Free Sleeping with the Playboy by Julianne MacLean Page A

out. He could see it in her dark, mysterious, dazzling eyes.
    He wasn’t imagining that there was something between them, either—something she was fighting with all her might.
    The waiter returned and took their orders, then made a slight bow and departed.
    â€œSo why have you never married?” Donovan asked before taking a long sip of wine. He noticed she didn’t touch hers.
    She leaned forward, put her elbow on the table and rested her chin on her hand. “I don’t really believe in happily ever after, and I prefer being on my own.”
    â€œDo you really?”
    â€œYes, I really do.”
    â€œWhat about your parents? Where are they?”
    â€œMy mother died six years ago, and my father is somewhere in the Midwest.”
    â€œYou don’t know where he lives?”
    â€œNo, my parents divorced when I was fourteen, and he never kept in touch. It was best that way. It would have been too hard on my mother to see him. He broke her heart when he left her for a younger woman.”
    Donovan reached across the table and touched her warm, slender hand. “I’m sorry to hear that. She never remarried?”
    â€œNo, and I can’t blame her. After what Dad did, it would’ve been pretty hard to trust anyone again.”
    This tough, untouchable bodyguard was becoming more clear to Donovan by the minute. The only two men she’d ever been close to had both left her and never looked back. She was bound to be wary of relationships.
    A few minutes later, their appetizers arrived, and they talked about other things. Jocelyn told him about her experiences in the Secret Service, as well as what it was like going through the police academy. Some of her stories were downright hilarious, and she had him in stitches with a few of her tales. There were some hair-raising incidents, too, when she’d come face-to-face with attackers and had to use her combat skills. Mostly, though, she described her job as being pretty quiet. Prevention was everything.
    After dinner, they drove to the theater where they sat in Donovan’s regular box seats, and Jocelyn seemed to enjoy the play immensely. When they finally arrived home it was almost midnight, and they rode up in the elevator, smiling and talking about the actors.
    When they reached the top floor, Jocelyn removed her heels in the vestibule, disarmed the new, state-of-the-art alarm system inside, then searched the penthouse thoroughly. Once she’d ensured everything was normal, she returned to where Donovan waited near the door.
    â€œEverything’s fine. We can relax now.”
    â€œWe can?” He tried not to think of all the ways he would like to relax with this incredible woman he had invited into his home. This beautiful, appealing, sexy woman who set his loins on fire.
    â€œSince you put it like that, how about joining me for a nightcap?”
    â€œYou know I don’t drink on the—”
    â€œOn the job, yeah I know, but we’re home now and you’ve already searched the place. The new alarm system is up and running for later in the night. Surely you can consider yourself off duty for the next hour. Just one glass of wine. Or pop. Your choice.”
    Jocelyn sighed heavily. “I haven’t had a glass of wine in eons.”
    He spread his hands wide. “I have just about every kind you can imagine—Shiraz, merlot, sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay—you name it.”
    â€œWell, I did want to talk to you some more about who could be stalking you.”
    â€œWe can talk about whatever you want.”
    She hesitated for a few seconds. “I guess one glass of merlot wouldn’t hurt.”
    â€œExcellent.” He backed away from her toward thekitchen. “Don’t go away. I’ll bring it to you. Just make yourself comfortable.”
    Donovan left Jocelyn in the living room and went to pour two glasses of the best red wine he had in his collection.

Six
    D onovan brought