Billionaire Protector (The Secret Billionaires #6)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

S arah Sloan’s Review

Cole Carter: 1 star

Avoid at all costs. Arrogant, brutish, authoritative and overprotective. Still thinks he can control everything…

Including me.

What would the man do to her?

Would – not could – because the powerful embodiment of masculinity could do whatever he wanted. Even in the darkness, his size was apparent, his strength undeniable. Only his outline was visible, as he rose from the shadows like a conquering warrior, tall and muscular and solidly built. She was below average height (not that she’d ever admit it), but he soared to way over six feet, with the strength to match. Oh yeah, to a defenseless woman, he could do anything.

Only she wasn’t a defenseless woman.

He was going down.

Sarah Sloan crept over the slick pavement, her regulation boots treading with the smoothness of a Stealth Bomber. She inhaled jasmine-scented rain, barely noticing its icy stings as it pricked her face, bit her arms and hands. She peered into the alleyway, but only shadows and bright yellow police tape greeted her. The crime scene made an unlikely showing in her small town of Harmony Creek, marking the area where the arsonist once stood. Had he returned for more action?

It was a curious night to do so, when the velvet sky poured down water that would extinguish any blaze, but perhaps he’d come back for some other mischief. Of course, it might be someone else entirely.

Yeah, right. Who else but the culprit would return to the crime scene during one of Florida’s fiercest tempests?

Sarah glanced at her watch, its silver hands barely visible in the moonlight. Three in the morning, playtime for storybook witches and vampires – and real-life criminals. She looked back and gasped. Where was the man, the one examining the crime scene he’d likely perpetrated? A chill crept up her neck, a tingling, an awareness. It was her only warning…

Before she was captured.

Strong arms grabbed her from behind, securing her, pulling her against a chest crafted of pure granite. An expansive body pressed along her length, locking her in possessive heat as he tightened his hold. She grasped for her gun, hidden under her jacket, but his grip and her awkward position made even the smallest movement impossible. Still, even without her weapon, she was no fragile prey. She would not go down easy.

Sarah relaxed, feigning weakness where none existed. As expected he slackened, too, ever-so-slightly, but it was enough. She blasted her elbow back, rejoicing when a soft grunt signaled she’d hit just the right spot. Most men would’ve doubled over in pain, but her muscle-bound warrior merely loosened his hold. She seized the opportunity, jerking her other arm free to attempt another jab.

It didn’t work.

Anticipating her exact move, he blocked her. She tried another attack, this one with her foot, but again he foresaw it, tightening his hold. Through it all, he maintained exquisite control, never hurting her, attesting to far more skill than raw power. Heat engulfed her, screaming inescapable danger. Her captor was no amateur. Just like her, he’d clearly trained in the art of hand-to-hand battle. Furthermore…

She was in deep trouble.

She could take down most men, even as big as her current captor, but he far surpassed most men. Perhaps if they were the same size, she’d have a chance, but the combination of pure brawn and innate skill granted him an undeniable advantage. Hope was not lost, however. Time to use some brains.

“Do you know the punishment for attacking a police officer?” she yelled over the still-pounding rain. “Backup is on its way. You’re going to see nothing but bars for the next decade.”

Unfortunately, he didn’t release her and start begging for forgiveness, as the script in her mind read. His hold didn’t loosen. Not. One. Little. Bit.

Too bad that backup part was a complete lie.

He chuckled. “Did you think I’d fall for that? You’re going to jail, and I’m going to personally escort you.” The voice was deep and strong. And, she paused, slightly familiar.

“A criminal escorting the sheriff to jail? That’ll be a first. If you let me go now, I’ll be gentle when I escort you to jail.” She struggled again, but he held her fast.

“Don’t bother.” He easily contained her movements. “You’re not getting away. First I’ve got to handcuff you.”

Handcuff?

Handcuff!

Definitely not the direction she wanted to take. “Calm down, buddy. Let’s work something out. Maybe you had a reason for setting the fires. Why don’t you let me go, and we’ll talk about it?”

“We both know I didn’t set the fires,” he rumbled. “Of course, the same can’t be said for you. Why else would you be skulking around a crime scene during a thunderstorm?”

