Her Soldier Protector by Soraya Lane Read Free Book Online Page A

her.
    “Candace, if there’s something I’ve done...” he started.
    “No, it’s absolutely nothing you’ve done,” she whispered, but as she spoke tears glinted in her eyes.
    “It’s been a long time since I’ve made a girl cry,” he said, doing the only thing he could think of and pulling her toward him for a hug. “Whatever it is, I’m sorry.”
    She hardly moved, but her hand did reach up and grasp his shirt as he put his arms around her, held her so she could compose herself.
    “I don’t know why you’re being so kind to me,” she murmured, just loud enough for him to hear.
    Logan sighed, inhaling the fresh scent of her hair, the aroma of her perfume. It had been a while since he’d been with a woman, and being this close to Candace was something he was already starting to crave.
    “You sure you don’t want another drink? Something else to eat?”
    She ran her hand down his arm as she stepped back, eyes fixed on his. Logan was watching her, waiting for her to reply, when a flash went off, followed by what seemed like a hundred more. Logan leaped in front of Candace, instinct warning him to protect her no matter what, anger burning inside him as he realized the threat was only a photographer who’d managed to find them.
    “Crap,” he muttered, taking her hand firmly in his.
    “It’s okay, it’s just one pap,” she said.
    He didn’t care if it was one or twenty, he was still pissed at the intrusion. The photographer was escorted from the restaurant within minutes, but Logan knew it had been enough to rattle Candace. He had his own personal reasons to hate the media, and he wasn’t going to let them ruin Candace’s evening, not when she’d been so excited about an anonymous night out.
    “Word will be out soon, so I’ll take you straight to the hotel,” he told her, before remembering what he’d promised Jimmy. “Before we go, I did promise our waiter an autograph in exchange for his discretion. If he was the one who tipped that guy off, I’ll kill him, but I think I made it clear enough already what the consequences would be, so I doubt it would have been him.”
    Candace’s smile diffused his anger as easily as someone blowing out a candle.
    “Logan, we’ve sat here alone without anyone bothering us for the best part of a couple of hours. I don’t care about one photographer finding us, but you’re right about word not taking long to spread.”
    “So you’re not angry?” He was confused—and he was seriously pissed.
    Candace plucked a pen from her purse and signed an unused white napkin on their table.
    “This is for your friend,” she told him. “Do you want me to settle the bill and give it to him?”
    Logan was reaching for the napkin when he froze. Had he just heard that right?
    “You’re not paying the bill.”
    “Of course I am,” she said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
    “I asked you out for dinner, and I don’t care how PC the world is supposed to be, but you taking care of the bill is ridiculous.”
    “Logan—” she started, but he cut her off.
    “Do you really want to insult me?” he asked.
    “I’m just used to...”
    “Jerks, if they let you pay. I don’t care who you are. The only thing I care about is that you’re a woman and I’m a man, and that means I take care of our bill tonight.”
    He watched as she shut her mouth and shrugged, clearly giving in. “Well, all right then. Thank you for a lovely meal, Mr. Neanderthal.”
    Logan burst out laughing as they walked to the front of the restaurant. “I know I’m old-fashioned, but seriously. Just because you’re famous doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be treated like a lady.”
    He paid and passed his friend the napkin as they said goodbye, before walking out the front door.
    “And just because you’re a soldier doesn’t mean you have to...”
    Her words faded as someone yelled her name, and Logan sprung straight into work mode, putting his arm around her shoulders and hurrying her