Page 2 of Sultry Bodyguard Summer

“I bet.”

“He’s got a thing for women’s undergarments.”

“Dirt-eating slug. Any regrets taking the job?”

I shake my head. “After the cargo job, I needed something low key.”

She studies me, her expression growing serious. “How would you feel about turning the Alex job over to Heath and taking on something a little trickier?”

There’s a touch of concern in Darcy’s gaze, which I rarely see. She was a case lead in the Coast Guard Investigative Service with Sloane until a few corrupt colleagues made it impossible for them to stay. After that, Sloane started Sunbreak Security Services and Darcy was his first hire.

“What have you got?”

She sits back and folds her arms across a T-shirt with the Sunbreak Security mottoWe hold steady in the swell. “A friend of mine from high school is having stalker problems. A few months ago, she got in contact with me about everything she was going through. I helped her move to Sunbreak Harbor to get away from him. Problem is, he followed her here.”

The server sets my coffee on the table. Darcy stays silent while he leaves the patio. “Thing is, I know him. He’s a mutual friend’s older brother. I’ve already had a chat with him about leaving Sienna alone. He had the nerve to say he didn’t know she lived here, too.”

Frowning, she takes a sip of coffee. “He’s a sick bastard. It’s not just the watching and the tracking and the online harassment. She’s had animal feces spread on her windshield. There was a dead raccoon waiting on her trash can when she took out the trash. Funny thing, it wasn’t there when she went out for an early morning run. He must’ve been watching her leave and put it there while she was gone.”

“Why is she going on morning runs? Is she running with someone?”

“She doesn’t have anyone. I put Heath in charge of tracking the stalker, but it's not working. We need someone on Sienna. I think you’d do better than Heath. I’d like you two to change jobs.You do protection for Sienna, and he does hygiene bodyguarding for Alex.”

Darcy's phone vibrates. “Where are you now?” she asks after a moment listening.

“Good call. I’ll be right over.” She meets my gaze. “It’s Sienna. Blake’s been inside her house. She’s safe. She ran to the clubhouse, and one of the security guards looked through every inch of her house to make sure he wasn’t still there. I’m going over now. You want to come? See if you’re interested in new protection duties?”

“Sure.”

I follow Darcy’s car through the Mangroves Club gate. The neighborhood is situated on a private eighteen-hole golf course. The homes range in size but have a good acre between them. The roofs are red-tiled. The exteriors are stucco. They’ve got large windows fronted by large bushes and multi-car garages.

No eyes on the street. No sidewalks for passersby. A stalker who got through the gate and blended in with the residents wouldn’t attract a lick of attention.

Doesn’t seem like the wisest choice of residences, but Darcy said she helped her friend Sienna move here.

She pulls into the driveway of a one-story house on the smaller side for the neighborhood. It's surrounded by tall palms and pines.

I walk over to Darcy’s car. “How did Sienna end up in Mangroves? Why didn’t she choose somewhere with more eyes on the street? And fewer palm trees for cover?”

Darcy gives me a searching look. She’s holding back. What’s going on with this case? Is Sienna into something illegal? Or government work?

“She wanted a private place to meet clients. I’ll let her tell you about her work. But suffice to say, her clients expect discretion.”

Okay, so possibly illegal?

One of the front double doors opens. A woman walks toward us.She's superior.I can’t put my finger on what makes her superior. I only know it in my bones.

She’s got soft brown eyes and a pile of light brown hair twisted into a knot. Her nose is straight and high. She’s in yoga pants and a T-shirt. Yet, she strikes me as regal.

My body burns at the sight of her.

For the first time in my life, I unequivocally want to fuck.

There’s no way I can take this job.

Chapter Two: Sienna

IpullDarcyintoa full-body hug. I know I’m taking advantage. She doesn’t do big hugs. Back in high school, she was never one for the boob-squishing embraces I loved. Hell, I still love. For Darcy, there was a "good to see ya" hug and a "see ya later" hug.