Standing There (Love in the Park 1)

“Roman, are you ready to live it up?” Casey asks, twirling and letting her curls bounce.

“Not at the moment. I need to meet with the mayor. Why don’t you get us something to drink?”

“Give me money.” She holds her hand out waiting for me to give her cash.

“Like you don’t have your own,” I asked while pulling out my wallet.

“It doesn’t matter.” I pull out a twenty and hand it to her. She’s a super spoiled seventeen-year-old.

“Be careful.”

“Really, here? First, we’re in a good area. Second, you have your men patrolling the whole park. You be careful, the women around here have definitely noticed you—and some of the guys too,” she teases, flouncing away with her money and playful attitude.

Now, to meet with the mayor. I see him with a small crowd of suits. I hoped to catch him alone, so I plan to circle around, but it’s too late for that because he spots me and smiles like a true fucking politician. Fake as fuck. I meet up with him and give him my best bullshit grin.

“Good evening, Mayor Windham,” I say, reaching out to shake his hand. It’s sweaty and meaty. The man looks as if he’s gone around and hit up every stand for a sample. The stains on his yellow tie say just that. I pretend not to notice and, remark on the crowd, “This year has turned out larger than ever before.”

“Yes, it seems new people in charge of the event know how to market on the internet. By the way, thanks for coming, Mr. Wolf.” He claps my back and leads me over to the group he was standing around. They’re some of the local council people. They all ooh and aah when they learn I’m the guy they’re trying to please. The older women in the group make no bones about their interest in me more than businesslike ways. I brush off their overt flirting with I have a girlfriend. In truth I do, but she just doesn’t know it yet. I don’t care to talk, but it’s what I have to do, so I make small talk for a few minutes waiting for my cue to exit.

Once the music comes on, I make my excuses and find my sister who is waiting for me.

“About time, Roman. What the hell? I was about to go over there, but I didn’t know how important it was for you to do business with them.”

“Not at all. I wish you would have. Boring as fuck and everyone looking for handouts in more ways than one. I’m a security company, but I don’t deal in securities and investments or horny old married broads.”

“I know. Next time I’ve got your back.” She winks then moves through the crowd to get closer to the stage. I try to check on her every few minutes because I don’t want to be that close to the masses. The sun hasn’t set, and it’s hot. I’m still in the front area, but I’m sure as more people move in, I’m going to slide back further.

And that is when my world changes. Fuck, she’s here. I send a text to her guard. He hits back that he didn’t know I would be here. Out with Casey, I text back.

Are you okay to handle this, boss?

Okay? She’s mine. Stay back.

How has it come to this? When a client asks you to look after their little sister, you don’t fall for her…but that’s what I’ve done. I can’t take my eyes off of her. She’s a petite blonde in a white sundress and brown strappy sandals. Her eyes are smiling as she watches the show. I growl internally because from head to toe, she’s fucking sexy and under my protection.

Shit, I can’t look away. The more I look, the more I want. This interest is beyond more than I can control. I need to talk to her. I want to taste her parted lips.

I watch like a sick man with an obsession. I want to run my hands through her long golden hair and slip my hand behind her head, cupping her neck and kiss her fucking senseless. She feels me staring and artfully turns my way. She freezes instantly, and her little pink tongue slips out of her mouth wetting her suddenly dry lips. Fuck, she’s eye fucking me, loving what she’s seeing. I’ve never felt this way from one damn look. My face gives away my pleasure. I smirk, then nodded at her.

She’s not supposed to be out of the house. At nineteen she’s legally allowed to do what she pleases, but she has a stalker who has been released from the sanitarium on good behavior and doesn’t even know it.

I take a deep breath because I’m ready to make introductions and carry her out of this damn place. Then I feel arms slide around me. Fuck.