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  This book is dedicated to my nephews, Jacob and Isaiah. You are the light of my life. I love you so much.

  “. . . bring me two piña coladas . . .”

  The music washed over Axel Carlson as the sun soaked into his bronzed skin, and he lay back, his hazel eyes closed, mouth relaxed, mind cleared. He’d desperately needed this vacation in the Bahamas, and he wasn’t going to let a single worry in the world interrupt him.

  After the way his last case went, he didn’t know if he even loved his job anymore. There’d been a time when he lived and breathed his career, when he looked forward to getting up in the morning, strapping his gun to his chest, and rushing out to catch the bad guy.

  The reality was that he just didn’t know who the bad guys were anymore. Shaking his head, he fumed. Nope. Wasn’t going to dwell on the last case, or the last ten cases for that matter. For two whole weeks he’d do nothing but lie on the beach, scuba dive, and have some meaningless, drunken vacation sex.

  And when that was over, he’d figure out what he was going to do next. Whether it was going back after this much-needed hiatus or starting a new career, he refused to deal with it now.

  When his phone rang, Axel just smiled. He didn’t give a crap if it was the president of the United States, he wasn’t picking up his phone. But when it rang for the third time in a row, he grimaced. Why had he even brought the damn thing down to the beach?

  Without looking at the caller ID, he turned off the phone. When it was finally silent, he stretched his arms behind his head and closed his eyes once again, falling into a blissful slumber.

  “EXCUSE ME, SIR.”

  “Go away.”

  Axel didn’t bother opening his eyes. He didn’t care who was speaking to him, and he didn’t care that the voice seemed slightly panicked.

  “Um . . . sir?”

  “I said go away. If you value your life, that’s exactly what you’ll do,” Axel said conversationally.

  There was no response, and Axel let out a sigh of relief. The man had taken the hint and left. Now, if he could go back to sleep, where he’d been dreaming about rescuing a conveniently topless blonde from the ocean, he’d be happy. It had just been getting interesting.

  “You have a phone call and the man said it was an utter emergency and not to take no for an answer. He said you would threaten and bark, but if I didn’t get you on the phone then he was coming down here . . . with a gun.”

  The man obviously hadn’t gone away, and the flood of words were delivered at a distraught pitch. There was only one person Axel knew who could make a grown man practically cry while wetting his pants at the same time.

  “Give me the damn phone,” Axel said, sticking out his hand while keeping his eyes closed.

  Almost instantly, a phone was slapped in his palm, followed by the sound of retreating footsteps.

  “What in the hell do you want, Bryson? I’m on vacation,” Alex snarled at the phone.

  “How’d you know it was me?”

  “There aren’t too many people who can get that sort of reaction out of a poor guy just trying to do his job,” Axel said with a smile.

  “Yeah, I don’t think I’m the one making the guy shake; the phone wasn’t on mute. You’re in an unusually pleasant mood,” Bryson said, laughing. Neither one of them could frighten the other. They’d been friends and partners for too long.

  “Need I remind you I’m on vacation? What in the hell is so important that you had to interrupt a very good dream?”

  “I don’t want the details of that dream,” Bryson said. “I need your help.”

  Axel sat up. If it were anyone other than Bryson Winchester, his best friend, the man who had been there for him more times than he could remember, he’d tell the person to go to hell.

  “What do you need?”

  “I’m really sorry to interrupt your vacation, but my cousin’s in trouble—big trouble—and my hands are tied because I’m on a case. She needs protection.”

  “Why not have someone else who is on the clock at the FBI assigned?” Axel knew he didn’t want to hear the answer.

  “She doesn’t think she’s in trouble and she’s refused any help.”

  “Then what in the hell am I supposed to do?”

  “Help her anyway.”

  “Dammit, Bryson, do you know what a pain in the ass you are?”

  “Yep. And I’m calling in my favor.”

  There was a long pause as Axel thought seriously about tossing the damn phone into the ocean and moving to a place with no cell service.

  “Give me the details.”

  Of course he was going to help. Both he and Bryson knew that. There went his vacation.

  “She doesn’t even know I’m coming, does she?”

  Running a hand through his already tousled blond hair, which needed a cut, Axel sat in his rented SUV in front of a very nice home in the Ironwood Estates in Billings, Montana. It was exactly the type of neighborhood he hated, where the neighbors peeked out their windows and put an ear to their fences to make sure they didn’t miss a lick of gossip.

  It was also ostentatious, with homes that had a minimum layout of four thousand square feet. Plus, being fifteen minutes away from downtown, the area’s only appealing factor was the view of the rolling hills. This was the type of place you weren’t allowed to get creative with your curbside decor, and you certainly weren’t going to get away with working on an old beater car in your own driveway. Why anyone would choose to live in a place with such strict rules was beyond him.

  Axel’s irritation grew. It was late September—the weather getting colder by the minute—and he was stuck in subdivision hell.

  “Well . . .” Bryson hesitated. Axel’s fingers twitched as he held the phone. He might have to throttle his best friend.

