Free Navy SEAL Seduction by Bonnie Vanak

hurt one of them.”
    Jarrett laced his fingers gently around her wrist, feeling her soft skin. Touch. Contact. She’d survived out here on her own without him, but his protective streak surged hard. “Lace, is there any chance the dead chicken incidents and the car on fire have anything to do with any of the women you hired? Are there angry husbands, boyfriends, who are threatening you?”
    He almost wished this were so. It would make it easier to pinpoint the threat.
    “Not outright, but a few men in town have disliked what I’m doing for the local women.” She studied his fingers around her wrist and put her hand over his. “A few have made vague threats, but nothing concrete.”
    Jarrett’s blood ran cold at the thought of someone hurting her. He inhaled a shaky breath as Rose came into the living room to announce dinner was ready.
    Throughout the meal as Lacey talked with Fleur about school, asking questions about her teachers, how she was doing studying for upcoming exams, Jarrett could not get the burning image out of his mind. Lacey, injured and unable to summon help. She was too vulnerable here.
    He helped her wash the dishes as Fleur cleaned off the table. They went into the living room and Lacey read Fleur a story as thoughts raced through his mind. Then Lacey took Fleur away to get her ready for bed.
    Jarrett checked the downstairs area again, testing the locks.
    When Fleur came into the living room in pajamas to shyly bid him good-night, he hugged the girl a little harder than intended. Jarrett followed Lacey into her bedroom. As Lacey tucked her daughter in, Fleur stared up at him.
    “Are you staying here tonight?” she asked in French.
    Jarrett squatted down by the bed and said in the same language. “Yes. I’m going to make sure you and your mom stay safe.”
    “Will you keep the bad man from coming to school?”
    He exchanged looks with Lacey. “What bad man, honey?”
    “The man who had a gun like you.” She pointed to the waistband of his jeans. Lacey released a shaky breath.
    “Fleur, sweetie, tell me everything,” Lacey said. “Was this bad man in the schoolyard?”
    “No, he was in the street.”
    “What did he look like? Was he white like me? Tall?” Jarrett asked.
    “He had dark skin, like me. He was standing by the man who sells the plantain chips. Sally wanted to buy chips but when I saw him I got scared and didn’t go.”
    “Good girl,” Jarrett said softly. “Did Sally tell you anything about the bad man? Did they say anything?”
    “He was looking for a flower and wanted to know if a flower went to our school. Sally said we have lots of flowers on the classroom blackboard.”
    He reached over and pressed a kiss on the little girl’s forehead. “I’ll be here all night, honey. No bad man will get you.”
    When they went into the living room, Lacey’s shoulders trembled. She plopped into a chair. “She’s not going to school tomorrow. Dear God, what is going on?”
    “Hey.” He flopped down beside her and began rubbing the tensed muscles in her shoulders. “Tell me about the school. Gated compound? Security?”
    “It’s the safest elementary school outside the capital. A few ex-pats who run missions in the country send their children there. They have a security guard, and no one gets in or out without clearance from the head office. But at recess the kids go outside to buy snacks from vendors on the street. They’re locals who make a living and they’ve been cleared by the school. Bad men with guns. My daughter could have been hurt.”
    “You got a lucky break. But it’s obvious someone is searching for her. How does Fleur get to school?”
    “Usually I drive her. In the afternoon Sally’s mom drops her off near the front gate.”
    “She’ll go to school tomorrow.” Jarrett locked gazes with her, knowing she would protest. “With me. I’ll drive her and check out that bad man.”
    “Jarrett, no...”
    He gave her a pointed look. “If someone is