Guarded by the Hero: An Older Alpha Male and Curvy Younger Woman Romance (The Hero Series Book 1) Read online

  Guarded by the Hero

  The Heroes Series

  Book Number 1

  Copyright

  First Edition, August 2019

  Copyright © 2019 by Adele Niles

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and situations are the product of the author's imagination.

  All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written consent from the author.

  License

  This book is available exclusively on Amazon.com. If you found this book for free or from a site other than an Amazon.com country specific website it means the author was not compensated for this book and you have likely obtained this book through an unapproved distribution channel.

  Table of Contents

  Guarded

  Copyright

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  About This Book

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  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Epilogue

  Rescued by the Hero

  Chapter One

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  About This Book

  Guarded by the Hero

  Maria

  Cody’s here to protect me from my stalker ex, Ben. I’m paying through the nose to hire the best. But when my hot new bodyguard moves in to start his job, I start to forget which one of us is actually the boss…

  Cody

  It was a simple job until I laid eyes on the body I’d be guarding. Heiress Maria Diamante’s got curves for days, a bigger heart, and scars from what the prick I’m guarding her from did to her. I’m definitely going to keep her safe...and I’m definitely going to keep her.

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  Chapter One

  Maria

  I just needed my headache to break so I could focus on this interview.

  Once again, I hadn’t slept at all. Ben was still doing everything in his power to make my life miserable.

  I hated to admit it, but he was doing a good job. I hadn’t gotten a full night’s sleep in weeks. Between the phone calls in the middle of the night, the threats, and the fact that every single noise made me jump, I was exhausted.

  It had to stop.

  Which was why I was talking to Cody.

  Cody Blake was older than me, but that meant he was experienced. He was a trained martial artist, with belts in things I couldn’t even begin to pronounce. He had all kinds of security training and credentials, and, well…

  He was handsome.

  Ridiculously handsome.

  It was the only thing really sinking in through the haze of my aching head. His sharp cheekbones, messy blond hair, the way his t-shirt clung to his muscles—it was a great picture, especially when I was having such a rough time.

  But he was talking, and I could barely focus on what he was saying.

  This wasn’t going well.

  “I’m sorry, um—”

  Cody’s mouth closed, and he looked at me, blue-gray eyes focused.

  “Sorry. Could you just… start that sentence over? I didn’t sleep well. I’m having a hard time focusing.”

  Cody nodded. He started over, speaking in a clear, calm voice that made me shiver. “I was saying that I’ve already looked at the layout of your house and see some room for security improvements. Your alarm system needs updating, and you need to go back to traditional locks instead of something computer-based.”

  I blinked. “I thought smart locks were supposed to be safer?”

  Cody shook his head. “They can be compromised, just like anything else connected to your phone.”

  “Oh.” I lowered my head, a little embarrassed to be finding that out now. “Um… what else?”

  “Get rid of the smart home.”

  “So… what, technology is bad?”

  Cody chuckled.

  His smile was stunning. I had to look away.

  “It’s not bad. It can just open you up to more problems than most people realize.”

  “Oh. Okay. Well, um, can I keep my lights synced to my phone?”

  Cody chuckled again. “Of course. That’s fine.”

  “Okay. Good.”

  I glanced down at his resume, laying on the table in front of me. He was the first person I’d interviewed to be my new bodyguard, but I couldn’t imagine anyone being a better fit than Cody. I looked up at him and smiled. “When can you start?”

  “Tomorrow morning.”

  That was perfect.

  I nodded. “I’d love to offer you the job, then. Um, can you meet me at my house tomorrow? So we can really go through the potential upgrades and get those moving?”

  “Of course.” Cody reached his hand across the table. “Thank you, Miss Diamante. I appreciate it.”

  “No, thank you. It’s amazing, I already feel a little safer, just knowing you’re around. Can I get your cell number? So I can call overnight if I need to?”

  “Of course.” Cody took my phone and programmed his name and number in. When he returned it, he was already set as a favorite contact-- with just two taps, I could have him on the line.

  I smiled. “Thank you. So… see you tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  Cody held his hand out again, and this time, I placed my palm against his. He curled his fingers around my hand, shaking it gently despite the strength of his grip.

  I had to bite down on the inside of my cheek to keep from moaning.

  It had to be desperation. He was handsome, but I wasn’t the type of woman to get weak in the knees from one touch.

  It was just the stress. The stress, and the post-breakup drama, and the lack of sleep. That had to be it.

  I’d feel better with Cody in charge.

  This would get better. I just needed the help.

