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Once inside the limousine, Annalissa eyed Vinny warily. Used to people taking over her life, making demands, she wondered what made his different. So far, while he appeared at ease pushing others around, she noticed that he was not forceful with her.

Peering at him from across the seats, she nervously fiddled with the beading on her long skirt. “I um…want to thank you…for back there…when you…got…um…everyone quiet,” she said haltingly.

“Ms. O’Brian, you don’t have to thank me,” he said genuinely.

Smiling, she nodded. Of course. I’m a paid job for him. Sucking in a deep breath, she said, “Well, if we are going to be together for a day or so, you really should call me Annalissa.”

He smiled, watching her face carefully for signs of fear or fatigue. He saw none of the former but plenty of the latter. “I’m sure you don’t need me telling you how beautifully you played tonight. It was…” he faltered un characteristically. Every word his mind came up with seemed lacking. Looking directly into her green eyes, he said honestly, “Soul changing.”

Her eyes widened at his words and he cursed himself for sounding like a fool. He started to apologize for his lack of eloquent phrases when she leaned across the space and placed her hand on his arm.

With tears in her eyes, she whispered, “That’s beautiful. Thank you so much.”

Chuckling, he said, “Well, I’m sure there were more appropriate musical descriptions I should have used.”

“No, no. Please understand. What you said about my performance…soul changing…that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do with my music. Truly, thank you.”

Annalissa felt the power of his arm under her fingertips. Suddenly heat filled the limousine as the air crackled around them. Licking her lips nervously, she leaned back in her seat removing her hand, once again missing the energy from his touch.

Vinny watched her sit back, avoiding his gaze as though nervous about what seemed to happen when they touched. Admittedly, he had no idea what was happening either. She looks young. Probably at least five or six years younger than me. His eyes could not help but roam down her body, showcased perfectly in the blue dress that set off her dark hair and green eyes. The bodice was tight, covered in sequins. The gentle swell of her breasts, while not large and heavy as he usually preferred, seemed perfect. The layers of silk in the long skirt had swayed gently as he had ushered her before him into the limousine .

Giving himself a mental shake, he thought, Not for me. Not even my type. And that’s good. She’s a mission. And one I will see through to my utmost just like any other mission.

They arrived at the large, exquisite hotel and he alighted from the limo first and then, after quickly scanning the area, turned to assist her from the vehicle. With his bag in one hand and her hand tucked into his other, they entered the tall glass doors and walked to the reception desk.

Before she could speak, he nodded to the manager and said, “This is Ms. O’Brian. You will have a reservation for her. I am Vincent Malloy. We have a reservation for adjoining rooms, regardless of where her original placement was to be. Her harp case, when it arrives, it is to be brought to her room.”

The hotel manager looked askance for a moment, then turned to Annalissa and said, “Mr. Levine booked you in a suite of rooms with several others from your group. We have Mr. Malloy on the floor below.”

The manager seemed to want her to make a decision, but she felt unsure. Todd always made the arrangements and he could be such a bear when he did not get his way. Glancing up at Vinny, her eyes implored him to see her dilemma.

Leaning down, Vinny saw the confusion in her eyes. He whispered, “You look very tired. I thought that you would like to be away from the others, have some dinner sent up to your room and relax with your harp. And,” he added. “I can’t do my job if you’re a floor away. ”

Hearing the noise of the rest of her entourage coming through the door made up her mind. Looking at the hotel manager she smiled as she pulled herself up and said, “Yes, please. I would like to have you follow Mr. Malloy’s instructions. Immediately, if you please.”

Giving her arm a squeeze, Vinny grinned and turned his attention back to the manager who was handing him their room keys.

“Annalissa dear,” Todd called out. “I’ll take care of all of this and you can go on up with Sharon and Parker.”

“I’m not staying in the suite,” she announced. She winced when her announcement was met with the outcry that greeted her.

Vinny had been proud of her statement, realizing that she often felt overwhelmed by the strong personalities in her life, but his protectiveness grew as soon as he saw her wince.

“She has her room adjacent to mine. It’s the only way I can be assured of her safety,” he declared.

“It’s not her safety that needs to be assured, you overgrown guard. It’s the harp that her father wants to be protected,” Gordon bit out.

Annalissa reared back as though slapped. She wondered why her father had hired a security agency to escort her back to Richmond. I should have known it was Easnadh. As much as she loved the harp herself and recognized its value, it still hurt to realize that was where her own father’s concern lay.

“You ass,” Todd said, turning on Gordon. “What the hell’s wrong with you? I have a good mind to have her find a new agent for all you’re worth. ”

“Me? You wouldn’t be anywhere if it weren't for me,” Gordon argued.

Vinny watched the players begin to squabble like children, but felt Annalissa press into his side as though escaping the unpleasant scene in front of her. Before he could drag her away, Parker came up to him. Tall, dark-skinned, with a handsome smile he said, “Security dude. I really like you. ‘Bout time this girl had someone looking out just for her.”

Vinny acknowledged the compliment and turned with her tucked into his side. He caught the eye of the hotel manager and jerked his head toward the harp case.

“Yes, sir. It’ll be sent straight up.”

With that he, Annalissa, Parker and Sharon made their way into the elevator.

That night, after Parker and Sharon helped Annalissa out of her clothes and makeup, they said their goodbyes and she fell into bed. Laying there, unable to sleep, she almost got up and played her harp. That was what she did at home when she could not sleep. Deciding she did not want to take a chance on waking Vinny next door, she stayed where she was. In bed. Alone as always. But this time, her mind full of the man in the connecting room.

Turning over, she punched her pillow and tried to force herself to sleep. But she could not get his take-charge attitude off of her mind. I’m surrounded by people trying to take over my life, why did he seem so different? Then it came to her. All the others try to control me to get me to do what they want me to do. What’s good for them. My manager, agent, teacher, father. But Vinny? When he took control, it was for me. What was good for me.

