MORE THAN PROTECT YOU

Can I keep the gorgeous, gun-shy single mother safe— and prove I’m the man for her? I’m Tanner Kirk—Certified firearms instructor and mixed martial arts enthusiast. When I filed for divorce at the end of an empty marriage, all I wanted was a vacation in paradise, not another woman in my life. But how can I possibly say no to Amanda Lund, a young single mom desperate to learn self-defense? Or refuse the banked desire on the guarded beauty’s face? I can’t. So I seduce Mandy until we’re burning up the sheets…and soon find my heart entangled with her bruised and battered one. But when a nemesis from her past tries to destroy our future by unearthing my secret, will she understand and forgive me—or give up on us forever? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "I adored these two so much! They were so perfect together! I love how Ms. Black manages to slip in just the right amount of suspense and passion...” – The Sassy Nerd Blog **More Than Protect You is short novel in the Ruthless Devotion Contemporary Romance series, but every book can be read as a standalone. A HOT, romantic story with strong language, sexy times, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after!** ✔️ Instant download • Secure transactions • Read on any device Series: Ruthless Devotion Main Characters: Tanner & Amanda Formats: Trade paperback Word Count: 53k Page Count: 141 pages Prior Reading Necessary? No Tropes: Age-gap, Danger, Forced Proximity, Single Mom, Temporary Fling 🔥 Inside MORE THAN PROTECT YOU 🔥 “I need my hands free…just in case.” Someone violent is lying in wait. Trace nods like he understands. “Masey and I have been here for a bit. We haven’t seen anyone.” “Great.” Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean the place is safe, just that whoever’s stalking Amanda is clever. She climbs out of the car and dashes around to claim Oliver, cradling her son protectively as she shoots me an apologetic glance. “Sorry. He’s still behind on his sleep.” Does she think I’m going to be angry because he’s fussy? “It’s no problem.” She sends me a stilted smile, then turns to my buddy. “Hi, Trace. Do you know where I can lay him down?” “I just got here, but Masey is inside. She knows her way around this place.” “I’ll ask her. Thanks.” She grabs Oliver’s diaper bag from inside the muscle car, soothes her fussy son with a whisper, then shoots me a sidelong stare before she disappears inside. “How’s that going?” Trace asks once she’s out of earshot. I watch Amanda walk to the house. Every instinct I possess tells me to stay on her ass—not just the bodyguard in me…but the man. The latter is the only reason I’m giving her an inch of space. “She’s wary.” “Of you?” “Until just now, I didn’t know if it was me or men in general. But she doesn’t have a problem with you.” And that chaps me. “What do you think is going on?” “I have some theories.” Mostly that she’s attracted to me, too. She’s definitely looked. God knows I have. Anything happening between us? It’s a bad idea. Trace nods. “Got any luggage?” “Yeah. I could use a hand.” He hauls my duffel and Oliver’s rolling suitcase with the race-car motif inside. I handle Amanda’s enormous bag and my gun case. I haul Amanda’s bag into the corner and spot her and Masey talking. Both look through the wide, open arch to the spacious closet, where I see Oliver already stretched out on the floor, surrounded by pillows, dead asleep. That will do until the crib arrives. “Need anything else?” the brunette asks Amanda. “Did you find a grocery store nearby? Or a delivery service?” Masey fills her in on both. Trace starts hauling boxes out of what looks like an office space next to the master while his infant son babbles and shakes a soft toy from his bouncy seat in the corner. On his way back in, I snag his attention. “Hey, man. Where did you stash my bag?” I need to tour the place, assess its strengths and weaknesses, make any adjustments necessary for safety before night falls. “Living room. I didn’t know where you’d want it. The spare bedrooms are on the other end of the house.” He thumbs in the opposite direction from the master. That’s too far away from Amanda when she’s at her most vulnerable…but sleeping in the same room with her would be a bad, bad idea. “I’ll crash on the floor of that room next to hers.” “If you need anything else, let me know.” “Thanks. And thank Masey for lending us a safe place to crash. It’s above and beyond.” He sends me a sly grin as he lifts another box. