The Assassin’s Billionaire Bodyguard
Chapter 12

Isabella walked out her front door knowing she looked good. The burgundy silk pantsuit fit her to a tee and made her already long legs appear even longer. She wore a long black coat she left unbuttoned, so the torso of the outfit was exposed. It draped provocatively, loosely exposing a flash of skin with each step and then sliding back to hide her flesh again.

She saw the appreciative gaze of the man leaning against the fancy car and drank in his appearance. His barrel chest was perfectly fitted in a suit jacket and a deep navy shirt opened at the collar. He had dark trousers which hugged his narrow waist, and his long legs were kicked out as he watched her approach him. He looked arrogant and very aware of how damn good he looked. His sandy hair was slicked back, and his green eyes watched her intently. She shivered as he let his gaze look her up and down dwelling on where her cleavage flashed in and out of sight.

"Torres," she shook her head with a grin, "you look good."

He wagged a finger at her, "you're trying to provoke me."

"Maybe," she shrugged and slid into the passenger side as he held the door open for her. She watched him stride around the front of the car and round to the driver's side. She tugged her bottom lip into her mouth as he flexed his legs on the clutch and pushed the start, bringing the engine roaring to life. "Nice ride."

He tossed her a sideways grin, "what's the point of having too much money if I can't have a fast ride. It's a Porsche Cayman and she is my baby."

"What are the chances you have a car, a Porsche, and a daughter, Portia, and they are both your babies? You're a cliché, Torres."

"I am, but at least I own it. Damn you look good Isabella," he let his gaze flick to where the skin peeked from behind folds of silk.

"Where's your muscle?" She investigated the nonexistent back seat.

"I'm more than capable of taking care of both of us," he said seriously.

"But you had him with you Friday night," she said seriously, "and the time before then."

"The first night, I didn't know who you were. You could have been psychotic, and I may have needed backup."

"And Friday night?"

He paused, "Isabella, because of who I am, because of my wealth and because of my work, oftentimes I am at risk. You disappeared from a restaurant without a trace. I called Gideon to help me track you down." "Oh." "Yes, oh."

"But you're confident you can protect us both on your own?"

He squeezed her leg quickly, "yes. I'm certain of it."

"My billionaire bodyguard." She mocked him. She laughed, her wide mouth revealing her perfect teeth and she caught him staring again. "Are you going to drive this monstrosity or stare at me all night, Torres?" "You have a beautiful smile Isabella," he complimented her as he put the car in gear.

"I better," she laughed, "this grin cost my dad five grand and three years of torment in my most formative middle school years."

She watched as he shifted the car and pulled away from the sidewalk.

"Braces huh," he asked as he kept his eyes on the road.

"Yes, and it didn't help I wore glasses, was five eight in grade eight and was smarter than all the kids in my school combined."

"How tall are you now? I'm guessing five nine, but you wear heels," he let his gaze travel the length of her legs.

"I'm five nine," she confirmed his guess, "in bare feet."

“I like you in bare feet," he winked, "I'd like to see the rest bare."

She was quiet for a moment and then sighed, "Torres, what are we doing?"

"Going to dinner," he purposefully misconstrued her question.

"You know what I mean. I thought about it and your logic of us dating will keep Evgeni and Portia apart and Evgeni off my case, well it is flawed."

"How so," he kept his eyes focused on the road in front of him.

"Evgeni hasn't let up. While I'm not getting photographs any longer, since he found out who I was with Friday night, and all was quiet yesterday. This afternoon he messaged me multiple times and some of his messages are to tell me how dangerous you are. Each message is odder than the last."

"He told you I'm dangerous," his mouth was set in a grim line at the thought.

"Are you?"

"Matter of opinion," he shrugged uncaringly. "I run a security company Isabella and it means I do whatever it takes to keep my charge safe."

She nodded and looked out the window, aware he was very much sugar coating his truth. She had done some of her own investigations today into Camden Torres. His activities on paper were violent, so she knew the whispers not on paper were likely a hundred- fold worse. Cam gave her a glance from the corner of his eye, "does this bother you? Does my work bother you?"