Why indeed? It was a clever ploy – accusing her of the crime he committed. Yet it wouldn’t work. “What a coincidence. I was about to ask you the same thing.”

He shifted her closer, seizing all control. “Unfortunately for you, I have the advantage. You’re not leaving until I discover every last secret. Now let’s get a good look at you.” Without the slightest difficulty, her muscular captor turned her, giving her no opportunity to escape. It was so dark, she could barely make out his shape, much less defining features. Lightning flashed, nearly blinding in its intensity, followed by an explosion of thunder. The illumination cast by the lightning had been brief, but it had been enough.

Enough to see him.

Enough to identify him.

The next second, he released her like she was a demon from hell.

“Cole Carter?” she gasped as she stumbled back. She almost fell to the wet, hard cement, and would have, save for the man who captured her once more, steadying her, holding her, surrounding her.

He pulled her close. “Sarah? What? How?” His voice tightened. “Why?”

Lightning streaked across the sky, pure white webs against a black starless night. Thunder boomed as loud as the drums pounding in her skull. “Let me go,” she demanded, trading concern for confusion, shock and a dash of the unidentifiable at her captor’s identity. In more ways than one, Cole Carter was a dangerous man, but he’d never hurt her, at least not physically. She pulled to escape, yet he seemed no more inclined to let her go than before. He started toward the building – with her as his unwilling guest.

Absolutely not. “What do you think you’re doing?” She dug in her heels, yet the slick pavement was as slippery as an ice rink, as she twisted like an out-of-control skater. She pitched toward the wet ground, but just like before, he saved her an instant before she slammed into the hard surface. Suddenly she found herself hoisted up, up, up into capable arms. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Stop squirming,” he commanded. “I’m trying to protect you.”

“Really? Because it seems a lot less like protecting and more like kidnapping.” She struggled harder. “If you recall, you claimed the role of my protector before. I didn’t believe it then, and I sure as hell don’t believe it now. The only person I need protecting from is you.”

As artificial light illuminated the world, his features came into view, and she froze. She stared, blinked and stared some more. Then another two weeks or so of staring. It was like some massive cosmic joke.

How could the world’s most infuriating man be so damn handsome?

He was all romance novel hero plus movie star plus ice cream sundae with extra hot fudge and fresh whipped cream. With a tanned, chiseled face, a strong jaw and eyes of the deepest emerald, he personified a physical masterpiece, tall and powerful, commanding and dominant, with muscles that showcased all he could do. Yet, it was not a visage without substance, for beneath those green, green eyes lurked a deep intelligence and an understanding of the world… and of her.

Remain calm. Focus. Do not let him affect you.

He pulled her close, shielding her from the rain. “The only person you need protection from is yourself. That hasn’t changed one bit. If it was up to you, you’d get struck by lightning just to prove a point.”

Lightning flashed, urging her to do just that. They reached the building, but he didn’t try to enter, instead bringing her under the covered walkway. She blinked the water out of her eyes and suppressed a chill, grateful to be out of the elements. Not that she’d ever tell him, of course, not when he’d carried her off like a modern day caveman. “Put. Me. Down.”

“I’ll think about it.” He smiled, that same slightly crooked grin he’d sported since first grade. Then the unimaginable happened, like a freak zombie attack, alien invasion and apocalypse tangled into one…

Her stomach did a somersault.

It was just a smile. Everyone smiled. Women, men, extremely attractive men, yet never, ever did one have the power to affect her like Cole Carter. It made her glare even harder. “I can’t decide what to charge you with. So far, the list includes arson, trespassing, battery, assault, false imprisonment and kidnapping. Am I missing anything?”

His focus burned into her. “Actually, I’m not sure. What else have you done?”

“I’ve done absolutely nothing. And I’m assuming, neither have you, at least when it comes to fire-setting proclivities. Mr. Perfect wouldn’t dare litter, much less play with matches.”

Thunder flashed in his eyes, matching the real thing up above, casting the thrill of danger. Once upon a time, goading Cole had been one of her favorite pastimes; apparently the practice still held appeal.

