One job, p.1
One Job, page 1
ONE JOB
BREAKING BOUNDS
BOOK 3
B.L. BROOKS
CONTENTS
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Preview
1. Sofie
2. Vince
3. Sofie
4. Vince
5. Sophie
6. Vince
7. Sofie
8. Vince
Epilogue
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PREVIEW
VINCE
There is only one rule in my line of work.
Never get involved with a client.
And I’ve never been tempted to break until now.
An election is on the rise and a congressman needs a full-time bodyguard for his little girl.
Given my reputation, I’m the man for the job.
But I never expected the girl I’m to protect to be so stubborn—and yet so beautiful.
Little Miss Sofie Snow…
She can fight me all she wants but I’ll still be here, watching her every move. Right by her side.
Though the girl is shredding my restraint by the day.
It’s killing me not to touch her.
Killing me to hold back from finding out if her skin is as silky as it seems…
She's forbidden.
But everything I need.
Even if it makes this job my last.
1
SOFIE
“How’d it go?” My best friend asks the second I pick up the phone and walk out of the seven-story, mostly glass building where my interview just ended.
I laugh as the July sunshine hits my skin. The job interview as a sales rep for Big Pharma isn’t my dream job but it pays well and most of all, my father had nothing to do with me getting the interview. “I literally just left the building, Liza.”
“I’m not asking if you got the job yet. How do you think it went?” Liza’s excitement is contagious and if not for her I probably wouldn’t have even applied for the job. “You’d be a kickass sales rep and you can make a ton of cash while you look for your dream job.”
“Thanks,” I sigh and walk towards the parking garage a few blocks from the pharmaceutical company. “I think it went well. Being the daughter of a U.S. Congressman comes in handy for interviews because I’m well-versed at turning on the charm.” It’s about the only positive to having a father with political ambitions. Most of my life I’ve been attending fundraisers, networking events and dinner parties with politicians and wannabes.
“That’s great! It means you’ll stay in D.C. no matter how the election goes?”
I nod, climbing the stairs to the top floor because parking garage elevators give me the creeps. “That’s the plan, as long as I find a job.” Does it make me a bad daughter to hope that my dad loses? Probably. Do I care? Absolutely not. His career has dominated my life for seventeen of my twenty-two years on this earth.
“Cool, then I’ll send good vibes into the universe to get you the job. Want to have a celebratory drink before you head back to Camelot?”
A laugh bursts out of me at her tongue-in-cheek name for my family home. It’s big, too big for a family of five, and so ostentatious you’d never know dad is a public servant. “Can’t. Dad sent a text that he needs me to come straight home.”
“Another starched shirt that would make a great husband?”
I groan. “I hope not. I told him after Senator Grab-Ass’s son groped me all night that I wouldn’t be polite in the future.” I’ve had my degree for about two months and he’s already trying to marry me off to some rich guy’s son. Any rich guy will do.
“Bummer. Call me later, yeah?”
I start the car. “You know it. Besides, I’m sure I’ll need that drink after whatever Dad has to say.” I end the call and merge into the congested traffic that never ends in the District that eventually gets me home.
Thirty minutes later, I complete the ten mile drive and pull into the driveway and let out a loud groan when I spot a giant black SUV in my spot. “Not again,” I mutter to myself, stepping from the car with purposeful steps that carry me inside. “Dad?”
“In the sitting room,” he calls out, his loud voice echoes down the hall.
I fluff my hair in a self-soothing gesture and square my shoulders, preparing for battle ahead. I turn right and step inside the sitting room Mom has decorated three times in all my years. “What’s up, Dad?” I look around the room and frown. “And Mom?” Tension coils in my belly at the sight of both my parents. “What’s going on?”
“Take a seat,” Dad orders, gesturing to the chair beside the giant man with broad shoulders and brown hair dusted with silver at the temples. He takes up more room than the small chair he occupies, forcing me to perch on the edge of the chair beside him. “This is Vince.”
“Hi Vince. You look a little young to have a handsy son my age so what’s the deal?”
Vince arches a brow and his lips—full, lush lips—tug into a grin.
“The deal,” Dad begins in an annoyed tone that isn’t all that unfamiliar to me, “is that you are in danger, Sofie.”
I laugh. “Me? I’m not in any danger, what are you talking about?”
“There’s been a threat,” my mother says calmly, standing to her full nearly six-foot height and looking elegant in cream pants and a lavender blouse. She looks every bit like the beautifully bland politician’s wife. “Yes, it’s credible,” she answers my next question before I ask.
“A credible threat? Against me?” My voice is screeching and I hate it so I close my eyes and take several deep breaths before opening them again. “Why me?” I have an older brother and sister, both of whom maintain higher public profiles than I do. “I’m nobody.”
“Nonsense, you’re my daughter.” Dad says this as if it means something.
