Protecting Love: Finding Love Series, #2

By Corinne Mazille

The more I sleep with her, the harder I fall.

I don't do relationships.

Period.

But there's something about Ella that I can't resist.

We have explosive chemistry between the sheets, and we both know that this is only a bit of fun. But when a stalker targets her–threatening her life–I realize she means so much more to me. I need to protect her. I need to keep her safe.

Will I be able to save her in time, or will I lose her forever?

** Previously Published as Too Close To Home **

• Language: English
• Publisher: Corinne Mazille
• Release date: May 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386445364

Corinne Mazille

Corinne was born and raised in Melbourne Australia, where she currently resides with her own family. After her first daughter was born she found her love for books all over again. Her nose always stuck in a book reading all the romance books she could find. Sometimes even reading a book a day! Fast forward a few years and her obsession grew, turning into a love of writing. Her first book debut in February 2018 and while it's been slow going there are many more to come, so watch this space. Make sure to click FOLLOW above to stay up-to-date on all new upcoming releases.  Learn more about Corinne on her website at www.corinnemazilleauthor.com, or you can find her on social media (@corinnemazilleauthor) or her Facebook fan page Corinne Mazille's Bookworms.

Book preview

1

Ella

Isit on the edge of my bed leaning over, clasping one of my favorite red heels on my ankle. I kick out my leg, admiring my shoe, damn, so pretty. I love wearing heels, maybe because I’m five foot two. Short. But there’s just something about wearing heels that makes me feel so feminine and girly. I love that feeling, and, in particular, they make me feel sexy as well.

I’m off to Olivia’s second birthday party. This little girl has had the lucky opportunity of scoring Mia, my best friend since forever, as a mom. She met, fell in love, and married a guy she had met in Hawaii who needed to get married to provide a home for his best friend’s daughter after his friend died in a car crash at the hands of a drunk driver. In the process, they fell madly in love with each other and have another precious little one on the way. It didn’t come along without their fair share of hiccups along the way including a call out to the local San Francisco Police Department when Olivia’s drunken grandmother forced her way into my house. Rachel was crazy, even attempted to kidnap Olivia. The officer that responded to this call was drop-dead gorgeous. I’m talking about Adonis, Greek god status hot!

Now, the real reason for this particular pair of shoes is that Mia let it slip that sexy Officer Carter, or Logan, as we got to know, is a family friend of the Maxwells. So, while this is a child’s birthday party, I have kept my outfit casual with a sexy twist. I have on my favorite blue skinny jeans (I only own one pair, preferring to wear skirts), which fit me like a glove and a billowy shirt on top, with the front buttons undone and topped off with these sexy heels. I plan on not leaving without Mr. Carter taking notice of me and confirming a date. I quickly spritz myself with some Chanel perfume, grab my keys and purse, and make my way out to my car.

---

When I pull out of my driveway a quiver in my stomach has me uneasy because I think I see the same white car that was parked by my home that I’ve seen a few times now. Can’t be. I check my rearview mirror for what feels like the tenth time since leaving; the weird feeling in my stomach increasing.

For the last couple of weeks now, my gut has been picking up on things that I just can’t explain. I feel like I have eyes on me at times where I know there is no one around, like now for instance.

When I get home, it feels strange, like someone has been around my home touching my things leaving the hairs at the back of my neck raised.

I can’t prove any of this though, and I’m starting to feel like it’s just my imagination playing tricks on me.

Shaking my head, I look back to the road and see that I have arrived, but the street is crowded with cars parked everywhere. I find a spot near Beau’s parents’ house.

Beau is my crazy best friend, Mia’s, husband. She and I have been friends since high school. She’s the strong-willed girl who would do what others wanted and then after a hasty breakup goes on holiday and comes back married.

---

I find a tight parking spot and maneuver in, grabbing Olivia’s present as I get out of the car and make my way down the driveway to the door. It’s Olivia’s second birthday party today; she is Beau’s adopted daughter, so I guess that makes her my niece since Mia and I are like sisters.

I picked up a few things for her I think she’ll love.

A princess dress, plastic high heels, and a gorgeous crown fit for the beautiful princess she is.

As I ring the doorbell, I hear a car approaching slowly and turn in time to see a white car driving past. That’s strange, my heart starts thumping, but maybe I’m just—

Ella… Ella? Mia says, shaking my arm as she pulls me through the doorway.

I turn around to face her concerned expression.

Ella, sweetie, are you okay? she repeats, looking over my shoulder to see what has spooked me.

