Free Undercover Elite (Undercover Elite Book 2) by Suzanne Steele, Stormy Dawn Weathers

care to admit, but I dealt with it and life went on. And now he just walks back into my life like he never left, reigniting feelings I thought were gone. The difference is, this time the feelings aren’t childish and sweet. The ache in the pit of my stomach makes that clear enough. The feelings he’s stirring up in me are just like him: larger than life.
    Well, I don’t need a hero now, thank you very much, and I damn sure don’t need Thorn in my life just because he’s getting paid to do a job by my father.
    It’s settled, then. I’ll just tell him I don’t want him anywhere near me. I’m not about to let myself get pulled into his web again. The best way to avoid the storm of emotions that’s rolling through me is to keep him at a distance. I have to get rid of him and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
     

Thorn
    Man, she is pissed and it’s sexy as hell. If I didn’t know any better I might think she’s mad at me for disappearing ten years ago. She is definitely seething with all the fiery anger of a woman scorned, even though she was only fourteen when her dad and I parted company. Someday she’ll realize I never meant her any harm, that my contract with her father had simply run its course. The only time I saw her dad in the decade that followed was a couple years later. Dr. Fairchild had upgraded to a bigger house in a gated community and wanted a security system installed. I took care of it while Windy was away at a summer camp for the week, something about forensic science, I think. My girl had the bug even then.
    Now that I’ve seen her in the flesh, I’m not backing off. Way back when, she was the daughter of a client and I looked out for her. I was there because her father asked it of me. But now? She’s a grown-ass woman, more than old enough to take me on. As far as I’m concerned, this is our time now. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let that pompous boss of hers wine and dine her right into his bed. The thought of another man touching her eats at my guts like acid. Yeah, I’m back and this time it’s not as some kindly uncle; she needs to understand I’m a man and I’m taking what’s mine.
    Cash is right; if I expect to get anywhere with her I’m going to have to man up and make it happen. I guess it’s a good thing that’s the only way I operate. The protective feelings I always had for her have been kicked into high gear now, and I’m practically vibrating with an overwhelming sense of primal ownership. Based on her responsiveness to my touch just now, I think my girl may still be carrying a torch for me. I can work with that. I hope she won’t need much persuading, but if she does, I’m happy to oblige.
    We pull in to the gated community and weave our way through the neighborhood to the Fairchild home. Dr. Fairchild has done well for himself. This place definitely qualifies as “palatial.” I know this house as well as I know the Undercover Elite compound, having memorized every inch of it during the security installation.
    I jump out of my SUV to catch up to her as she takes the sidewalk to the front steps. I wonder how she’ll react if I tell her how hot she is when she’s pissed. She’s putting some extra sexy in her walk and I’m enjoying the view. I grin at the thought of her putting on a show for me as she struts up those steps – I’m just not sure if she realizes she’s doing it.
    She never even acknowledges me as I bound up the steps behind her and we make our way into her bedroom. She points at the boxes lined up against the wall.
    “Start loading them in your SUV,” she says dismissively as she reaches for a suitcase on the bed.
    Oh, no, baby; I’m here to help but I’m nobody’s butler to order around. I take slow, steady steps over to her, standing so close behind her that I can feel it when she starts breathing faster, deeper. I run my hands along her ribs until they come to rest across her flat stomach. “You’re awful bossy. Say