  Chapter Two

  Cody

  I knocked on the door to Maria’s sleek, modern house at eight AM sharp. It took less than a minute for her to open the door.

  She looked gorgeous, halfway through applying her makeup and with her dark brown curls loose. She wore a yellow dress that nipped in at the waist but had yet to put on any shoes.

  She looked up at me and smiled. “Cody, thanks for coming. I’m glad you could start so quickly.”

  I nodded. “Of course. You mind if I walk around, look at what we can impro
ve?”

  “Not at all.” Maria stepped back with a smile, letting me into her home. “Um, you can go anywhere you want, really. I did get the locks changed as soon as I kicked Ben out and changed all the codes to the alarm system.”

  “Good.” I nodded. “That’s a good start. I’m just gonna take some notes, make some suggestions. It’s up to you what we actually do, so if it feels overwhelming, remember that we don’t have to do everything.”

  “No, I want to.” She sounded so determined. “Money’s not an issue. I can pay for any updates you suggest, no matter how wild they seem.”

  She was stunning. Thick all over, and tall, with long brown hair and dark eyes. Her golden complexion was only made more beautiful by the color of her dress. And while the skirt of the dress was loose, the top wasn’t. It clung to her body, accentuating her big, gorgeous tits.

  I wanted her.

  I’d wanted her yesterday, as soon as I walked in and saw her.

  And when she’d offered me the job, I’d made up my mind.

  Once this son of a bitch Ben was locked up, I was going to make Maria mine.

  It wasn’t about her money. Of course, I knew who she was; she was the new CEO of Diamante International, a well-known importing company. She was the only daughter of the late founder and incredibly rich.

  But she was also beautiful, smart, and well-educated.

  And I would have put down money that the guy I was now protecting her from had never made her come.

  From what little I knew about Ben Ormond, he didn’t seem like he could make any woman come.

  He was small, scrawny, and constantly looked like he needed a shower and a shave. Maria had told me she’d kicked him out three months ago; a brief cruise of his social media told me that he was a loser and a freeloader. He didn’t work, just made a point of shacking up with rich girls and making rich friends. His entire Facebook feed was memes about women not wanting ‘nice guys,’ and his Instagram was made up of pictures of himself getting wasted in clubs.

  On someone else’s dime, of course. He always tagged the sucker who had paid for his night out.

  Maria and I walked her property together. She took notes as I explained the improvements I wanted to make. She was an attentive listener, and I liked that.

  I liked being close to her.

  She invited me back inside for lunch when we returned to the house. As we sat down over fresh salads, made by her personal chef, she smiled at me. “I’m really glad you’re here.”

  “Are you?”

  “Yeah. I mean… after Dad died, and then with Ben getting all weird on me…”

  “What do you mean, weird?”

  She shrugged. “He started getting mean. I finally told him I was cutting him off and he had to get a job. Do something with his life.”

  I nodded. “And that set him off?”

  “Yeah. He started yelling at me all the time, making threats. Saying he knew people who would mess with my car, cut the brakes, that kind of thing.”

  I shook my head. “Kicking him out was the right thing to do. We’ll either get him to stop or we’ll get him in jail, one of the two.”

  “Okay.” She smiled. “Thank you.”

  I smiled and slid my hand across the table, touching the back of hers. “I’m glad you hired me.”

  The color that flooded her face was all the response I needed.

  Chapter Three

  Maria

  I left the kitchen not long after Cody touched my hand.

  This was an infatuation, I told myself. I was messed up from everything that had happened with Ben, and I wanted to move on from him. I wanted to have some flings and some fun.

  I wanted to get laid.

  And Cody was my type of man.

  Strong and commanding, and incredibly calm. Motivated. He’d done something productive with his life instead of laying on the couch, playing video games and getting stoned.

  And God, he was so handsome.

  Just that touch had been enough to get me wet.

  If he wanted me, he’d just have to say the word, and I’d spread myself out in bed for him.

  This wasn’t like me.

  I wasn’t the kind of girl to just fall into bed with the first guy I saw.

  But things were different now. I wasn’t with Ben. I wasn’t trying to please my father.

  I was my own woman, and I could do what I wanted.

  And if I wanted to do Cody, I could.

  The thought thrilled me. Maybe it’s what I really did want—a fling with a sexy security guard.

  But before I could give into a fling, I had to make sure my home was safe. And while Cody was overseeing it, I was footing the bills and making confirmation calls to the various people he was hiring to protect my house.

