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© 2009, Jan
Minter Reviews For PASSIONATE PROTECTOR by Jan Minter No reviews posted yet. Sample Chapter For PASSIONATE PROTECTOR by Jan Minter In the Gentlemen’s Club of downtown Shreveport, Joe Logan sat in the middle of the packed audience. What in the hell am I doing here? Maybe I made a mistake. Little Toot couldn’t possibly be Felicia Flame. No way. She is too shy, too unsure of herself, and way too well raised to perform here. The stage went black. The music started, slow, quite different from the upbeat of other performances. A sultry voice started singing, Lazy Afternoon. The spotlight picked up a petite female leaning against the front side wall of the stage. A mass of wavy black hair spilled over her shoulders. Her arresting blue eyes seemed to seek out every man in the audience. Her sexy alto voice, sometimes almost a whisper, other times almost a groan, teased the senses. Dressed in a demure lavender sundress, she murmured the song in a bedroom voice, telling of a lazy afternoon in the country. The rest of the stage suddenly lit up, depicting a pastoral hillside scene. The singer in her high-heeled strappy sandals sauntered across the grass-covered stage. She flipped the full circular skirt of her dress as she walked. It was suddenly obvious that the dress she wore was so sheer the backlights of the set made it transparent. In that glaring light, the singer appeared to be nude under the gauzy dress. On closer observation, which every person in the audience did, one could see she wore only a nude-colored thong under the dress. The sheer fabric of the dress stood straight out when she twirled, her arms wide, as if worshiping the great outdoors. Her movements were as slow and lazy as her song, completely sensuous. She lay down in the grass on the hillside. While she sang of hearing the grass grow, she extended one leg straight up, her toes pointing at the fluffy clouds. At the end of her song, she rolled over, appearing to make eye contact with every man in the audience. Beckoning with one index finger, she invited them to come and join her lazy afternoon. Without a doubt, every man jack of them dreamed of doing just that. Subtle, ladylike, she was still hotter than a wildfire! When the stage went black, Joe took a deep breath, realizing that he’d been holding it for a long time. He had a strong yen to pinch himself to prove that he hadn’t just dreamed the performance. Could this be the demure timid girl he’d served as bodyguard for five years? She’d told him several times that when she hit twenty-one, she’d run away rather than go back home and be under the control of her father. Joe had been released from his job when Patricia Elena Delores Alverez, ‘Toot’ to her close friends, hit the magic age. He was at odds over what to do with his life without her. When he attended the wedding of her best friend, he overheard a conversation between them. She declared she would do as she had said she would. He followed her. But changing her name to Felicia Flame and becoming a performer in a gentlemen’s club? He’d never have figured that. He expected she’d pick a more Jane Doe name and become an accountant or a bank teller. That’s what she’d studied in college. * * * * Toot did several voice-overs for the other girls’ performances. For the finale of the evening, she joined the whole cast of strippers, dressed in a red bikini, for an arousing rendition of Gift to You. Each girl was wrapped in transparent paper and skipped off the stage, one at a time. Finally, after quitting time in the wee hours of the morning, dressed in street clothes, Toot left the club. Her high heels clicked, echoing across the concrete of the deserted parking garage. Her feet were killing her. The hollow rhythm of her steps emphasized how she felt. She hadn’t realized how big and lonely the big, wide world was until she changed her identity and struck out on her own. She missed living with her two best friends, Liz and Lottie. They’d been together as children in boarding school and stayed together through college. When Liz married Sam and Lottie went off to work on her doctorate and play beach volleyball, Little Toot’s parents realized she was living alone. Her father issued an ultimatum. “Young lady, you’ve played long enough. It’s time to come home, join the business, and marry like a responsible woman should.” She felt she had no other choice. Rather than go back to being cloistered in Mexico City, living sheltered as a rich man’s wife, she’d run away. Her father’s choice of her mate was probably some middle-aged, wealthy, balding man with a paunch. In her father’s opinion, the sole purpose of his daughter’s marriage should be to strengthen his already successful banking business. So this is freedom. Freedom sure is lonely. Liz and Lottie had named her ‘Little Toot’ because she was petite, like the little train who thought he could. They were always lecturing her to have more self-confidence. Lately, her self-confidence had been running on low. When she got back to her tiny apartment, she’d call Liz for a dose of I think I can. After she kicked off those damned high heels, that is. Her feet were really hurting. She’d never had to wear heels for long stretches before. When she put three-inch stiletto heels on her size four and a half feet, it had her standing on her tippy toes. Her feet had never really recovered from an injury she’d sustained on that camping trip last year. This near-empty garage was scary. Several times lately, she’d felt as though someone watched her. She told herself she was just being paranoid, but it didn’t keep the hackles from rising on the back of her neck. Jingling her keys, she approached her new little red BMW convertible. She loved that little car, her very own. It suited her new identity. Just as she was about to click the button on her key holder to unlock the door, she thought she heard a shuffling noise. Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind. One hand clapped over her face while another arm circled her waist. Her reaction came quickly, automatic from long hours of training in self-defense with Joe, her former bodyguard. She immediately stomped backward, planting her sharp high heel on the toes of her assailant. Twisting in his arms, she jabbed an elbow to his midsection. He let her go. His flailing arms knocked her purse and keys out of her hand. Toot gave him a slice with the edge of her hand to the side of his neck. He crumpled to the floor with a groan. When she looked around the floor for her keys, a second man came toward her, a gun drawn. Without thought, she flew through the air with the greatest of karate ease, landing both feet first on the gun, secondarily in the man’s chest. The gun went off, the bullet going astray. The sound of it echoed in the empty garage. Her blow knocked him down, the gun skittering across the floor under the car. Before she could retrieve her purse and keys, the man recovered. He came at her again. When he got near enough, she drove her knee into his groin while simultaneously shoving the heel of her hand up under his nose. She heard the satisfying crack of a broken bone, while blood from his nose squirted all over her new suit. The man doubled over clutching his family jewels, moaning in bubbly gasps. Glancing to see if her first attacker was still out, she saw he was sprawled supine on the cement. Gathering her purse and keys, she popped the door lock and jumped in her car. Revving it, she backed out, feeling a bump, hearing a crunch when she ran over the pistol. Racing faster than was safe, she circled down the three floors of ramps in the garage. Two blocks away at the first red light, her breathing finally slowed a bit. Then she realized she’d lost her shoes. She couldn’t remember when she’d lost them. “Serves you right,” she said. She shouldn’t have worn the red satin shoes matching her last outfit home. She’d have a devil of a time trying to find another pair like them in a size four and a half. Nobody else wore a shoe that small except children, and children didn’t wear stiletto red satin heels. * * * * Joe had started to intervene when the two men accosted his Little Toot in the garage. When he saw she was taking care of herself, he resisted helping her. He watched from behind his pickup. Thank goodness she didn’t recognize his vehicle. She’d be madder than hell if she knew he still kept an eye on her. Personally, he knew she liked him, but hated being under anyone’s watchful eye. He was proud of her taking care of those muggers. All those hours he’d spent teaching her self- defense paid off big time. After she got away, he approached the guy recovering from the blow to his nuts. Joe sapped him with his little leather-covered lead blackjack. Searching the guy for an ID, Joe found his wallet. He appeared to be Juan Rodriquez of Mexico City. He had a wad of cash, which Joe lifted. From the man’s back pocket, he retrieved a picture of Little Toot. On the back was written Patricia Elena Dolores Alverez followed by Felicia Flame in parentheses, the license plate number of her car and her employer. He stuck the picture in his shirt pocket, the money in his pants pocket and went to search the second guy. He lifted a pistol off of him, found his wallet. He confiscated ten crisp hundred dollar bills, jamming them in his own pocket. This guy’s name was Pedro Gonzales, also of Mexico City. Making sure the guy was still out for the count, Joe picked up the gun Toot had run over, wiped both clean and pitched them over the side of the three-story building. He picked up the two red satin shoes with spikes for heels. They were too small for even his hand. He felt they were almost like doll shoes, shoes that fit a tiny, demure woman which he had an insatiable desire to hold and protect. Driving back to the apartment he’d rented, which was in sight of Toot’s, he surveyed the situation. What if he hadn’t heard that conversation at Liz’s wedding? He couldn’t let her go. He guessed he was obsessed with Toot. Between his military retirement and the generous wages he’d been paid, he was wealthy enough not to have to work. He’d been at loose ends after Señor Alverez terminated his employment. Joe had heard during the three months between that time and Liz’s wedding that Toot had gone on some outlandish camping trip after which she’d had to spend some time in the hospital recovering from dehydration and injury to her feet. She’d lived in an apartment with her two best friends, working on her doctorate at Texas University until they split up. He’d been following her for a little over a month now, like a little puppy dog. Tonight, he’d finally found out where she was employed. What a shock. He never expected her to pick a strip club for her job. Tonight’s siege in the garage would mean he’d have to blow his cover to let her know she was in danger. Even at twenty-two, she was a sitting duck, ignorant in street ways. Habit made it impossible for him to let her go it alone. She’d been too sheltered, too naïve, too unschooled in the ways of the real world. He didn’t think she could make it without street smarts. His