Love's Protector: A Maverick's Shield Novel Read Online Free

are cops that have been hit by suspects, not by me ! Why did you ask me that anyway?” He was starting to get angry. What kind of man did she think he was? Did she actually think he’d hit a woman?
    She picked up her pen and tapped it against her desk. “It was just a question.”
    He responded to her through gritted teeth. “Why did you ask?”
    “I told you it was just a question. Why does it offend you?”
    “I never said it did.”
    “I can tell you’re angry now. Do you have a problem with that particular subject matter?” He put his head down, and looked away remaining silent. “Jason?”
    He looked up at her with disgust. He wanted very much for this to be over with and her incessant pen tapping was starting to get on his damn nerves.  He would’ve walked out of here long ago if his job hadn’t depended on him going through with this crap. “What?”
    “Are you going to answer my question?”
    He looked away again. “Of course I have a problem with men hitting on women. Don’t most people?”
    “Yes, but I seemed to have hit a nerve by asking you that. Is there a particular reason why?” She pushed her legs from under the desk and crossed them.
    “Maybe.” He didn’t see the point in this conversation but at least she finally put that damn pen down.
    “Was it someone close to you? Was it your mother?”
    His expression turned cold. “I don’t want to talk about her.”
    “Alright, we don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to talk about.”
    “Thank you.”
    Her mouth parted to speak again when the buzzing of the tiny clock on her desk interrupted her. After turning off her recorder, she looked up at him. “Okay, we’re done for today and as I said, you can feel free to continue with these sessions with me if you like.”
    He gave her a look telling her not to hold her breath. “I’ll think about it.”
    “Well, I hope you do, I wouldn’t want you to lose your job. I’m here to help you Jason not to hurt you; I’m not the bad guy here. These sessions will help you get over your issues but you have to meet me half way. I won’t pressure you but you have to put forth an effort.”
    “Alright,” he said with a small concession. “I said I’ll think about coming back. I still think this is bullshit, but I’ll think about it.”
    She picked up the pen on her desk and signed the green piece of paper confirming that she’d seen Jason. “Maybe if you do, by the end of our sessions you will have a different attitude about therapy.”
    He stood up, grabbing the paper from her. “I doubt that; but we’ll see.”
    “Good bye Jason.”
    “Good bye Dr. Prescott.”
     
    Earlier that morning, Jason had decided to head straight home and rest after his therapy session. He’d spent the previous night unable to sleep because of the nagging headaches he’d been having for the past few months but he wasn’t tired anymore; he was wide awake in fact. The nerve of Ace sending him to therapy, he didn’t need it. What he needed was to be able to do his job without everyone being so damn sensitive. He was definitely going to have a talk with Ace about this when he saw him again. The thought off all this frustrated him.  He definitely didn’t want to go home now. Instead, he’d decided to take his three friends and fellow co-workers up on their offer to have lunch at Jakes Bar and Grill today. After all this nonsense, a few drinks was definitely what he needed.
     
    * * *
     
    Amour had awakened early to the sound of the ocean coming from the window she’d left open when she went to bed. Her spacious room at Ocean View Suites in Santa Monica was plush and comfortable. The master bedroom where she’d slept, had a huge king size bed, oak wood furniture and white tulips that sat in a crystal vases in various areas of the suite. This particular place reminded her of the many country clubs and luxury apartments her father did maintenance on when she was a child which brought back fond