Page 185 of Sweet Temptation

Summer still hadn’t told them about… any of it?

I’d stopped asking about that, but she’d told me she was planning to tell her bother and he’d tell them. For whatever reason, she really didn’t seem to want to tell them herself.

“I spoke with my son last night,” Gunnar informed me. “He mentioned that Summer had some sort of issue here, that someone had tried to break into her house. I called her last night but she didn’t get back to me. So naturally, Joanne and I were on the first ferry over here this morning.”

“We live in Victoria,” Joanne explained.

“Summer mentioned that,” I told her. “She didn’t tell you about me yet?”

“She didn’t,” her dad supplied.

“Well, I don’t think your daughter likes asking for help.” I figured if they knew her at all, they knew that already. “She didn’t seem to want to admit that she needed any, when Brody first suggested they hire me.”

“That sounds like my girl,” her dad said, sounding proud and annoyed at once.

“So, what happened?” her mom asked. “What’s all this about a break-in?”

“A man tried to break in here, the night before Brody decided my services were required,” I told them. I didn’t see a reason not to. “He called me when it happened and I responded. The police had already come and gone and arrested the suspect. He was released the next day, and we requested a restraining order. It’s been put in place now, for a year.”

“A year?” Joanne said. “That’s all?” She looked at her husband. “A man tries to attack our daughter and all he gets is a restraining order for a year?”

“We have no evidence that he was planning to harm her,” I said, wanting to put them at ease while still sticking to the facts. “It was an attempted break-in. That’s all we know for sure. The important thing is that Summer is safe now. I’m with her around the clock, and I’ve got a team of staff to help when needed. No one’s getting near her anymore without my say so.”

I looked her father in the eye.

“And what are your credentials?” he asked me.

His wife looked annoyed with his bluntness, but she also looked like she wanted the answer to that question, so she didn’t interject.

“I run a security firm, Sentinel Security Group.” I dug a couple of business cards out of my wallet and handed one to each of them. “We’ve been providing elite bodyguard services, along with event security for Summer’s industry, for over thirty years. I’ve been with Sentinel for almost twenty years, and I took the company over from my uncle last year. I’ve worked for Brody many times over the years…”

Summer strode into the room and I faded off. She wore a loose, billowy silk jumper, midnight-blue, with her hair in a loose bun on top of her head and a little makeup on. Fresh-faced and lovely.

“Mom!” She threw out her arms as her parents got to their feet to greet her.

I stood up, too.

“Summer, sweetie.” Her mom took her in a tight hug, then released her.

“Hi, Daddy,” she said, giving her dad a hug. He gave her a tight squeeze, then kissed her on the forehead.

“Princess,” he said. “You didn’t tell us about the bodyguard.”

“Or the break-in,” her mom scolded gently.

“It wasn’t a break-in,” Summer said firmly. “He tried to break in, but he failed. The police came. They brought a dog unit. It was fucking amazing.” She headed into the kitchen, pulling out coffee mugs.

Joanne pressed a hand to her chest. “Summer. My goodness. Why didn’t you tell us about all this?”

“The dog caught him,” Summer said lightly but matter-of-factly. “The police arrested him. Brody came and Ronan came.” She laid out sugar and cream on the bar with the mugs, then pressed her hands flat on the bar, staring her parents down. “I’ve got security now. As you can see.” She nodded at me, and her parents looked at me again. “Ronan’s extremely good at his job. He’s a mixed martial arts trainer. He takes no shit, even from me, and he keeps me safe. You do not need to worry about me.”

Gunnar made a disagreeable sound in his throat, and Joanne elbowed him again. Then she drifted over to the bar and sat down across from Summer. “Sweetie. How could we not worry?”

“Simple. You just don’t. There’s no need. Would you guys like some homemade scones? Carissa brought them yesterday, and you know I don’t do empty calories.” She went to the cupboard to get plates.

“Sure, baby,” her mom said. “Let me help.” She got up to help Summer, needlessly, with putting scones out on the bar and pouring coffee.

I stayed where I was, standing in the living room a few feet from her father. I slipped my hands in my pockets, trying to do the invisible-security-guy routine, as Summer’s mom fussed over her in the kitchen and her dad kept eying me.

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