  “I knew you weren’t going to call her. Am I going to get arrested again for helping you out?” he said before his lips turned up in a crooked smile. “Not that I would mind; at least then I could finish my vacation in peace.”

  “You won’t get arrested, but she’s been such a pain in the ass I figured an unannounced visit was best. I did, however, tell her I had a surprise showing up this afternoon. She might think it’s a package . . . one that isn’t attached to a man, that is,” Bryson replied, thinking he was so damn funny.

  Axel didn’t even bother replying this time, he just hung up and studied the house of Ella Brooks, a twenty-five-year-old lawyer and the cousin of Bryson Winchester who’d managed to get her life into a hell of a big mess by dating a guy who just happened to be as crooked as they come, and was her former boss at the law firm.

  She’d overheard some incriminating information and was now a state’s witness, one whom this man most certainly wanted to shut up. Bryson hadn’t filled Axel in yet on what that information was. The more Axel thought about the situation his friend had put him smack-dab in the middle of, the more pissed off he got.

  Shaking off thoughts of his annoying friend, Axel focused on Ella’s home instead. Yeah, he could see why Bryson was worried. She had zero protection here. No alarm system, lots of windows—probably not all of which were locked—and doors that were a robber’s delight to break into.

  Security certainly wasn’t something on her mind, even though the crooked lawyer out to get her had made it more than clear that she was now a problem. She knew too much. She was foolish e
nough to not even be frightened, but her cousin had said that she was stubborn as hell and figured she could fight the evil ex-boss on her own.

  Bryson disagreed, and Axel did, too—reluctantly.

  So here he sat, contemplating his next move. He played with the key Bryson had given him as he eyed the house. He’d rather not use it, but he also had a job to do, and whether Ella wanted it or not, he was here to protect her. Once Axel decided to do a job, he accomplished it. Even if it meant babysitting a spoiled trust fund princess who didn’t have to work for a living.

  He had to give her props for working in spite of that, though, because judging by her home, he had a clear impression that she liked the finer things in life. Hell, his whole apartment could probably fit into her walk-in closet.

  Stepping from the car, he walked to the front door, noting the tall shrubs near the windows, which offered a hiding place to anyone who might want to tamper with the home.

  Reaching the front door, he tested the knob and found it locked. That was good. But with a few tools, he could be inside in seconds. Not for much longer, he thought; not after he secured the property. But still, a determined criminal could get to this girl without a problem.

  And the men after her were most certainly determined, and definitely criminals.

  The trial for her twisted ex-boss was coming up soon, and once the man was put away, Ella wouldn’t have anything to worry about. But until he was convicted, she was in constant danger. It was Axel’s job to make her realize that.

  Knocking on the door, Axel waited, his expression most likely frightening to anyone who didn’t know him. It was a mask he’d honed over the years—his eyes cold, his expression blank. Those who noted his chiseled jaw and sharp cheekbones described him as handsome in a dangerous way. That thought made the corners of his full lips turn up.

  He’d been gifted with good looks, but he’d also been blessed with an I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude. The combination made him great at his job but impossible to hold down.

  Too often, it also made him bored.

  When there was no answer at Ella’s door, he knocked again. A silver sports car sat in the driveway—her car, based on the report he had—but she wasn’t answering. Crap, he’d have to use the key.

  Knocking once more, he waited. When no one appeared after two more minutes, he slid the key into the lock and stepped inside the elite home, then listened. It took a moment before he heard a sound coming from upstairs.

  Running water. Just his luck! Ella was in the shower, and apparently enjoyed singing while she bathed. Well, he’d just have to wait in the kitchen, because it was too dang cold to sit on her front porch while she was in the bathroom for who knew how long. Axel had a younger sister. He knew it could be another hour—easily.

  Eyeing a pot of hot coffee, Axel found a cup and filled it, taking a sip. Good brand, brewed strong, just the way he liked it. Sitting at the breakfast bar, he picked up his phone and dialed Bryson. Even though he’d hung up on his friend moments before, the call was answered after the first ring.

  “You’re right. This house is a dream come true for anyone who wants to get to her. The best thing would be to get her out of town. How likely is that?”

  “Not gonna happen, Axel. Like I told you, she doesn’t think she’s in danger. I tried getting her to come stay with Misty and me, but she said she was fine on her own.”

  “She’s in the shower. I’m waiting to meet her.”

  “I wish I could be there, buddy. She’s going to try to stab you, you know that, right?”

  “Yeah, I figured as much.”

  Hanging up, Axel noted the shower had stopped. He thought about retreating from the house and knocking again, but it’d started raining and he didn’t feel like getting soaked as he waited for Ella. He raised his warm mug to his lips and took several slow gulps until it was gone.

  When she finally entered the kitchen, Axel gave her an appreciative once-over before he managed to blank his expression. Ella Brooks was tall, probably five eight, with long, slender legs that were made for dancing and all on show in her impossibly tiny shorts. His eyes wandered higher, his imagination taking over as he enjoyed the tight T-shirt molded to her flat abs and high breasts.

