Tempted By The Bodyguard. Elle James

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      Daniel held Shelby, her body pressed against his side. She fit perfectly in his arms, her soft brown hair brushing against his skin, her breath warming him.

      For a long time, he refused to think, to let the logical side of his brain spoil the moment. But as Shelby’s breathing grew steady and deep, he had to face the facts—he’d screwed up. He’d had sex with the woman he was assigned to protect. It went against every rule in the books. He’d lost perspective, lost his self-control and, if he didn’t get back on track, he’d lose his focus.

      And if he lost focus, Shelby’s life would be at risk.

      Daniel extricated himself from the bed, sliding his arm out from under Shelby’s head. Bending over her, he brushed his mouth across her swollen lips, tasting her one last time before he steeled his resolve and got his head back on straight.

      At twenty-three, she was tough, independent and completely irresistible.

      And she was the former vice president’s granddaughter. Out of his social league.

      And the most important detail was that she was Daniel’s job.

      He lifted her in his arms, careful not to wake her, and carried her into her room, laying her on her bed.

      She snuggled into the sheets without opening her eyes.

      Daniel wanted to crawl in bed with her. Instead he stepped away, ensured her door was locked and checked that the latch on her window was secure and then left.

      When he reached the connecting door to his room, he heard a soft knock. He tensed, his body on full alert.

      “Shelby?” Patrick O’Hara’s voice called out.

      Shelby stirred, her eyelids flickering open. “Granddad?”

      “Are you all right in there?”

      She sat up, the sheet falling down around her waist. Her eyes widened as she came fully awake. Her glance shot to the pillow beside her and then around the room, landing on Daniel where he stood in the doorway.

      “Shelby?” her grandfather called out again. “I was just heading to bed and I thought I heard a noise or something. Are you all right?”

      “I’m all right, Granddad, just tired.”

      “Oh, okay. Goodnight, sweetheart. I’ll see you in the morning.”

      Her gaze never strayed from Daniel, her eyes narrowing in confusion.

      He felt pinned to the wall, but he couldn’t reassure her when he needed to put distance between them. Without a word of explanation, and using every ounce of resistance he could muster, he pulled the door closed between them. He couldn’t lock it since the frame had been destroyed.

      Walking away was the right thing to do, but it didn’t make it any easier. Shelby would be mad, and she had a right to be. He’d been a jerk to take advantage of her. But he’d be more of a jerk if he continued down that same path. Ultimately, the job would end and he’d move on to his next assignment. Leaving Shelby behind.

      As much as he’d resisted being her bodyguard in the first place, he didn’t relish leaving her in the end.