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t regret staying with me.” Masey follows him out the door when a roadside assistance truck arrives to change a flat tire on Trace’s truck. But I don’t see Amanda. Where the hell is she? Shit! I tear through the house. She’s not in the master bedroom or the office beside it. She’s not in the living room, the expansive kitchen, or either of the spare bedrooms on the far side of the house. Alarm sets in after I scan the laundry room. She’s not in the garage, either. When I realize I’ve searched the entire house, alarm turns to panic. The place is empty. Amanda is gone. Fuck! I scan the house again, running from room to room—kitchen, laundry room, living room, office—shouting her name. I don’t give a shit if the little ones wake up. I need to find this woman. My heart revs. Terrible possibilities pelt my brain. Did someone follow us? Wait for the first moment I was distracted to seize her and drag her away against her will? Do god knows what to her> Is she, even now, fighting off the asshole with the knife, struggling for her life? “Amanda!” Panic burns through me. I try to remind myself that Amanda has fended off this guy before. She may be small, but she’s strong-willed. She’ll fight for herself. She’ll fight for her son. But with me here, she shouldn’t have to, much less alone. “Amanda!” I tear out of the master again and charge toward the hall. “Amanda!” “What?” I hear her just before I round the corner. I find her standing in the middle of the hall, staring at me like she has no idea why I’m overreacting. Multiple reactions hit me at once. Relief. Of course I’m thanking God she’s okay. Anger hits next, and I march straight for her. I’m damn near seething when I shove her against the nearest wall and pin her to it, planting my palm over her head. “Where the fuck did you go?” “Out back. To see the beach.” Is she kidding? “Alone? Without telling me where you were off to?” “I-I…” She doesn’t finish her sentence, but I see understanding cross her face. “Didn’t think?” She sighs. “I’m not used to answering to anyone.” “Get used to it.” “Look, I hired you to keep me safe, not to be my—” She bites her lip like she knows better than to finish that sentence. “Daddy?” I lean closer. Our eyes lock. “Is that what you were going to say?” The air between us turns thick. I see her breasts rising and falling inches from my chest. Her rough breaths are audible. Her eyes dilate. Do I scare her? Or is she aware that I’m not merely a bodyguard, but a man? Amanda raises her chin. “You’re not.” It takes all my willpower not to touch her. “If you’re going to wander off alone when someone is out to kill you, I have no problem being yours.” Footsteps stomp through the front door moments before Trace and Masey round the corner and spot us. I jerk back. Amanda looks away in embarrassment. Trace clears his throat. “We just…um, need to grab Ranger and his gear from the office.” “Sure.” I gesture him to the room at the end of the hall. I’m trying my damnedest not to look guilty, but I feel the thick sludge rolling through me, pushing the flash of anger from my veins. Amanda didn’t need me to yell at her. We haven’t had time to cover ground rules and best practices. And I still jumped down her throat. Maybe my ex-wife wasn’t totally wrong about you being overprotective and possessive. But this is way worse. Stronger. Maybe I’m just on edge—I hope that’s it—but not knowing that Amanda was safe did something to more than my temper. Trace and Masey step past us and disappear into the office. An instant later, Amanda backs away from me, putting distance between us. “I’ll just…get some water.” She whirls for the kitchen as if her ass is on fire. It takes everything I have not to follow. The silence is awkward as Trace and Masey emerge with Ranger, then disappear after a few mumbled words, closing the door behind them with a final click. I let out a breath and scowl. I’ve botched everything, and I need to apologize. On my way down the hall, I pass the front door, ensure its locked, then do the same with the double glass doors overlooking the Pacific. Finally, I take a deep breath to get my shit under control before I head into the kitchen. Amanda faces the sink, staring out the window. The glass in her hand is shaking. I feel like a shit. “I’m sorry.” She gives me a tight shake of her head. “You’re here to protect me, and I…wanted to see the ocean.” Her explanation makes sense, but her hesitation as she voices her excuse tells me she’s lying. “I don’t believe you.” She sets her glass on the pristine white counter and stares over her shoulder at me. “I have a lot on my mind.” We’re getting closer to the truth, I sense. But that’s not everything. “Any of that have to do with me?” “Why are you here?” “For the money.” “If that’s the case, why won’t you stay on the job beyond a week?” Her gaze drills me. “I suggested a sum that should have been more than acceptable. You didn’t even consider it. As long as you lie to me, I won’t feel bad about lying to you.” Damn it. Every time I fall into the trap of thinking she’s soft and vulnerable, she proves she’s made of stronger stuff. “I’m not lying; I need the money. But I also agreed because I don’t like women or children being threatened.” “I’m not asking the right questions. Why were you worried about me just now? Honestly.” What is she pushing me for? “It would be better if I didn’t answer that question. Once I tell you, you can’t unknow the answer.” Our gazes connect, and electricity pings between us. Goose bumps flare across my skin. Desire kindles in my gut. Her whisper is the match that sets me ablaze. “You want me.” I could try to lie, but Amanda knows. The elephant isn’t just in the room, it’s squatting in the middle. “Fine. You want the truth? I’ve already thought about stripping you naked and fucking you until you scream about a hundred times.” 📚Start reading now!