Vinny: Alvarez Security Series by Maryann Jordan Read Free Book Online Page B

him an update before calling Gabe. Assuring them both of their safety and comforts, he hung up listening to Annalissa talking to her father.
    “I’m fine. We just had an emergency landing and are having to spend the night in a hotel in Kansas City. Yes, Easnadh is with me. Yes, right here in the room. No, I haven’t checked her but the landing wasn’t that hard. Yes, dad, I’ll take her out tonight and make sure. Mr. Malloy is in the room next to mine. Dad, I’m not leaving Easnadh with him. The harp is perfectly fine in my room.”
    Vinny listened, his anger growing. The man hardly asked about his daughter, only caring about the instrument. He heard her hang up and moved away from their connecting door. Waiting a few minutes before knocking, he entered. She sat on the bed, a faraway look on her face. Startled, she jumped when she saw him standing there.
    “You were lost in thought,” he said, slowly walking toward her.
    “Yes, I was…um…just…well, I had to call my father,” she stammered.
    Vinny noted her demeanor. Back to being shy. Cowed. Now I understand why. She not only has Todd and Gordon bullying her, it appears that her father is the worst bully of all. And the last thing she needs is another dominant man in her life. And that’s what I am.
    Looking at her tired face, he thought, s he needs someone soft. Someone who will let her… He realized that he wanted to be what she needed but had no idea if he could or not. Shaking his head, forcing the battle of thoughts from his mind, he stuck out his elbow and quipped, “May I have the honor of taking you to dinner, Ms. O’Brian?”
    She giggled, the first laugh she had had all day. Standing and taking his arm, she agreed. “Why yes, Mr. Malloy. It would be my pleasure.”
    *
    Once again Vinny laid in bed, his thoughts a tangled mess. What the fuck happened to the man who had all the answers? His mind wandered back to the dinner he had shared with Annalissa.
    She asked about being a medic in the Special Forces, really listening as he described what he did. Well, the gentle version. He did not think that she could handle the realistic version. But then, she’s stronger than she seems. Stronger than she thinks. Her gaze focused on his eyes as he spoke. Not looking around to see if there was someone else who would be a better catch for the evening. He had always taken pride that most hook-ups considered him to be the prize but now realized that it was due to what they thought he could do for them in the sack…but not him as a person. This was different. She smiled when he talked about being a twin and laughed at his jokes. And all it took was one look at her guileless face to know that she was as sincere as she appeared.
    When was the last time I had that? Have I ever had that? He told her tales of his brothers-in-arms, now coworkers for Alvarez Security. He talked about his friends and the women they had all fallen in love with and saved.
    Realizing that he only opened up to friends he wondered, Is this friendship? Is that what’s happening here? If it was, he liked the feeling. A lot. Enjoyable, comforting, relaxing.
    And then? Oh, Jesus, what a fuck-up. She had excused herself to go to the ladies’ room when two women approached him.
    “We’ve been waiting forever for that little mouse to leave,” one of them had said, immediately drawing his ire.
    Standing, he pushed his chair back, saying, “Not interested, ladies. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
    He turned to signal their waiter so that he could pay, when the other woman grabbed his arm, saying, “That child could not possibly keep a man like you interested. What’d you say to a threesome, big boy?” She pressed against his arm, her low shirt showing her impressive breasts.
    Looking down at her smirk, he knew she thought he was a sure thing. An easy man for an easy fuck. But for the first time, his dick did not even respond. Nothing about the woman was appealing. But the thought of a petite,