If he only knew her activities with Bellona, he wouldn't ask such a question, but Bellona was something he would never know of, not ever.

"Isabella?" he questioned her silence.

"No, Torres," she chuckled at the clicking of his tongue, "your work doesn't bother me."

"Why the misgivings then on dating?"

"Your reason for dating is flawed." She repeated herself.

"Portia spoke with Evgeni last evening. He told her you were using me to get his attention, but he wanted to be with her. He told her you were trying to come between them, and he loved her and would stop at nothing to get her back." She didn't know what to say and she closed her eyes in frustration.

"Portia of course is over the moon and thinks you are Jezebel and very much believes every bit of s**t coming from the a*****e's mouth."

She swore furiously and clenched her fists, before inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly. "Well then, actually it solves my problems. If he's back with her, he's out of my hair and he's all your problem now."

"Aw, Isabella, don't do me like that," Cam reached out and grabbed her hand off her knee and uncurled her fist. He threaded his fingers over the top of her hand and had her hold the stick shift with him. "Is this some kind of euphemism?" she looked at the way he held her hand over the knob with a sassy grin.

"Maybe," his mouth was smiling but his eyes were dark and flirting, "I like you Isabella and I'm feeling you are a win-win for me. I know Evgeni is playing a game. I know it's driving him insane to know we went out and the more he is focused on what we do, the more his actions and his personality will reveal themselves and Portia will tire of his stupidity. As for me, I get the absolute pleasure of dating an incredibly beautiful, articulate, smart woman who makes me want to do all kinds of very naughty things. I'm hopeful you also want to do all kinds of naughty things and it will be a mutually beneficial relationship."

His comment about naughty things buzzed along her skin like electricity and Isabella shifted her legs against the feeling. His fingers were clasping hers possessively and manipulating the gear, overtly demonstrating his prowess in controlling the powerful machine he drove. Clearly, he was a master of foreplay, making her aware he was adept in what he set out to accomplish.

"Where are we going?"

"Helena's."

She was quiet as she contemplated what he'd just revealed. She had never been to Helena's, but she knew where it was and what it was. It was the restaurant equivalent of a hedonism resort. The food was designed to drive the libido and the atmosphere was supposedly sexually charged.

"It's not a second date kind of place Torres."

"Rumour has it, it's an excellent place for two people to get to know each other better. Are you game?"

She rubbed her forehead with her free hand and sighed. "Yes, I am game. Against all my better judgements I'm game."

"Good," he squeezed her hand, "then for the rest of the night, no more talk of Portia or Evgeni. I want to know more about Isabella Carolina Ruiz."

"Ooh, he knows my middle name," she rolled her eyes. "Let me guess, Mr. Head of Juggernaut, you have a file on me telling you who my first-grade teacher was, who my first kiss was and my salary from Draxton down to the penny." "Also, your shoe and dress size."

"And my height, but nice attempt earlier at making it seem like you're observant."

His chuckle made it clear she was right.

As they pulled up to the restaurant, he made a face as she didn't wait for him to open her car door and met him on the sidewalk. He tossed the keys to the valet and then took her hand and tucked it through his elbow.

They stepped inside the restaurant and were greeted by a hostess wearing what Isabella could only call a toga of pure white silk, fastened at the shoulder by a gold clip.

The interior of the restaurant was dim, flickering of candles the only light in the entire establishment. Every table was a rounded booth of high-backed black leather benches with the single openings blocked by screens strategically placed to allow for a server to get through but angled exactly right, ensuring the ultimate in privacy from eyes of other patrons.

Isabella slid into the seat and scooted along the bench allowing Cam to slide in beside her. "Well, this is cozy," she said as he sat next to her thigh-to-thigh.

