Free Vulnerable: (McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series - Book 1) by April Wilson

run out on him, he probably hadn’t given her a second thought. She’d missed her chance.
    “Beth? Honey, are you okay?”
    She glanced up to at her co-worker, Mary Reynolds, who had walked up to her desk. Mary was petite, with short gray hair cut in a pixie style that seemed very appropriate for her elfin face and large hazel eyes.
    “I’m fine,” Beth said, trying for a convincing smile.
    “You seem preoccupied this morning,” Mary said.
    Beth shrugged. “I had a busy weekend. I guess I’m just tired.”
    The phone on Beth’s desk rang, and Mary wandered back to her own desk as Beth answered it. It was Devany.
    “Hi, Beth. There’s a student asking to come into the Special Collections room. He doesn’t have an appointment – do you have time to fit him in? He asked for you specifically.”
    “Sure, I can fit him in,” Beth said. Her next student appointment wasn’t for another hour yet. “Send him up.”
    Beth stayed at her desk until she heard the knock on the Special Collections door. She opened the door and saw a familiar face. First-year student Andrew Morton stood at the door.
    “Hi, Beth,” Andrew said as he came into the room.
    “Hi, Andrew.” Beth stepped out of his way, trying to mask her surprise. Andrew was starting to become a regular.
    “Thanks for seeing me on short notice.” Andrew laid his backpack on one of the study tables in the room and pulled out a sheet of paper, which he handed to Beth. “I need these books,” he said.
    She quickly scanned the list. “Have a seat, and I’ll get your books,” she said, heading for the stacks.
    “How was your weekend?”
    Beth jumped when she heard Andrew’s voice directly behind her, causing the tiny hairs on the nape of her neck to stand up.
    “It was fine,” she said, taking a steadying breath. It was an innocent enough question; there was no need to overreact. Still, he made her nervous.  She stopped when she reached the shelf she was looking for, and he careened into her.
    “Sorry,” he said, grabbing her shoulders as if to steady her. His hands clasped onto her far longer than necessary, and she had to shrug out of his hold. His cologne was overpowering, and she was finding it a little difficult to breathe. Much more of this and she’d need her inhaler.
    Beth pulled away from Andrew and took a book off the shelf. When she turned, Andrew was standing so close she had to step back to avoid bumping into him. Apparently, he was not well versed on the concept of personal space.
    “I’ll put this on your study table,” she told him, sidestepping him and heading back. “You can get started on your research while I locate the rest of the books on your list.”
    Andrew followed Beth back to the study table.
    Beth noticed Mary watching them through the glass walls of their office.
    “Have a seat, Andrew,” Beth said, pointing at a chair.
    He sat reluctantly, and Beth went to retrieve the other books on his list. She laid them on his table and told him to call for her if he needed anything else. When she returned to her desk, Mary was waiting for her.
    “That boy has a crush on you, Beth,” Mary said, her eyes on Andrew as he cracked open one of the books. “This is probably the fourth time he’s been in here this month. I thought I was going to have to peel him off you. Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine. Just having a little trouble breathing, that’s all. He went a little overboard on the cologne.”
    Beth could feel the signs of an impending asthma attack. Her chest tightened and it became harder to catch her breath. Her anxiety levels began to spike, and she felt flushed. When she started coughing, she retrieved her inhaler from her purse, shook it, and administered the medication.
    Mary gently rubbed Beth’s back. “Are you okay?”
    Beth nodded, not yet able to speak.
    “In the future, if Andrew needs anything, I’ll deal with him,” Mary said.
    Beth took a tentative breath. “Thanks,” she said. “He gives me the