Guarding Amberley

by Nicole Flockton

  The guy had absolutely no idea who she was and what her dreams were. Another reason why she never considered dating him.

  “That statue made me sick, you asshole.” The words burst out of her and the second he dug the knife into her cheek she cursed herself for not thinking about what she said.

  “Now. Now. That wasn’t a very nice thing to say.” With his free hand he stroked down her arm. She couldn’t stop the shiver of revulsion flowing through her. “I didn’t want to hurt you, Amberley. But you kept ignoring my calls, I had to make you sit up and notice.”

  Amberley wanted to scream to get someone’s attention. Where had her parents gone, they’d been there when she’d fallen asleep. Where was Tom? Had he left? Had he gone home? Why would he leave when her mom said he hadn’t left her side since she’d been brought in?

  None of this made sense, especially Simon’s decree that he thought they would be like her parents. She knew if her mind still wasn’t hazy, she’d be able to handle this situation a little better. Perhaps if she kept him talking long enough, then Tom would come back and save her. He could go all Navy Seal on him.

  “Simon, if you wanted us to be the same as my parents, why did you try and kill me?”

  The press of the metal against her cheek lessened a little and Simon’s features softened, his eyes took on an almost friendly slant and his mouth relaxed into a smile. “Oh, my sweet Amberley, it was never supposed to put you in hospital. I only wanted to make you a little sick. I spent the whole night hidden in your garden waiting to come and rescue you. But you had that man in your house all night.” He spat the words out and dug the knife back in. “The guy who wouldn’t leave your side from the moment they brought you here. I’ve been waiting and waiting to get close to you. I wanted to be the one to rescue you. I wanted you to look at me as your savior. You’d be so thankful that I saved you that you’d fall in love with me.”

  The longer he spoke, the more unstable he became. Fear gnawed at her and she wished she had the strength to get out of the bed and make a run for it.

  Where was Tom? Why hadn’t he come back to the room? How long had she been asleep? How long ago did her parents leave? They said Tom never left her side. Had Simon done something to them all before he came into her room?

  Amberley squashed those thoughts, she couldn’t let them take over. She had to try and keep a cool head in an impossible situation.

  Something niggled in her mind. Something that he said that stood out to her. “How did you manage to get past security at the house?”

  Amberley was well aware her parents had cameras all around her property, not to mention the guards on duty 24/7. As for now, in the hospital, she was in a regular room so they probably weren’t screening her visitors. Then again even if they were, Simon would probably sweet talk his way in somehow.

  “Oh you’d be surprised how easy it was to get onto your parents property. I just hid in the bushes and when they opened the gate for the delivery guy, I used the cover of the van to slip in. It was dark after all and I was wearing all black. And to think your parents scoffed at me the night we had dinner when I told them I could be the next James Bond.”

  Amberley recalled that conversation. She’d agreed with her parents thinking he wouldn’t be a good James Bond. His British accent was atrocious but it seemed he did have some stealth skills.

  “You know that by poisoning me you’ve wrecked your career? No one will want anything to do with you now. Once the press get a hold of this your name will be blacklisted all over Hollywood. That is if my mom doesn’t do it when she finds out what you’ve done. Not to mention you’ll go to prison of attempting to kill me.”

  “Shut up,” he yelled at her. He leaned closer and she could see his pupils were dilated. He looked like he was flying high and clearly her words had gotten to him. He dug the knife deeper again and this time she felt the sting of it cutting her flesh. “You know nothing. Nothing at all. You mom will never say anything, I’ll make sure of it.”

  Movement over his right shoulder caught her and she spied Tom standing in the doorway. She wanted to cry out in relief but he shook his head and held a finger up to this lips in the universal sign of quiet.

  Everything about him screamed lethal weapon. If she didn’t know him she’d be running in the opposite direction. His face looked like it was carved out of granite. His eyes were narrowed and if they could shoot bullets, they’d be spraying the man leaning over her.

  “Now look what you made me do to you, Amberley,” Simon whined as he continued to lean over her. “I didn’t want to hurt you and now I have. Why can’t you see what’s right in front of you. How perfect we are for each other. I don’t understand what you see in that jerk that spent the night at your place. He’s nothing. A nobody. What can he give you that I can’t.”

  The answer was so easy, she didn’t even have to think long about it. “Safety,” she said simply. “He can keep me safe.”

  Simon laughed at her. “Right. If he can keep you safe, where is he right now.”

  “I’m right behind you, asshole.” Tom spoke with deadly intent.

