The Protector

by Gennita Low

  Vivi didn’t care. She just wasn’t going to play God to children’s lives. She had made promises and meant to keep them. Her jaw tightened with determination. She finally looked up at Jazz, wondering what he thought of the unexpected meeting.

  “I’m sorry you’re spending your free time like this, cooped up in an office, listening in on a catfight.” She waved at the pile of papers in front of her. “Those are names and places, and most of them are requests for funds or help of some kind. Give them something and they might find an open spot for one girl, or two. And she doesn’t think that’s bribery? But I can’t say anything because this isn’t my job. I’m just a volunteer for this.”

  “Don’t worry about my free time. I’m where I want to be, really. This Juliana can’t really get you into trouble, can she?”

  She shook her head. “I’m the liaison for them with Interpol.” She smiled. “I do have some authority, you know. Their organization can’t just order Interpol officers around. Interpol recommended GEM as a liaison to help them do their work. It’s just that sometimes, the organization is a bit…overeager to achieve their goals. It isn’t any different from any funded groups who see the result and ignore the way there.”

  Jazz came to her and leaned over the desk. He touched her cheek. His hand felt warm and tender. “I believe in what you do, Vivi. I know you care about these girls and that they’re more than numbers to you.”

  She smiled back tightly. “Much good caring does, huh? I can’t seem to find any permanent solutions. And Miss Numbers wants me to pick and choose. As if—” She bit down on her lower lip.

  Jazz felt her helplessness, her inner anger. “We all do what we can to save the world, chouchou.” Not that his words would help. From what he had just seen and heard, he didn’t think much could be done to persuade Juliana Kohl from following up on her threats. But he wanted to comfort Vivi, who seemed all alone in this fight. “One step at a time, that’s all we can do. Here, I’ll go back to checking out the walls while you finish your paperwork.”

  “Okay.”

  Vivi looked up half an hour later, distracted by a strange sound. Jazz was checking out a musical instrument. Her mouth softened at the sight of him plucking out an awkward tune that somewhat resembled “Oh Susannah.” She should have known he would be attracted to it once he saw it resting in the corner. It had been so long since she had put it there…

  “That sounds awful,” she said.

  He looked up, the frown of concentration still stamping his features. “Its sounds like a banjo. What is it?”

  “It isn’t a banjo. It’s a lute. Here, you hold it like this.” She showed him the proper way, with the handle straight up. “It’s called a Dan Nhat, a sun lute, because its body is shaped like the sun.”

  She watched as he positioned it the way she had and couldn’t help but marvel at how gentle he was with the instrument. She had easily imagined him with a big heavy weapon, but he held the Dan Nhat as if he’d used it before.

  “Is this yours?”

  She nodded, then shook her head. “It’s sort of mine. I bought it for a friend, but I haven’t given it to her yet.”

  “Do you play it?” he asked.

  “Yes, but not well. My friend, though, could play it very well.”

  “Show me.” He handed it back to her.

  Vivi hesitated before taking it from him. It had been literally years. She had bought it out of impulse when she saw it in the market, when she had first arrived. It was a symbol, that she would one day find her Sia-Sia and give this to her.

  “Well,” she said, and laughed nervously, “my mind is blank.”

  She plucked the strings tentatively, slowly getting used to the tension as she adjusted the chords from memory. Then, smiling at him mischievously, she did a quick rendition of “Oh Susannah” without any mistakes.

  “Hey,” he said, “you can play pretty well!”

  “No, that’s just child’s play. You should hear a professional sometimes. It’s an amazing instrument, sounding between a guitar and a zither depending on the tension and chords.”

  “Yeah, I’d like that.”

  They looked at each other and Vivi found herself leaning closer. Jazz didn’t move, the blue in his eyes suddenly intense and intimate, the corner of his lips curving up slightly. She could compromise in some things, Vivi thought, as she kissed that tempting mouth.

  His lips were warm, gentle even, and he gave her what she needed—freedom. She had held her emotions inside for so long, it would be so easy to just let go and not think. There was something about him that soothed her, like a mental anodyne, taking away the pain she kept hidden from everyone. She opened her mouth.

