Page 22 of Wrecked (McIntyre Security Bodyguard #16)

Two Years Earlier

When I become Beth’s full-time bodyguard—after Shane reassigns his sister Lia to be Jonah Locke’s full-time bodyguard—the situation between me and Cooper gets even more complicated.

As Beth’s full-time protection, I come up to the penthouse every weekday morning around eight to pick her up and escort her to Clancy’s.

That means I get to see Cooper every morning because he doesn’t leave for work until after Beth departs.

And every weekday morning, Cooper and I pretend to be nothing more than casual work acquaintances—at least whenever Beth is around, because she has no idea we’re together.

If Beth is out of sight, and out of earshot, Cooper is only too happy to sneak in a kiss, even though we just spent the night before wrapped up in each other’s arms.

Cooper spends nearly every night with me in my apartment. He comes down to my place after Beth and Shane go to bed, and he returns to the penthouse around six in the morning before they rise and have a chance to notice he isn’t there.

Shane knows about this arrangement, but Beth is completely in the dark. I want to tell her, but Cooper keeps vetoing the idea. I hate keeping this big of a secret from her.

Since I started working with her full-time, Beth and I have become good friends.

She and I click, like brother and sister, or like high school BFFs.

She’s one of the kindest, most compassionate, most empathetic people I’ve ever known.

She’s sweet and loving and generous. She’s fiercely protective of her friends—Erin, Lia, and me—and her employees at Clancy’s.

The best day ever was the day she sacked The Dragon Lady. It was epic.

The more I get to know Beth, the more I love her. And the more I love her, the more I hate lying to her about my relationship with Cooper.

I guess the situation is complicated because she sees Cooper as an adopted father of sorts, since her own father died when she was just a baby.

And Cooper certainly considers her his adopted daughter.

Cooper dotes on Beth. There isn’t anything that man wouldn’t do for her.

He would take a bullet for her, no questions asked.

Actually, I would too. She means that much to me. She’s become far more than a job. She’s family.

So, let’s see. She’s like a sister to me, and Cooper’s like her father.

Yeah, I can see how that could get messy.

And because I’m fucking head-over-heels in—I mean, crazy—about Cooper, I’m willing to accept his need for privacy.

We compromised. We have a relationship, we just have to keep it quiet.

I can live with that.

Because the alternative—living without him—is unacceptable.

This morning, when my alarm wakes me at seven, I’m alone in my bed.

Feeling wistfully neglected, I wrap my arms around his abandoned pillow and pull it close so I can press my nose against the cool material and breathe in his scent.

I lie there for a while, reliving every minute of last night—every second, every touch—in my mind. That man has spoiled me.

After mooning over Cooper, I hop up, shower, dress, and hightail it up to the penthouse.

Yes, I have graduated to using the private penthouse elevator. I even have my own code now.

When I walk through the foyer into the penthouse, I head straight to the kitchen, where I’m sure to find Cooper.

As soon as he spots me, he points to the breakfast bar. “Sit.”

I do as he says, sighing as I obediently take my seat. Already, my dick is getting hard. Not the time, nor the place.

I glance around the great room looking for Beth and Shane, but I don’t see either of them.

“Shane’s already left for work,” Cooper says, reading my mind. “Beth’s still getting dressed.”

He pours coffee into a mug, sets it in front of me, and hands me a pitcher of his homemade French vanilla creamer, which is sinfully delicious.

While I’m pouring in the creamer, he sets a plate in front of me. This morning, we’re having scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast with butter and strawberry jam.

Before I can even pick up my fork, he leans across the counter, grasps my chin, and pulls me close for a kiss. “Did you sleep well?”

“Mm hmm,” I murmur, because his mouth is on mine again, and I can’t form words.

“I wasn’t too rough last night, was I?” he asks quietly.

I squirm a little on my barstool because I’m still feeling the delicious residual aftereffects. “I’m certainly not complaining.”

He kisses me again before pulling back. “You’ll speak up if I am, all right?”

I salute him. “Yes, sir.”

He wags a finger at me. “Don’t get smart with me, young man.”

“Who’s getting smart?” Beth asks as she comes around the corner and takes the seat beside me.

“This one here, that’s who,” Cooper says. He sets a plate in front of Beth and grabs the coffee pot. “Now, both of you eat up and get to work. It’s getting late.”

Beth and I hop to it and scarf down our breakfasts, because Cooper is definitely one who shall be obeyed .