  I didn’t mind getting my alarm system upgraded. We changed all of the passcodes as well. Cody had the digital locks replaced with analog ones and added a second deadbolt that unlocked with a different key. He arranged to have a fence installed and started calling around to find me a dog.

  I wasn’t totally sold on the idea of a pit bull, but Cody was adamant.

  “They’re loyal. You get a young one and train it right, it’ll be the most loving dog in the world to you and people you trust. But if, say, Ben tries to break in…”

  “Again,” I joked, snorting.

  Cody stopped. “You didn’t tell me that.”

  “Oh.” I felt my face heat up with embarrassment. “Yeah, uh… about a week before I hired you. He broke the window in the back door, but then the dumbass cut himself on the glass trying to unlock the door. He left without doing anything.”

  “Jesus, Maria. You have to tell me stuff like that.”

  I lowered my head a little. “Um, I… s-sorry.”

  Cody reached out and touched my shoulder. His hand was warm, and I could feel the strength in just this light touch. “Don’t be sorry. Just keep me in the loop. And we’re definitely getting a pit bull.”

  I nodded. “Okay. Um… a pit bull, all right. You’re sure they aren’t dangerous?”

  “Not to you or anybody you’re happy to see.” He smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure it’s well-trained.”

  “Okay.” I trusted him.

  And sure enough, three days later, the puppy was brought to my house—a gray pit bull with blue eyes. She rolled onto her back as soon as she saw me, tail thumping on the floor.

  I loved her immediately.

  Cody came to stand near us, watching as I fawned over the puppy. “I’ve already got her enrolled in obedience classes. She’s got her paperwork, too—she’s a real pedigree dog. So she’s got a fancy name, but she needs an everyday name, too.”

  “I’m calling her Stormy.” I looked up and smiled. It wasn’t an original name, but I liked it.

  Stormy barked, her tail wagging even harder.

  Chapter Four

  Cody

  The upgrades were going well.

  Maria seemed happy, and even better than that, more confident. She looked happy. She had started to really come out of her shell.

  She obviously felt safer already.

  We had started to have lunch together every day. For the time being, Maria was employing me as her full-time bodyguard; I was staying in the guest room of her house, where I could come to her aid in seconds if she needed me. I kept an eye on the security systems but mostly tried to stay out of her way and let her live her life.

  But as we sat down to lunch, her phone rang.

  She frowned. It was an unknown number.

  I looked at her. “Go ahead and answer it. If it’s him, put it on speaker.”

  Maria nodded and clicked to accept the call. “Hello?”

  Her eyes went wide. She lowered the phone, tapping the speaker icon and putting it on the table between us.

  “I just want to talk! You were acting nuts, baby, because of your dad dying and shit!”

  She looked at me, eyes wide with fear.

  I gesture
d for her to respond.

  “Ben, I-I’m not interested. Okay? I don’t want to talk to you. We’re done.” Her voice trembled.

  I laid a hand on her shoulder. Immediately, she relaxed.

  On the other end of the phone, Ben was silent. It lasted a good ten seconds.

  But then he lost it.

  “Fucking slut! Who’s the other guy at your house, huh? You think some dumb meathead like that is going to keep me away?”

  “Ben, stop it!”

  “No! Fuck you, Maria! I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you, you stupid whore! You better keep your doors locked—”

  Maria ended the call.

  She looked up at me with tears in her eyes. “It’s always like that! He calls and says he wants to talk, make things better. And then I say no, and he freaks out at me!”

  “This is… pretty standard for somebody like him.” I kept my hand on her shoulder. “Next time he calls, I’m going to start recording. Put him back on speaker. You stay calm, just like you did there. Okay? It’s only going to look worse for him.”

  She nodded. “Okay. Um, do I tell him who you are?”

  “No. Let him think I’m just some guy. If he knows you’ve taken so many steps to protect yourself, it’ll do two things.”

  “Okay. What… what will it do?”

  “It’ll make him angry, and it’ll give him a heads-up, so he’ll know what to expect.”

  Slowly, she nodded. “Okay, that makes sense. I won’t let him know.”

  “Good.” I nodded, leaning back in my chair.

  Her phone started to ring again.

  I removed mine from my pocket and set it up to record. Maria watched me. Once I gave her a nod, she took a deep breath and accepted the call on speaker.

  “Hello?”

  “Fucking bitch! You stupid whore! I should’ve seen you for what you are, a fat big-titted slut that’s only worth my time because of her daddy’s money! I was so fucking happy when he died, you dumb cow! Because I thought you were smart enough to know a good man when you saw one!”

  Maria shut her eyes tight. “Ben, you’re drunk.”