  He didn’t need a second invitation. His tongue crept in, and he was no longer gentle. She felt his hands holding her face still as he explored and tasted with such exquisite demand that the soothing numbness exploded into something more. How could a kiss make her feel this weak? Her whole insides churned as his lips moved across hers. She felt as if he were drinking in those secrets she had never shared.

  Vivi responded, allowing the torrent of emotions to push away those decades-old barriers. Oh, it felt so good to let go. Her world seemed to come to a standstill, where nothing mattered but this swirl of passion that had caught her in its web. She was helpless against it as waves of need crashed through her senses.

  She murmured throatily, pulling at Jazz’s T-shirt, needing him closer. The Dan Nhat was caught between them and its strings jangled strangely, echoing her out-of-tune senses. Unruly. Uncontrolled. Totally letting the moment rule.

  Jazz released her lips, and she wanted to protest. His breathing was uneven as he placed soft kisses at the corner of her mouth and up her jaw line.

  “This is against everything my body is screaming at me to do, chouchou, but we have to stop before I put you on that desk and make love to you.”

  Vivi felt his lips on her closed eyelids. She didn’t want to open them because she knew reality was waiting. Shock rifled through her as she realized how unlike herself she was behaving. Right now, she wouldn’t give a damn about being caught in a passionate embrace. If Juliana had walked in with a crowd of her media connections, they could have stood there with their pens and pads taking notes, and she wouldn’t have noticed.

  All she had wanted to do was continue kissing this man, with her hand over his heart, feeling it beating faster for her as she responded to his silent demand to let go. Something carnal had reared its head inside, wanting the connection to go further. She allowed him access to the nape of her neck when he nudged at her, then shivered at the first small nibble. His breath was hot against her skin, and his scent tempted her to let this continue.

  She opened her eyes, at the same time pushing against his chest. He complied, allowing some space between them, but there was no mistaking the sensual heat in his blue eyes. And that carnal thing inside her responded to that look with the same heat, building and pushing against her as she drowned in that gaze. He looked at her as if he wanted to put his mouth on other parts of her body besides her lips. That thought made those parts clench up in anticipation.

  “That isn’t the way to play the lute,” she said, her voice coming out breathless.

  “But we make such good music together, chouchou. It gets better with practice. Look how totally cold you were with me our first time when we kissed. I thought you must hate kissing, the length of time it took you to come out of that restaurant.”

  Vivi frowned at the mention of the first kiss, her heart skipping a beat at the thought that he…then she realized he had meant that one earlier in the restaurant, after T. had left. She hadn’t responded then because she knew she was being watched. Her walls were still safely protecting her from this man, even though she had to force herself to sit still.

  She knew she shouldn’t have let her defenses slip where Jazz was concerned. He covered his male determination very well with that easy cajoling charm. He was a SEAL through and through, and whe
n he wanted something, he went after it.

  And damn, the man could French-kiss better than any Frenchman. Of course, she had no intention of giving him that piece of information.

  “Look how my kiss can leave you speechless,” he teased with a smile.

  Vivi laughed. She hadn’t known a kiss was so tension-relieving. Somehow he had gotten under her skin, and even made her laugh. That was so rare these days. She would have to kiss more often. More often…She sighed. “I wish we could continue this exercise but this isn’t the time or place.” She handed him the Dan Nhat. “Here, you can borrow it, if you want.”

  “I’d rather do something else.” Jazz strummed the lute a couple of times. “See how bad I am with this thing? I’d rather play with you. I promise it’ll be better than our kiss.”

  His wink was wicked as he played with the lute with those long, long fingers. Vivi studied them, imagining them on her body. Without a doubt, it would be an experience to remember. She hadn’t wanted to be with a man so badly in a while now. But she had things to do—one of which was to try to find a place for Rose. She was running out of time.