  Simon whirled around and before he could even raise his knife Tom throat punched him and then swung his leg, knocking Simon’s own legs from beneath him. The look of surprise on Simon’s face would’ve been almost comical if relief wasn’t slamming into her knowing that Tom hadn’t deserted her and left her to this psycho. As Simon fell to the ground his head slammed on the side of the bed, jolting the bed so violently it skidded across the floor a little way.

  Tom spared him a cursory look before he rushed to her side, wrapping her up in his arms. The second his warmth surrounded her she closed her eyes and rested against him.

  “Thank God, you’re okay. I don’t know what I would’ve done if he’d hurt you, Ambs.” He framed her face encouraging her to open her eyes. Her breath caught when their gazes collided. “I love you Amberley Price. I’ve had a crush on you since the first day you walked into my house with my sister. I don’t ever want to be apart from you again. I know you live here and I live in Virginia, but we’ll make it work somehow.”

  Beyond his shoulder she was vaguely aware of security coming into the room to take care of Simon. She ignored them. The man holding her was all that mattered. “I love you too, Thomas Grant. I’ve had a crush on you as long as you’ve had one on me. I don’t want to be apart from you either. I can write anywhere and I think I’ve proven I can write well in Virginia. Just so long as you’re near me I’ll be happy.”

  A huge smile broke out over his face, chasing away any remaining shadows of doubt inside her of her future was with this man. “Sounds perfect to me.”

  Needing to affirm her feelings for him and have that physical connection she tugged his head down to hers. Before their lips met she smiled up at him. “I love you, Thomas Grant.”

  “And I love you, Amberley Price.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Amberley snuggled into Tom’s side and listened as he and Cowboy talked about the latest football game. His arm tightened around her and he dropped a kiss on her head before continuing his conversation.

  The whole team and their partners were spending the afternoon at Robot’s place. They’d also been joined by two of their former teammates and their partners. An impromptu party to celebrate hers and Tom’s engagement. She glanced at the emerald on her left hand, the stone sparkling in the sunlight. Both their parents had been over the moon when they’d called them that morning to share the news.

  Now they were with Tom’s other family and Amberley was honored to be part of it. The partners of Tom’s teammates had welcomed her as if she’d always been there.

  She couldn’t wait to spend more time with them now that she was finally in Virginia. She and Tom were about to close on a house and she couldn’t wait to make it their own.

  It had been three months since her poisoning. Simon had been evaluated by the psych ward at the hospital and admitted into a facility. At the moment, he
wasn’t mentally capable of standing trial to face the charges of attempted murder.

  The outcome had made Tom angry and she’d had to kiss him senseless until he calmed down. Her body warmed as she remembered just what they’d gotten up to.

  “I recognize that smile.” Amberley looked up and found Erin standing in front of her, baby Kieran propped on her hip.

  “What type of smile is that?” Suzie asked as she walked up holding her daughter, Emma.

  “The type we can’t discuss around the guys.” Antonia joined the group. “Come on Amberley, it’s time all us girls had a chat. Not to mention plan a wedding”

  “Uh oh, this is going to be dangerous, go gentle on her T. Amberley’s just moved here Don’t scare her away. Red won’t forgive you if you do that.” Robot dropped a kiss on his wife’s cheek.

  Antonia rolled her eyes, and Amberley couldn’t help but laugh at their antics. The couple were entertaining to say the least. But their love couldn’t be denied.

  Amberley stood and eyeballed Robot. “It’s okay, I think I can hold my own. I did grow up in Hollywood, you know.”

  The guys hooted with laughter and Robot inclined his head toward her. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He finished with a wink.

  Before she could make a move toward where all the girls were congregated, Tom reached and touched her arm. She glanced over her shoulder. “If you need me, just let me know,” he murmured.

  Her heart somersaulted at his sweet gesture. “You betcha.” She leaned down and kissed him on the lips. When she went to pull away his hand curled around the back of her head, preventing her from going. Her mouth opened beneath his and his tongue dueled with hers. She moaned deep in her throat and she wanted to rip his clothes off and feast on his body.

  Slowly the sound of catcalls and whistles permeated her consciousness and she pulled away from Tom. He kept his hand anchored around her neck and rested his forehead against hers.

  “You know the girls are going to give me even more of a hard time now,” she complained.

  Tom laughed. “Trust me, it’s nothing they haven’t done before. You should’ve seen the arguments Robot and Antonia had in front of all of us before they got together.”

