Page 8 of Wrecked (McIntyre Security Bodyguard #16)

Three Years Earlier

On a Monday morning, while I’m working security at a downtown corporate event, I receive a text from Shane.

Me: Am I in trouble?

Shane: No. I have a new assignment for you.

Me: I’ll be there.

I show up at my boss’s office right on time and knock.

“Come in, Sam.”

“Hey, boss. What’s up?”

“Have a seat.” As I sit, he says, “I have a new bodyguard assignment for you. It’ll start off part-time, but eventually it’ll become full-time.”

“Okay. I’m all ears. Who’s the client?”

“It’s not just any client.” Shane turns a framed photograph sitting on his desk around to face me. The object of the photo is a drop-dead gorgeous young blonde. I mean, seriously, she looks like an angel. “This is my girlfriend, Beth Jamison.”

Her hair is silky straight, hanging to her shoulders. Her eyes are a mesmerizing blue-green framed with thick, light brown lashes. Her skin is like cream.

“Wow. She’s stunning. Mind if I ask why she needs personal protection?”

Shane takes a deep breath. “It’s a bit of a long story. That’s why I wanted to meet with you this afternoon. I want to fill you in on Beth’s background and let you know what the challenges are.”

“Beth is twenty-four,” he says. He pauses then to collect his thoughts.

“And she’s been through a lot.” He stops to glance out of one of his fancy corner office windows at the Chicago skyline.

He goes on to tell me the harrowing story of how she was abducted when she was six years old.

Fortunately, thanks to an eye witness who could describe the kidnapper’s work van, Beth was tracked down and rescued before she could be seriously hurt.

“Thank God he hadn’t physically hurt her, although she was emotionally traumatized. ”

Shane runs his fingers through his short, brown hair.

“Not long ago, her kidnapper was released early on parole. That’s actually how I came to meet Beth.

Her brother, Tyler Jamison—now a homicide detective—initially hired us to provide Beth protection 24/7 until we could determine whether or not her abductor—a man by the name of Howard Kline—was still a threat to her. ”

Shane leans forward in his chair. “To make a long story short, Beth and I fell in love.” He tells me that his brother Jake leads a surveillance team that is watching Kline’s every move.

“This is where you come in,” Shane says.

“Up until this time, my sister Lia has been Beth’s full-time bodyguard.

But recently, I’ve been transitioning Lia to a new client, so she’s tied up during the day.

That’s when you’ll be with Beth—during the day—at Clancy’s Bookshop.

She’s the owner, but the store is managed by a woman named Vanessa Markham. ”

“Your objective, obviously, is to make sure Beth is safe at the bookstore. Lia will drop her off in the morning around nine and pick her up around two o’clock and escort her back to the penthouse, where she lives with me.”

“While she’s at the bookstore, she’s under your protection. Mack Donovan, whom I recently hired to head up security at the bookstore, will be close by to help if needed.”

“Understood. So, when do I get to meet her?”

“This afternoon. Meet us at the bookstore at four-thirty. It’ll just be a short meet-and-greet today. Tomorrow, you’ll officially start. You’ll carry a concealed weapon in the store, and Mack will show you the safe room we’ve installed in the bookstore, in case of emergency.”

* * *

At the appointed time, I head to Clancy’s Bookshop to meet my new client.

Mack Donovan greets me at the door. He offers me his hand, and we shake. “Welcome, Sam. I heard you were coming today to meet Beth.”

“Thanks. So, where is my new client?” I glance around, searching for a pretty blonde with blue-green eyes.

“Last I saw her,” Mack says, “she was in Romance.” He points across the floor.

I follow Mack through the store to the Romance book section, where we find Shane seated on an upholstered armchair reading a newspaper.

When he spots us, he puts the paper down and stands. “Sam. I see you’ve met Mack.”

“Yeah.” I do a quick visual sweep of the area and immediately notice a pretty young blonde standing at the end of the book aisle perusing a hardcover book. I can only see her profile, but know that’s got to be Beth.

As if she can feel my eyes on her, she glances our way and smiles.

God, she’s exquisite. I wave at her. “Excuse me. I think I’ll go introduce myself.”

Shane gestures for me to go for it. “Be my guest.”

I walk down the aisle to meet her. “Hey, boss.” I hold out my fist.

Beth tucks the two books she’s holding into the crook of her arm and bumps her fist against mine. She’s still smiling, so I take that as a good sign.

“Hello,” she says.

