Page 6 of Saved By the Marines (Soldiers Of Misfortune)

Wolfe

Bailey was still up in her room and had been all afternoon. She’d ignored the senator’s order to come to dinner, which had pissed him off. He’d spent the entire meal fuming silently, but others staying at the embassy had been nearby so he hadn’t made a scene.

It made me wonder what he’d be like if they hadn’t been there? I had a feeling I knew and it didn’t make me like the man any more. Didn’t matter. I didn’t need to like him. We just had to complete our babysitting mission and make sure he stayed alive while he was here.

His reactions sure made me understand his daughter’s quiet ways. She was fucking gorgeous. Tall and thin, with aristocratic features. Her dark hair and sparkling green eyes were hard for a man to resist. And did I mention that she wasgorgeous.

I knew that was the reason Jas was having a hard time being near her. He kept grumbling to himself that she was a spoiled brat, but from what I could tell she was anything but the stuck up rich kids we all knew from our pasts. I’d been watching her closely over the last week and she went out of her way to be kind to anyone who was around.

The staff fucking loved her. I’d heard the maids talking about her when they thought I couldn’t understand Spanish. Nothing I had heard had been anything but glowing. Except for the things Jas said. It was the only way he could stay focused on the mission and not be distracted by her.

It was late and I was patrolling the house, while the others checked around outside. It was likely overkill, but we were bored to death. I’d never admit it to my teammates, but this assignment was a joke. Watching over a senator and his daughter wasn’t in our job description. I had no idea why we were here.

The day my Colonel had pulled me into his office to tell me what we’d be doing on this mission it’d blown my mind. It was completely out of the ordinary, something he’d admitted to while he’d broken down the expectations for the job. It wasn’t like I could turn it down, though, and Jas was angry enough for the both of us, so I tried to make the best of it. The senator was a former Marine, and he had a lot of pull. If he wanted Marine Force Recon bodyguards, he’d get them.

At least we had the benefit of watching over a beautiful woman and not just her father. Something crashed in a nearby room as I walked through the foyer. There were more people staying here than just the Michaels, but that didn’t mean we wouldn’t keep this place locked down.

I shoved open the door of the drawing room, hand on the butt of my pistol. Freezing when I saw Bailey on her back on the floor, I searched the room for any threats.

Her laughter echoed around the room and my eyebrows shot up as I realized she was drinking Scotch…straight from the bottle. She must have tripped and fallen.

Removing my hand from my weapon, I shut the door behind me and walked over to her side. She stared up at me with a smile plastered on her face.

“Hi there.”

My lips twitched and I had to force myself not to smile. “What are you doing?”

“Drinking,” she slurred. Holding up the bottle, as though to prove her point, she grinned up at me.

My dick hardened as I stared down at her. Her wavy hair was spread around her and her plump lips were a deep pink and glistening from where she’d missed some of the Scotch.

I grabbed the bottle from her and she glared at me.

“Don’t mind sharing, but that’s mine.”

The embassy kept all of its liquor cabinets full for its guests, but I had a feeling her father would be pissed if he knew she was down here. I’d had Kip do some research on her and her father so I knew at twenty-two she was at least old enough to drink.

I glanced at the label on the bottle and let out a low whistle. “You know how to pick some fine Scotch.”

“Tastes gross,” she informed me. “Just like stupid Ted. Always tastes like an ashtray.”

Who the fuck is Ted?Out loud I asked, “What?” I knew better than to try to reason with someone who was drunk, but it just slipped out.

“Leaves me nasty voicemails for leaving with my dad. Asshole Dad makes me leave when I could be baking. I try calling ashtray Ted and he doesn’t answer. But this.” She waved at the bottle I’d set on the table. “That answered.”

Reaching out a hand, I grabbed hers and helped her to her feet. She stumbled and her body slammed into mine. I wasn’t going to try to put together her ramblings. Better to get her out of here.

I ground my back molars together as her curves pressed against me while she found her footing. Jesus. I was acting like a kid who couldn’t control his raging hard-on. Drooling over one of the marks we were supposed to be protecting wasn’t a great idea, yet my eyes had been following her everywhere she went since the moment she’d stepped off the plane. I hadn’t missed the fact that Jas and Kip were doing the same.

She patted my chest and thanked me before weaving her way toward the door. She was giggling and muttering to herself as she went.

Shaking my head, I stared up at the ceiling. Why me? Why was I chosen for this particular assignment? She was every dirty fantasy ripped from my head and plunked down in front of me and now I had to act like a cool detached bodyguard. If I didn’t the other two sure as fuck wouldn’t and then we’d be in deep shit. Something told me Senator Michaels wouldn’t be thrilled to find out the Marines sent to protect them were lusting after his daughter.

I caught up with her and steadied her again as she started to fall. When she began to slip down toward the floor like she was melting, I let out a curse and lifted her until she was over my shoulder. “Let’s get you upstairs.”

She pounded on my back with her fists, but her complaints were all under her breath. Even in her drunken state she clearly didn’t want to be caught.

Her father was an asshole to her, so it wasn’t surprising. I’d just stepped out into the hall when my radio clicked and the senator spoke.

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