Up All Night Long: From Lust to Love (Romance Anthology)

by Ali Parker

  "Do you think he's capable of that?"

  "I don't know. He's in L.A. anyway, so another problem for another day."

  "Well, be careful. I don't like the sound of that shit."

  "I will, boo. I'm going to go visit my dad to see where this stuff is going with Ian and I'll call you later."

  "Ian? Is that the hottie bodyguard's name?"

  I laughed. "Yeah. Even his name is hot."

  "I smell trouble."

  "I just smell sex and candy." We both laughed and I hung up, grabbing my keys and heading into downtown La Jolla to find my dad and figure out what was coming next.

  The drive to the office was long and arduous, the traffic heinous for the middle of the day. I parked in a no parking zone and got out, tired of driving around and knowing that my dad would pay the ticket.

  I gave a quick wave to the people at the security desk and walked through the metal detectors as the alarm went off. I didn't have a badge, but I rarely did. They would clear me, they always did. I paused by the elevator and let out a long sigh.

  "Why aren't there more elevators in this God forsaken building?" I growled and pushed the button with impatience. I couldn't seem to get myself under control and trying wasn't going to help anything. Nerves had me on edge and left me acting like the spoiled-ass brat that I was raised to be.

  I got into the small metal box as a whole crowd of people moved in with me.

  "Did hell open its doors and offer ice water or was there a special on burritos today?" I grumbled and got a few nasty looks, which forced me to face my shitty comment.

  Stop it. You hate this part of you. Pull yourself back and stop acting like that.

  My foot tapped on the floor as I tried to swallow the angst that burned along my chest. Did my father hire Ian, and if so, why wasn't he at the house with me already? Could I force him to like me? To adore me like most guys did?

  The elevator opened and I pushed my way through, making pissy noises until I popped out of the opening. I straightened my dress and glanced back, growling, "Fucking ridiculous."

  Yep. I had officially gone off the deep end. No pulling myself back now. Time to own it.

  I didn't stop by the front desk receptionist as the pretty brunette looked up and asked how she could help me.

  "Don't bother," I grumbled and walked into my father's office without knocking.

  The young guy in a suit in front of him stopped mid-sentence and glanced up at me, his eyes going wide.

  "Dad. We need to talk." I pressed my hand to my hip and gave my old man the look that screamed, 'now before I melt down'.

  "Right." My father glanced at the guy and stood. "Jonathan, this is my daughter, Chloe. I'll pick back up with you this afternoon?"

  "Of course, Sir." The handsome suit turned toward me and extended his hand. "Nice to meet you."

  "Yep." I turned away from his hand and pressed my hands on the desk between me and my father. "Where in the hell did you find the guy?"

  "Um, which guy would that be?" My father glanced toward Jonathan with an apologetic look and then gave his full attention to me.

  I waited until the door closed behind me. "Ian. The bodyguard. He's a total thug and I'll not have him guarding anything. Least of all, my body!"

  The door opened and I turned angrily.

  Ian slipped in and nodded toward us. "Mr. Moore. You wanted to see me?"

  Chapter 10

  I called into the hospital for my shift on Wednesday and got dressed up in another set of monkey clothes my brother had forced upon me. Seems it was time to meet up with the good Senator and see what his final decision was regarding the job. I had sent in my agreement on Tuesday, but hadn't heard anything. When I got word to be there, I dropped everything.

  The receptionist had pointed to the door when I arrived, telling me to knock and go on in.

  I could hear Chloe yelling as I approached the door and my lip lifted at the sound of her meltdown. She was horrified at the thought of me being her protector. Good.

  It would keep us from stripping each other naked and fucking like rabbits. I hadn't been able to think of much more than that for the last few days, so knowing she wasn't down with it would save us both. If that changed somewhere along the way, I would turn in my man card and deny the pretty little thing.

  I knocked and walked in, glancing up at both of them and keeping my voice even. "Mr. Moore. You wanted to see me?"

