All He Wants Read Online Free Page B

alone and Billy is on your detail.”
    Seth, who happened to be Jessie’s cousin, had started Elite Protection, a small division of Titan Security, a few years ago after receiving a medical discharge from the Marines. As word of mouth about the company spread the business had taken off faster than Seth could keep up with the demand. The small division had grown exponentially.
    Billy had joined the Elite team a year and a half ago after walking away from the sport that had given him everything—before it took away his ability to walk, speak and function normally. In the time since he’d been with them they’d hired a dozen guys and were still overloaded. Truth be told, they needed more bodies but Seth only hired the best of the best, men he trusted implicitly. Billy couldn’t blame him for that.
    Not that it mattered in this case. Even if Seth could shuffle things around and put someone else on Maxi, there was no way in hell that was going to happen. Billy was going to be the point person on this.
    “I don’t need a babysitter.” Maxi’s tone was professional but curt. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed her fingers curl around the arms of the chair she was sitting in and her knuckles turn white.
    He almost felt sorry for her. Almost. Billy knew that she was working overtime to maintain her composure on the outside, but inside she was fuming. Maxine Rizzo’s personal anthem was “Independent Woman.” In the ten-plus years that he’d known her, he’d never witnessed her ask anyone for anything, and saying that she kept things close to the vest was as big of an understatement as describing New York City traffic as slightly congested. The running joke at the gym was that her private life was part of the witness protection program. No one ever knew who she was dating, how long she was dating them, or if it was serious.
    It drove Billy crazy.
    Jessie folded her hands on her desk. “This is not about you needing a babysitter. This is about your safety. Your security system has been upgraded and Billy will be with you all weekend.—”
    “All weekend ?!” Maxi’s voice raised several octaves.
    Ignoring Maxi’s outburst, Jessie pressed on, “Then Ace will be here Monday. He’ll be at every Ricco Kingsley event as previously scheduled. The only change will be that he will now be working in tandem with Billy. They will be coordinating their efforts.”
    Billy was happy that he’d have some back-up. He didn’t know Ace at all, other than the stats he’d heard through the grapevine. Andrew Charles Elliot IV, aka Ace. Age thirty-two. Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. Decorated war hero. He served in the Special Forces for five years in Seth’s unit and just recently retired from the Marines. Seth had recruited him as soon as he heard that he was getting out. Seth trusted him, which meant Billy did too.
    Maxi cleared her throat. “I know I sound like a broken record, but I don’t need anyone with me. The upgraded security system will be sufficient.”
    “From this point on, you will have a security detail until the issue is resolved to the satisfaction of both the Chicago PD, and SPC,” Jessie stated firmly.
    “No.” Maxi’s head shook back and forth, causing the intoxicatingly sensual scent that he’d forever associated with her to assault him once again. “That’s…insane. If you want someone following me around here , at work, or even at events that’s fine. But after hours, during my personal time? That’s unacceptable.”
    “Your protection is not up for negotiation.” Jessie’s well-manicured fingers slid an employee handbook across her large mahogany desk. She flipped the cover open to an earmarked page. “Article C, paragraph three states that as an employee of SPC, you will comply with any and all safety procedures deemed necessary.”
    Most people didn’t do well with ultimatums, but the woman seated beside him was especially stubborn when presented with one. And this one was a