Last night I looked like the heiress’s date, but I was there to keep her safe from a stalker she’s picked up. She did make it clear at the end of the night that my services could be expanded while she stroked my cock to attention in my pants.
I thanked her and politely reminded her I was the head of her protection detail and not her date. She wasn’t interested in hearing what I had to say. And she wasn’t the first.
I get it. It’s not like she can go to Flirt, swipe right, and introduce herself to a good-looking man who will scratch that itch. But I can’t do that for her either. I made that mistake once, and it cost me. I won’t repeat it.
I take my espresso to the top deck. It’s chilly. The rain drizzles down, and I look over the side of the yacht and see a large sea lion. I’ve affectionately started referring to her as Ma Coeur. She greets me most mornings, lounging on the dock below my ramp and exit. She’s taken to sleeping there most nights. I feel like she keeps watch over me.
I have two hours before I need to be at the office. It’s quiet this morning, despite the wind and waves. Everyone seems to be getting a late start, and I can’t blame them. It’s almost Christmas. I finish my drink and go below to make myself another cup. While the machine grinds the beans and runs water through them, I spot my cell phone.
A part of me wants to ignore it, but I can’t. I’ll hear from Brigitte’s family today. They always call before Christmas and on her birthday.
I look through the pictures on my phone—the same pictures I look at whenever I think of her. Brigette had an infectious laugh. The curl in her hair drove her crazy. She had perfectly sun-kissed skin and hazel eyes that would turn gray when she was angry at me. I’ll never love anyone the way I loved her.
My phone rings in my hand, and I answer. “Oui, allo?”
“C’est moi,” she says.
“Bonjour, Sophie.” She’s calling from France, and we speak only French to one another.
“Hello,” she says. “Did I wake you?”
“I’m still an early bird. How are you doing?”
“Missing my sister.” She begins to cry, and I let her. She tells me the same stories every year. “When are you coming home to Cannes?”
“Maybe this summer if it’s quiet,” I tell her. “It’s been busy at work.”
“Why do you do that job?”
“I like it. I keep people safe.” Immediately I regret what I’ve said.
She cries harder. “But you couldn’t protect my sister.”
I let her yell at me in French for another twenty minutes until I hear someone talking to Ma Coeur outside.
“Sophie, someone is here. Please wish your family a happy Christmas. I must go.” I disconnect the call and turn in time to see a long pair of luscious legs through the portal window.
Who the hell is that?
“Come on, sweetheart, you need my help.” I hear the sweetest southern drawl.
I step outside. She’s wearing deck shorts and a Tulane sweatshirt. “Can I help you?”
She points at the sea lion. “She’s wrapped up in damn twinkle lights. I spotted her last night swimming. A bunch of drunks must have thought it was funny.”
I look closer at Ma Coeur. She’s agitated. I turn back to the auburn-haired beauty standing on my dock. “Just a minute. I may have something.”
I walk into the cabin and locate the wire cutters in my tool box. I dig in my freezer for a treat and realize I forgot to buy more minnows, so I tuck a pouch of tuna in my back pocket.
I can hear Ma Coeur barking at the woman when I return. I hop off the side of the boat onto the deck. When I get down on my knee, Ma Coeur shuffles to me. She’s definitely not happy this morning. It could be the lights, or it could be Ms. Tulane. I look her steadily in the eye. She could do a lot of damage if she becomes angry or further agitated.
Ms. Tulane hangs back. I speak slowly in French to the sea lion, trying to soothe her. She lets me pet her belly, and I reach out carefully with the wire cutters and cut the lights from her neck. I then open the tuna pouch and offer it to her. She sniffs it and looks at me, disappointed it’s not a minnow.
“Sorry, Ma Coeur. I didn’t get to the store yesterday. I hope this makes up for those awful people who terrorized you,” I tell her in French.
She licks the pouch until it’s all gone, then turns to Ms. Tulane and barks at her.
The woman jumps back, clearly not sure where she’ll go if Ma Coeur charges her. But Ma Coeur just nuzzles me a moment, as if to thank me, before diving into the water and swimming away.
“How did you get her to do that?” Ms. Tulane asks, shaking her head.
I shrug. “I have no idea. She’s been hanging around for a few weeks, and I feed her minnows when she blocks the ramp. I didn’t have any today, so I tried the tuna.”
“If you hadn’t been feeding her, she probably wouldn’t have allowed those drunks to get close enough to hang the lights on her and almost kill her.”
She’s probably right. “Did you see where she was sitting?” Ms. Tulane looks back at the dock. “It’s the base of my ramp—the only way to get on or off my boat. I figure feeding her is better than beating at her with a broom to move.”
Ms. Tulane shrugs. “You should call animal control and they’ll relocate her.”
She’s either new to San Francisco or a tourist. “I hate to tell you, but they don’t relocate them. They euthanize them. And by the way, you’re welcome for helping you out. If she’d bitten you, you’d be going to the emergency room for a bacterial skin infection, which could lead to amputation. Actually, I did you two favors: cutting the lights off Ma Coeur and keeping her from mauling you.”
Ms. Tulane’s hands go to her hips, and she’s ready to argue. I wait for her to explode but nothing comes.
“Can I get back to my morning? I need to head into work.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re just another asshole who thinks you know everything.” She throws her hands up, turns, and walks away from my boat.
When I get back inside, I can’t see her legs anymore, though I wonder briefly what they’d feel like wrapped around me as I brought her to her pinnacle. She had a beautiful face and golden-brown eyes to go with her auburn hair. My imagination is getting the better of me as my cock rises to half mast.
Then my cell phone pings. It’s my boss, Jim Adelson.
