“We have a quick job for you this afternoon.”
Hating the idea of leaving Ashley, I ground my back teeth together before asking for the details. The job was an easy security detail, assisting another company, which was low on manpower. I’d be filling in for Eric, who got called into work. Like the other part-time employees at the company, he was a local cop. He’d recently been promoted, and this was his last week at SSI.
“I need to know you can stay focused.”
That hurt. I was a US Navy SEAL; getting the job done, no matter what, was part of who I was. Losing focus wasn’t an option. Quitting wasn’t an option. Failing wasn’t an option.
Except I’d lost focus in Vegas and failed. No, even if I hadn’t met Ashley, my fate was sealed when the undercover agent ratted me out.
Squaring my shoulders, I answered the only way I could. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. I’ll text the details.”
“Call me when you leave Ashley’s,” I ordered. Then I added “please” so I wouldn’t sound like a total jerk.
I’m really not a bad guy. A little rough around the edges maybe, but I wasn’t usually an asshole.
He shook his head. “Only because you said please.” Jamie paused, his hazel eyes honing in on mine.
I forced my tone to be less confrontational when I asked, “What?”
“Figure your shit out. It’s obvious you care about Ashley, but we won’t tolerate your attitude.”
I had a feeling the only reason they hadn’t fired me was because my attitude stemmed from my feelings for Ashley.
“Yes, sir.”
So much for my fresh start.
Get your head on straight, Blaze
Blaze was the man I’d worked my ass off to be. The man I wanted to be again. The man I’d lost touch with in Vegas.
The man I can be again.
My job was to guard the entrance to a swanky party and make sure no one without proper identification entered the venue. The hardest part was ignoring the picture-perfect people in their expensive three-piece suits and floor-length gowns, staring at my scar and whispering behind their hands. I wondered if I’d ever get used to that reaction. The four-hour detail was uneventful; always a good outcome in our line of work.
Not bothering to wait for Jamie’s call, I parked outside Ashley’s. Something about the flower situation felt hinky, but Icouldn’t put my finger on it. Finn struck me as the type to harass someone because he felt entitled to their attention, but playing games didn’t seem like his style.
I figured him to be the type of guy who’d want credit for his deeds.
Unless the black roses were a message only Ashley would understand.
No, she would’ve told Jack, and we’d all feel more confident in our assumption that Finn had sent them.
Was Finn unhinged enough to hire someone to terrorize her? Was his plan to scare her, then swoop in and play the hero?
Not knowing his motive made me nervous. Because I trusted my gut, I refused to ignore it. Consequences be damned.
Her ex could escalate without warning, and while I trusted the Sheppards to protect Ashley, I still needed to be here. How much trouble could I get into? I was off the clock. Besides, it couldn’t hurt to have an extra layer of protection.
Good thing too, I thought, staring at the black sedan with dark tinted windows parked down the street. The tint on the windows prevented me from seeing any identifying features.
Except for the license plate, which I wrote down and sent to Doug, asking him to look it up when he had a chance.
When I rolled down my window, I heard laughter from the backyard, just before a chorus of voices yelled, “Gran!” followed by more laughter.
Once again, an emotion that felt a lot like jealousy flowed through my system.