  "Yes, Ian. Come on in and close the door behind you." He motioned for me to join them, the poor man's cheeks pink from having to deal with the irate girl beside him no doubt.

  Chloe raked me with a glare. I winked at her and walked to take the seat in front of her father. The blue dress she wore was a little higher than I would expect from a respectable girl such as herself, but maybe she wasn't the woman I had made her out to be in my head. Her long tanned legs went on forever, the soft smooth skin of her thighs screaming for me to run my fingers along it.

  Stop it. Lock that shit up. Now.

  "Chloe. Sit down. Now!" He pointed to the chair and she dropped into it, her actions reminding me of a five year old. She needed a spanking. I would have been happy to take that up as part of my job duties, but decided not to mention it, being the good guy I was and all.

  I clasped my hands over my stomach and leaned back, keeping my attention on the older man in front of me. He had lived quite a life, and part of my interest in working with him and the pretty girl next to me was to hear more of his story. It wasn't every day that you got to talk to a United States Senator.

  "I'm glad that you decided to take the job. I've finished my review and had Pauly sign off on everything. We'll be bringing you in starting today."

  Chloe stiffened next to me, sitting up and moving to the edge of her chair. I glanced over at her as she groaned loudly. Her long hair was down, spilling over her back and around her shoulders. I turned my attention back to her dad before I reached out and ran my hand down the silky tresses.

  "I don't have a say in this at all? It's fucking unfair." She stood up and I reached up, pressing my hand to my mouth to force myself not to smile. She was such a spoiled ass. It was almost comical.

  "Watch your language and no, you do not." He stood as well. His words were loud, but there was no real weight to them. She could push hard enough and he would give in. Why she didn't, left me with more questions than answers. The girl was a complete mystery.

  "Fine. Do what you want then. You always have anyway. I'll go back to the box where I live and when you need me, just jerk my strings and I'll come out and dance to your fucking tune." She slapped the desk and turned, walking from the room and slamming the door hard behind her.

  The Senator let out a long sigh and dropped down in his chair, his fist pressing against his mouth as he took a minute.

  I sat in silence, not willing to offer anything up to assist him. His relationship with his daughter was his own deal. It had nothing to do with me. I was the protection unit and nothing else.

  Chloe and I didn't have to speak a word as long as she knew my rules and followed them. If not, we'd have more than just words. My ability to keep this gig would all be based on my effectiveness in keeping her safe and she played a part in that as much as I did.

  "I'm sorry about that." He let out a long sigh and shook his head. "She's really a great kid, she just gets wrapped up in what she believes to be fair and not, and then the world explodes."

  "She's not a kid. She's a woman." I moved my hands back into my lap. "Tell me where I'm moving my stuff to and what days I have off."

  "Sundays and I'll have Pauly bring a truck to your place later today to pick up anything you want to bring to the beach house."

  "Make it a small truck. I don't have much and I'm not giving up my place." I brushed my hand by my nose and sat up. "Anything else you need from me? If not, I'll start packing and then I'll scope out the place before setting up some rules with Chloe."

  The Senator laughed. "Good luck with that."
>
  "I figure this will be a good challenge for me. She doesn't want to be put in harm’s way, she just doesn't realize that she's not invincible yet. We all go through it." I shrugged. "I'm going to keep her safe either way."

  "I know you will. I trust your brother and he trusts you explicitly." He stood and tapped the desk. "I know I don't have to say this, but as her father, I can't help but lay down the law. No making her uncomfortable by what you wear or don't. No touching her or seducing her in any form or fashion, and no bringing women to the house where she is. Got it?"

  I stood and nodded. "Absolutely. I'm here to do a job, nothing else."

  "Good. If anything happens to her, I'll be holding you and Jake completely responsible. It's a great opportunity for you, but a difficult one."

  "Yes, Sir. I appreciate it." I reached out and shook his hand before turning as the door opened. A rough looking old guy stuck his head in and nodded toward the Senator.