“Sam Harrison, ma’am. I’m your security detail here at Clancy’s. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

She laughs, the sound soft and light. “Just Beth, please. Which branch?”

Now it’s my turn to laugh. I guess I gave myself away.

“US Army, ma’am—I mean Beth. Former Ranger, like Mack.

I broke both legs in a parachute drop gone bad, so now I’m a civilian.

When you’re here on the premises, I’m your shadow, unless Lia’s here.

Shane says you’re going to be working here part-time. ”

She nods. “That’s the plan.”

“Don’t worry about The Dragon Lady,” I say. “Shane told me she’s a real bitch, but I’ve got your back.” I wink at her.

She grins. “Thanks, Sam.”

“All right, then. Carry on, boss. I’ll be close by if you need me.”

As I return to Shane and Mack, Beth resumes perusing books.

“Call or text if you have any questions,” Shane tells me.

“Will do.”

My first thought is this has to be the cushiest job ever. I get to follow this gorgeous girl around a bookstore? Not a problem. We can just hang out and read all day.

When Beth moves to the next aisle, I shift my position so I can keep her in my sights.

Immediately, I go on red alert when some guy walks right up to her and starts talking to her like he knows her.

He’s about five-ten, with light brown hair streaked with blond highlights, wearing a gray knit beanie, blue jeans, and a T-shirt.

Even though she seems to know him, she’s clearly uncomfortable with his presence.

When he lays a hand on her arm, she flinches.

I start moving toward her, but Shane pushes past me, muttering, “Son-of-a-bitch.”

We’re both moving in Beth’s direction, but a livid Shane gives me a hand signal telling me to stand down. “I’ll handle this,” he says.

Shane quickly closes the distance between himself and Beth, but he stops short of intervening. He stands there watching their interaction. At first, I’m confused as to why he isn’t cracking that guy’s skull open, but then I see that when Beth notices Shane’s presence, she instantly relaxes.

I walk up behind Shane, and he says, “He’s an ex-boyfriend. I want to give her a chance to handle this herself.”

The ex asks Beth a question, and she shakes her head. No.

Beth and Beanie Guy exchange a few more words, and then apparently Shane has reached the end of his patience with this guy. He walks up behind Beth and lays his hands on her shoulders. You can just see the tension melt from her as she smiles.

Shane draws her back against him and kisses the back of her head, clearly staking his claim. As if he’s saying mine, asshole, back off!

The three of them are talking, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. Body language says everything, though. Beth is now completely at ease, Shane is glaring at Beanie Guy like he’s about to rip him a new one, and Beanie Guy’s hackles are definitely up.

Meanwhile, Shane is lightly stroking Beth’s shoulder with his thumb like he doesn’t have a care in the world. What a badass.

I keep my distance to let Shane handle this himself, but I’m close by and ready to act if needed.

Once Shane has effectively chased the ex-boyfriend off, he and Beth head for the exit. I join them, walking on Beth’s other side.

Shane glances at me over Beth’s head. “I want that asshole removed from the premises immediately and banned from the store. If he steps one foot inside this place again, detain him and have him charged with trespassing.”

I nod. Then I glance at Beth to see how she’s holding up. “Hey, I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

She smiles at me. “Thanks, Sam.”

* * *

I guess now that Beth’s gone from the store, I’m free until I’m scheduled to show back up here tomorrow morning at nine.

I don’t really feel like going home to an empty apartment.

At loose ends, I decide to go to the shooting range to blow off some steam and practice my shots.

It’s after five now, so Cooper shouldn’t be there.

He’s the last person I want to run into.

Cooper’s one of the most attractive men I’ve ever met, and I’d give anything for a chance to get to know him better.

But he made it pretty clear when we first met that he can’t decide whether he wants to bake me cookies, get me off, or ignore me entirely.

It’s been ages since I’ve laid eyes on him, and I’m not going to chase after some guy who can’t make up his mind.

When I get to the shooting range, I’m relieved to see there are only a few vehicles here—and none of them are Cooper’s. It looks like the coast is clear.

Using my employee badge, I let myself into the secured building.

I sign in at the front desk, where a woman named Theresa is on duty this evening.

After I grab paper targets and ear protection, I pass through the soundproof door leading to the indoor shooting gallery.

I walk to the very last stall, passing two other employees, a man and a woman, both of whom have the same idea I do. Practice.

I stop in the same booth Cooper and I once shared on that fateful day I met him. The time he asked me if I’d kissed a man. God, that seems like a lifetime ago.