Her Soldier Protector. Сорейя Лейн

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      He followed, dog at his side, each of his footsteps covering more ground than two of hers. It was oddly comforting having his heavy boots thumping out of rhythm with the click of her heels.

      “So are you in private security now?” she asked, wondering how someone who’d served in warzones was even assigned to work with her.

      He chuckled. “Would you believe me if I told you I’m still SAS, but that the Australian government was so determined to have you here to promote their new tourism campaign they decided to send me here to head the security team?”

      She shook her head, pushing open her door. Logan walked past her, his dog doing what appeared to be a quick check of the room.

      “You’re not kidding, are you?”

      “Nope. But I can’t say that I mind. After years on patrol in the middle of nowhere, it’s a nice change of pace before I retire.”

      She sat down on the sofa and gestured for him to do the same, unsure of whether she believed him or not. “What do you feel like? Sushi? Something more substantial?”

      He raised an eyebrow. “You’re ordering lunch for both us?”

      “Ah, yes,” she said, not sure why he found that so unusual. “Unless you do something different at this time of the day in Australia?”

      He shook his head, a wry grin on his face. “If you’re buying lunch, then I definitely have no complaints about this gig.”

      “I have a bit of a ritual that I always eat Japanese food before a show. I’m thinking sashimi and miso soup, but maybe you’d like something more.”

      “Candace, I’m used to eating dehydrated army food when I’m working, so if you feel like sushi, I say sure.”

      “That settles it then. I’ll order.” She stood up to use the phone, ordering way more food than they’d ever consume.

      Candace turned back around, eyes locking on Logan’s as he met her gaze. It wasn’t something she was used to—a man not intimated by meeting her, not fazed by the circus they’d confronted when he’d escorted her from her car. She knew that she was no one special, but men usually reacted badly to her fame or her money, and the way Logan was behaving was the complete opposite. He was just staring back at her like she was...ordinary. Although she guessed a lot of it, dealing with the crowds and stress earlier, was more to do with his training than anything else.

      “Can I ask you something?”

      He shrugged. “Shoot.”

      “You’re the first guy in years who’s treated me like a regular woman and not a celebrity. Is it your training or just how you are?”

      He leaned back, crossing his legs at the ankle and stretching out his big body. Logan was tall and fit, the T-shirt he wore snug to his athletic frame, pants stretching over his thigh muscles. She’d sure hit the jackpot where he was concerned.

      “Aren’t you a regular woman?”

      She felt a blush crawl up her neck and heat her cheeks. It had been a long time since a man had drawn that kind of reaction from her, but he’d said it like it was the most logical answer in the world. Which she kind of guessed it was.

      “Of course I am,” she said, refusing to be embarrassed. “It’s just that men usually avoid me, look at me like I’m some freak show because they’ve seen me on television or in magazines, or otherwise they’re all over me. Even most of my bodyguards have never gotten used to dealing with the whole fan and paparazzi thing.”

      “Sounds like you haven’t spent much time with real men,” he said with a chuckle. “Or maybe it’s just that Australian men aren’t so easily intimidated. A pretty lady is a pretty lady, no matter who she is, and at the end of the day, I’d rather a camera in my face than a semi-automatic.”

      He thought she was pretty? “Well, maybe I should spend more time down under. Is that what you call it here?”

      “Yeah, that’s what we call it.”

      Candace could tell he was trying not to laugh.

      “So, are you going to hang around for the concert?”

      “Is that an invite?”

      “There’s a VIP pass with your name on it if you want to stay. And I can’t say I’d mind you hanging around, knowing that you’re keeping an eye on things that could go boom.”

      “Sure thing. Can’t say I’ve ever been given the VIP status before, so it’ll be a nice change.”

      Candace cleared her throat. “Ah, do you have a partner or anyone I should add to the list, too?”

      “Yeah, but he’s probably not that interested in a show.”

      “Oh.” He was gay? She sure hadn’t seen that one coming, and it wasn’t exactly easy to hide her disappointment. “If you’re sure, then.”

      Logan met her gaze, his eyes dancing with what appeared to be...humor? “You’ve already met him, actually.”

      She swallowed, trying to figure out why he looked like he was about to burst into laughter again. “I have?”

      “Yep. He’s pretty big, beautiful brown eyes...and he’s staring at you right now.”

      It took her half a second before she locked eyes with the dog staring at her, his black tail thumping against the ground as she showed him a hint of attention, like he’d figured the joke out before she had.

      “That wasn’t funny,” she said, shaking her head and refusing to smile.

      “Sorry, couldn’t help myself.”

      “So, just the one pass, then?” she asked.

      “Just the one,” he confirmed, standing up when a knock at the door echoed throughout the room.

      Candace watched as Logan accepted the food and kicked the door shut behind him. He wasn’t hard to watch, the kind of guy she’d always notice no matter where she met him—tall, built and with close-cropped dark hair that matched his eyes. But he was strictly off-limits, eye candy only, because she was staying true to her promise not to get involved with anyone at the moment.

      He paused, stood there looking down at her before crossing the room again.

      “Candace, I won’t be offended if you say no, but are you busy after your show?”

      Why did he want to know, and why did he suddenly look so...staunch? “Why’s that?”

      Logan cleared his throat “I thought you might like a night out in Sydney, you know, to just have fun once you’re done with work.” He laughed. “I’ve been working around the clock for months, and I have a feeling you don’t take much time off, either.”

      Candace stared at him, taken aback. He’d just managed to surprise her twice in less than a few minutes. “It’s not that I don’t want to, but it’s just not that easy for me to hang out СКАЧАТЬ