“I just finished my degree and other than campaigning I don’t do or say anything about politics.” I’ve learned over the years to keep my opinions to myself. In public.
“If someone is trying to hurt the Congressman you’d be a good way to do it.” Vince speaks and his voice is deep and gravelly with just a touch of honey.
“No. Absolutely not. This isn’t happening. I’m done,” I stand up, shaking my head. “I am just done.”
“I agree,” Dad says in resignation. “No more public appearances for you. It’s too dangerous.”
I freeze at my dad’s words and turn slowly. It’s so unlike him to be so agreeable. “You agree?” I look in Mom’s direction. “Since when?”
Mom looks away and a chill skitters over my suddenly cool skin.
“Since when, Dad?”
He flashes that perfect smile that’s helped him win eight terms as a congressman. “Since I’ve hired Vince here to be your bodyguard.”
Bodyguard. “A bodyguard. Are you serious?”
Dad nods.
I shake my head. “Nope. I’m interviewing for jobs and I can’t show up with a giant at my side, no offense.”
“None taken.” Vince’s smirk is unsettling, almost flirtatious but that can’t be right. He’s big and yeah okay, handsome. Really handsome, actually.
“It’s either Vince or you head back to Colorado. For good.”
“I’m an adult,” I remind my father, and not for the first time.
Vince stands to his full height, which is well over six feet tall…which only makes him seem more imposing. “Listen, Sofie, I’ve reviewed the threats and they are credible. Ignoring them or leaving D.C.,” he looks at my dad, “won’t make them go away. I’m damn good at my job and I’ll keep you safe.”
Damn. Maybe I really am in trouble. “Ugh, fine. But I won’t stop job hunting and you can’t come inside the interview room with me, okay?”
He flashes a crooked smile that makes him look…nope, it doesn’t make him look like anything but a bodyguard. “Already got a job, thanks.”
“Good. That means you keep up with me or stay out of my way. Right?”
“Sure thing, Ms. Snow.”
“Sofie,” I shoot back. “Call me Sofie since we’re going to be in each other’s pockets for the foreseeable future.”
“Sure thing, Sofie.” There it is, that sexy smirk. Again.
I narrow my gaze in Vince’s direction and then leave the sitting room, but hours later when I fall asleep, it’s that ridiculous smirk on my mind...
2
VINCE
Accepting this gig was the wrong move.
Sofie is gorgeous as hell and too damn young for me to even be thinking about. And now she’s under my watch. It’s my job to protect her. To keep her safe, not to seduce her and make her mine.
Fuck, I can't go there.
I’m here to do a job and nothing more.
I’ve been doing this job practically my entire life. Three tours in the military, one of them as special forces, and then the next decade protecting politicians, heads of state, athletes and anyone else who soc
Never again.
Sofie stomps out of the interview at some consulting firm on Kane Street and she looks furious, glaring at me over her shoulder as she rushes from the building. I remain a step behind her, not watching her supple curves or the gentle sway of her hips or the way her long blonde hair falls down her back, stopping just above the curve of her ass. “Stupid damn threats and bodyguards.”
“You know, it’s not actually my fault that you’re in danger, right?” Two weeks into this gig and she’s made it clear she’s not happy to have a bodyguard.
Sofie pauses and looks at me over her shoulder. Her big green eyes look me over and her shoulders slump forward. “Yes, I do know that and I’m sorry for taking it out on you, Vince. It’s just, this is making my life difficult, which makes me sound like an awful person and I know that but it’s just unfair.”
I want to tell her life is unfair but that feels like it might be less than helpful. “Interview didn’t go well?”
“It went great, actually. I’m good in interviews and they want me with a solid salary doing something useful. But they said given my father’s status, they can’t accept me at the moment. Is that even legal?”
“I’m sorry.” And I damn well mean it. Unlike most of the people who can afford my services, she isn’t some poor little rich girl. Sure, she comes from money but she doesn’t lord it over people it sure as hell seems. “But I’m certain they can’t pull that bullshit. Although I doubt it’s worth fighting—for right now, at least.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. Ugh, this sucks. I’m sorry for being a jerk, though. You don’t deserve that.”
I can’t help the grin on my lips. “You’re not a jerk. Just a little stressed. Let’s go.”
She frowns but falls into step beside me, nearly jogging just to keep up with my stride. “Where are we going?”
“Do you have a change of clothes?”
“My gym bag is in your car since mine is no longer safe,” she spits at me, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Good.”
“You still didn’t say where we’re going,” she says after nearly an hour of silence. “Are you the threat and this was your evil plan?”
I laugh. “You got me and now it’s too late for you to do anything about it.”
“Don’t be so sure. I have a taekwondo green belt and you’d never see me coming.” She smiles with her whole face and it’s so damn contagious, I grip the wheel tighter to resist the urge to reach out and touch her, to tuck that strand of blonde hair behind her ear.
