LITMIR.BIZ

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in the last few years, but she and Kit hadn’t been close growing up. Marissa worked too much and now that she was retiring, spending time with family would be easier.

      “Jack will make sure you are safe,” Kit said, ignoring the question.

      “I have bodyguards,” Marissa said. Her bodyguards accompanied her to jobs and when she went out. Two were waiting for her call to pick her up. She hadn’t thought she would need a bodyguard while at the police station.

      “Jack isn’t a bodyguard exactly,” Kit said. She glanced at Jack and gestured for him to continue.

      “Former army special forces,” Jack said.

      “An army ranger?” Marissa asked. She didn’t need someone with super special skills to protect her. The size of her bodyguards intimidated people. Overly aggressive fans and photographers rarely approached and when they did, it wasn’t a big deal for her bodyguards to let them know they had crossed a line.

      Jack didn’t answer.

      “I know you have a home alarm system and a great team of bodyguards, but Jack will stay with you around the clock, not just when you have an event or are going out,” Kit said, plowing a hand through her hair.

      Marissa’s skin tingled. A handsome man like Jack staying with her all the time. With Jack close, Marissa would have a hard time maintaining professional boundaries. She liked her space. She lived alone and preferred it that way. Even when she had been in a serious relationship, she had liked traveling and being away from her significant other. Being alone meant time to collect her thoughts. Having a stranger with her would be draining. “I can hire Jack as a part of my team if that makes you feel better, but I’m not interested in twenty-four-hour protection.”

      “One day,” Kit said. “Let him stay with you for one day and when the police know more, we can adjust.”

      Marissa was too tired to argue. She looked at Jack. He met her gaze evenly. No flicker of interest in his eyes. In fact, he appeared bored. He wasn’t panting to get close to her or crowding her and that increased her interest in him. “One day,” she agreed.

      “I’ll speak to the police and make sure you’re free to go. The three of us will stay until we get this sorted out,” Kit said.

      * * *

      Jack hadn’t wanted to leave Springfield to fly to New York for this job, but he owed Griffin. Not sure what to expect, he hadn’t anticipated being attracted to Marissa. She was knock-him-flat sexy. Long brown hair that fell like silky strands of ribbon and a body that was feminine and strong. She likely spent hours in the gym every day. Jack had seen her picture prior to today, but he hadn’t anticipated how beautiful she’d be in person. Photographs could be edited. In Marissa’s case, she was more breathtaking in person. Her eyes were expressive and warm. He had expected her to be whiny or completely rude and arrogant. She wasn’t.

      “I know Kit put you up to this, but I don’t need anyone to protect me,” Marissa said.

      Jack felt a twinge in his knee, an injury from his last mission. Following his physical therapist’s plan, in six months he planned to be back to full fighting strength. Working on his family farm in Springfield had been therapeutic in its own way. But Griffin had asked him to do this and Jack couldn’t deny a friend. “Your sister feels you do.”

      Marissa shook her head and a few locks of shorter hair fell over her cheek. She brushed them away with graceful fingers. “She worries. I can’t see what Avery’s attack has to do with me.”

      He didn’t either, but Kit believed there was a connection and Jack trusted her instincts. She worked for the same organization he did, the West Company. Though he wasn’t privy to the specifics of her skills, everyone who worked for the super-secret spy organization was talented and smart. A pain shot down Jack’s leg, reminding him that on his last op, he hadn’t stayed sharp and he’d almost died because of it. His partner had betrayed him and it still stung that he had not seen it coming. Worse, he was expected to testify in detail what had happened. He was dreading it. “It’s a wait-and-see situation. You’ll be happy I’m around if something comes up.”

      Marissa studied his face with intelligent eyes. “I’d prefer my privacy.”

      “I can do my best to give you space, but I won’t force my services on you. If you’re planning to try to give me the slip or make this hard on me, forget it. I don’t need that.” He wanted to be clear about his boundaries. He was a world-class operative, currently on the sidelines with an injury. That didn’t mean he was planning to involve himself in some ridiculous cat-and-mouse game.

      Marissa inclined her head and folded her arms over her chest. “I wouldn’t do that. I told my sister this was fine for a day.”

      Jack heard something in her tone akin to annoyance. “It’s been my experience that these things take more than a day.”

      “The police will figure this out. My guess is that you’ll be flying out of here tomorrow.”

      “There’s nothing I’d like more.” Springfield was home and he had fallen back into living as a farmer. The hard work and long hours were what he needed. If Marissa didn’t need him, he’d get on with piecing together the twisted wreckage of his life.

       Chapter 2

      Marissa slept better knowing Kit and Griffin were in her guest bedroom, but Jack sleeping in her living room felt odd. He had insisted on being in a location between the front and back doors to keep an eye on the house and who came and went even though he would have been more comfortable in her other guest bedroom.

      After checking the doors and windows on the main floor, Jack had sat on the couch. His laptop was open in front of him, but it seemed to interest him only slightly. He hadn’t stared at her. He hadn’t looked at her. Marissa simultaneously liked that and found it irritating. Men often paid attention to her and she was curious why Jack seemed uninterested.

      Before she had gone to bed, she had offered him a drink. He had declined.

      Marissa rolled over, adjusting her pillow to get more comfortable.

      It wasn’t just thoughts of Jack keeping her awake. Every time she closed her eyes, she thought of Avery, picturing the last words they had spoken to each other, wishing she could have talked to Avery about what had happened with Rob. Deep sadness and grief cut through her and regret followed close on its heels.

      The police would find evidence at the scene and Avery’s attacker would be found. Pictures taken backstage had to have captured something. Marissa flipped her pillow to the cooler side. She tried breathing exercises to slow her heart rate and induce a state of relaxation. Usually, she slept fantastically in her house. She traveled more than half the year and sleeping in her bed was a luxury. Tonight, sleep was elusive.

      Her phone buzzed. She looked at the display. It was a message from Ambrose. You awake?

      She typed a reply. Yes.

      I am sorry about Avery. You were friends for a long time.

      She and Avery had been close. Marissa should have worked harder to repair the relationship. Rob wasn’t worth the loss of a friend. When they hadn’t been on speaking terms, she had told herself she was fine. But it had hurt. Though Marissa had been through two heart-wrenching divorces, Avery’s friendship had been the one solid relationship she’d had. How are you?

      In shock. Can’t imagine not seeing her again.

      Her chest felt tight. This couldn’t be fixed. That acknowledgment devastated her all over again.

      Marissa heard a creak outside her door and she tensed. Kit or Griffin might be checking on her. Or was Jack patrolling her town house for security issues? Several seconds of silence passed.

      She heard another creak.

      I have to go. Talk soon. She sent the message

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