Oh, yes. Hi, Mia, I say, hugging her as she pulls me through the door to close it quickly behind us.

Ella, you are not okay, what is going on?

When I pause, she takes one look at me, then grabs my wrist pulling me toward a sofa in the study near the front door.

Spill, Ella, everyone’s out back.

Well, okay, but I really think it’s nothing, Mia. The last week or two I feel like someone is watching me. It’s hard to explain really, and sometimes I…

Go on, she says, squeezing my hand for encouragement.

I take a much-needed deep breath. I don’t know, Mia, sometimes even at home, it’s like someone has been in my house, and I mean nothing’s been stolen or moved out of place it’s just a feeling I get in my gut. Do you know what? I’m just being silly, let’s get to the party, I say, standing up as she pulls me back down.

Ella, you should trust your gut. Hey, remember Officer Carter from when Rachel got arrested at your place? He’s here as he’s a family friend of the Maxwells, why don’t you tell him what’s been happening and see if he thinks it’s something you should be worried about?

Rachel is Olivia’s maternal grandmother and a drunk.

Oh, is he here today? I flutter my eyelashes at her. You may have mentioned that he may be here hence these fabulous shoes. I point my leg out with said shoe on display as she glares at me unimpressed with my subtle try at a change of subject. When she simply stares me down with her new mom stare, I reply, Oh, okay, spoilsport, when I speak to him, I will maybe ask him—

Ella… she says, throwing her hands up in frustration.

Okay, okay, I’ll speak with him, happy? Now let’s get to the party, I say, dragging her up off the couch and outside.

Do you want me to come with—

No, Mia, I’m a big girl, I can look after myself, now go to that man of yours, he’s sulking and needs your attention. Look at him.

Which makes her laugh as she heads off toward a sulking Beau.

I make my way to the refrigerator to grab a drink where the guys just happen to be standing around. I make sure to stop near the very drool-worthy Logan; I don’t plan on telling him anything even though I promised Mia. I know I suck breaking my promise but what I will do is try to get him in my bed.

He’s standing there, looking like a god in sexy light blue jeans and a long-sleeved black top that shows off incredible shoulders and the thickest arms I have seen. His muscles are defined in every piece of clothing he has on. He is every cliché you read about tall, dark, and handsome. I’m short and he is well over six foot, ever since I saw him for the first time, all I have thought about is jumping up and wrapping my legs around his trim waist and having him slam me against the wall and sliding right into me. That is why guys work out so much, isn’t it? To lift a girl and take her whenever he wants. My lips part at that as I slowly lick my lips.

Hello, Ella.

Hi, Lucas, Mr. Maxwell.

Ella, please call me Bill, and this here is Logan, Beau’s dad offers.

Yes, I believe we have met once before, Logan is it? I say, taking his offered hand, pretending I don’t know who this beautiful creature is. I don’t think I have ever thought of hands as sexy but with his thick fingers, my imagination goes to what I want his hands to do to me. My eyes travel up his forearm to the hair trailing up his rolled sleeve with a glimpse of a tattoo hiding; I can’t help but lick my lips again as thoughts of peeling his shirt off to see what exactly is hiding underneath crosses my mind.

And why is my heartbeat so loud all of a sudden, the thump, thump, thump echoing loudly as a tingling sensation begins to make its way down my body. Oh God, can everyone hear my heart? How long have I been staring at his hand wrapped around mine? I look straight up into a shit-eating grin, making me freeze in place.

The cocky bastard knows just the effect he has on me, and probably every other female in all of San Francisco. Releasing his hand from mine, I turn around, bending down into the cooler for a beer.

Standing up, I catch Logan’s eyes looking up from where he was clearly checking out my tight ass making me blush. Ignoring him, I look away, opening my beer and take a long sip enjoying the cold drink going down my throat.

I never blush, what is it about this guy that is making my insides turn out?

The guys start talking again about the latest football game, which is fine with me, leaving me to my sexy thoughts and giving me time to study Logan’s masculine form. Every now and again Logan’s eyes cross back to meet mine with a matching heat that I know is in mine.

I am so distracted by his perfection that I don’t feel the hand wrapping its way around my arm until I’m tugged lightly, pulling me out of my trance. I turn to find Mia grinning at me.

Can I borrow Ella for a minute, guys? Mia asks, pulling me out of the kitchen without waiting for an answer. She’s pulling me when I hear, You may want to close your mouth, Ella and wipe your chin, you’re starting to drool. She laughs, tapping my chin to close my mouth making me laugh.