“A green belt?”
“Yeah. Scared?”
“Impressed.”
Her cheeks flush a sweet shade of pink. “Thank you. Where are we going?”
“We’re here.” She looks around until she spots the wooden sign.
“Obstacle Course and Shooting Range? Seriously?” Her face lights up in a gorgeous smile, excitement bubbling up. “Awesome!” Sofie jumps out of the truck and yanks open the back door to grab her bag. “Let’s go!”
“Sofie,” I growl, shaking my head. “You don’t open your door, remember?”
“Sorry.” She pauses. “This is a lot of open land, are you sure we’re safe here?”
“Yep. An Army buddy owns the place. We’re good here.” My gaze locks on her ass when she slips into the changing room. She’s a client. Just a client. I tell myself this at least a dozen times each day but when Sofie returns in purple leggings and a white tank top, I repeat it on a nonstop loop. “Ready?”
“Yep, what are we doing first?”
“Obstacle course.” All day Sofie surprises me. She faces every challenge head on even when she’s terrified. She doesn’t whine or make excuses. “Are you sure you’re good?”
She’s staring down from the top of the climbing wall like we’re a thousand feet off the ground instead of fifty. “Yep, I’m good. Internal pep talk. I’ll be fine. Go on, don’t want to slow you down.”
“Come on, just do what I do and you’ll be fine.”
“That’s cheating,” she insists and finally swings her other leg over the wall, shimmying down until she’s close enough to the ground to jump. “I got this.” Her proud smile is radiant.
“I never had any doubt.” I didn’t. She finishes the obstacle course, dirty and sweaty but smiling. “Ready to shoot some shit?”
“Heck yeah!” She smiles again and I know I’m in trouble.
Deep fucking trouble.
3
SOFIE
“So how’s the new bodyguard working out?” The glee in Liza’s voice should upset me, but her teasing is the only thing that feels normal in life anymore.
“Vince is fine,” I tell her but the truth is he’s more than fine. A lot more. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m crushing on my bodyguard which is just weird and totally ridiculous.
“Oh. My. God. I know that tone!” Liza shouts over the phone. “You really have a thing for Mr. Tall, Dark and Dangerous!”
“Do not,” I shoot back and look over my shoulder as guilt washes over me. I know Vince isn’t going to hear me because he’s not around, and he’s not around because I snuck out of the house to go to another interview where I didn’t have to explain the six-foot-four man following me around…
“You totally do. It’s about time. I don’t know how you’ve resisted climbing him for two whole months anyway.”
I roll my eyes. “I have other things on my mind, Liza. The whole threat thing notwithstanding, I still haven’t found a job.” The longer the threat persists the more I worry I might never find a job.
“Is he close? Hey Vince, Sofie wants you to clean out her pipes!”
“It’s a good thing he isn’t around,” I growl. “Four people on the street just stopped and stared at me.”
“Where is he?”
“Liza,” I say her name in a warning tone. “Not now.”
“Tell me you didn’t, Sofie.”
“I did. I had to,” I defend my actions. “I kept this interview on the DL because the fewer people who know about it, the better my chances are. And you know what? They seem interested in what I can provide for the company and best of all, no threats.” Every interview I’ve had all summer has been plagued with threats of what would happen if they hired me.
“This is a really bad idea. Where are you now?”
“In my car and going home. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission, right?”
“Yeah when we’re out past curfew or skip a class, not when someone wants to hurt you! Go home now.”
“I am,” I tell her slightly annoyed that she’s not on my side. “Tell me you understand, Liza.”
She sighs. “I understand not wanting to talk about your crush on the super hot bodyguard. I understand being upset at this situation but the rest of it? Nope, I don’t get it.”
“Fine. I’ll call you when I’m home.”
“Oh no you don’t. Stay on the damn phone until you arrive back at Camelot or else I’m calling the Congressman and telling him what you did.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“You’re my bestie and I don’t want anything happening to you so yeah, I absolutely would.”
“Yeah, yeah, love you too,” I grumble and start the drive home, listening to Liza tell me about her day at the charity where she works. “Liza,” I say when I spot a car following me.
“I know I should be nicer but he’s so creepy and just because he’s all I’m a nice guy about it doesn’t make it true.”
“Liza,” I try again. “Someone is following me. Black SUV with Maryland plates,” I shout and repeat the plate number to her.
“Shit, Sofie, seriously?”
“Yeah, seriously.” The car follows my every turn, every roundabout exit, every stop. “Call you back.” I hang up with her and make another call. “Vince, it’s Sofie. I’m in trouble.” I rattle off the details with my heart pounding in my chest.
“Keep driving until I catch up, and don’t do anything else foolish,” he growls thorough the line. Shit. He’s pissed.