He folded his arms across his expansive chest. “Not all of us consider criminal mischief their signature hobby. So now that we’ve concluded I’m not the arsonist, why don’t we discuss why you are?”

Stay calm and focused. Cops do not break the law to teach infuriating men a lesson. Breaking law = bad. So much was the same about Cole and yet so much had changed in the decade since their last encounter. He still possessed the same towering stature, the same muscular physique. His skin was still tanned and smooth, his face ruggedly handsome. He even had the same dirty blond hair, but instead of the surfer cut he rocked in high school, now it was shorn short, his face perfectly clean-shaven, even in the late hour. Of course, there was one major difference between now and the last time she saw him.

He wasn’t naked.

“So tell me about your current crime spree.” He snagged her attention. “Is it just for fun, or have you graduated to an actual reason to commit crime? Are you ready to go downtown and explain to the sheriff why you are scouring an arson scene in the middle of the night?”

For the first time since her tête-à-tête with the would-be criminal, a smile threatened. Just wait until he found out who she was. “That might be a little difficult.” She waved her hand with dismissive ease. Too much? Probably. “I’m assuming you haven’t met the sheriff.”

“The new sheriff? Not yet, but you’re about to. Would you like to explain yourself first?”

It was like her birthday, New Years and Christmas combined. “Why bother? You never listened before. By the way, the new sheriff has been around for two years, and we’re fairly well-acquainted. In fact, I’d venture to say we’re very, very close.”

“I imagine you are. How many laws have you broken this week?”

“None that I can think of, although I’m considering one right now – assault on a pompous ass,” she said sweetly. “You still haven’t explained what you’re doing here. Since we’ve already established you’re way too boring to get a traffic ticket much less commit arson, why don’t you explain your delightful presence?”

“I was looking for you.”

Despite the wet surroundings, Sarah’s mouth dried. She pushed on, “Really? And you figured my most likely location was a dark and stormy crime scene?” As if providing backup, lightning flashed and thunder crashed. “You still think you can intimidate me?”

He smiled.

Her heart flip-flopped. Okay, so maybe he could intimidate her. But just a little. “You don’t intimidate me at all. Never did. Never will.”

Had he moved closer, or was it her imagination? Suddenly his presence surrounded her, his heat overtaking the chill as he blasted through her personal space. Despite the cold rain, the temperature rose a thousand degrees.

She fought for control. “You can stop the act. I’m not going to fall for it.”

His smile didn’t falter. “You misunderstand. I was examining the crime scene and hoping the criminal would return. Apparently I scored.”

Sarah grimaced at the irony of his words. The last time they met, scored meant something far different. “You still think I’m the arsonist? Just out of curiosity, who put you in charge of fighting crime in Harmony Creek? Last I heard, you couldn’t get out of here fast enough. You couldn’t even spare a minute for a quick goodbye.”

“Sarah…”

She held up a hand. “Don’t worry, I got over that long ago.” Yet the same familiar pull simmered, a spark of hidden desire. She pushed it away. “Did you come back to lecture me?”

“Actually, no. I came back for my family.”

“Your family?” A sliver of unease iced Sarah’s chest. As much as she couldn’t stand Cole, his parents meant something far different to her. “Are they okay?”

“They’re fine, just getting older. I figured it was time to spend some time with them. Plus, things in the military weren’t…” He paused as darkness flashed, despair as striking as it was sudden. It disappeared in the next instant. “As I said, it was time. But this isn’t a vacation. I’m moving here. Permanently .”

The words sucked the oxygen from the air, freezing her breath. Emotions twisted and tangled, a jumble of undecipherable feelings – shock, discomposure, concern, yet most of all, satisfaction . Impossible. She must be confusing joy for sheer, utter disappointment. She lifted her chin. “Now that you’re back you might want to brush up on the local laws. We have some silly rules against holding women captive.” She tugged on the arm he still held. “But just to be nice, if you let me go now, I’ll try not to arrest you.”

“Still pretending, Sarah? Remember when you claimed to be an undercover agent in high school? I know you’re not a cop.”

