Sunbathing in paradise!

It feels like you’re floating on air after that; you can’t seem to wipe the smile off your face. Your cheeks actually start to hurt after a while, but you don’t mind. Everything just feels perfect.

It’s only a short time later that you become aware of someone else watching you.

At least, you think you’re being watched. Whoever it is, they’re far away – shielded by ferns and a windbreak, but as you squint, the sunlight reflects sharply off something pointed in your direction.

You sit up, and next to you, Emma stirs beneath her sunglasses. ‘What is it?’ she mumbles sleepily. You cough.

‘Ah, Em… not to ruin the moment, but I think somebody might be papping us.’

Emma exhales in **** irritation. ‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ she groans. ‘Here? Now? Already?’

‘Well…’ You squint again, harder. The more you look at it, it doesn’t exactly look like he’s holding a camera…

Then there’s a sudden movement in the distance, and the next thing you know, a tall figure is striding across the beach. The sun’s behind him, so it’s almost impossible to get a good look – but he looks older, muscular, with close-cropped hair and a walk that feels military.

Beside you, Emma lets out a sigh of mingled relief and annoyance. ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake,’ she breathes. ‘Sarah. I should’ve known.’

Whoever that is, it’s not Sarah. ‘Wait, you know that guy?’

‘Of course I know him.’ Emma swings her legs off her sunlounger, making no effort to cover up her chest. ‘Hey, Alan! What a surprise to see you here…’

The man comes to a crisp halt in front of you. ‘Miss Watson,’ he says evenly. ‘Nice to see you as always.’

Emma yawns, and you think she might be arching her back deliberately. Her boobs bounce a few times before settling. ‘Don’t tell me you just happened to pick the same holiday destination as us.’

‘No, ma’am.’ The man sounds completely unruffled, and his eyes are politely but pointedly averted from Emma’s breasts. ‘Sarah asked me to keep an eye on you, ma’am. First holiday without a bodyguard. She thought it best to be safe.’

‘I am safe,’ Emma grumbles. She loops an arm proudly around your waist. ‘Have you seen this guy get jealous? James is almost as overprotective as you are.’

‘That’s nice to know, ma’am,’ Alan says evenly. ‘But an extra pair of eyes never hurts. Just doing my job.’

Emma looks exasperated. ‘Honestly…’ She nudges you in the side. ‘Alan used to be in the SAS before he went into bodyguarding. So he’s professionally paranoid.’

Alan inclines his head. ‘Thank you, ma’am.’

‘And he was a medic,’ Emma continues as if he hadn’t spoken, ‘so every time I cough, he’s behind me with a first-aid kit. I think I caught him trying to bandage a headache once.’

‘An extra pair of eyes never hurts,’ Alan repeats stolidly. Emma huffs, digging a hole in the sand with her toes.

‘Extra pair of eyes, my arse. Is that what you were doing over there? Spying on me?’

Alan draws himself up slightly. ‘No, ma’am,’ he says, with a slightly pained expression. ‘When you, ah, saw fit to remove an article of clothing, I readjusted my binoculars to point up the beach – and only up the beach, all morning. Spying on you is not in my job description, miss. Looking out for you is.’

Emma looks down at her boobs as if she’s only just remembered they’re exposed. ‘Oh, come on. You’re lying over there with binoculars and you’re telling me you didn’t have a single peek? Not one?’

Alan shakes his head violently. ‘No, ma’am,’ he repeats, eyes still steadfastly fixed on a point somewhere over Emma’s head. ‘With respect, I’ve known you too long for that. You were nineteen when I met you.’

Emma makes an exasperated sound. ‘Yes, I was nineteen. And I’m twenty-six now, so we’ve known each other, what, seven years now?’

‘Yes, ma’am.’ Alan’s expression doesn’t waver. ‘And begging your pardon, miss, but I’ve watched you encounter quite enough perverts in that time. I’d rather not add another one to the list, if it’s all the same to you.’

Emma snorts, but smiles in a resigned sort of way. ‘Fair enough. I’ll stop being a brat. James, would you grab my top for me?’