Free If Not For You by Jennifer Rose Page B

What was this prick saying about his daughter, his own flesh and blood? She was gorgeous, sexy and hotter than hell, what kind of a blind bastard couldn’t see that? This man was unreal and I was going to give him a piece of his mind, just as the laptop sounded the arrival of an email in the inbox.
    Carter you are doing a fine job. Do me a favor and check on her a little more often. Anyone comes within a yard, take care of him. I don’t want her getting involved with anyone. There will be a bonus in it for you.
    Seriously! I was shocked that the old man would ask me to do that. A bonus? Sick fuck , I thought, fine I’ll take the bonus; actually I’ll be more than happy to keep potential dates away.
    Sure sir, whatever you think. I’ll email you tomorrow. G.
    Closing the laptop I set it aside changed into sweatpants, socks and a t-shirt, grabbed a bottle of wine from the bar fridge and headed back to Tandy’s room. We shared the wine, watched a not so great horror movie and I took great pleasure in wrapping her in my arms during the scary parts. We shared a bag of pretzels and a blanket and when the night ended, I kissed the back of her hand and thanked her for a wonderful evening. She blushed, sexy as fuck and I told her I would call her in the morning.
     
     

Day 50
     
    The ship remained slightly off shore of the coast, the view was spectacular. It was nice to be relaxing on the waves and I smiled when I remembered how sweet Gage had been to me last night, after my version of super bitch.
    I still couldn’t believe that I revealed my virgin dilemma to Gage, now he knew one of my deepest, darkest secrets. I figured that he was either going to treat me with kid gloves or start making moves, the latter in my opinion seeming much more desirable.
    My only worry now was whether I wanted him to keep a distance and just be friends, or was Gage the man I wanted to take my virginity. My phone rang and I reached for it on the bedside table and grinned like a Cheshire cat when I saw Gage’s name on the screen.
    “Good Morning, Gage,” I said biting the inside of my lip in anticipation of hearing his sultry tone.
    “Good Morning, beautiful, you up yet?” he asked. I could hear Timberlake playing in the background.
    “Just got up…you like Timberlake?” I asked and he responded with a chuckle.
    “I do, you can hear that?”
    “Yep, I have very good hearing.”
    “Good to know. So can I interest you in breakfast, Miss. Manning?”
    “How does breakfast on my balcony sound? I can order us room service,” I offered, that way I could stay in my pj’s a little longer and take my time in the shower later. Spending time with Gage would put a smile on my face and start the day off with a bang.
    “Sounds good, sweetheart,” he said. I could see those dimples in my mind.
    I loved it when he called me sweetheart. Didn’t know why and didn’t care why. I enjoyed terms of endearment; no one else called me anything other than Tandy, besides Henry and Camille who were like a mother and father. Oh and there was that annoying Kitten thing that my father called me. Okay, so Gage was the only one that I enjoyed calling me anything other than Tandy.
    “Pancakes okay with you?” I asked, taking the menu from the bedside drawer and glancing it over. “Sausage or bacon?”
    “Both, and don’t forget OJ and coffee.” He reminded me like I’d possibly forget the nectar of the gods and orange juice.
    “Wouldn’t dream of it, see you soon. Oh and pj’s are optional.”
    “Pardon me?” He laughed a deep belly laugh and then I thought about what I said and laughed at my faux pas.
    “Not clothes are optional, you ass. I’ll be wearing pajama’s you can too,” I clarified.
    “And if I told you I sleep in the buff?” He laughed.
    “That would certainly be your decision to make mister,” I teased, right back imagining Gage sitting naked at the table with syrup dripping from his chin and me licking it off for