Come on, Mia, I wasn’t that bad, was I? I look at Mia’s face and know that yes, I was indeed that bad. Well, have you seen the guy? Believe me, Mia, you need to check him out from head to toe, and I’m sure you will be drooling soon enough.

Ah, have you seen my husband? He is all I need to see to start drooling, thank you very much.

We laugh as we help Mrs. Maxwell bring out all the food onto the back deck.

---

Once all the food is out, I take a seat next to Mia. A shadow appears behind me and a figure slips into the spot beside me. Turning my head slightly, I see Logan grinning as he brushes his strong muscular leg against mine, leaving it there as he turns to speak to Beau, who is sitting in front of us with Olivia on his lap. During lunch, I try to move away from his touch, which is causing a flood of warmth through my body whenever he touches me, as well as an ache to touch him back, which has me losing my concentration mid-sentence a time or two. The thing I love about the Maxwell’s get-togethers is that no matter who is here, relatives or not, you are treated just like family. We spend hours eating and talking, and I spend some time flirting with Logan, because, well, now that I’ve spent time with him, he’s as sweet and funny on the inside as he is smoking hot on the outside. No matter where I was or who I was talking to, I could feel his eyes on me. His eyes, and any other body part he could manage without making it obvious what he was doing.

---

After Olivia opens her presents, and we have cake, I say my goodbyes, hugging and kissing everyone as I always do. When I get to Logan, I can’t resist having my hands on him, he has had me so turned on all afternoon, so I give him a hug too, making sure I do the touching, feeling his muscular arms, squeezing them as I pull back slightly licking my moist lips before going up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek where I linger for a minute, breathing in his unique earthy male scent.

I head back home with my heart so full of joy. I love spending time with Mia’s family. Growing up, my family was never close, my parents were very self-involved, and our house was never full of love. The Maxwells, on the other hand, shower their family and friends with an abundance of love.

Hence, why I’m content living alone with Rocky, my best friend in the world, after Mia, of course. And when it comes to men, I love them, but I’m more the love them and leave them type. Yes, I know this makes me sound like a whore but whatever. I know what I like and I’m not afraid to get it.

---

I open the front door to my home, throwing my purse and keys on the table which sits near it. Just as I do, Rocky, my chocolate Labrador comes bounding over to welcome me home. Even with Rocky here, a shiver still manages to ride up my back. I scratch him behind his ears.

If only you could talk, Rocky, you would tell me if someone had been here, wouldn’t you, boy?

He barks at that as he follows me to walk around the house, double-checking everything is locked up.

I know I did this before I left, but these days, I triple check everything.

Every room is just how I left it, everything in its rightful place. I like a neat house. While some might call me a clean freak, that’s not the case. I just don’t like clutter. If it doesn’t have a home, I throw it away immediately.

While I’m doing this, I hear my phone ping with a message. I decide I’ll look at it after I finish, so I continue checking the windows and back door when I hear a loud, insistent knocking on the front door making me jump out of my skin and Rocky bark.

Man, if this keeps up, my heart is going to give out. It beats rapidly on my way to the door as I grab my phone in case I need it, then check through the peephole just as the banging starts up again.

I lean my head against the door my hands against my chest, taking a few breaths to control my heart rate. Once it has slowed down some, I take in who it is.

Logan.

What’s he doing here?

I laugh, oh God, he scared the living shit out of me.

Ella, I know you’re in there, open the door, he demands from the other side, changing my mood from fear to frustration.

Who does he think he is? I take a step back from the door to look at my phone, which I forgot I had in my hands.

Mia - Sorry Ella, I spoke with Logan and he said you didn’t mention what you told me when you got here. I’m sorry, but he got mad and said he’s coming to see you to get it out of you. Thought I’d give you a heads-up. He seems to like you, Ella, give him a chance :)

Oh, I’m going to kill her!

2

Logan

Driving over to Ella’s house, my knuckles tighten on the steering wheel. Before I left the Maxwell’s home, Mia had pulled me aside to see if Ella had spoken to me about the strange feelings she’s had for the last few weeks of being followed and of someone being in her house, and the little minx hadn’t. Oh, we’d spent time together and flirted some, but now I know why. She was trying to convince Mia that she was indeed talking to me about her problem. A problem I take seriously, women are usually spot-on when it comes to believing their intuition, so I’m going to get the full story from her now or so help me I will take her over my knee and spank that ass. Oh, hell, just thinking about her pert little ass has me hard as a rock. I wriggle in