The server arrived and they both looked up. The woman wore a similar dress as the hostess, her hair was piled high on her head in an array of platinum blonde spirals. Her make-up was dark, her lipstick bright red and flawlessly painted on her perfect lips. She was petite framed, or at least in Isabella's opinion and she was smiling demurely at them

"Welcome to Helena's." Her voice was girlish and whispery. "My name is Joanie. I am your hostess for the evening. I'll give you the rundown of what you can expect, the things we expect and then we will get started." Isabella had to clench her jaw to keep from laughing aloud at the woman's tone, as if she were the hostess at a swinger's party. If anything, she would have a hell of a story to distract the girls after their next mission. Joanie obviously was trying to recall the speech she needed to recite and held up one finger, "one, our menu is a set menu of eight courses with no substitutions unless an allergy was previously reported has been missed, which is unlikely." She held up a second finger, "Two, we encourage you to finish each course. You will not be given more food than you can manage, and each course is thoughtfully prepared by the chef. If for some reason, you dislike the course, then please let me know immediately and the chef will make adjustments to the remainder. The menu is meant to involve your sensations, taste yes, but also smell, sight, sound, and touch. Use your hands, share your meal, and communicate with each other over the experience. Three," she paused and took a breath, "our booths promote privacy to allow for an intimate dinner between two consenting adults. However, there is no s*x allowed in our restaurant. None. No amount of money will change this rule," she gave Cam a pointed glance and Isabella choked on her own spittle. The server continued talking as if Isabella hadn't interrupted her with coughing. "Four, you are not permitted to enter any other of our patrons table space. There is a direct path to and from the lavatory if needed. Five, and finally," she smiled her white teeth stark against the bright red lipstick, "none of the hostesses or hosts are to be touched. You are permitted to look but rude comments, gestures or invitations will not be tolerated." "Does it happen?" Isabella interrupted incredulously.

"Yes, on occasion," she didn't blink at Isabella's question. "As long as you agree to the rules, we can begin the dinner service."

"What if we don't agree," Isabella questioned and heard Cam's low chuckle. "I mean, I definitely am not going to have s*x in a restaurant and I'm not going to ask you to come home with me but what if I see a friend at a nearby table and I go say hi." "You will be asked to leave, and you will be blacklisted from ever returning to our restaurant. We pride ourselves on providing absolute discretion to whoever is here," her tone was serious. "Okay then," Cam nodded, "we'll agree." When Isabella opened her mouth to say something else, he put his hand on her knee under the table. "My date and I will be on our best behaviour."

"As will I," Joanie said with a broad smile. She leaned forward pointing at the columns on the drink menus "the drink list does have recommendations for each course. Pay attention to it. The alcohol is paired specifically with each course." She stood upright, "I will give you a moment to peruse the drink options and will return momentarily with water and amuse-bouches."

As she walked away Isabella pushed Cam's hand off her knee where his thumb had been running circles. "What the hell is this place they have to warn people not to have s*x at the table?"

Cam laughed a low and delicious sound reverberating in her ear.

"Relax Isabella, I know you're disappointed we can't make love here but there's always later when I take you home."

"Not what I meant," she hissed furiously. "Good grief, she insinuated you would try to pay her to let us go at it like monkeys on the floor."

"I'm sure there are plenty of people with more money than brains who have done exactly what she suggested."

She wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Are you a prude Isabella?" he queried quietly. "If you are uncomfortable, we can leave, go grab a burger through a drive through and head home. You were very candid with me on Friday night, and I thought perhaps you might be up for an adventure." "Gah," she groaned and rubbed her temples, leaning back, "curse you Torres. You know I don't want to leave because my curiosity is piqued and now if I stay you think I'm a horny dog"

"Never a dog," he was holding her eyes with his own and smiling broadly. "Are we staying?"

"We're staying," she rolled her eyes, "but only because I need to see this craziness for myself. Like, what kind of food are they going to serve to make us want to tear each other's clothes off?"

"Who needs food for that?" Cam reached a long finger out and adjusted the collar of her dress. "This outfit alone has me desperate to see it on the floor by my bed."

Her cheeks turned a furious shade of red at his comment, and she sputtered for a response but then Joanie was stepping back into their private space and Isabella was wondering what she had just signed up for.