  Back to business mode. Back to reality. There was simply no room to think about what Vivi Verreau wanted. She looked at the tall, handsome man who was so out of place in her office. She remembered seeing him without a shirt, remembered the gleaming muscles and flat stomach glistening with perspiration. What sane woman would keep saying no to that body?

  “Lieutenant,” she said crisply. “Practice makes perfect.”

  CHAPTER

  13

  Jazz examined the Dan Nhat in his lap, running his fingers lightly over the instrument. It looked like a guitar but it wasn’t. Much like its owner who was also more than she appeared to be. He smiled ruefully.

  His mind had been on Vivi Verreau since she’d dropped him back at the compound. She had taken him on some of her “errands,” giving him another glimpse of the role she played. She had many, many different sides, and he was more intrigued than ever.

  They had driven to a converted old building that served as a safe house for orphans. Vivi had brought boxes of canned food with her. Jazz didn’t mind being the center of attention, playing with the kids, while he listened to the conversation between the adults. Vivi had wanted to know when there would be an open spot. From her description of the girl’s circumstances, he soon realized that she was talking about Rose, the young girl from the bar. His interest went up another notch.

  He recalled her telling Rose that she was having a difficult time finding a spot for her because she wasn’t an orphan. Today he was getting to see that what had seemed an unimportant fact at the time now played a big part in state-sponsored environments. How could she just stand there and take all that bureaucratic B.S. so calmly? He couldn’t understand what was so difficult about putting up a child in need. Whether she was an orphan or not shouldn’t matter.

  In the end, Vivi had walked away without securing any kind of promise to get Rose in as soon as possible. He’d sensed her frustration, even though her demeanor hadn’t changed.

  “I’m sorry, chouchou,” he’d said and reached for her hand.

  She hadn’t shaken him off. “I’m used to it, Jazz. Don’t worry, I’ll find something for Rose. Besides, I still have you to marry her, right?”

  He’d grinned at her attempt to tease him. He realized that she rarely wanted to discuss her volunteer job at all. Who could blame her, especially during those times when she couldn’t find a way to help?

  “I’m sort of taken, but I do have an available brother.”

  “Interesting. Are you telling me you have a woman in your life back in Louisiana?”

  “Well, no, not exactly.”

  “You’re telling me you don’t even have one single girlfriend back there?” Her eyes were filled with disbelief. “You have so many sisters. Surely you dated some of their friends.”

  His grin had widened. Ah, it was good to know she was probing for more information about his life. “Occasional dates, yeah. And yes, I kissed her…happy now?”

  She had given him a long look before asking, “And what was her name?”

  “Karen. But she’s happily married now. We’re still friends. I helped her landscape her entire backyard the last time I was home.”

  “Good.” That was all she said.

  Jazz smiled as he recalled that look Vivi had given him when she had dropped him off. She had wanted to say something but changed her mind, but that look gave him hope. One day, she would tell him what went on in that mind of hers. Like the Dan Nhat, she was just a mystery, but with a little touching, lots of loving, and special coaxing, he intended to make her his. She just didn’t know that right now, that was all.

  He must have been nuts to stop at just that kiss. She had wanted him; he had felt that. Even now the memory of her response was playing havoc with his concentration. He paused to adjust the tension of the strings.

  There was always something restrained about her, as if she was afraid to let go. Maybe some soldier had hurt her in the past and she had never gotten over it. Maybe he had left her and that was why she kept pointing out that he would be gone soon. Jazz understood that he had to listen carefully to what she was telling him if he were to get any closer.

  It was like this Dan Nhat. A fine string instrument and tension. Get it right and the notes would come out clear and musical. Get it wrong and the strings would break.

  Jazz plucked “Oh Susannah” on the lute slowly, marveling at the different texture of the sounds coming from it. He held it the way she’d shown him, playing with the frets to get the note he had in mind, tuning it one way, then another.

  “That is the most godawful sound you’re making,” Hawk said from the doorway. He strolled in, looking very comfortable in the cotton attire that the locals favored. “What the hell is that thing, some kind of guitar?”

