Protecting Lacey (Select Protectors Security Squad #4)

Prologue

Cameron

I’m dancing, or more accurately, I’m swaying badly, to an Ed Sheeran ballad with a woman I met only a few days ago. Lacey Parker. She’s the Maid of Honor at my friend’s wedding, and I’m his Best Man.

I knew I’d have to dance at his wedding. But I didn’t know I’d be dancing with a woman who checks all my boxes for my type in spades, making it extra painful for me to keep my hands at her waist and not roam them down her perfect ass.

She’s doing her level best to keep a few inches between our bodies as we move together.

“You afraid I’ll step on your toes?” I ask, unable to resist drawing her a little closer.

“These shoes cost me a shit ton of money, so I’d like to keep your big feet off them.”

“You know what they say about men and their foot size, right?” I know. It’s a jerk thing to say, but she’s been so uptight around me ever since we first met, that I want to yank her chain a bit.

“I don’t give a damn about what size feet you have or any other man, for that matter. I’m more interested in what’s between their ears.” She steps back, holds me at arm’s length, then releases me. “Music has stopped. And so has this dance.”

“Sure you don’t want to stick around for another one?”

Her dark blue eyes turn even darker, and heat flashes for a second before she crosses her arms and shakes her head. “Nice to meet you, Cameron. Hope you keep your big feet out of harm’s way after you get your next assignment.”

With that, she turns on those expensive heels and marches over to where her best friend is standing, leaving me alone on the dance floor.

I make my way over to one of the outdoor bars and order a long neck, then spend some time chatting with a couple of the guys about the training center Select Protectors is continuing to expand at this new headquarters.

Most of it is on the grid, but parts of it remain secret, hidden from plain view to the casual observer.

That’s the way my covert agency likes to operate.

Works for me too.

Beckett joins us and tips his customary diet cola against my beer bottle. “Here’s to our new venture.”

“The venture is yours,” I say without missing a beat.

“It could be yours if you stop dragging your ass into the danger zone.”

“I like the danger zone.”

“Even if it means being alone, without someone?”

“Especially if it means I stay single.” Most women I meet aren’t into dating guys who are gone for weeks, sometimes months, while remaining incommunicado. “But I’m glad it all worked out for you. Riley’s a helluva woman.”

Beckett grins. “Yes. She is and she’s all mine.”

I hear his wife call his name and love ignites in his face. Happiness hasn’t made my Select Protector’s brother-in-arms weak or soft, but it has made him choose a different path.

One that keeps him here where he belongs.

But I don’t belong anywhere but with my Select Protectors team. Not since I lost my first love to stupid cancer before I even had a chance to say I do.

I arrived here several weeks ago after an operation overseas nearly finished me off. I’m only staying in the Blue Ridge Mountains long enough to wrap up training some fresh recruits for our agency.

Then, I’ll rejoin my team overseas. Because even though I’m thrilled that my friend got the life he deserved, I’m not letting that shit trick me into believing there’s a future like that for me.

The only thing that makes sense to me anymore is getting my ass out there and on the line where what I do can make a difference.