  "This the punk?"

  I smiled and glanced back as Chloe's father nodded and smiled as well. "This is the guy, Pauly. Please go easy on him. He's seen Chloe at her worst and is still willing to help us out. Let's be good to him."

  "Of course, boss. I'll only fuck him up if he hurts our girl." Pauly winked at me and opened the door. "Let's go get your stuff and we'll get you settled."

  "Yeah, sounds cool." I walked out and glanced around the large lobby. I guess sending a truck meant he would escort me back to my place. It was irrelevant. I had the job and I would be able to take another step up in the world. The girl was going to act like an ass no matter who landed in the bedroom next to her.

  I only prayed I could get her to act relatively amicable toward me. If not, it was going to be a long-ass summer.

  "Let me just warn you now that it's going to be a long-ass summer. The Moore's are good people, but they have more family drama than anyone I know." Pauly chuckled as we finished loading up my dresser and closed the bed of his truck.

  "I'm fine with drama. It doesn't affect me much, namely because I choose to let it brush by me. It's not my family, so it's all good." I walked around to my side of the truck and got in, buckling up and saying a silent good-bye to poverty for the next few months.

  "Good outlook, kid." Pauly pulled out of the parking lot and turned the radio down before clearing his throat. "I know Chloe is a beautiful girl, but you'd do well to remember your only invitation where her body is concerned is to guard it."

  "I get it. She's not at all my type and even if she was, I can act as professional as the next guy." I shrugged, not too concerned with my ability to keep my cock in my pants. I wanted the girl, no doubt, but I wasn't willing to deal with any level of emotional bullshit. I'd just pick up a few more one-night stands and imagine them to be her. Easy enough.

  "Cool. It's a twenty-four hour detail and you'll have Sundays off, so it's your choice if you want to head out on Sunday mornings to do whatever you want, but you need to be back by Sunday night at midnight."

  "Damn. Not one night in my own bed back at home?" I turned to him, a little surprised.

  "Nope. We need full coverage on her. I'll be with her on Sundays." He shrugged.

  A silence fell between us and I let it, leaning back and closing my eyes for a few minutes.

  Twenty-four hour detail. Fuck me.

  We arrived a few minutes later and Pauly helped me get my shit unloaded before going over the rules one more time. There was an alarm on the house that I needed to set each night and his three numbers were locked into my phone.

  "You good?" he asked and patted my back.

  "Yep. I'll call if I need something. Just do what I do, and go where she goes."

  "Exactly. You'll be great." He winked and walked to the truck.

  I moved back in the house and breathed in deeply, the smell of her everywhere. It was beautiful and open, the beach a stone's throw out the back door. It was exactly the type of place I could only dream of owning.

  I heard her before I saw her, the sound of her voice causing my body to wake up and growl.

  "Yeah, it should be really good. We can get some steaks and just grill out tonight."

  I turned as she rounded the corner. A soft gasp left her as she stopped short, the tiny brunette beside her half plowing into her. The white bikini she wore barely covered her nipples and the small triangle of her sex.

  Smiling, I nodded at her and the girl. "Never too early for a steak and a beer, hm?"

  "Oh my goodness." The new girl walked toward me, extending her hand as Chloe stayed back. "You are so much hotter in the sunlight. I'm Angie. We should be friends."

  I laughed and shook her hand. Where did these crazy chicks come from? "Ian."

  "I'll be in the kitchen." Chloe turned and I moved to follow her, leaving her needy friend just that... needy.

  Chapter 11

  He couldn't have looked any better than he did. The burnt orange swim trunks, flip flops and a white tank top fit him as beautifully as the dark t-shirt and jeans did in the club. My heart beat so fast it felt like it was trying to make a less than subtle escape. I took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen, leaving Angie with him in the living room. They could flirt it up, seeing that nothing could be more dangerous for me.

