Protect Me (Book Two): Protect Me, #2

By Layla Valentine

What do you do when the man who's supposed to protect you is the very one you should be running from?

 

Paisley:

 

I never thought I needed a bodyguard,

But when Tyler snuck into my bedroom in the middle of the night, he sure as hell changed my mind.

Six foot three of endless muscle and a burning case of writer's block,

I just found my favorite new distraction.

 

Tyler:

 

Paisley Abbott, country singer and international star,

She's sweet like sugar and pure as untouched snow.

I gained her trust, conned my way into her home,

And now her bed.

She doesn't know I made a sordid tape of us together,

And yes—I made sure to get us from every. single. angle.

She doesn't know I plan to sell her out and expose her to millions.

I sure as hell didn't plan to fall for her for real.

Now there's no way we're getting out of this without one of us getting hurt.

This is the second book in the Protect Me series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Layla Valentine
• Release date: Nov 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201428143

Book preview

Paisley

His green eyes bored into my very soul as his strong hands slid down my body. Satin slid over my heaving bosom, catching on my hard nipples. His hand slid lower and lower, slipping beneath the hem of my nightgown, over the thin fabric between my thighs. All mine. I touched his face, soft as silk. His eyes were on fire, his fingers split me, sinking into the moisture pooling there.

Leather over my mouth, smothering my moans as he hooked his fingers against my most secret, sensitive place, forcing the pressure to build between my hips. His thumb rolled over the hard, hot nub until my legs quivered and shook, until my moans turned to screams in his hand. I convulsed, crying out in ecstasy…

Tyler dissolved as morning rushed into my eyes. I was twisted in my bedcovers, my head buried in a pillow, my hand buried in my panties. Soaked with sweat and still trembling from the intense dream, I tumbled out of bed and headed for the shower.

Taking him to the event was a bad idea, I told myself as I turned the shower on. Promoting him from bodyguard to arm candy. He does make good arm candy, though.

Besides, it wasn’t like I hadn’t already been attracted to Tyler before the event last night. Between his lazy good looks and those blood-pumping self-defense lessons, I’d spent most of my waking—and sleeping—hours entertaining elaborate fantasies about him. It was becoming increasingly difficult to avoid turning them into a reality.

The last thing you need is another messy, public breakup, I told myself firmly. He’s not the one. He’s a bodyguard, a good old country boy. He’s not going to want to jet set around the country with you forever.

So he can stay home with the kids, my rebellious mind argued.

Stop that. You are about three thousand steps ahead of yourself right now. Besides, you have work to do. You can’t afford to be distracted right now.

The firm reminder had me skipping breakfast to head straight to the piano. A tune was playing in my head, but as I transferred it to the keys, I realized it wasn’t mine. I cursed softly, trying again. That was definitely me. Unpolished, unstructured, utterly amateur.

Come on, Paisley, you’re a pro. You know how to do this. I cracked my fingers and positioned them. Focus on the country. A simple two-step. You can build anything off a two-step, right?

I had just found my zone when a steady beat broke my concentration. Puzzled, I frowned, trying to place the sound. Whack, whack… It brought back memories of hot summers, playing until the street lights came on. Whack, whack…clank.

Do I even have a basketball hoop? I wondered out loud.

I did, apparently. In the little concrete alcove which led into the underground garage, an unused hoop hung over the door. Unused, until today. I paused in the kitchen door for a moment, admiring the view.

Tyler’s dark hair blew behind him as he raced down the driveway, dribbling the basketball. He wore no shirt, and his inked skin glistened in the sunlight, highlighting the cut of his muscles. Sharp hips and tight abs formed a V down to the low-slung hem of his sweatpants, making my mouth water.

Enough. You have work to do.

Hey, Tyler!

He spun to face me, bouncing the ball behind his back and catching it again. He smiled at her, tossing his hair, breathing just a little heavy. God, he was gorgeous.

What’s up, darlin’?

I’m trying to work. Could you keep it down a bit?

On a day like this? He extended his arms overhead, taking in the cloudless azure sky, tossing the ball back and forth between his hands. Not a chance, darlin’.

Please?

All right, tell you what, he said, crouching low to bounce the ball, flashing me a wicked grin. I’ll stop playing…if you beat me. One on one, let’s go.

I shouldn’t have. I should have taken the ball, turned around, and gone back to work. But I couldn’t resist that grin, those eyes…or that challenge.

You’re on, I said, throwing my hair up in a ponytail.

He bounced the ball at me and I caught it. Childhood wasn’t so long ago, was it? I dodged him, taking pleasure