AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His eyes skate over her as he rubs her upper arms. “You look amazing. I doubt you have to worry about counting calories.”
She steps back, playfully smacking the man’s hand. “Oh, you. Stop. You’re too much.”
I watch in admiration as she handles the unwanted advances of the Senator. She’s every inch of the pampered princess I’d initially thought her to be, but it’s a charade she’s played thousands of times. No one, including her family, has any idea the woman can bring a guy to his knees in seconds and break into his house. No wonder Truman was salivating over the opportunity she presented.
“You’re as lovely as your mother.” He shakes his head. “She was about your age when your father stole her away from me.”
So that’s it. He was in love with Lola’s mother and is now turning his attention to the daughter. Perfect.
She pats him on the arm. “Now, Andrew. I don’t think that’s the story. If I remember correctly, you two never dated.”
“Yes, but I saw her first. Finders keepers and all that.” His eyes rake over her again and settle on her chest. Dude, stop looking at my woman’s tits.
Out of the corner of my eye, Ripley chuckles and throws his arms around Sloane’s shoulders like he’s settling in to enjoy the show.
I step forward. The man might be a dignitary on Capitol Hill, but he’s about to seriously overstep his boundaries. No one touches my woman.
“Aren’t those the rubies your mother was wearing in the portrait? Those are the ones someone tried to steal, aren’t they?”
You’ve got to get in control. Wanting to kick the ass of a man who’s old enough to be your father is embarrassing. My breath catches. I’m in love with her. I close my eyes and inhale while waiting for my head to stop spinning. I count to twenty, re-open my eyes and swallow. Yep, there’s no getting around it. I love everything about her. Now, what in the hell do I do about it?
She nods. “Yes, these are the jewels that someone attempted to steal. That’s why I have a security guard with me tonight. I would hate to have another incident.”
As she motions toward me, Senator Harris turns. Fuck. Now I have his full attention. I planned to tell her about my injury tonight but doing so in front of an audience is not what I envisioned. Surely, he won’t recognize me. I don’t resemble a down-on-his-luck homeless man anymore–the wheelchair and gaunt features are a thing of the past.
“I wondered why a man was watching you like a hawk and lurking over your shoulder. I thought it might be someone to throw in your father’s face, but you’re a little old for a teenage rebellion.”
“Funny. No, this is Cade Hughes. He works for Truman Security. He was hired to guard the jewels. Not my body.”
Shit. I should have used a made-up name–way to go. Senator Harris frowns. “Cade Hughes? That name sounds familiar. Don’t I know you?”
“No, Sir. I don’t think so.” I glance around the room, hoping he’ll lose interest. Of course, I would run into the one man who has full access to my military records.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lola
For a split second, Cade looked nauseous. Now he appears fine–other than he’s scanning the room like he’s desperate to find a magic escape button. What’s going on?
“No, I don’t forget a face. I’ve seen you somewhere.” Andrew’s forehead wrinkles in concentration as he rubs his bottom lip with his index finger.
Did he meet Cade during one of their investigations into a military incident? That must be it because Cade doing something illegal is unfathomable. He’s the most honorable man I’ve ever met.
Andrew smiles and points at Cade. “I’ve got it. I know where I’ve seen you. Didn’t you earn a Medal of Honor a couple of years ago?”
I gape at him. He received a Medal of Honor, one of the highest awards a military member can receive, and he looks like he wants to crawl under the nearest sofa. Why doesn’t he shout that from the rooftops?
Cade purses his lips together. “I guess you don’t forget a face.”
Andrew shakes Cade’s hand and cuffs him on the right shoulder. “I make it my business not to forget the sacrifices of the military personnel I oversee. You were involved in that school rescue, weren’t you?”
“That was my team.”
“You appear in better shape than you did the last time I saw you.” Andrew grimaces. “You looked like warmed-over death. How long was it before you were up and around?”
“About six months.” Probably closer to twelve before I was in good physical form again. “I had a lot of rehab at one of the best military hospitals around.”
Andrew glances at Lola. “Did you say Truman Security?”
