Queen of Hearts: (Family Stone #6 Shelley) (Family Stone Romantic Suspense) by Lisa Hughey Read Free Book Online

people believed they were married, women would quit assuming they were going to be the next Mrs. Stone.”
    Shelley’s whole face softened. “Such a fierce protector.” Her smile was a little melancholy. “Always looking out for everyone. He was…my champion.”
    Ric couldn’t believe the stab of jealousy that pricked his heart. He didn’t want Jack to be her champion, Ric wanted to be the one who put that sweet smile on her lips and that soft look in her eyes.
    It was as if her magic pussy had cast some weird emotional spell over him. That random thought had him wanting to take a step back, and usher them out of his room so he could clear his head and go back to enjoying Vegas, all the perks of Vegas, and his friend’s wedding.
    “Turns out Shelley is a hell of an investor.” Jack smiled proudly. Then he bluntly cut to the heart of the problem. “She’s loaded.”
    Coming from Jack that was pretty impressive because although they never discussed it, Ric knew Jack’s father was the sole owner of Stone Aeronautic Engineering and that he’d developed and patented some part of a plane that every commercial manufacturer and military contractor used. The guy wasn’t just rich, he was mega-rich.
    “But how did they find me?” Shelley asked with bewilderment. “I registered under an alias.”
    Jack paced the living area of the suite, completely ignoring the opulent luxury. “But no one else in the family did. My wedding isn’t exactly a state secret.”
    Shelley snorted. “I was actively involved in the planning. I know exactly how many people know about your wedding.” She teased him.
    “Even so.” Jack said softly, “Somehow they figured out your alias. I really don’t like the escalation of this, Shel.”
    Ric wondered how serious the threat was. “So what’s the threat?”
    “Really, Ric, there’s no need to bother you with this.” She made it sound like it was a trivial issue, like having to ration toilet paper in the latrine. But Ric wasn’t buying it.
    When Jack had been banging on the door he’d been panicked. Now that Ric’s head was clearer, he recognized the fear in his friend.
    “Shel. BP is in the security business.”
    “Why do you keep calling him BP?”
    “Bulletproof.” Jack shook his head. “Damndest thing. He never got shot. Ever.”
    Shelley made a little ‘oh’ of distress.
    He had plenty of other wounds, but in all his years in the Navy he’d never taken a bullet. Of course, that wasn’t relevant right now.
    He’d done protection detail on some high level principals. If they needed analysis, he’d make this a working vacation. “I’m happy to help.”
    “Great. Then it’s settled.”
    “Oh, really, not necessary.” Shelley was backing away again.
    Rick shook his head. “What’s settled?”
    “You can be Shelley’s protection detail until we figure out where the threat is coming from.”
    Ric’s first instinct was to protest.
    “Wait, what?” Shelley beat him to it. “No way.”
    Perversely, that pissed him off. Wow. “I’m damn good at what I do.” He felt compelled to add in a clear, calm voice.
    But something in his face must have given him away because she was suddenly contrite. “This has nothing to do with your skills. I imagine you are hyper-efficient, detail-oriented, and highly effective.”
    Suddenly they were both thinking about his skill and attention to detail in the sack. He could see it in the heat of her gaze.
    Shelley closed her eyes, and blew out a breath as her head tilted back on her neck. The angle and clean lines reminded him of a moment last night when she’d been on top of him, riding his cock like a cowgirl, with a look of complete ecstasy on her face and sensual abandon in every line of her body.
    His cock responded to the memory like Pavlov’s dogs to the damn bell. And he hoped no one was paying attention to his pants otherwise they were going to see the memory response in his morning wood.
    “I’m messing this up.”