Bride Protector SEAL Read Online Free Page B

squeezed in her chest. It wasn’t as big and fancy as the mansion at the Double Diamond, but it had a helluva view of the Crazy Mountains, and it had been the house where she’d lived for the past twenty-seven years.
    Allie supposed she’d get used to living on the Double Diamond. She’d be with Damien, when he was home from his trips. She’d have Miles, the butler, and Barbara, the cook, to talk to in the big house. She’d spend most of her time outside, tending horses and the cattle she hoped to bring onto the three-thousand-acre ranch.
    She opened the door to her truck, pushing aside thoughts of her future home. First things first. Her father couldn’t know Swede was her bodyguard. He’d flip if he knew Damien was having trouble. Her father would find out soon enough when word got around about the explosion and fire that consumed the stable at the Double Diamond.
    Swede parked beside her, got out and rounded the front of his truck with Ruger.
    “I think I can get a room in the house for you, but my father isn’t keen on dogs inside.”
    He glanced at the porch. “Which room is yours? I can toss a sleeping bag outside your window.”
    “Seriously?” Allie shook her head. “I can’t ask you to do that. I’ll see what I can do to bend my father’s rule.”
    “I’m not here to cause you more problems. I’m here to keep you safe. And I’ve slept in worse places than on a porch.”
    As a SEAL, he probably had. Still… “You can have Hank’s old room. Grab your stuff, you can stow it inside.” Allie started up the steps. When she realized Swede wasn’t following, she turned back to him. “You and Ruger can have Hank’s old room. There. Are you satisfied?”
    Swede walked around to the side of his truck, grabbed a duffle bag and an old blanket and followed her into the house.
    “Georgia?” Allie called out.
    A gray-haired woman wearing jeans and a short-sleeved plaid shirt stepped into the hallway. “Allie, I’m glad you’re here. I heard there was a fire out at the Double Diamond, and I was worried you might be there.” She studied Allie before hurrying forward and hugging her. “Oh, dear. You were, weren’t you? You’re all covered in soot and smell like smoke. I’m glad you’re okay. What a terrible thing.”
    Allie almost laughed. News traveled fast in small communities. She should have known it had already made it home. “Do Dad and Eddy know?”
    “Not yet. They’ve been out repairing fences all day. I haven’t seen them since breakfast.”
    Good . She’d get Swede installed before they got back. “Georgia, this is Swede Svenson, a friend of mine from college, who came early for the wedding. He was going to stay in Eagle Rock, but I told him we had room here for him and his dog.”
    Georgia smiled at Swede and held out her hand. “Nice to meet you. There are fresh sheets on the bed in Hank’s old room.” Her smile wrinkled into a bit of a frown. “As for the dog, well, you’ll have to take it up with Mr. Patterson. He doesn’t like animals in the house.”
    Allie nodded. “I’ll take care of it. Could you show him to the room so he can toss his bag? I need to ride out and check on that sick heifer.”
    “I’m coming with you,” Swede insisted.
    Allie sighed. “Fine. I’ll wait.” Again, she didn’t want everyone to know Damien had hired a bodyguard. In order to keep that little bit of information on the down-low, she had to play the hostess to her “friend.”
    This bodyguard business was going to be a big pain in the ass. And having a hunky SEAL following her around might be more difficult than she ever imagined.

3
    S wede followed Georgia up the stairs and across a landing to the first door on the right.
    “You can use this room. The one next to it is Allie’s, and at the end of the hall is Mr. Patterson’s.” She opened the door and stepped aside. “The bathroom is across the hall. If you need anything, let me know. Dinner is at 6:30. Mr. Patterson