  “It’s a Dan Nhat.” It was almost curfew time. The others were already back. Lockdown toward zero hour was set to start as soon as they had the latest satellite data of the oncoming target. Jazz studied his friend as he strummed on, trying to figure out the frets. “It isn’t a guitar, it’s a sun lute.”

  “You need lessons, from what I’m hearing.” Hawk paused in the middle of unlacing his shoes. “Where did you get it?”

  Jazz didn’t say anything, repeating “Oh Susannah.” This time he had it in tune.

  “Uh-huh, been at Vivi’s behind my back,” Hawk said, his voice mild, as he pulled off his shoes. “Made any progress?”

  “Some.”

  “Do anything I would have done?”

  Jazz narrowed his eyes as he stared at his friend’s bland expression. “No. Vivi doesn’t like fishing,” he said, choosing to be obtuse. Hawk was a fishing enthusiast.

  Hawk grinned. “Yeah, but you took the bait. She’ll bite, too, from the master.”

  “Why don’t you jerk off?” Jazz countered rudely.

  “Nah, too tired. Everyone’s accounted for, so I’m going to bed.”

  “Where did you go?” Jazz asked, changing the subject on purpose.

  Hawk slumped back onto the narrow bed, resting his head on his hands. “I was going to say I spent all day having sex with Vivi Verreau but since you said you were with her, I doubt that story would stick.” He cocked a brow at Jazz. “But it still pisses you off even when you know what I said didn’t have an ounce of truth.”

  “I don’t like it. Can’t you go after some other woman?”

  “Such as? You have someone in mind for your twin?”

  Jazz laid the lute by his pillow and stretched lazily. “I don’t know. How about that old grump, Grandmamasan? You two seem to get along. Besides, you owe her a kiss, pal.”

  Hawk started chuckling, which quickly became loud laughter. His whole body shook with mirth as he looked up at the ceiling. “Turn off the lights, bro,” he said, between chuckles. “I’m off to dream about Grandmamasan and me.”

  “And you find that hilariou
s?”

  The room went dark. Hawk kept laughing, as if he couldn’t help himself.

  “Yeah,” he said. “Extremely.”

  “Are you going to share this big joke?” The image of Grandmamasan and Hawk was pretty funny, but only from Jazz’s perspective. Couldn’t be that funny from Hawk’s. After making sure the lute was out of the way, Jazz lay down on his bed. “She probably has a thing for you, the way she kept calling you GI number one.”

  The chuckles quieted down but Jazz could hear the smile in Hawk’s voice. “Nah, she has a thing for you, my friend, or hadn’t you noticed?”

  “Yeah, uh-huh, keep her away from me, man. I already did my part of that bargain you made with her. Thank God that place was dark. Do you know how hard it was for me to try to get her image out of my mind so I could kiss her? Man, that was tough.” Jazz adjusted his pillow. “There’s no way I’m going to kiss her for you, too.”

  Hawk started chuckling. “Oh no, my friend. I always keep my end of the bargain. I’ll kiss Grandmamasan. To help you out, remember?”

  “That I can’t wait to see.”

  Hawk’s laughter filled the darkness again. Jazz listened to the night sounds as they both wound down for the night. It occurred to him before he fell asleep that Hawk never did tell him where he’d disappeared to for most of that day.

  “You must be insane to turn down a fine man like that,” T. said, as she stood in front of a floor-length mirror, slowly taking out the clips holding up twisted lengths of her hair. “He’s a good guy, darling.”

  “And you know this from what?” Vivi asked as she held the tray for T. to drop the clips in, watching her chief’s reflection as she slowly unveiled yet another façade. “From the way you felt him up and down at the restaurant?”

  T.’s smile was pure wickedness. She had darkened her light auburn to a rich titian, and as the freed curls slowly untwisted by themselves, the shy librarian she had earlier portrayed slowly morphed into a sensual creature. “That accounts for the fine part,” she replied, her voice rich with amusement. “The good guy comes from research. I have read his file, you know, and with that Louisiana gentlemanly charm, so properly trained by all his sisters, you have a winner.”