Witness Pursuit (Bodyguards #1)

“After Brigs arrives tonight, we’ll sail the ship to the secluded cove on the other side of the island.” Tyler’s words were loud and clear as he issued them to Ben.

What? She couldn’t do that. She had to get out of here.

Tyler watched her intently. “Ben, there’s no other location that’s safer than the one I can and will provide for her. You know it, and I know it.”

She didn’t catch Ben’s answer, and then Tyler coded his response. She sat, wringing her hands together as she tried to make it all out.

Tyler hung up. “It’s sorted.”

“Did Ben agree with you?” He better not have. Ben knew her position on not involving Tyler.

“Yes.” His gaze sparked as he tossed the phone on the bed and leaned over her. “He also said, you’re all mine to care for. Brigs holds the secondary position, but will stay.”

She stamped her foot. Damn.

Why did no one listen to her?





7




Close to dusk, Tyler stood beside the helipad at the edge of the resort tennis courts. Tucked behind him against the equipment shed, Lydia wore her gloriously long hair hidden beneath a cap.

Brigs had called from the main island’s airport. It was a forty-five minute chopper flight, and he’d confirmed he’d downloaded Ben’s midday news release and that they’d look at it after he landed.

Lydia shivered against his back, her hands bunched in his t-shirt.

“Are you cold?” He surveyed the area.

“Not in this tropical heat. I’m anxious, that’s all.”

“Don’t be.”

She drew in a deep breath. “I feel so exposed. There’re a dozen people here playing tennis and we’re standing about doing nothing. They’ll get suspicious.”

“You’re right.” He twirled around, drinking in the sight of her bundled so close. Bending his head, he seized her mouth with his. Uh-huh, nothing remotely suspicious about two people necking on an island full of singles. People hooked up all over the place.

He sank against her, likely squishing her into the storage shed at her back. She was like an elixir he needed more of, and he’d hated their constant standoff today.

Cupping her face in his hands, he traced his tongue around the inside of her lips and loved every inch. Delicious.

“I want more, Lee.” Crushing her closer, he blocked her from everyone’s sight, slid his hands around to her butt, and lifted her higher. He smiled as she pressed her breasts into his chest and kissed him back as if trying to meld them together. Her actions spoke far louder than her fierce words during the day past ever could.

“I hear something. Chopper blades,” she mumbled against his lips.

He stroked the sweet curve of her butt, his breathing and hers loud in his ears. Mmm, the taste of her was an addiction.

“Tyler, seriously. Chopper blades.”

“If there’s a chopper, it’ll be Brigs.” He ran his thumb around the waistband of her shorts. “I need to get you into my bed. You’re feeling better, right?”

“Yes.” She nipped at his lips. “But very coerced.”

“I’ve barely begun coercing you, and I want exclusivity.”

“I was a virgin until yesterday. You can’t get more exclusive than that.”

“No more pulling away from me.”

She held her cap as it fluttered from the wind coming off the incoming chopper. “Sure, I’ll do that if you stop trying to get your way.”

“My way is the only way.” The blades whirred down, and he turned. Brigs strode across the landing toward them.

She slapped his back. “Your way is in fact trouble.” She eased past him, ran to Brigs and gave him a huge hug. “How was your flight?”

Brigs speared her a look. “Very short notice, and why did I see you cavorting with your bodyguard from up in the air? It goes against the rules.”

“You’re my bodyguard, not Tyler. He’s a pest.”

Brigs gripped her shoulder. “Lydia, Tyler doesn’t recall you addling his brains a year ago, but I do. I was there that final day for rotation change and saw what you meant to him.”

“Tyler has no brains left to addle, but you’re welcome to try to knock some sense into him. He won’t listen to me.”

Tyler eyed Brigs. He was a big man with bronze skin from his mother’s Samoan side, his black curly hair cropped close to his head. In his early twenties, Brigs had trained with Ben in the army before Ben had left to build his own specialist firm. He, Brigs and Ben were a team, no matter he’d left a year ago.

“I’ll do my best.” Brigs lightly tapped her nose. “I’m sorry about the recent developments.”

“Yeah, I bet Ben wishes he never dropped me off on Tyler’s ship now.”

“Something like that.” He flicked a glance Tyler’s way. “I could take this one away with me now if you wish. There’s enough daylight for a return chopper flight. You don’t have to be involved.”

His gut fisted in on itself. He understood why Brigs had made the offer, but he’d never accept it. Not a chance. “I can’t let her go.”