The good humor returned in force. “Oh yeah? And how do you know that?”

“I’m a cop.”

Um, what? She forced out a low laugh. “I don’t know what type of cop you are, but just because you have a badge from who-knows-where doesn’t mean you have jurisdiction in Harmony Creek.”

“It does when Harmony Creek gave me my badge.” Still holding her tight with one hand, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a thick brown leather wallet. On top was a shiny badge, an extremely familiar badge. “I’m the new deputy.” He smiled as she scoffed. “You don’t believe me?”

“Not a chance. I’d know if you were hired by the police department. Like I said, I’m extremely close to the sheriff.”

“The sheriff didn’t hire me.”

She relaxed. For a moment there, she almost believed… “Now I know you’re lying. The sheriff hires all new deputies. It’s part of the job.”

“I thought the town council hired new deputies. That’s how it was when my dad was sheriff.”

Unease drifted in the breeze, its ill-gotten tinge a harbinger of the future. She flexed her fingers, waved away the impossible. “Technically, it does, but the sheriff conducts interviews and makes the final decision. Just like your dad did.”

“Not this time,” Cole drawled. “You’ll never guess who I ran into at dad’s poker night.”

The unease returned, graduated to concern. “One of your thousand high school girlfriends?” And that didn’t bother her. Not even a little.

Cole’s grin said he knew exactly how little it bothered her. “Nope. John Townsend. You know him, right?”

Concern flared to surprise zombie apocalypse terror. John Townsend had almost cost her the sheriff position when he’d opposed her hiring, claiming that someone with a childhood like hers could never be a decent sheriff. He’d always resented how she’d attained the position. “I know him,” she said tightly.

Cole’s grin widened. “He and I got to talking, and he said there was an opening for a deputy position.”

This wasn’t happening.

“I told him I’d come back to town looking for exactly that. A few other members of the council were there, and next thing I knew they were offering me the job.”

What sound did irony make when it laughed at you?

“That’s impossible. They would’ve called the sheriff first. They wouldn’t have just hired someone without consulting the person in charge.”

Cole’s mild shrug belied her denial. “Some of the other council members suggested it, but John didn’t want to disturb the sheriff so late at night. He said no way would the sheriff oppose my hiring, not with my experience.”

Compared to this, a zombie apocalypse was looking pretty good.

John loved to disturb her. And he loved to go above her authority. And he really loved to manipulate things so she’d have no choice but to go along with his directives.

Cole’s smile stretched all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. “The others agreed. He said we could share the news when everything was finalized. Now it is. I figured I’d get started right away.”

With no sign of an impending zombie apocalypse, Sarah clung to the ever-narrowing possibility he was lying. “In the middle of the night?”

He gave her the smile that had scored him those thousand girlfriends. “Like you said, I’ve always been an overachiever.”

Yeah, he was. And at that moment, the impossible changed to the improbable, the improbable to the possible, and the possible to the more than likely. John Townsend would absolutely hire someone behind her back. Heck, he’d hired a trained gorilla if it meant getting one over on her. He’d been trying to usurp her power for years – hiring a deputy without her approval or even knowledge was just like him. They did need a new deputy, but it was supposed to be her responsibility, her choice.

Of course, Cole was no monkey. Nor had he ever been a liar. Why would he make up a story she could easily fact check? Plus, there was the badge. They didn’t sell those on eBay.

So more than likely, it was true. She breathed deeply, tried it on for size, as feelings swirled, twirled and crashed. The same emotions Cole Carter instigated since first grade came rushing back at her: frustration, annoyance, concern and… excitement, anticipation and exhilaration. And suddenly, one truth made everything all better. Until Cole Carter took off again, which would undoubtedly be soon, she was…

His boss.

It was the perfect moment. She grinned, and his eyes turned immediately wary. Oh, he should be worried. “Then let me be the first to welcome you back. I’m sure you’ll enjoy working for…” She flashed her biggest, brightest smile, finally allowing her joy to show. “Me.” As he glared, she extended her arm. “I’m the sheriff.”

The word he uttered was not appropriate to repeat.

Oh yeah, this was way better than a zombie apocalypse.