The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress
[Book 2] Chapter 33

Knox POV

"Sir, what are your orders?" my bodyguard is careful to keep his voice low and hushed as he walks closer, his eyes on the woman who is sleeping with her head in my lap, while I continue to stroke her hair absent-mindedly, enjoying the silken feel of it and the way it slides through my fingers.

I have no desire to leave just yet. To leave is to waken her and I'm not ready to give up the feeling of her body against me just now. But I'm aware of time passing and I sigh, feeling reluctant as I turn my head and regard my stoic bodyguard who is patiently waiting for my instructions. I give a heavy sigh. "Pack the picnic stuff away and fold the blanket" I instruct softly.

She looks so vulnerable as she sleeps. She twitches slightly and I quickly stroke her hair again, causing her to relax. The bodyguard, Damien is quick to do what I ask and then comes back, carrying the stuff with him. His eyes are narrowed. "She looks very relaxed" he notes bluntly.

I give a small smile "She is" I say, gently placing her on the floor and stretching before standing and then ever so gently, picking her up in my arms.

She's light as a feather. I frown at how thin she feels. It's almost as though she doesn't eat enough. That needs to change I think making a mental note of it. It worries me to think that she might not be eating properly.

She stirs slightly and then resettles against me. She burrows her head against my chest and my heart skips a beat.

"We should go," I say quietly, gazing down at her "It's getting late, and no doubt father and lan are wondering where we are."

Damien shifts restlessly on his feet. "Actually sir, your brother is fully aware of where you have been this entire time" he explains tightly "I've kept him informed as to your whereabouts. He was very surprised to hear that you had gone out with Miss Lorelai but was pleased to hear it."

I frown at him "I didn't give you permission to do that" I said a little irritably as we began to make our way back towards the main building.

"I know sir, but ever since the incident that happened at your company, Mr Ian has been explicit in knowing where you and his father are at all times. I didn't dare disobey his orders."

"Snitch" I muttered childishly under my voice, fighting the urge to poke my tongue out at him.

Damien flinched but said nothing as we walked inside the building, opening the door so that I could carry Lorelai through. "Did you have a good time...?" the woman who welcomed us trailed off as she took in Lorelai in my arms.

"We had a fantastic time," I told her politely "but we have to go now. Thank you again for accommodating my request."

At least I didn't have to worry about dealing with social anxiety or reading social cues, I thought satisfied. That had been a bonus. The woman nodded dumbly as I continued to stride past her, still carrying Lorelai with ease, her soft snores filling the air.

We headed to the limo. The driver sprang into action, opening the door so that I could gently place Lorelai inside of it. I climbed in and put a hand on her, to keep her from rolling.

"She's really out of it," I said frowning as Damien peered in "Is this normal?" I asked confused.

"Has she had any medication?" Damien asked.

Oops. Maybe she shouldn't have had that wine with the painkillers. "I gave her strong painkillers this morning" I admit with a creased brow and a faint hint of worry "but I didn't think that a single glass of wine would affect her this much." "She's also recovering from being shot" Damien pointed out as I frowned again "She's probably just exhausted and her body is resting in order to recover."

Huh. Maybe taking this trip out was too much for her. I nodded at Damien who got into his car to follow. The driver started the limo. I leaned back against the seat, keeping a close watch on Lorelai. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Jo bn ib.com. Visit J obn I b.com to read the complete chapters for free. Was it my imagination or was she unusually clumsy? I sighed. I still had to look into the background of our employees to replace out who was selling secrets. I should have been doing that today, but instead, I had decided to play hookey instead.

To be honest, you had much more fun being in Lorelai's company than being stuck on your computer my mind told me while I tried to ignore it.

You keep looking at her lips like you want to kiss her. Would it be so bad if you did? She looks like a sleeping princess from a fairytale. Why don't you kiss her and replace out if her lips are as soft as you are imagining they are?

I cough and look out the window. I was being fanciful now. Lorelai rolls slightly and I quickly move to catch her but she steadies herself and goes back to sleep. I wonder what she's dreaming about. She's restless, moving her legs and her arms around. I eye her concerned, wondering if I should just wake her up, but if she needs her rest, then I'm hesitant to do SO.

My phone rings. I scramble to answer it before Lorelai wakes up. It's lan. Naturally. I scowl into the phone.