Never having been around a man like him, she felt overwhelmed. He was larger than life, like a hero from one of her romance novels. Tall, handsome, powerfully built. A face that would make women swoon. A panty-melting smile. Sighing, she wondered how many women had swooned at his feet or had their panties melted right off of their hips before he… Stop! Geez, I’m so lame. He’s just a man and he’s certainly not interested in me. I’m just a job. Well, Easnadh is his job actually. I’m just a by-product.

Finally giving up on sleep, she rose from the bed and settled in the chair with her harp on her lap. Stroking the strings she began to play softly, slow lullabies from her childhood filling the air.

In the room a few yards from hers, Vinny found sleep lacking as well. He heard her moving around earlier and now that it was silent, assumed she was in bed. His mind rolled back over the events of the day.

The first late plane from Richmond followed by the next one delayed out of Chicago. The rush to the concert hall only to be blown away by his assignment. Her music had stilled him. Filled him. Moved him in ways he had not been moved in years. Familiar sounds from her harp took him back to a time when his mother sang to him and Gabe every night. Haunting sounds from the last time he allowed music to fill his soul only to be ripped from him in violence.

He had been stunned when the creator of that music was none other than his mission. First shocked. Then bowled over by her beauty up close. Dark, silky hair hanging in waves down her back with small jewels woven throughout. The sky-blue evening gown swirled around her slender form, giving her a princess look. And when I barked at everyone to be quiet, she gave me a look…like I was the prince in her fairytale.

Fuck, I’m no prince, he thought ruefully. But, for the first time ever, the idea that he could be someone’s prince appealed to him.

Listening carefully and not hearing any sounds coming from the connecting room, he called Tony. “Yeah,” came the sleepy response.

Oh yeah, Virginia was three hours ahead so it must be about three in the morning there. “Wake up, Captain. Just thought I’d report in.”

“Okay, okay,” Tony said. “Let me get up so we can talk.”

Vinny heard Tony murmuring to his wife, Sherrie. He knew Tony would not want to disturb her rest and was probably going to another room.

“Okay,” Tony answered, “So I guess you know by now why I didn’t give you the name of the mission.”

“What the hell, man? He contacts you to protect his daughter’s harp, which just happens to have a name. And who the hell knew that musicians named their harps? But what I want to know is did you know who played that harp?”

Chuckling, Tony said, “Here’s the full story, Vinny. I was contacted by Mr. O’Brian saying his daughter was flying with a group of people to Los Angeles for a concert but he wanted her and her harp back the next day and not to wait for anyone else. He kept talking about some Asnev, or however the hell it’s pronounced. I had no idea he was talking about a harp’s name until the actual contract came in. By then, I’d seen the daughter and even saw a YouTube of her playing her harp.”

“You could have told me,” Vinny said.

“No, I really needed your head in the game. This girl’s got talent, but seems to be surrounded by people that push her one way and another. I wanted you there, without any predisposed ideas about the players. Yes, I need you to escort her and the harp back tomorrow, but more than that…I thought you’d be the right man for making sure that both the harp and the harpist were safe.”

Vinny nodded, smiling to himself. Tony had always been the best leader he had ever served under. He knew his missions. He knew his men. And Tony never had a problem matching up the two.

“You anticipate any problems?” Tony queried.

“Not at all, boss. I’ll be with Annalissa and her harp until we have it checked at baggage. Everything will go like clockwork, Tony. No worries on this end.”

“I knew you were the man for the job,” Tony added. “Safe travels and I’ll see you when you get in. ”

Vinny’s mind went to the beautiful woman lying in a bed not twenty feet from his. He tried not to think of her. She’s a mission. An intriguing, talented, musical, beautiful, totally charming in the most innocent way mission.

Shifting over in his bed, he wanted to ignore the call of the wild as his dick pressed against his boxers. Down boy. She’s not even my type. I like ‘em blonde, tall with long legs, curvy hips, and big tits. Loud and brassy for me. Not petite, dark-haired, green-eyed, women who looked like they would run away if someone said ‘Boo’ one minute and the next minute protecting a named harp. His mind went back to the change in her when she realized that she did not know where Easnadh was. Suddenly the mouse could roar.

And what would it feel like to take that untapped passion and teach it, tame it, turn it toward him? Groaning, he knew that if he kept this up he would need a cold shower. Sighing once again, he thought of the mission. It doesn’t matter how much I’m noticing her as a woman, I’ve got to tamp that down. Ruefully he realized, even if she was not a mission, her purity was not for him. He would protect. Care for. See safely home. But nothing more.

Then he heard the soft music drifting from her room. The tinkling sound of the harp drifted over him, calming his mind. But stirring his heart. Running his hand over his face, he tried to block out the memories. There’s nothing the same between this music and the unfamiliar sounds of a woman singing in the middle of a goddamn war. So why the hell does it make me crazy? That Army psychologist told me that I now associated it with the loss of control. Fuck that. No way I’m not in control now.

The music finally stopped and the quiet of the night once again penetrated his mind. He laid in bed a few more minutes, running through the needs of tomorrow trying to take his mind off of the woman in the connecting room. He had already checked on the limo service that would take him and Annalissa to the airport, as well as ordered breakfast from room service to be delivered to them. It would be a tight fit, but since her harp was a smaller Celtic harp, it would be able to travel in the limo with them. Then it would be checked for the flight. And they had a non-stop flight to Dulles International Airport in the D.C. area. Then another limo ride to Richmond.

Perfectly planned. All those years of Special Forces training taught them to plan extensively for every mission…and then be prepared when things go wrong. But what could possibly go wrong?