Her Forbidden Hero Read Online Free PDF Page B

kind. And not only that. Alyssa had always been one of his biggest cheerleaders. From attending all his high school baseball games, to giving him little gifts when he passed the four stages of the Special Forces qualification course, to sending him letters and the occasional care package when he’d been in the army.
    In her own way, Alyssa had always been there for him, too.
    She was going to be so disappointed when she learned what he’d become. Or, not become.
    So he wouldn’t let her.
    Still, he couldn’t let anything happen to her—just maybe he could manage not to fuck up the protection of a single woman.
    But he also couldn’t let her get too close.
    Goddamn Whiskey’s. Of all places, why’d she have to get a job there? As if worrying about the patrons on a rowdy show night wasn’t bad enough, he now had the guys at lunch yesterday tripping all over themselves to catch her eye. And she didn’t even realize what she was doing to them.
    Note to self: beat some damn sense into Brady for letting this happen .
    But, fine. He’d keep an eye out for her. But he’d also keep his distance.
    His body, his pride, his whole friggin’ sense of worth had already taken hits that might yet prove fatal. No way was he opening up his heart, too.
    Fuck’s sake.
    What did his heart have to do with it? Okay, no question he’d always loved her—their history made sure of that—but this was his best friend’s little sister he was talking about. A girl who had grown up in his house, well, a lot of the time. Not someone he could have or fall in love with. Not someone he could ever expect to shoulder his baggage.
    Brady would kick his ass from here to Sunday if he ever hurt Alyssa. And then Marco would kick his own ass for good measure.
    Marco stepped out of the shower and pulled on his jeans and T-shirt for work, a plan forming in his mind. No more chitchatting with her. No more rides in Betty. No more letting her hug him—that one was critical.
    Simple as pie.
    After all, he’d been in the United States Army Special Forces, fuck you very much. You might take the man out of the SF, but you couldn’t take the SF out of the man. He’d been up against some of the world’s meanest and toughest. So, goddamn straight he could work his way around one young woman.
    Right? Right.
    Outside, he approached Betty, pointedly avoiding looking at the hood. And wasn’t his inability to keep his gaze away just a slap in the pants? Jesus. But, whatever. It was fine. He had a plan, and all he needed to do was stick to it. It shouldn’t be that hard.

Chapter Four
     
    Alyssa arrived at Whiskey’s feeling like she could climb Mt. Everest. The hotel had given her a late checkout so she’d had time for a swim in the pool. Laying on a lounge chair for a half an hour, she’d even gotten the hint of a tan. And she’d see Marco again. How could the day get better?
    Well, if Pete let her wait her own tables., that would be better. Then she’d make enough tips to stay checked in at the hotel until payday. Which meant she needed to talk to him straightaway.
    She pulled into the staff lot at the rear of the building, her eyes immediately scanning for Betty. There she was in all her gleaming black glory, along the fence at the rear where Marco had parked yesterday. He was going to let her drive that car. He just didn’t know it yet. The thought made Alyssa smile.
    With a spring in her step, she opened the back door—and nearly walked right into Eric, two big bags of garbage in his hands. “Damn, sorry,” he said, almost hitting her with one of them.
    “Oh, no, my fault,” Alyssa said. “Here.” She held the door open for him, noticing for the first time how tall he was.
    He smiled as he passed by. “Someone got some sun.”
    “Beautiful day. I couldn’t spend it all inside, now, could I?”
    “Nope,” he called as he heaved the bags into the Dumpster. He dusted off his hands and brushed his brown hair back off his face. “You here