“Yep.” He flashed me a grin. “I don’t practice much, but I specialized in criminal justice for a few years before realizing it wasn’t for me. I went into police work and was happier with that, then I got into private security and voila’…here I am. Better pay.” He grinned at Carly. “Sometimes the clientele sucks...”

“Hey!” She stuck her tongue out at him.

He winked at her.

She lobbed a boot at him, and then looked at me. “Ryan actually worked...well.” She sighed and pushed a loose curl back from her face. “When I was in high school, I was dating this guy...” Her voice trailed off.

Ryan moved to sit beside her, taking her hand. She leaned against him, and the gesture was so natural that it was clear she’d done it before. It was impossible not to see the bond between them, all three of them.

“Anyway, I met Ryan when he was still a cop. He was working a case. Jake had already been my bodyguard for forever.”

Jake snorted at that. “Forever?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Well, it seems that way. I was like eight when Josie found you.”

“Who’s Josie?”

“She was my aunt.” A sad, wistful smile curved her lips. “My dad’s sister. The only normal person in my life. My mom, my step-sister...you know.” She shrugged. “Anyway, there were a few things that happened when I was a kid and Josie decided I needed a bodyguard. I was eight when she hired Jake. There’ve been others, but Jake’s stayed with me. He’s like my big brother. So’s Ryan.”

I had no desire to be like her brother. She looked up at me just as the thought went through my mind and her lashes drooped low.

She looked away, her fingers toying with the hem of her skirt. “Please don’t quit, Bobby,” she said softly. “He wins if you do.”

“Dale has a right to hate me.” My own voice was quiet as I said it and she looked back up. Swallowing the knot of guilt, fighting the wave of shame, I made myself say it. “That guy I killed? The reason I was in prison? That was Dale’s older brother.”

***

I told myself I should just quit. Walk away. I’d already spent too much time telling them I should, that they should find somebody else. But she’d asked me not to. Even after I told her the truth about Dale, and the reason behind the hate in his eyes, she’d asked me to stay.

So I stayed.

Earlier, Ryan told me that a bodyguard had to be on hand all the time.

I should’ve been all but ready to jump at the chance to stay at the Seelbach instead of going back to my dump in the west end, but I felt wrong here. Out of place. Like I didn’t fit.

That feeling just kept growing as I tossed and turned in my bed. After nearly two hours, I ended up going back out in the living room.

The tumbler of bourbon had been emptied. I found the bottle, poured myself another drink and went to the window, staring outside as I sipped the bourbon.

I wasn’t there for more than two minutes when she came to join me.

“Can’t sleep?”

“I’m sleeping just fine,” I responded, not turning to look at her. “I sleepwalk.”

“I love a smart-ass.”

My skin pricked as she moved to stand next to me. She stood so close, I could feel the warmth of her, a teasing little promise.

I didn’t respond. Instead, I took another sip of the bourbon. Damn, but that stuff was good. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to go back to drinking the cheap shit I’d always had before. She was ruining me already.

“How much trouble is he going to try to cause you?” Carly asked into the quiet of the room.

“Who?”

I didn’t know why I bothered playing dumb.

She was a hell of a lot smarter than anyone gave her credit for. Well, anyone but Jake and Ryan. They didn’t underestimate her.

Her sigh was dramatically overdone, and from the corner of my eye, I could see the way she tipped her head back to the sky, almost as if she was praying for patience. If she found any, maybe she could share it. I needed some myself.

“Bobby…”

I tossed back the rest of the bourbon, and then put the glass down on the small table next to the window. “Caralee,” I said, mimicking her aggravated tone.

Then I turned, ready to go back to my room, even if I couldn’t get back to sleep. Except she caught my arm. I looked at her and immediately wished I hadn’t.

I wouldn’t be able to unsee the sight of her wearing some skinny-strapped white thing that covered her just down past her hips. She wore a sheer robe that I guessed was supposed to provide some extra modesty, but all it did was make me want to peel it away.

I felt like I’d just finished running five miles around the yard, my chest heaving, my heart pounding, my hands shaking.

“Bobby.”

“What?”

“I...” She blinked.

I reached up and touched her lower lip. It was so soft. I could remember just how soft too. And how sweet.

She swayed closer, a soft little noise escaping her.

This time, when she whispered my name, I didn’t bother saying anything.

I just kissed her.

She opened her mouth under mine and I groaned.

She was hot and sweet and more intoxicating than the bourbon I’d just finished. I felt drunk – on her – and I wanted more. Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her flush against me. My hands slid down to her hips, around to her ass.

Fuck, she had an amazing ass.

Her breasts pushed against my chest, nipples almost as hard as my cock. She nipped at my tongue and I shuddered. Her nails scratched at the back of my neck.

I could lose my mind for her. My mind, my heart, my everything.

I didn’t remember how we ended up on the couch. I didn’t know if I moved first, or if she did, or if we both fumbled our way over. But suddenly, we were there, and I twisted and she wiggled and then I had that miserable excuse for a nightgown shoved up.

Shit. She was gorgeous.

I cupped her breasts in my hands, and she gasped. She was fucking perfect. Full and soft and so damn female. Her breasts were big. Big and full, they filled my hands, so damn soft. Except her nipples. They were tight little points, stabbing into my hands. When I caught one in my mouth, she started to whimper.

The sound went straight to my already hard cock and I moaned as I teased my tongue across her sensitive flesh. I couldn’t wait to hear what other sounds she’d make.

Light blazed on.

In a flash, I was in front of her, blocking her body and glaring into the brilliance that temporarily blinded me.

“What the fuck.”

I recognized Ryan’s voice.

“Do you mind?” Carly snapped from behind me.

“There’s a reason bedrooms exist, Carly,” he said sourly.

I didn’t say anything. This was the first time I’d ever been caught with my pants almost down, and I was going to have a hell of a case of blue balls because of it too.

I wasn’t sure who I was more pissed at. Ryan for interrupting me, or me for letting myself get caught up in the moment.

***

I huddled over a cup of coffee, desperate for the caffeine. The food smelled amazing, but it was weird just taking food, even if I was allowed.

“Help yourself,” Ryan said, nodding at the spread.

My stomach rumbled even as I lied. “Not hungry.”

He lifted an eyebrow and I determinedly sipped at my coffee. I’d been hungrier than this before. It wouldn’t kill me, especially if I had caffeine to keep me going.

“You’re a stubborn son of a bitch, aren’t you?”

“I said I’m not hungry,” I said flatly.

“Okay, look.” Ryan folded the paper he’d been reading and put it down.

He was wearing a blue dress-shirt with tiny white stripes, and a red tie. The sleeves were folded back, but I suspected they’d be rolled down and buttoned up in no time. The man looked like a million dollars while I looked like a bum who needed a lot more than a cup of coffee. I caught a quick glance of my reflection in the glasses that Ryan wore to read. Okay, I looked like a bum with a good haircut. A bit shorter than I usually liked, but definitely respectable. Even if nothing else about me was.