Casper slowly undid the buttons on his long coat. "I'm sure you have many demands on your time, Emilio," he said softly, but the bodyguard stood still.
"My priority is protecting Miss Phillips, sir."
"That's true." Casper removed his coat and dropped it over the back of the nearest chair. "But not," he said gently, "From me."
Emilio hesitated and glanced at Holly. "You have the alarm I gave you, madam, should you need me for anything."
There was no missing the affection in Holly's smile. "I'll be fine, Emilio, but thank you."
Watching this interchange with speechless incredulity, Casper was engulfed by a wave of anger so violent that it shook him.
Against his will he was transported back eight years, and suddenly he was seeing another woman smiling at another man.
Pain cut through the red mist of his anger, and he glanced down at his hand and realised that he was gripping the back of the chair so tightly his knuckles were white.