Jack Hardy The Legacy Returns

003 Lucky Guy

Five minutes later, Jack found himself seated beside Juliet in a luxurious Bentley Continental. Two more black SUVs with her security team led the way.

Jack didn't give the expensive car much thought as he owned a dozen of the newer models. His attention was entirely on the woman next to him.

Up close, Juliet Forbes was even more breathtaking than earlier.

He observed the perfect curve of her cheekbones, the full swell of her lips, and the elegant way she wore her expensive dress. Her long dark hair fell slightly forward, framing her face like a halo.

Jack wondered if God had sent this angel to tempt him. How lucky was he that this goddess was about to become his wife?

Juliet caught him staring, and her hazel-green eyes narrowed. "Stop looking at me with your perverted gaze," she said sharply. "Or I'll have the driver pull over and poke your eyes out."

Jack's lips curved into an annoying grin, and he didn't look away. "I'm just admiring the view. If I'm going to be your husband, I might as well look at my property."

Juliet's mouth fell open slightly, shock animating across her perfect face. "Did you just say I am your property? What kind of husband do you plan to be?"

Jack leaned back against the seat, stretching his arms along the backrest.

"I'll live off the family's riches, enjoy gourmet delicacies and drinks, and have a romp in a luxurious bedroom with my gorgeous wife. All of it sounds like a sweet deal to me."

Juliet's cheeks flushed immediately with a mix of anger and revulsion. She reached into her briefcase and pulled out a thick folder, slapping it onto his lap.

"You are disgusting!" she snapped. "Before you get any more sick ideas, read the marriage agreement you agreed to!"

Jack opened the folder, flipping through the pages casually. There was a monthly allowance of $50,000 for his "public duties" as husband to paint the image of a happy couple.

Jack and Juliet's private life would be the exact opposite, with separate bedrooms. There would be no physical relationship between them under any circumstances.

The young man let out a low whistle, feigning heartbreak. "You're killing me here. How am I supposed to survive without love?"

Juliet snatched the folder back, glaring at him. "It is not too late to back out. Your choice."

Jack chuckled and winked at her. "Fifty grand a month to play pretend husband is fine with me. However, to force me to practice celibacy…"

Juliet's expression softened a bit. Did he change his mind? "You can date whoever you want as long as you keep it a secret. I don't care. On my end, I won't cheat on you."

Jack tilted his head, curious now. "Why not? A gorgeous woman like you probably has a hundred eligible bachelors waiting in a queue."

She looked out the window, her voice turning colder. "I don't trust men. They're all liars, manipulators, and exploiters. I'll never let a man control my life."

"That's why this marriage is on paper only. I'm hiring a husband, not taking a lover."

Jack studied her profile and the way her fingers gripped the folder tightly. There was something real beneath her hard shell, which made her even more intriguing. "Where do I sign?"

Juliet hesitated, watching him. She had expected resistance, bargaining, or at least excitement over the money. This calm acceptance raised red flags.

She thought she held all the power in this transaction, but something about Jack Hardy told her he was in charge.

Just then, the driver hit the brakes, and the Bentley slowed to a halt. Up ahead, the road was blocked. There had been a serious accident.

A large truck lay on its side, with cargo spilled across the lanes. Police cars flashed their lights everywhere, and officers directed traffic to other roads.

An officer approached the Forbes motorcade, waving at them urgently. "Everyone out!" he shouted. "We need to see everyone's identification, or you'll be detained!"

The bodyguards and her chauffeur climbed out immediately to handle the situation. Juliet reached for her door handle to join them.

"I'll deal with this. The Commissioner owes my family favors. We'll be through this mess in minutes."

Before she could open the door, Jack's hand shot out and grabbed her arm. "Don't," he said. "Something smells fishy."

Juliet tried to pull away. "What are you doing? Let go of me!"

His grip didn't budge, making her squirm harder. Was he making a move on her, now that the chauffeur wasn't around?

She struggled so hard that her Rolex's metal band broke, and the watch fell. Jack, distracted by it, released her arm.

Juliet threw the door open and stepped out, marching towards the officers with her head held high.

"I'm Juliet Forbes," she announced loudly. "Let us go, or you'll have to explain yourself to the Commissioner."

The lead officer, hearing her name called aloud, turned. His expression changed in an instant. In one smooth motion, he raised his weapon and fired point-blank into the nearest bodyguard's head.

Then another shot. And another.

Screams erupted as the police revealed themselves as impostors. The Forbes bodyguards drew their weapons, but they were already falling, taken by surprise.

Juliet froze. The assassins had killed enough bodyguards to clear the path and have a straight shot at the heiress. All their guns swung towards her.

The young woman gasped and closed her eyes, her heart stopping in its tracks. This was it—death. The assassins' gunfire roared in her ears.

The next second, the world around her shifted impossibly in a blur. Juliet's eyes snapped open to see that she was inside the Bentley again.

Jack's strong arms were around her, one arm cradling her torso, the other wrapped securely around her thighs.

Her body was settled in his lap, her soft curves pressing intimately against his hard frame.

Outside, bullets thudded harmlessly against the bulletproof car and the asphalt. "What happened? How am I here?" Juliet sputtered in confusion.

Jack looked down at her with a heroic grin, though his eyes were sharper and focused now.

"Hi, darling," he said softly in a teasing voice. "How heartless of you to leave your fiancé behind and talk to strangers…"