Sultry Bodyguard Summer (A Sunbreak Harbor Security Romance #9)

Chapter One Oliver

The din of music and conversation from the Sea Stars gala fades as the marina's front door closes behind us.

I’ve got one hand under my client Alex’s armpit, holding his wrecked ass steady. For the past hour, I watched him get increasingly drunk on top of being completely stoned. He swayed and spilled his drink. Got more belligerent by the minute.

I managed to pull him from the gala before he thoroughly embarrassed his family, which was why I was hired in the first place. His father was adamant Alex wouldn't ruin the family’s annual two-week summer stay in Sunbreak Harbor.

“Hey,” someone calls from behind us.

I turn, keeping my hand firmly under Alex’s armpit. A guy in a tux waves us down. He’s got slick hair, a Mr. Potato Head face, and a disproportionately small body. Earlier, I saw him talking to Alex at the gala.

“Alex.” He hisses out my client’s name. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going? Don’t you have something for me?”

I brace myself to hear what Alex has agreed to supply Mr. Potato Head. Drugs? Money? An escort? Two escorts?

“For you?” he slurs and fumbles around his pants pocket. “When you give me these fakes?” He pulls out a pair of silky, pink women’s underwear.

Mr. Potato Head’s face contorts with boy-like rage. “Alex, those are Livvy Jacob’s fucking panties. You said if I delivered them, I get the McLaren for the rest of the week. I’m sick of driving Dad’s ancient Porsche around Sunbreak. Who needs a fucking convertible? It’s shit for my hair.”

Alex presses the panties to his nose. “They don’t even smell like pussy.”

“You’re too fucking stoned to smell pussy.” Mr. Potato Head curls his upper lip.

“I can fucking smell pussy, and this doesn’t have any fucking pussy on it.” Alex struggles against me like he’s rearing to go after Mr. Potato Head.

I double the strength of my grip. “We’re going home now. You two, work this out tomorrow.”

“I’ll be at Windward Bliss at nine o’clock to get the McLaren.” Mr. Potato Head bares two rows of large white teeth in a shit-eating grin.

“You….” Alex lurches forward. I pull him backward, but not before he shoves the underwear into Mr. Potato Head’s shit-eating grin.

“You mother fucker.” Mr. Potato Head hurls himself at Alex.

I have to let Alex go to intercept Mr. Potato Head. I grab him by the lapels. He’s five inches shorter and has twenty-five pounds less muscle. It’s like taking care of an infant. I force him backward while he scrambles to stay upright.

“Go back to the gala.” I push him down, and he lands on his ass. “Text Alex tomorrow and work this out.”

“You better fucking believe I will. Who the fuck are you anyway? His babysitter?” He makes a disgusted sound and marches back toward the marina.

I drag Alex toward his father’s Mercedes. “What's wrong with you?” he slurs. “You should’ve taken care of his ass. Beat the shit out of him. What's Dad paying you for anyway?”

“He’s paying me to get you home safely each night.” I open the back door and shove Alex inside.

“I don’t need you,” Alex slurs.

Doors locked, I pull out of the marina and take the road toward Windward Bliss, Alex’s family home.

A message comes in from Darcy. Meet me at the Salty Spoon when you get off. I’m treating you to breakfast.

That means Darcy has something for me. This babysitting gig is tamer than the jobs I usually take. But Alex’s family is paying three times what I usually get.

I’ve got two more hours until breakfast. I could sleep or do a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu session. I'm too keyed up for sleep. I'll sleep after breakfast, then get ready for another night of babysitting overgrown child, Alex.

I find Darcy at a patio table next to a giant Bird of Paradise plant. No one else is on the patio. The street outside is empty save for the early morning runners and dog walkers.

“How’s hygiene bodyguarding?” She holds up her cream-colored coffee mug to the Salty Spoon server and points to me.

“Alex is as clean as he gets.”

“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 motto We 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.