His to Love and Protect - Navy SEAL Bodyguard Romance

By Grace Rawson

Losing Control: He turns her world upside down in the best possible way. 

Olivia Westwood, successful, independent and stubborn, lives life on her terms and loves to stay in control. She gets the shock of her life when she discovers an intruder in her home. It's none other than Jake Hunter, her brother's best friend since childhood. He's arrived to act as her bodyguard, much to her dismay. He turns her life completely upside down because he's the one man who can make her lose her precious control. 

Undeniable Attraction: After years of fighting his lust, he can fight it no longer, but he really should focus on keeping her safe. 
Jake doesn't hesitate to volunteer his services when he hears Olivia is in danger. He buried his feelings for her years ago and stayed away. Olivia deserves someone better than a bad boy like him. Reuniting with her brings his feelings crashing back to the surface, making it hard for him to stay focused on keeping her safe. How long can he resist the passion brewing between them and his burning need to make her his? How long can she deny that her control is no match for Jake's allure? 

A Standalone Short Story with No Cliffhanger! 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Grace Rawson
• Release date: Nov 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781540134783

Book preview

His to Love and Protect

Chapter 1

Ineed a bodyguard . Ridiculous , Olivia thought as she abruptly ended the call with her brother. It was absurd that he thought she needed protection. She had distanced herself from her family years ago. Her career was as far from politics and law as it was possible to get. Why would her brother think her life could be in danger because he sent some criminal to prison?

Most people probably didn’t even realize that Olivia was part of the rich, esteemed, Westwood clan. The last time she was photographed with any member of her family was twelve years ago when she was eighteen, and still under her overbearing father’s thumb. Her brother was wrong. She was totally safe.

Olivia stepped out of her car and straightened her tight pencil skirt. Grabbing her handbag she marched to the front door of her apartment building, still fuming over her conversation with her brother. Though she mostly avoided her family, she was still close to him. Thinking about her family was bringing on a miserable mood and her scowl deepened.

The sight of the doorman forced a smile onto her lips as she nodded to the lovely older man.

Good evening, Mr. Grant.

A pleasant good evening, Ms. Westwood, he returned.

Olivia kept her smile until she was in the elevator. Blowing out a breath, her shoulders sagged. She anticipated her brother calling back to lecture her on her manners. It was rude to hang up on him, but she had a bit of a hot temper. She wasn’t a red-head for nothing.

Five, four, three, two, one. On cue, her cell rang. Mhmm, I knew it.

Lifting the phone to her ear, she immediately apologized. I’m sorry for hanging up on you, but you were beyond irritating.

He sighed. Just hear me out, Liv.

I already have and I’ve already told you a bodyguard isn’t necessary. No one knows who I am, for goodness sake.

Of course people know who you are. You’re the senior editor for one of the biggest magazines in the country.

"Yes, I’m an editor. I work behind the scenes. It’s not like my face is plastered on the front cover of the magazine. Therefore, some large, overly muscular guy with a buzz cut, tattoos, and a gun, following my every move is not necessary." She was stereotyping bodyguards, she knew but she was just so annoyed with her brother. He had been bothering her with this for two weeks now.

Olivia, must you always be so stubborn?

Must you and the rest of the family crave the limelight so much? She snapped and immediately regretted it. With a sigh, she apologized, Colin, I’m sorry. It’s just that we’ve gone through things like this over and over and I’m tired of it. She stepped out of the elevator and walked to her apartment door. She fished her key out of her handbag.

There was a heavy sigh. I suppose I’m the one that should apologize. I’m sorry for dragging you into my mess, but I need to be sure that you’re safe. That’s why I went ahead and put your security into place. You’ll be angry but know that I did it—

Hold that thought. I’ll call you back. Okay?

Liv—

Olivia ended the call and glanced around her living room with a frown. Something was different. There was a mug on the center table that she was sure hadn’t been there this morning. She never left dirty dishes lying around. When it came to cleaning, she was a bit of an obsessive compulsive. A sweet aroma that she hadn’t noticed before entered her nostrils.

Confusion swirled in her mind. Was the smell coming from her kitchen? Something slung over the back of one of her couches caught her attention. She gasped and clamped a hand over her mouth. It was a man’s jacket. Someone was in her apartment and it appeared the intruder had made himself at home.

Olivia’s mind raced. What was she to do? Call the police? Turn around and run? See who was in her apartment? No, I’m most definitely not going to see who it is. She debated whether to call the police as she ran.  She turned back toward the door and teetered on her high heels, desperately trying to be as silent as possible. She heard the intruder.

Olivia?

On instinct, she grabbed her pepper spray from her handbag and whipped around, aiming the small bottle at whoever it was. Who are you? What do you want?

Her panic ebbed when she realized that the man standing before her was a familiar face.