  Amberley shook her head and pulled away from him, turning to face the group of women who all had huge smiles on their faces. She shrugged her shoulders. “What can I say, he’s insecure sometimes, even though I said yes to his proposal.”

  Everyone burst out laughing. Yeah, it was really good to be part of a team.

  Epilogue

  Samantha Rayse, also known as Samantha Jackson, looked at the picture of her brother and sister, their respective partners and Rayne’s baby. How she wanted to be able to go visit them. Spend time getting to know the gorgeous baby in the photo. Laughing with her brother and sister and their partners.

  God, she missed them so much, but regardless of the fact that Rayne’s husband, Ghost, was a Delta Force soldier and Chase was a soldier too, keeping her distance from them would keep them safe. She was the oldest and it was her job to make sure nothing bad happened to them. If that meant she couldn’t see them, then so be it.

  She had to keep them safe.

  Placing the photo down on her coffee table, she wished that things could be different. The only high point in her life was that her career was taking off, she’d landed the lead female role in a major motion picture and filming was due to start the next day.

  Being on set surrounded by people would keep her safe, wouldn’t it?

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  About the Author

  On her very first school report her teacher said ‘Nicole likes to tell her own stories’. Many years later she eventually sat down and wrote her first book.

  Nicole writes sexy contemporary romances, seducing you one kiss at a time as you turn the pages. She enjoys taking two characters and creating unique situations for them.

  When she’s not writing, she’s busy spreading glitter over social media and having a ton of fun doing it.

  Learn more about Nicole Flockton at http://www.nicoleflockton.com.

  authornicole@nicoleflockton.com

  Also by Nicole Flockton

  Guardian Seals

  Protecting Lily

  Protecting Maria

  Guarding Erin

  Guarding Suzie

  Guarding Brielle

  Guarding Antonia

  Guarding Faith

  Guarding Amberley

  Man’s Best Friend

  Blind Date Bet

  Next Door Knight

  The Matchmaker’s Match

  Lovers Unmasked Series

  Masquerade

  Rescuing Dawn

  Seducing Phoebe

  The Elite

  Fighting to Win

  Fighting to Dream

  Fighting for Love

  Fighting for Redemption

  The Freemasons

  The Victor

  The Hunter

  Bound Series

  Bound by Her Ring

  Bound by His Desire

  Bound by Their Love

  Bound by The Billionaire’s Desire - Boxed Set

  Emerald Springs Legacy Series

  Daniel’s Decision

  Emerald Springs Legacy Collection

  Barefoot Bay

  Swipe for Mr. Right

  Wrong Time for Mr. Right

  Novellas

  Tangled Vines

  Tango Love

  A Vacation Affair

  Christmas in Ghost Gum Valley

  There are many more books in this fan fiction world than listed here, for an up-to-date list go to www.AcesPress.com

  You can also visit our Amazon page at:

  http://www.amazon.com/author/operationalpha

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  Julia Bright: Saving Lorelei

  Julia Bright: Rescuing Amy

  Victoria Bright: Surviving Savage

  Victoria Bright: Going Ghost

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  Melissa Combs: Gallant

  KaLyn Cooper: Rescuing Melina

  Liz Crowe: Marking Mariah

  Jordan Dane: Redemption for Avery

  Jordan Dane: Fiona’s Salvation

  Riley Edwards: Protecting Olivia

  Riley Edwards: Redeeming Violet

  Riley Edwards, Recovering Ivy

  Nicole Flockton: Protecting Maria

  Nicole Flockton: Guarding Erin

  Nicole Flockton: Guarding Suzie

  Nicole Flockton: Guarding Brielle

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  Casey Hagen: Shielding Josie

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  Kathy Ivan: Saving Stephanie

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  Jesse Jacobson: Fighting for Honor

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  Jesse Jacobson: Summer Breeze

  Silver James: Rescue Moon

  Silver James: SEAL Moon

  Silver James: Assassin’s Moon

  Silver James: Under the Assassin’s Moon

  Becca Jameson: Saving Sofia

  Kate Kinsley: Protecting Ava

  Heather Long: Securing Arizona

  Heather Long: Guarding Gertrude

  Heather Long: Protecting Pilar

  Heather Long: Covering Coco

  Gennita Low: No Protection

  Kirsten Lynn: Joining Forces for Jesse

  Margaret Madigan: Bang for the Buck

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  Margaret Madigan: Jungle Buck

  Margaret Madigan: December Chill

  Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Baby

  Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Bride

  Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Twin

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  KD Michaels: Avenging Angels

  Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound

  Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound 2

  Wren Michaels: Shadow of Doubt

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