Page 2 of Saved By the Marines (Soldiers Of Misfortune)

“Tell me about it,” I sighed, sitting down on my bed. “It’s so much worse than that, Amy. I have no idea why we’re here. He should be at home, campaigning for re-election. Instead, he dragged us down here and won’t say why. I keep going to dinners and lunches. I make small talk with the wives of random businessmen, but I really don’t get it. His last campaign he never left the state.”

“That’s so weird.”

“It is. Oh! And even worse, he has a military security detail watching over us!”

“Really? Why?”

I rolled my eyes. “Every time I ask he brushes me off.”

“Look. I love you, but you havegotto start standing up for yourself. You deserve to have the kind of life you want, not the one your father wants for you.”

No one else at college—other than Amy and Ted—knew me as Senator Michaels’ daughter. I was able to go to class, attend parties, work, do whatever I wanted without the constant reminder that I was a U.S. Senator’s daughter. That wasn’t the case whenever I came home, but especially not this time. I didn’t want to be here. Working for my dad for the summer was going to be miserable. Being away from the job I’d lined up at a local bakery and my boyfriend pretty much had me in a bad mood most days. We’d only been here a week, but I knew the days were going to drag by.

Being away at college had taught me so much already. I was blossoming into the kind of woman I’d always wanted to be, but my father hadn’t allowed. I’d refused to go to school where all the other stuffy politician’s kids did. Instead, I’d convinced Dad to let me strike out on my own. If he knew what I was doing while I was there he’d have me back home, shackled inside this world, in a heartbeat. At twenty-two years old I’d gotten just enough of a taste of the world, and all it could offer, that being back under my father’s supervision was stifling.

I’d needed to get out from under his watchful eye and heavy thumb and going to college had been the easiest way to accomplish that. The summer job I’d lined up at the bakery down the street from my apartment was nothing but a distant dream now. I was only supposed to be visiting home for a few days, but Dad ruined everything within the span of a few hours of me walking into his house.

“I’ll try,” I told her with a sigh. Standing up to my father wasn’t exactly easy for me. I’d always been a quiet, studious girl growing up and it was the same now.

Sensing my sadness, Amy changed the subject. “Are there any hot guys there at least?”

I laughed and shook my head at her question. “I have a boyfriend,” I reminded her.

“Don’t get me started on Ted,” she sneered.

Amy was not a fan of my boyfriend and through our long talks I’d come to realize why, but I was mostly happy in my relationship. “Mostly everyone I see is older. Fifties and up.”

“I mean they could make for a hot “father’s best friend” kind of affair while you’re there.”

I gagged, letting her know what I thought of that idea. We both loved romance novels, and she’d turned me onto some really spicy books, but that was not going to happen. “They’re not good looking,” I informed her. I sighed and admitted, “You’d like the Marines who are following us around.”

There was shuffling over the line, and in my mind I could see her sitting up with an interested look on her face. We’d had so many conversations since we met, I knew all her mannerisms and didn’t need to be there to see her doing them.

“Reeeally, tell me more,” she implored.

“Wolfe, Jas, and Kip.” I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. I knew she’d also know I was doing the movement.

“Well, hello boys. I’m going to need you to take pictures of them.”

“Absolutely not!”

“Oh, oh yeah. I will definitely be needing pictures.”

A knock sounded on my door, so I stood and crossed the room. Opening it, my eyes widened as I found Wolfe on the other side. “Hang on, Amy,” I told her. “Um. Hi.”

While I’d started snapping back at Jas—more to keep myself sane than anything—I still hadn’t spoken to the other two much.

He gave me a curt nod. “Your father sent me to check on you.”

My eyes widened and I gasped. “Shit! Amy, I completely forgot about a meeting because you distracted me. I have to go, okay?”

Her laughter peeled over the connection. “Good. Hopefully it pisses your dad off.”

That was easy for her to say. She’d never sat through one of Trent Michaels’ lectures. They were mundane and awful, not to mention they’d go on for hours. His ability to speak endlessly and say nothing was legendary, especially amongst the other senators. I avoided them at all costs.

“Love you, bye,” I told her and hung up. “I’m sorry, I’ll head down now.” I brushed past him, inhaling the woodsy scent of his cologne as I went.

“Ms. Michaels.”

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