know.”

Her tears were beyond control.
James went to her and pulled her against him. His embrace only made
her cry harder. Gathering her up into his arms, he carried her into
her bedroom.

Mairead still managed to
protest, “I don’t want to go to bed.”

James smiled. “Maybe not but
that’s where you’re going, no arguments.”

She had no energy left to argue,
even when he started removing her clothes. Sitting on the bed in
just her underwear, she watched as he opened a case and took out
her silky nightie. After draping it over her head, he reached
behind her and undid her bra.

“I’m not looking,” He assured
her. “Take it off.”

She slipped the straps down and
tossed it onto the floor, before slipping her arms through the
straps of the nightie.

Once she was covered James bent
down to smile at her. He held her chin while he used his
handkerchief to wipe her face.

He tucked it into her hand.
“Blow your nose and then get into bed.”

She wanted to point out how much
he was treating her like a child but she couldn’t. Rather than
being ashamed of his attentions, she found them incredibly
comforting.

In bed, Mairead rolled over and
curled up away from him, hugging the pillow. James covered her up
and sat on the bed next to her. Without looking she reached behind
her. In her despair she was able to smile as she felt him take her
hand. Within a minute she was asleep.

When her eyes opened again, she
stared at the clock in disbelief. She had been asleep for fifteen
hours. Glorious sunshine was illuminating the closed curtains,
beckoning her to enjoy the new day.

Physically she felt wonderful
and the pleasant memory of James holding her hand was keeping
darker ones subdued. He really did have a heart buried under all
that muscle. She blushed and grinned as she remembered him
undressing her.

Her stomach was growling noisily
and she rejoiced at having an appetite. Leaping from the bed, she
donned her robe and opened her door.

The sight that greeted her
stopped her in the doorway. James had just come out of the bathroom
wearing only a towel around his waist. She had never seen his body
before and the view took her breath away. She quietly shut her door
enough to allow her to watch him undetected.

He hurried to the coffee table
and picked up a watch and strapped it to his wrist, before going to
his room. It was enough time to learn that there certainly was a
lot of muscle under his clothes. His biceps and chest were
incredibly contoured compared to his flat stomach. The only hair
she could see was the dark trail leading down from his navel to
underneath the towel.

His exit revealed a more
startling sight. The skin on his back was mottled with white and
pink and yellow scars. There was a large Celtic design taking up
most of his right shoulder blade but part of it was missing.
Mairead wondered what terrible event could have caused such
damage.