Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Cowboy D-Force (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Brotherhood Protectors Book 4) Read Online Free Page B

by a woman wearing a miniscule black bikini and a pair of sunglasses.
    He crossed the stone patio to the deck chair and waited for her to acknowledge his presence.
    A minute passed and nothing.
    Duke cleared his throat.
    “I know you’re there. You’re blocking my sun. Move, please.”
    He gritted his teeth and forced a smile. “Miss Love, I’m Duke Morrison from Brotherhood Protectors. Hank Patterson sent me over.”
    “Fine, fine. You can change into a bathing suit and go for a swim for all I care.”
    “No, thank you, Miss Love. I’m here to work, not play.”
    She huffed. “I told Phillip I didn’t need a bodyguard here on my own ranch. He doesn’t listen.”
    “Phillip?”
    “My publicity agent.”
    “If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to inspect the house and the security system.”
    She waved her fingers. “Fine. Do what you have to, just do it out of my sunshine.”
    He shook his head. “Miss Love, are you sure you should be out in the open?”
    She tipped her sunglasses low so that she could stare at him over their tops. “And where else but out in the open would I get sunshine? Seriously, couldn’t they have sent me a smarter bodyguard?”
    Anger bubbled up inside Duke’s chest and rose in a heated flush up into his face. He had to remind himself he was representing Hank’s business. Going off on a customer wasn’t the way to get referrals and additional business. He had to resist his urge to lift Miss Love, chair and all, and dump her into the pool. “I’ll just have a look at that security system.”
    “Whatever.” She laid back, sunglasses back in place. “Wake me in thirty minutes. I’ll need to flip over and tan my back.”
    He studied her for another few seconds. Yes, she was beautiful, with a body that didn’t quit. Long supple legs, with well-defined muscles and taut abs. Her arms were toned, and there wasn’t an ounce of flab anywhere on her. She probably paid her personal trainer a small fortune to get her into that kind of shape. Lying down, her breasts weren’t nearly as voluptuous as they’d been when she’d flashed them in his face at the bar the night before.
    Apparently, she didn’t remember him from the Blue Moose. She’d probably been too plastered to remember much of anything.
    Good. He’d rather she didn’t remember the encounter. If he was lucky, she wouldn’t make another pass at him.
    “Oh, and Luke?”
    “Duke,” he corrected automatically.
    “Get me a drink on your way back. Jack Daniels on the rocks with a squeeze of lime.”
    Babysitter, bartender and waiter. Yeah, he’d come a long way from his calling as a highly-skilled warrior.
    “Oh, and Luke?” she called, stopping him again.
    “Duke,” he said, his ire rising by the second.
    “Give me a hand up. I feel like taking a dip in the pool.”
    He reached out his hand, gripped hers and yanked her out of her chair a little harder than he’d intended, his anger fueling his muscles. She slammed into his body, her sunglasses knocked from their perch on her nose. She stared at him through clear, blue-gray eyes, her mouth opened in a silent O. “Was that necessary?”
    “You wanted up,” he said. “You’re up.”
    Her pretty brows puckered. “You’re a rude man, Luke. I’ve a mind to fire you.”
    “My name is Duke. And you’d be lucky to have a mind.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Luke, Duke. What does it matter? You’re blocking my sun again. Move.” She planted her hands on his chest and gave him a shove, stronger than he’d anticipated and with a little edge to her voice on the last word.
    He stepped backward, remembering too late the pool was right behind him. Before he could stop himself, he fell backward. As he went, he reached for anything to grab hold of. It just so happened to be Miss Love’s hand.
    Momentum sent him into the water. Quick reflexes and a strong grip brought Miss Love in with him.
    He hit the water hard and sank fast.
    The woman who’d pushed him thrashed