instinct to shield and protect her couldn’t be turned off with a button or a pink slip. He’d grown to care too much for the shy beauty’s safety. She’d been brave through all of her training with him, showing more courage than lots of guys he’d served with in the army. He’d watched her start her life over. Obviously, she could protect herself physically pretty well. Without her friends’ support, she’d had no one to lean on, though. He had seen a dejected look in her eyes. He knew she was lonely and scared. This sneaky-pete stuff was over now. She wasn’t just mugged tonight. These guys intended to kidnap her. Joe doubted that they were sent by her father. Who then? At any rate, they posed a major danger. He’d have to make an appearance and let her know. The first thing in the morning, he’d tell her. Tonight, she’d still be too upset to listen to him. * * * * Toot didn’t cry until she heard Liz’s sleepy voice on the phone. “’Lo. Is that you, Toot? Nobody else ever calls at o-dark thirty.” “Liz.” She sniffed and hiccupped. “I got mugged.” Then the tears started to flow. “Are you okay?” The sleepy tone was gone. Liz sounded wide awake. “Ye-ah.” Toot sobbed. “I can be there in a few hours, if you need me,” Liz said. “No. I’m just coming down off the shock of the incident. I fought them off.” “Them? As in more than one?” “Two guys, but I got away.” “Wow, I’m proud of you. Are you sure you’re okay?” “I’m okay, but I lost my red shoes.” “The real high heels?” “You were right. To wear them
for any length of time hurts like nobody’s business. I’m
worried about having to find another pair like them, though. They match
one of my costumes.” Toot didn’t answer. After a moment of silence, Liz continued. “Listen, Toot. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. Maybe it just won’t work. Our new house is nearly finished. There’s an apartment in the boathouse. Come and live with us. You can do the accounting for our business.” “I’m lonely, but I can’t do that. Father would make me come home. I just can’t do that,” she repeated. “Your father’s going nuts, as it is. He’s determined to find you, in spite of our telling him you don’t want to be found.” “I’m going to stick it out for now. Thanks for offering. Just talking to you makes everything better. Sorry I woke you up. My hours are just the opposite of yours. I hope I didn’t wake up little Sammy.” “No, he’s in the other room, sleeping up a storm, thank goodness.” Toot sent a verbal hug and kiss and rang off. After talking to Liz, Toot took a hot bubble bath, mainly to soak her aching feet. Then she fell in bed, exhausted, just as daylight was breaking. * * * * Joe woke up about midmorning. Discovering he was out of coffee, he quickly dressed in his usual jeans, a golf tee, loafers, and a leather jacket. Walking around the corner from the apartment complex and down two blocks, he entered a donut shop. Toot came to this shop every afternoon. She always bought a chocolate donut and a cup of latte. It was too early for her to be here now. He went through the line and got three plain donuts and a large plain coffee. Turning from the cash register where he paid for his purchase, he stopped dead. Whoops. He confronted a stern-faced Toot. “What are you doing here, Joe?” she asked quietly. “Er, oh, ah, hi, Toot,” Joe stammered. “Don’t call me that. Answer my question.” “I was gonna talk to you today, honey. You’re in danger.” “My danger is from you and my father,” she said, her eyes flashing with anger. She hit the bottom of his cup, sending the hot coffee cascading over his chest. “Leave me alone.” The burn from the coffee took his breath. By the time he got over the shock, the door had closed on her retreating form. He dumped his donuts on a nearby table, grabbed a handful of napkins out of the container, and ran out of the door after her. Wiping his shirt as he ran, he yelled, “Felicia, Felicia! Wait. I’ve got to tell you something.” She stopped and turned so suddenly, he nearly ran into her. Although he was not overly big, only about six foot and a hundred and ninety pounds, he always felt like an oversized oaf next to her. Facing her now, he towered a foot over her. She could easily walk under his outstretched arm without brushing a hair on her head. She poked a finger into his chest. He winced when her long fingernail hit the burn. “Let me tell you something. I don’t want to see you or my father. You tell him that for me.” She stomped angrily down the sidewalk. “I don’t work for your father,” he said, catching up and walking beside her. “I’m here on my own. He doesn’t know where you are.” She stopped walking, looked up at his face, confusion written in her eyes. “You don’t? He doesn’t?” “I’m here ’cause…” he hesitated, trying to search for the right words. “’Cause I care for you and…and…I couldn’t let you strike out on your own without…” He didn’t finish the statement, just held out his arms, raising his shoulders in a feeling-foolish shrug. Her anger with him was as painful as the burn on his chest. Instead, he wanted her laughter, her subtle humor, and hugs. He thought for a moment she’d forgive him, but then her expression hardened. She started to hit him. He grabbed her arms, pulling her to him in a bear hug. A shock hit him as much as the coffee burn, shaking his psyche, making his arms shake, putting his cock at full attention. Hunching over to put his face in her hair, he whispered, “Let me talk to you, Toot. Last night’s attack on you wasn’t just a mugging. You’re in danger.” “You were there? When I was mugged, you were there and didn’t do anything?” She