  Her dark brown hair and bright eyes were a perfect complement to her golden skin and athletic body. Hell, this favor might not turn out to be so bad after all. But could he have a fling with his friend’s cousin? Didn’t that break some sort of code? It wasn’t like she was his sister or anything, he reasoned, quickly deciding a fling was most certainly acceptable.

  “Morning,” he said, to alert her to his presence.

  He expected her to scream, her body to tremble. That’s not what he got. Instead, she tensed and her head whipped around, but then she stood frozen. Her unusual gray eyes were wide as she gazed at him, her mouth puckered.

  “I’m Axel, your cousin’s partner,” he said quickly.

  “I don’t care who the hell you are, you’re breaking and entering. Get out of my house before I decide to hurt you.”

  Her voice was calm. Interesting. The woman didn’t panic easily. That was good to know, since he’d be guarding her.

  “Your cousin gave me a key, said he’d called you, let you know he’d be sending a package,” he said before pausing and grinning. “Surprise.”

  Her eyes narrowed, telling him she wasn’t amused, before her lips compressed together and she slowly moved toward her phone, never taking her eyes from him. Lifting the receiver, she dialed numbers from feel alone. Axel knew better than to make any sudden movements. She was scared, he could see it, but she was doing a damn fine job of covering it up.

  He hoped she was calling Bryson and not the police. He’d just been kidding about spending a few days in jail. That wouldn’t be so pleasant. Besides, he’d been there, done that.

  “Bryson, care to explain why there’s a beast of a man sitting in my house, drinking my coffee and holding a key in his hand?”

  Axel let out a relieved breath while he waited—he and Ella still hadn’t broken eye contact.

  “You ignorant fool. I could have shot him!” she said, then paused. “Yes, I thought about it the second I saw him. Shoot first, ask questions later, remember?” she snapped before pausing again. “I don’t like your surprise, so you can have it back.”

  Another pause, and now Axel was really amused. He wondered who was going to win the battle. Yes, he’d promised his friend he’d watch out for his cousin, but it’d be much easier if she were somewhat cooperative.

  After a few more words back and forth, Ella hung up the phone and glared at Axel. Yeah, this was going to be fun, he thought, liking the spirit of this woman already.

  “My misguided cousin has a big heart. He thinks I need protection. I don’t appreciate it or want it, but I also realize that he’s not going to stop until I do something. He’s a pain in my ass,” she thundered before stopping and taking a deep breath. “How did you get roped into this?”

  “Not only am I his partner, but I’m a pretty damn good friend. I’m on a hiatus from work. I said I’d help him out. In his defense, your house is so unsecure a first-time robber could get into it,” he replied easily, thinking it was now safe to get up and refill his coffee, which he did, relishing the small gasp of annoyance that came from Ella’s lips.

  “Do you enjoy making yourself at home where you haven’t been invited?” she asked when he leaned against the counter and lifted the cup to enjoy a sip.

  “I move around for work. I can make anywhere my home,” he said.

  “Obviously,” she said, getting her own coffee and adding a nice dollop of creamer before moving away from him to the opposite side of the breakfast bar.

  “I’m Axel Carlson. Nice to meet you, Ella. And now we aren’t strangers anymore,” he said, knowing better than to stick out his hand. She didn’t appear to be in the mood to shake it. Bite it, maybe, but certainly not shake it.

  “Yes, Mr. Carlson, we are strangers and I don�
��t want or need your help,” she said. When he opened his mouth to speak, she abruptly held up her hand, stopping him. “However, I know my cousin well, and know you’ll simply annoy the crud out of me, so I agreed to a security system being hooked up in the house. Then I don’t want to see you again. Got it?” she finished, challenge in her eyes.

  “That’s a start,” he replied, and her eyes narrowed again.

  “We’re going to have a problem if you try to become my shadow, Mr. Carlson,” she warned.

  “Problems make life interesting, Ella,” he said with a smirk.

  “I deal with enough problems and don’t care to add any more to my plate,” she said, pausing to make sure he understood. “I’m going to go get dressed. Then we’ll talk about security, and you will give me the key to my house that Bryson shouldn’t have given you, and you will get out until we have an appointment for you to install my alarm system.”

  “I like what you’re wearing. We can discuss it as is,” he said with a wink he knew would tick her off.

  “I’m sure you do. You look like the sort of man who enjoys objectifying women,” she said before turning and giving him a view of her backside that was just as good as the front.

  His low whistle made her shoulders tense, but she didn’t turn or make another comment as she walked away.

  Axel thought about sending Bryson a gift. This assignment was sure to be no hardship at all, as much as he’d grumbled about it. Ella Brooks was one woman Axel wouldn’t mind shadowing, day and night—especially night.

  Axel did a double take to recognize the woman reentering the kitchen. There were the same light gray eyes, and the hair was the same dark brown, though it was somewhat hard to tell in the almost painfully tight knot she’d put it up in. It was still Ella, but it was also easy to see that she’d put on her armor.

  The transformation was fascinating. She’d been adorable when he’d first seen her, but now she was . . . fierce.

  “Nice look,” he said.