Cocky Protector - Kat Mizera

Prologue

Ten Years Ago

I walked into the brightly lit ballroom and tugged at the collar of my tuxedo. I hated these kinds of events, but when a state senator who used to be your commanding officer asks you to do something, you kind of have to. Aside from the suit, it wasn’t so bad. The food was good, drinks were free, and there was almost always an attractive woman who might be a fun distraction for a few hours.

As a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, women were plentiful. I just didn’t have time for them. So once in a while it was nice to get out and do something that wasn’t military related. I worked in intelligence now, so I spent a lot of time alone in front of computers or skulking around the world trying to find bad guys. I got off on the adrenaline rush, but sometimes it got lonely.

“Lieutenant Ross.” I heard my name and turned, smiling at Senator Wayne Barrow.

“Hello, sir. Nice to see you.” I shook his hand.

“I appreciate your coming out tonight.”

“I’m not sure why you wanted me here, but I’m happy to oblige. My mother drilled it into me that a real man should own and wear a tuxedo on the regular, so you gave me my excuse for the year.”

He laughed, his eyes crinkling as he did so. He’d gotten older since leaving the Marines, but he’d been sick too. Cancer. Rumor had it he was doing better, but he looked pale to me. “I’m glad to help you score points with your mother. However, now I’m hoping you can help me score points with my daughter.”

Oh, hell. I hadn’t been expecting this, but I put on a smile and nodded anyway. I owed him my career, so I’d do my best for him. Even if it cost me.

“How old is Shannon now?” I asked politely.

“Twenty-one.” He smiled wryly. “I know she’s not…your type. If you could just be nice to her tonight, it would mean the world to me. My wife made her come and she hates these things almost as much as I do, but Samantha thought it would be good for her since she’s too shy for her own good. Just a few dances, Ace. Maybe a drink at the bar. That’s all. I’m not asking you to marry her or anything.”

“No problem.” What else could I say?

Okay, I could do this. If she was painfully shy, maybe a few glasses of wine would help. I seemed to remember a girl with Coke-bottle glasses and braces, but I hadn’t seen her since I’d been in ROTC in college and she’d been a teenager. Maybe fifteen?

I turned, bracing myself, and looked into those same Coke-bottle glasses. But this Shannon wasn’t the awkward, chubby fifteen-year-old I remembered. This Shannon was a grown woman with curves in all the right places. It was a shame her blond hair was pulled back in a tight, severe bun that didn’t do anything for her, and that those big blue eyes were mostly hidden by even bigger dark glasses. Her mouth was full, with a slight bow to her upper lip, and it was delightfully inviting with the sheer pink gloss highlighting it.

“Hello, Lieutenant.” Her voice was quiet but had a light, airy flair that made me smile.

“Please. Call me Ace.”

“If you’ll excuse me,” Senator Barrow said, “I’m going to find my wife.”

“I apologize,” Shannon said once he was gone. “I know he lured you here tonight to be my date, but you don’t have to. I’m perfectly okay being a wallflower.”

“That seems like a shame.”

“I’m used to it.”

“A beautiful woman should never get used to being alone.” I hadn’t meant to flirt, but the words came out anyway.

“You don’t have to say things like that, Ace. We both know I’m anything but beautiful.”

“I beg to differ.” I cocked my head. “Despite your great attempt to hide them, you have gorgeous blue eyes. You have pretty features, a sweet smile, and I imagine there’s more to you than you let on.”

This time her smile was genuine, though there was a faint pink tinge to her cheeks. “Well, I think the truth is somewhere in between those two things.”

“Which two things?” I asked, chuckling.

“The sweet smile and what you’re imagining.”

“Shannon, dear.” Samantha Barrow approached us as if she were on a mission. “Come. It’s time for dinner.”

“Okay.” Shannon smiled at me over her shoulder. “Goodbye, Lieutenant.”

“Bye, Shannon. Hello, Mrs. Barrow.”

The older woman gave me a stiff