Jim: What happened last night?
Me: It went well. I played the dutiful date, and I didn’t see Michelle’s stalker. She invited me to spend the night to make sure it was safe between her legs, and I politely declined and got home by 2. Why?
Jim: She wants someone else tonight.
Me: Sorry. I don’t sleep with clients.
Jim: Good, because that’s against the rules. When are you coming in?
Me: I was going to come in about 10, but I can come earlier if you’re shorthanded.
Jim: Kate’s having false labor pains, and I’d like to be with her. Do you mind?
Kate’s pregnant with twins, and just looking at her, you can tell she’s uncomfortable. Jim isn’t a guy who ruffles easily, but Kate’s pregnancy has him walking on eggshells.
Me: No problem. I’ll shower and come in.
I hop in the shower and can’t help but stroke myself, thinking of Ms. Tulane. That sultry southern drawl is etched in my memory.
As I leave the marina and drive toward the office, I look for her, but she’s nowhere to be seen. Oh well. I’m not that far from Pier 39, and tourists often wander this way. Chances are I won’t ever see her again.
To PreOrder Merry & Bright
Thank you
I used to mention this regularly but haven’t recently. Putting together a book isn’t just me. I have a wonderful group of people behind me. I do have an amazing husband who comes home from a full day of work, and kindly takes over the math homework (not my forte) and helps with our children, the family chores, and listens to me as my brain, like a pinball machine bounces from bumper to bumper. H
e’s my first reader, and in sixteen books has maybe said one thing negative once. I will admit, his favorite parts are the sex scenes.
I have a wonderful group of author friends who’ve been amazingly supportive. I’m grateful for their advice and guidance. Skye Warren is truly the single person who has helped me figure out the hardest part of marketing and I will forever do anything she asks—including hide a body if needed!
My Advanced Readers give their time to read and comment. Thank you all so much. I listen to your thoughts and Amazon loves those 5-star reviews and help to get the books into other readers hands.
My Beta/Typo Hunters are incredible. Courtnay, Linda, and Nancy your eagle eyes are adored and appreciated. I’ve usually read each book a dozen times before it goes to edits and then again at least four more times in full and I miss so much. Thank you for finding those lost periods and odd words.
Jessica Royer Ocken, my fantastic editor. You make my stories and smooth out those edges and make them great. I am so thankful you took a little author like myself and added me to your client list. Your insight is incredible. Thank you for everything you do for me.
Aria at Resplendent Media takes all my ideas for covers and she nails it. When the covers are off, it’s because I’ve gotten involved. I’ve learned.
Unwrapped is my 16th novel. I couldn’t do it without you, my readers. I’m consistently humbled by the email, support, and reviews that you kindly do for me. Thank you. I am trying to write faster—promise.
Thank you!
XOXO
Ainsley
Also by Ainsley St Claire
The Venture Capitalist Series
Forbidden Love (Venture Capitalist Book 1) Available on Amazon
(Emerson and Dillon’s story)
Promise (Venture Capitalist Book 2) Available on Amazon
(Sara and Trey’s story)
Desire (Venture Capitalist Book 3) Available on Amazon
(Cameron and Hadlee’s story)
Temptation (Venture Capitalist Book 4) Available on Amazon
(Greer and Andy’s story)
Obsession (Venture Capitalist Book 5) Available on Amazon
(Cynthia and Todd’s story)
Flawless (Venture Capitalist Book 6) Available on Amazon
(Constance and Parker’s story)
Longing (Venture Capitalist Book 7) Available on Amazon
(Bella and Christopher’s story)
Enchanted (Venture Capitalist Book 8) Available on Amazon
(Quinn and William’s story)
Fascination (Venture Capitalist Book 9) Available on Amazon
(Caroline and Mason’s story)
Clear Security Holiday Heartbreakers
Gifted (Clear Security Holidays Book 1) Available on Amazon
(Kate and Jim’s story)
Unwrapped (Clear Security Holidays Book 2) Available on Amazon
(Fiona & Bash’s story)
Tech Billionaires
Tech Billionaire (Tech Billionaire Prequel) Available only through Newsletter
(Cecelia & Nate’s story)
House of Cards (Tech Billionaires Book 1) Available on Amazon
(Maggie & Jonnie’s story)
Royally Flushed (Tech Billionaires Book 2) Available on Amazon
(Corrine & Jackson’s story)
Sleight of Hand (Tech Billionaires Book 3) Available on Amazon
(Tinsley & Landon’s story)
Running Hot (Tech Billionaires Book 4) Available on Amazon
(Marcella & Walker’s story)
Coming Soon
February 2021
Showdown (Tech Billionaires Book 5) Available for PreOrder on Amazon
(Lilly & Nate’s story) She’s like nothing he ever imagined, but might just be what he needs. Nate’s wife was murdered and to cope he works. He never thought he’d find love again, but it’s right there under his roof. Lilly is beautiful and sweet, but she’s completely off-limits. I didn’t stop at a kiss and now I can’t stay away. There are so many things that could go wrong. Now, I’m screwed.
Follow Ainsley
Don’t miss out on New Releases, Exclusive Giveaways and much more!
www.ainsleystclaire.com
Join Ainsley’s newsletter
Get a FREE copy of Tech Billionaire!
Follow me on Bookbub
Like Ainsley St Claire on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow Ainsley St Claire on Twitter
Follow Ainsley St Claire on Goodreads
Visit Ainsley’s website for her current booklist
I love to hear from you directly, too. Please feel free to email me at [email protected] or check out my website www.ainsleystclaire.com for updates.
Unwrapped: Clear Security's Holiday (Clear Security Holiday Book 2) Page 23
