Page 67 of Sweet Temptation

I’d trained and managed our elite bodyguard unit, which was the crowning jewel of the company. And as partner, I was able to solicit new contracts. I was the one who’d landed the Dirty contract about six years ago. They’d contracted me as a consultant, and I’d provided them with close protection security professionals and event security staff, as needed. I’d hired out Flynn, who was on my elite team, to Dirty; he’d left Sentinel when Brody and Jude offered him a full-time position on their crew.

No hard feelings there. It was a solid, full-time gig with great pay and incredible benefits—like traveling the world and more or less living the life of a rock star.

Could hardly fault him for making that career move.

Last year, my uncle had retired and I’d taken over the business. I’d spent much of the last year handling the transition, and restructuring the executive team. I’d promoted my longtime employees and friends, Sebastian and Naveen, to be my number two and number three on paper, though I considered them equal partners.

Sebastian was our COO. He was the business guy; an expert in contract negotiation, planning and supervising the growth of the company.

Naveen had left Vancouver PD with an injury about eight years ago, and as an ex-cop, he brought a ton of experience and knowledge as our VP.

The Sentinel name still carried a lot of weight in Vancouver, and I’d worked hard to maintain it, retaining old contracts and making new ones. SSG now had a roster of repeat and longterm VIP clients, which would continue to be managed by Naveen and our admin team while I was tied up with this assignment.

But I needed to head over to the office for a bit, take care of a few things, since I wouldn’t be pulling office hours for the foreseeable future. I figured I’d slip over there this morning, once Maddox and his guys arrived to install the new alarm system and change out the locks on Summer’s house.

I’d been over it, repeatedly, and any way I looked at it, this assignment was going to need my full attention. At least until I felt certain that Summer was completely safe.

And the deeper I delved here, the more I was unsure of that.

From what I’d learned so far, Summer’s band, the Players, were a newly formed rock band. Brody had signed a contract as their manager only two months ago. He had a lot to take care of in that capacity, and he also managed Dirty, who were a hugely successful band.

Since the Players were just coming together and wouldn’t actually be working together as a band until sometime next year—after their bassist, Matt Brohmer, who was currently touring with Dirty, came off the road at the end of that tour—Brody and Jude had put the Players’ security concerns on the long-ass to-do list, but it wasn’t exactly a pressing issue.

Until now.

Ashley Player’s part-time bodyguard, Hayden, or Hazard/“Haz,” as his brothers in the Kings MC called him, was at least licensed, which security professionals needed to be, legally, to work in this province. And like Brody and Jude had said in our meeting yesterday, we’d offered Haz the full-time gig. He’d accepted. If he ever changed his mind about that, I had many guys who’d be happy to take that assignment.

Xander Rush had a buddy of his, Lucas, playing bodyguard on a casual basis. He wasn’t licensed, but Xander liked him and Jude had insisted on offering him the same deal as Haz was getting, if he wanted it—as long as he also got licensed asap.

Matt Brohmer, since he was on the road, had his own guy on tour with him, and we’d leave well enough alone there until the tour was done.

As for Summer…

If you’d prefer someone else as your bodyguard, we can make other arrangements.

Riiiight.

Not sure why I’d even bothered making her that offer—fucking twice now—because it was total bullshit.

Was I testing her? Fishing for fucking compliments?

Hoping she’d gasp in horror and insist no man but me could possibly protect her?

I wasn’t putting anyone on this assignment besides me. That much I knew for sure.

My guys were completely solid. I’d trust them with my own life or with that of a loved one, no hesitation.

But why would I assign any of my guys to Summer’s security detail when I could assign myself?

It was better that I was here, on the frontlines, for now. Best vantage point from which to evaluate things.

And keep an eye on her.

Yeah, so, the scenery was better than staring at my office wall. Way fucking better.

I’d admit that.

It didn’t mean that was a factor in my decision making. As soon as I’d determined that the threat had passed and the client was safe, I’d pass off the bodyguard position to the next guy and move on.

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