I find myself having to suppress a perpetual smile because, despite having to keep our relationship a secret, I’m just so damned happy these days.

I have a job I love, a new girly BFF, and a partner I… like a lot.

Oh, hell. Who am I kidding?

I’m in love with Cooper. I just haven’t said the words to him, because he hasn’t said them to me. I know he cares about me. He goes out of his way, every single day, to show me he does. But as for saying the words… they’ve never crossed his lips.

Maybe they never will.

The thought makes my heart hurt.

* * *

That evening, the girls and I go out for a little impromptu party at a neighborhood nightclub.

Beth and Shane are engaged now, and Lia and I talked Beth into a girls’ night out to celebrate the event.

Beth invited Erin; her former roommate Gabrielle (another redhead, yay!); and Gina Capelli, a woman who owns a local coffee shop and catering business.

Gina’s going to cater the wedding reception.

When Erin orders a Blow Job , the entire table cracks up.

“God, Erin,” Lia says, shaking her head, “you just had to say that, didn’t you?”

Beth orders her drink of choice—a strawberry daiquiri, heavy on the strawberry and light on the alcohol.

Lia and I both order soft drinks. We’re both abstaining from alcohol because we both consider ourselves on bodyguard duty tonight. That’s overkill, of course. We both don’t need to be on duty. But Lia and I are sort of fighting over Beth. I suspect Lia resents that I have taken over her territory.

Tonight, since Lia is coming and is perfectly capable of being Beth’s protection, I was given the option of going out with the girls or joining the guys for a poker game at Jamie’s new apartment. Shane and all of his brothers are at the poker game, along with Cooper.

I chose to hang with the girls, partly because I knew I’d have fun with them, but also because I knew I’d be miserable at the poker party.

I would hate being in the same room with Cooper all evening but unable to act like we’re more than casual acquaintances.

He’d end up ignoring me, and I’d be a brooding mess.

It’s certainly entertaining to watch Erin, Gina, and Gabrielle trying to down their Blow Jobs without using their hands. After they clean up the resulting mess—liquor and whipped cream spilled all over the table—they head to the dance floor. The music is loud, and the dance floor is packed.

Beth and Lia pass on the dancing, but I’m game. “I’ll go with them,” I say, pretending to be put out. The truth is, I love to dance. “Just to make sure they don’t get pawed by drunks on the dance floor.”

Beth’s not one bit fooled by my self-sacrifice.

That leaves Lia to stay behind at the table with Princess.

While I’m getting my groove on with Erin and the other two, I glance over at our table just as Beth stands. She says something to Lia as she gestures toward the bathrooms. Naturally, Lia rises to follow her.

As we continue to dance, I watch for Beth and Lia to return to our table.

To my surprise, Beth returns by herself, looking rather flustered.

I’m about to head over to her to see what’s wrong when Lia arrives.

Looking totally miffed, she drops down in her chair beside Beth’s. I wonder what’s up with that.

And then she walks up to our table—someone whom I later learn is Luciana Morelli.

Initially, I have no idea who the woman is.

She’s certainly striking, though. At least six feet tall thanks to her heels, with dark hair and kohl-lined eyes, she’s stunning.

She’s wearing a form-fitting black dress with black stiletto heels.

Her skin is a light shade of soft brown.

The longer they chat, the more upset Beth becomes. Clearly something’s wrong. Lia looks like she’s ready to put the woman in a headlock.

I’ve seen enough. I head straight for Beth, moving in directly behind her.

I lay my hands on her shoulders, gripping them to let her know I’m here and I’ve got her back.

Literally. “Is there a problem here, ladies?” I manage to keep my voice even, at least until I have a better idea of what’s going on.

“There’s no problem,” Lia says, sneering at the woman. “This skank was just leaving.”

Whoa! Go, Lia!

The woman scowls at Lia. “I could have him back in a heartbeat if I wanted.” She snaps her fingers. “All I’d have to do is give him the slightest indication I’d take him back, and he’d come running.”

Is she talking about Shane? What a bitch!

As the brunette saunters off, Beth looks like she’s about to have an aneurysm.

“What the hell was that about?” I ask.

“She’s old news,” Lia says dismissively, as if that woman isn’t worth mentioning. “Lucy’s a bitter ex who likes to make trouble, that’s all. Just ignore her.”

“I’m ready to go now,” Beth says, looking alarmingly pale.

Damn. That woman ruined Beth’s engagement party.

If only I’d known then that this was just the beginning. This was just a warning shot across the bow. The worst was yet to come.