For Her Protection: An Alpha Romance Read Online Free Page A

and she slipped her hand free before her uncle could sense and exploit this apparent new weakness.
    “Yes, we heard about your encounter, which is why we’re all here.” Frank shut the door.
    Her stomach lifted. What? They’d heard about her making out with a guy in a bar?
    “Since you’ve refused all manner of personal security, we’ve been forced to employ Mr. Crowe to provide covert protection.”
    “Covert protection?” She turned to her uncle. Holy-shit-balls . His winner-takes-all smile was back.
    What had he done?
    “Connor has been acting as a discreet bodyguard this past month.” His smile leveled. “He informed us this morning that he was forced to reveal himself to you in order to prevent you from being run down on Friday.”
    “Run down?” She glanced back to Connor, who seemed to stare straight ahead. “No, it was just some idiot with their lights off.”
    “Ah, but we can’t be sure.” He held up his hands. “Between the death threats, the incident on Friday, and the unfortunate accident this morning—”
    Connor’s gaze twitched and slammed back on her.
    “Mr. Crowe feels that the only option to ensure your safety is with full bodyguard service.”
    Full. Bodyguard. Service .
    Her breath caught—with him.
    It all sunk in. Friday night when he’d kissed her, he’d been on the job. Undercover on the job. Had he been doing his job when he gave in to her request?
    “You’re the DUFF that’s what happened.”
    The words rolled through her in a wave of hurt. She’d told herself she didn’t care what that one nasty drunk person said. She wasn’t ugly. And she wasn’t a token designated anything. But did she really believe that a man like this sexy, rugged one, would really take one look at her, and be overwhelmed by passion?
    She took a deep breath, and ran a hand down her front. “That won’t be necessary.”
    “Oh, but it will.” Frank downright grinned. “Our risk management insurer demands that you have a bodyguard or it will be too risky to have you in the building.”
    “What?” She glanced at Bob. “And you agree with this?”
    “I’m afraid we have no choice.” Bob gave her a consoling frown. “It’s not really such a large concession though is it, Charlie?”
    She swallowed. Bob was right. Agreeing to have a bodyguard wasn’t such a big deal. Having this one though?
    She kept her gaze from Conan-really-was-barbaric. Judging by his actions, he doubled as a spy. Probably reported everything she’d done over the last month right back to Frank.
    Had he reported the kiss?
    “And what if I refuse?”
    Did Frank laugh about that? She swallowed again, her mouth sticky. Did they laugh at her together?
    “Then you’ll be suspended from work, your security pass will be revoked, and you’ll be banned from entering the premises.”
    She turned her back to them all and faced the window. Screw you, Frank . They knew they had her. “May I have some time to decide at least?”
    “You have until the morning.”
    Footsteps retreated.
    “Wait.” She spun around. “He’ll maintain this covert protection until then, and stay out of my space?”
    Frank paused at the door. “Yes, until tomorrow morning, he’ll stay out of your space. Won’t you Mr. Crowe?”
    Connor gave one jerking chin movement of assent.
    “Fine, I’ll have an answer for you in the morning.” She raised her chin. “Right now, I’d like to have a private word with Mr. Crowe before he makes himself scarce.”
    Bob and Frank left. Suddenly she was alone with her barbarian spy. Her heart thumped a rigorous beat in her chest. She turned to him. A lump worked its way up her throat. “Let’s make this quick. My schedule is tight.”
    ***
    Tight . She said the word and all Connor could think was tight. Yeah she’d be exquisitely tight wrapped around his—
    What am I doing?
    She’d walked in, rendering him as pitiful as she had on Friday. Didn’t help she’d worn some stretchy blouse that did nothing