looked up at him, tears very near the surface. “You did well. Why should I interfere when you had the situation well in hand? I was proud of you.” He picked her up to his height and kissed her. Then he let her slide down the length of him to set her on her feet again. She stepped away from him, confusion written all over her face. Then she turned and stomped away from him. He followed her, angry with himself and his sudden sexual reaction to her touch. He walked off his erection. Toot felt confused. Joe was suddenly here. He was there last night and did nothing. He said he was not in her father’s hire. What confused her more than anything, was to feel his sexual reaction, his penis hard against her when he hugged her, even though his kiss was rather chaste. She’d never thought of Joe sexually before. As her bodyguard, he’d been like a big brother, a mentor, a trainer in self-defense. But something had happened when he held her. She realized that for the first time, he was aware of her, not as a child to guard, but as a woman. After unlocking her door, she entered her apartment. She didn’t invite him in, but left the door open behind her. He didn’t say anything, just stood just inside the doorway, as if waiting for her permission to stay. “You don’t work for my father anymore?” she asked with her back to him. “No. Not since your twenty-first birthday.” “How long have you been around, following me, watching me?” “Since Liz and Sam’s wedding.” “I felt you watching me.” She turned and came up to him. Standing within inches of him, she looked up into his face. “Joe, I want you to kiss me.” It was Joe’s turn to do a confused double-take. He laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead. “No, not like that. I’m not sixteen now, Joe. Kiss me, really kiss me.” She slid her hands up his chest slowly and around his neck. He placed his lips chastely on hers, tenderly, lightly. Even this light touch sent electricity thundering through his body. She took over from there, opening her lips, coaxing his response. Lightning! His whole body jumped to alert status. What had started as a kiss he gave to the girl he’d protected, escalated easily into mouth to mouth sex. It was natural for him to place his hands on her precious tush and lift her up to his height, her feet clearing the floor. When the kiss was finally finished, he let her slide back down over his obvious erection, his cock saying ‘thank you very much.’ He took her hands and stood back, at a loss at what to do next. “Why…” was all he could manage. “I thought you had a reaction, a new one, when we were out on the sidewalk. I wanted to see what really kissing you felt like. How did you feel about kissing me?” “Strange. What happened to the timid little gal you used to be?” She calmly walked into her tiny kitchen and began to put on a pot of coffee. “She grew up.” He followed and watched her. “And?” “And what?” she asked, scooping three tablespoons of coffee into the filter. “And what was your conclusion about kissing me?” he asked. “I enjoyed it very much. I’m experimenting with sex.” “Experimenting? Damn, Toot, that’s dangerous. There’s date rape, AIDS, and all sorts of meanness out there.” “Sex with you is safe, isn’t it?” “Hell yes, but I’m not sure I like being an experiment.” “Yes you do. You got a hard-on when you kissed me. If I weren’t so angry with you at this moment, I’d like kissing you—and a lot more. As it is, I’ll try to calm down and replenish the coffee that I spilled on you.” She flicked the switch to ‘on,’ turned and brushed past him, going back to the living room. Joe followed, shocked at her attitude and her language. She used to be so timid and correct. He cleared his throat and sat down across from her on the couch. “Toot, we’ve got some more important things to talk about.” He pulled out the picture he’d confiscated the night before and handed it to her. “I found this on one of the guys who attacked you last night.” She looked at her picture. Turning it over, she read the information on the back. Stunned, her face filled with terror. “This means…” “That it wasn’t just a mugging. Those guys targeted you and only you.” “My father?” “I don’t think so. I’m sure he wouldn’t send guys out to take you by violence. I would suggest they wanted to kidnap you, possibly for ransom or something. Hon, pack a bag. I slowed them down, taking all their money. They won’t give up, though. They’ll try again. I’m taking you out of here.” She sniffed, the sound indignant. “You’re not my bodyguard anymore. I don’t have to take your orders.” “I’m sorry I made it sound like a command. We don’t have time to haggle. I’m offering you my services.” Her sudden smile looked decidedly coy. “All your services?” He could feel his face heat at her suggestion. His cock stirred at the images he could not ignore. This new Toot was sexy as hell. He grinned. “Whatever your heart desires, babe. Just hurry and pack. Let’s get out of here before these guys find you again.” Joe drank three cups of coffee while he listened to her rummage in her bedroom. She finally appeared at the door. “All packed. Where are we going?” The phone rang. She punched the button so the caller was broadcast to the whole room. “Hello.” “Wat you deed,” a heavily accented masculine voice said, “you leetle bitch, that was not so nice. You will not get away so easy next time.” The line went dead. A sudden explosion outside rattled the windows. Rushing to peer out, Joe and Toot saw what was left of her little red sports car, enveloped in smoke and flame, fragments scattered across the parking lot. |