"Did you have a nice time, heading off with your maid?" lan's voice is casual and nonchalant.

"You know very well where I've been, Damien's turned traitor and told you so don't act as though you don't know" I hiss in a low tone.

"Why are you practically whispering?" his voice is confused.

"Lorelai is sleeping" I answer reluctantly.

"Ah," he's amused and chuckling "you're lucky father has no idea where you are. Do you think he would approve of you taking a maid on what basically constitutes as a date, even if he's grateful for what Lorelai did for us?"

"It wasn't a date" I snap, trying to deny it and knowing how weak that sounds.

He chuckles "keep telling yourself that Knox but we both know that it was. I'm proud of you" he lowers his voice "for going out and putting yourself out there, but I don't want you to get hurt in the process."

"I'm not going to get hurt," I tell him.

"Your heart is in the right place but Lorelai is already committed to someone. Knox unless you're prepared to fight dirty and take her for yourself, don't get too close, for your own sake. I don't want to be picking up the pieces of your broken heart again and trying to put you back together. This girl, for some reason, has you enamored with her."

"I'm not going to let that happen," I tell him unsteadily "Now was there a reason that you rang?"

He sighs "I have a virus on my computer I need you to look at when you get back. I suspect it was sent from our competitor. It was under the guise of an innocent-looking email but it's playing havoc with my system and I can't do anything. I've unplugged the computer but I worry that they managed to hack into some important documents. Can you take a look and determine what they managed to do and maybe replace out where the virus was sent from?"

"lan you know better than to just open up an email from some unknown person" I growl with frustration.

"I know" he snaps "but this looked like one of our clients and before it registered that it wasn't I had already clicked on it. I swear it looked like a basic email or I wouldn't have."

He sounded so indignant. I sigh. "Could it be possible that the virus was already uploaded on the computer and you just clicked the trigger so to speak?"

He's silent. The truth is he doesn't know. Ian isn't good with technology. He knows the basics and enough to do his job, but anything beyond that is beyond his capability.

"I'll need your laptop" I tell him shaking my head at the cell phone in amusement "make sure you bring it home with you.

Do you think this has anything to do with the fact you have me looking into the employee files?" I ask intrigued.

"The thought had occurred to me" lan's voice is tight "it seems entirely too coincidental with the timing. Not to mention we've just been beaten again at the post for a different prototype we were thinking of investing in." "I'm sorry, I should be looking into this" My tone is flooded with guilt now.

"You're allowed to have a life Knox, god knows you do enough for us as it is. Stop acting like you're not allowed out of your room" lan scolds "but if you can start looking back into backgrounds that would be appreciated." "You got it," I say and then hear the sound of beeping.

My brother has hung up on me. I roll my eyes and put the cell phone back in my pocket.

I hear a soft sound behind me and turn back around. It's Lorelai and she's crying out in her sleep. I reach out a hand to waken her but she halts me in her tracks when she lets out a slow and loud moan. I freeze. This does not sound like she's having a nightmare. She restlessly moves. I pause, my hand still reaching out.

"Knox" she moans.

Is she dreaming about me? My hand shakes slightly as I pull it back. I know I shouldn't be listening. That a gentleman would wake her. But I can't help myself. She moves again and then gives a small whimper.

"Knox, oh"

I give a crooked grin. She is dreaming about me. I smirk feeling like I'm floating on high. I wonder what she's dreaming about, eyeing her with fascination. Is she dreaming that we're together? The notion floods me with a sense of great satisfaction. We reach the house. Her cheeks are pink and her hair is windswept. The driver opens the door. I sigh.

"I want you" she moans "Knox."

The driver raises a brow and then steps back, looking away. I growl at him and motion for him to move. I then reach over and shake her gently, deciding not to give away what she's been muttering in her sleep.

She wants me? If only she wanted me for real, I thought with a grimace but what she said in her sleep was only a dream and could not be mistaken for real life. Still, it gave me hope that maybe, I had a chance, to make her see that I could be the guy for her if she was willing to give me the chance. But a girl like Lorelai deserved the best type of man out there. Was I that man? I badly wanted to be. If she would let me prove it, I could be the type of guy she wanted, couldn't I? Spectrum and all. If she just gave me the chance, I would do anything to be the man she wanted.