  Sex would be incredibly hot with him, and I knew without a doubt that he was the hard-hitting bad-ass I'd been dreaming about sweeping me off my feet since I was a girl. No way was I going to get close enough to have my heart torn from my chest. We would fall for each other and get through the summer only to have him leave and forget all about me.

  "I took the last room on the left. I hope you're good with that."

  I jumped at the sound of his voice, hitting my head on the refrigerator. Growling, I turned and pinned him with a hard stare. I wasn't sure who to be in front of him, but the real me was completely out. He would chew me up and spit me out if he saw the real girl tucked under the layers of defense I had built up.

  "Whatever," I grumbled and popped open the beer in my hand. "There's beer in the fridge and food in the cabinet. Help yourself to whatever, but stay out of my way. I've never noticed my shadow before. I don't want to start now."

  He smirked and my knees went weak. "You won't have to entertain me, Chloe. Your fits of immaturity and poor choice in clothing are going to do that for you, dear."

  "Fuck you," I spat and walked past him, not getting far as he reached out and grabbed my arm, his fingers rough and strong.

  "I'm fine with us not getting along, but here're the rules you will abide by."

  I jerked my arm from him. "You're not my father."

  "Clearly. You would have respect for other people if I was." He turned and took up the space in front of me, his eyes filled with challenge. My stomach tightened as my eyes moved from his handsome face to the thick swell of his chest and shoulders.

  I didn't say anything, namely because I couldn't breathe.

  "No leaving the house without me, no sneaking out or away and no inviting anyone over of the male persuasion that I haven't okayed first."

  I lifted an eyebrow at him and chuckled. "Yeah, got it."

  He leaned in toward me, his hair brushing down into his eyes as he narrowed his gaze. "Don't test me on this. Act like a woman if you want to be treated like one and if not, I'll keep treating you like the spoiled little girl I see standing in front of me."

  There wasn't much to say to that without sounding even more spoiled. I set the beer down and tugged the string at the back of my top, pulling it from around my neck and putting my breasts on full display.

  "It's all good. I get it." I walked out of the kitchen, leaving my top on the floor behind me. The look on Ian's face had been priceless. He could use his big-bad threats all he wanted. I had something he didn't - a kick-ass body that I was more than willing to use against him.

  Angie glanced up from her phone. "Fuck. It's topless hour?"

  "Yep. First girl to get felt up gets a hundred bucks." I laughed and walked to the back door to
the house as Angie pulled her top off. "Ian. Come grill these steaks for us. I can never figure out the propane."

  He didn't respond, but I would assume not. I prayed he was in complete shock. It was a place I wanted to keep him each and every time we came face to face.

  Little girl. We'll see who's the one throwing fits soon.

  He never came outside, but the party began to bore me knowing that he was somewhere in the house. I wasn't interested in the girls that sat around me, but the handsome biker who had officially fucked up my peaceful world.

  I waited until just after lunch to get rid of everyone and walked into the house with a towel in front of my chest. He was lying across the couch with nothing but his swim trunks on, watching TV.

  He glanced up at me and nodded. "Get the steaks done? Your chef finally show up?"

  "Yeah. I figured it out." I walked to the kitchen and put the plate down before leaning over and grabbing my top. Somehow my actions didn't seem so bad-ass now that he lay on the couch, completely uninterested in me.

  I finished getting dressed and put the food up before walking around the counter and leaning against it. He was magnificent, his big strong body etched with his efforts in the gym, and every inch of his chest and abs covered in various designs.

  "Like what you see?" he asked, not looking over at me.

  "Yeah. I want a tattoo pretty bad, but like you said... my image won't allow it." I felt myself slipping, the real me starting to peek around the edges of my shitty persona.

  He glanced up and his expression softened, as if he saw it too.

  I moved to the couch and sunk down in front of him, reaching up and brushing my fingers over the small simplistic cross in the center of his chest. He sucked in a tight breath between his teeth and my nipples hardened. How badly I needed to sink into him.

  "No. Don't touch me, Chloe." He nodded toward the TV. "You like old movies?"