Witness Pursuit (Bodyguards #1)

“Like it’s my birthday, and I may have worked a few more muscles than normal.” She cupped his stubbly jaw and kissed him, one very delicious and satisfying morning kiss.

“Sorry, happy birthday.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Now let me take a look. Off with that shirt.”

“No.” She held the tail ends down as she scrambled from the bed. “There will be no looking. I’ll be fine.”

“Where are you going?”

“For a run to loosen those muscles.” She grabbed her dress and raced for the door.

“Hey.” He lifted her, dangling her feet five inches from the floor. “I didn’t say you could leave.”

“Tyler.” She squirmed. “Put me down.”

“No. Tell me how sore.”

“No more than expected.”

“There’s a doctor at Resort Island. We’ll be there by lunchtime and I can–”

“I don’t need a doctor. Now, would you put me down so I can go and dress. I’ll see you up top for breakfast. Twenty-one, remember? I can look after myself.”

Setting her on her feet, he kept a firm hold around her waist. He didn’t appear ready to release her. “You’ve gotta let me take a peek.”

She plucked his fingers away, one-by-one. “Not on your life.”

He sighed, raggedly. “If you’re not feeling better by tonight, I want to know.”

She darted under his arm then out the door, grinning wildly. Oh, she’d be feeling better by tonight all right. She’d make sure of it.



At the serving counter, Tyler picked up a plate and loaded it with crispy bacon, hot scrambled eggs and cooked tomato slices from the dishes the chef had laid out. He set his plate on the dining table and glanced at Liam stirring sugar into his steaming coffee. Next to him, Nico playfully dipped his cut toast into his runny egg. Luke chewed, giving him a wave.

“Bro, sit.” Dylan pulled out a chair for him. “We need to chat.”

“We do? About what?”

Luke leaned back. “Give him a break, Dylan. He hasn’t even eaten yet.”

“This can’t wait.” Dylan eyed Tyler. “She had to check in with Ben, and now the young woman in question almost collided with me in the hallway as she dashed past wearing your old shirt, and by the looks, nothing else.”

Liam jerked his head toward Nico. “Ah, let’s not forget the age of the youngest at this table.”

Peering toward the stairwell, Tyler looked for Lydia. “She shouldn’t be far away, and if she wears my shirt, that’s my business. If she’s naked, it’s definitely mine. Keep your nose out.”

“Boys, you shouldn’t talk about me when I’m not in the room.” Behind him, the galley door swished on its hinges, the very woman he was after standing at its threshold. She crossed to him, looking incredibly edible in a lacy white-paneled top and cuffed blue denim shorts. After dropping a kiss on his cheek, she smiled at Nico and planted a noisy smacker on him. “Thanks for telling me about the strawberries in the galley. I’ve got a whole bowlful, and all drizzled with yogurt and honey.”

“I love strawberries.” Nico giggled, lapping up her attention. “Daddy says we’ll be at the island by lunchtime. Can we build sandcastles together on the beach?”

A cute dimple dipped in on each side of her mouth as she nodded. “Absolutely. I don’t tell too many people but I’m actually a professional sandcastle builder. I’ve even got an award to prove it.” She held a finger to her lips in a shushing motion, as if it were to be their secret.

“Really?” Nico’s eyes went wide in childlike wonder. “Uncle Luke’s always fall down, and Uncle Tyler’s are too small. I want to build a monster one.”

Tyler choked on his eggs. His were not too small. What was his nephew talking about?

“I can’t imagine Uncle Tyler’s being too small.” Lydia shot him a covered look, implying far more with her words. “We’ll build them as big as you want, Nico. Don’t you worry.”

Tyler gulped half his water as Luke chuckled. “Did you breathe in the wrong way there, bro? Apparently yours are too small.”

“Mine are plenty big enough.” He glared at Luke, warning him with one look not to continue with the joke. “Or watch out, yours will do more than fall down.”

“I believe,” Lydia said with a twitch to her lips, “that sandcastle building is a fabulous sport, and I can’t wait to see what Tyler can build.”

Oh, she did not just say sport. “This conversation needs to stop.” He shot her a look. “You’re encouraging my brothers. They lap this sort of thing up.”

She leaned in and her lacy shirt swayed forward, exposing a hint of delicious cleavage to his hungry gaze. “And…”

He groaned and his brothers laughed.

Hell, he was so out of his element with her.

She slid a spoonful of fruit and yogurt into her mouth then licked the tip of the smooth metal as she pulled it out. “I’ll give you a break. What else does Resort Island have to offer apart from sandcastle building?”

“An incredible underwater reserve.” He bit into his bacon and eggs. “There’s a coral reef encircling the island. It’s a great place to dive.”