And finally here we have it; another chapter complete. My muse seems to come and go as it wishes; leaving me with nothing to work with. It is a shame. But it's back; for how long I have no idea so I'm going to try to make the most of it.
To all those that have read and reviewed thank you for the support. I know you're all looking for the interesting stuff to come and I promise that it will.
Keep the reviews coming and Enjoy!
I own nothing dealing with shooter or any other movies I may mention. Though I wish I did…..(insert evil laugh)
Chapter 7
"Heads up; the princess is on the move."
Hearing Todd's voice in his ear piece Swagger nodded to the chauffer to open the door to the SUV; scanning one area as Eden watched the other.
One thing for certain she hadn't been kidding when she said the woman lived in the life size version of the Malibu Barbie house. The only thing missing was the pink paint and convertible in the garage.
While this was considered work he did have to admit he'd gotten some comic relief out of the running commentary the two brothers had going about the activities in the house. He and the young SEAL had been tasked with keeping the outside secure. Apparently the heiress had no problems with walking around in her birthday suit in front of them while she got ready for her night out on the town. Probably hoping she'd get lucky with one of them before the night was over with.
Nine had been the estimated time of departure for their little caravan. Unfortunately their charge had other things in mind; obviously not having been ready when they arrived. Late nights not being his thing these days he'd been none too happy to have to wait around.
The one upside to freezing his ass off was getting the chance to talk to Eden some more. It was an amazing thing when a woman could carry on a conversation; jokes included; while scanning the perimeter for potential threats. Honestly he'd been expecting her to clam up. To keep it to strictly business and nothing else. But she'd been open and funny as hell.
Talked about how she missed the men from her team but was glad she'd gotten out when she had. Her favorite junk food was Reese's pieces and that she hated working out sometimes. On her days off she liked to go for long walks in the park or sit home and watch old movies if it rained. Getting a dog was the one thing she wanted to do most but her schedule was so hectic that it didn't seem plausible.
Being as open about his self had been like pulling teeth. When a person was isolated from the rest of the world for so long their social skills tended to become a little rusty. Hence the reason he'd pulled a gun on her. That and there was the little fact about several other strange people having sought him out in the same day.
Plus there really wasn't much to tell. Growing up as an only child there weren't any memories shared with siblings. And his father had been career Marines. Unlike hers he'd never bothered to try and make time for his family.
"And the fun begins." Eden mumbled.
Stifling the urge to laugh he looked in the direction of the Cinderella like front steps and had to admit that the ex-SEAL had been right.
Blonde hair curled and puffed up with enough hairspray to kill the ozone it was almost white as snow. Overly tan from too much time on a boat in some tropical water while servants brought her drinks no doubt showing as much skin as possible was the name of the game.
Top made of barely there pink satin it had to have some kind of ribbing to cling to her skinny frame and hold what was covered of her enormous chest. As she walked down the stairs; heavily made up eyes trained on him; he could see a pink diamond centered in the middle of a playboy bunny belly button ring wink in the overhead lights.
Instantly he felt his self try not to cringe as she swung her hips in an over exaggerated fashion towards him. Black mini skirt with it's rhinestone belt hardly making it down to the bottom of her ass. Stilettos giving height to her all of five two frame.
From what he'd been told she was all of about twenty two years old but did the whole too much make up and not enough clothes thing to look older. Classic case of rebelling against daddy's strict rules in order to get attention. Plus the little fact that she was use to getting everything she wanted when she wanted it.
Unfortunately for her he preferred black haired beauties who wore jeans and t-shirts that knew how to handle a glock. Like the one trying to hide the you've got to be kidding me look from her face as the all plastic no brains client planted herself right in front of him.
Looks like it's going to her unlucky night.
"Well what do we have here?" She drawled.
"It's called a man. Something I'm sure you've studied extensively." Eden answered sweetly.
Shooting daggers at her the woman turned her full attention back to him once again; all sunshine and not so subtle seduction as she placed a hand on his chest.
"And what's your name darlin'?" She cooed.
"Swagger ma'am." He firmly removed her limb from his body; letting it flop to her side.
Undeterred she invaded his personal space yet again; this time reaching out to run her index finger over the slight stubble he'd forgotten to shave. "Is that your first or last name cowboy?" She purred.
Deciding to put an end to this before she tried to rip his clothes off in front of everyone. Not to mention Eden seriously looked like she was torn between vomiting or smacking the woman across the back of the head he stepped back. Turning her so that she in between the opening of the SUV and him.
"Just Swagger ma'am." He informed. "Now if you don't mind we really should get going."
Anger flashed in her eyes at his dismissal but she forged ahead anyway; determined to get a rise out of him one way or another. Then again it could be to piss Eden off. Who as the woman pressed her body against his; reaching around to squeeze his ass had to look away with a white knuckled grip on the door. No doubt to hide the fact that she was raring and ready to punch the client square in her heavily make upped jaw.
"So you're my babysitter for the night." She took a moment to look him up and down like he was a piece of meat; something she apparently hadn't done enough of upon first entering. "Well I'll be damned if daddy didn't actually do something right for once."
"Actually Ms. Blackmore is in charge." Swagger all but shoved her in the back of the Tahoe. "So she'll be watching over you. I'm just here as back up."
Words escaping her as she watched the scene play out Eden thought she was in the twilight zone. By now most men; with the exception of her brothers and father; would gladly be down on all fours licking her feet if she so much as asked; job be damned. And here the marine was proving her wrong by all but telling the woman he had herpes to get her to back off. Suddenly she had a new found appreciation for the male species. Or at least this one in particular.
"That doesn't mean you can't sit in the back with me on the way there." She pouted; sticking her head out the door; unwilling to give up.
"What do you think Eden?" Swagger turned his attention to the raven haired SEAL. "It's your call."
Urge to want him to squirm by placing him in the back because he'd thrown her so off balance rearing it's ugly head she clamped it down. The last thing they needed was a distraction. She may not care for the woman but there was no way in hell she was going to let her die on her watch. Plus pissing her off just made things easier to bear.
"Actually my brother needs you in the front SUV to discuss a couple of things concerning another case." Eden turned her attention to the woman who looked like she was going to spit fire out of her nose. "So looks like you'll have me to keep you company Malibu Barbie."
"This is ridiculous." She huffed. "Once my father finds out about this you'll never get another job around here again."
"Don't be so sure about that." Eden stepped between Swagger and the girl. "I have specific instructions from him, and I quote "If Melanie does anything to disrupt your job I want to be notified upon your return from her night out." So believe me I'm not worried in the slightest."
"How do I know he even said that?" She climbed her way out of the car. 'You could just be saying that to get me to cooperate."
Sick of her childish attitude and the disrespect she was showing Eden the Marine decided it was time to step in. Here they were putting their lives on the line for her and all she gave them in return was a hard time. That was so not the way it was going to work and if need be he'd take all the blame for any negative feed back the princess or her father gave Mr. Blackmore.
"Because I was there when the call came through." Swagger stood next to his boss. "Now we can do this the easy way so you can go out and have fun or keep you locked in your room while we stand guard all night. Which is it going to be?"
Impressed to say the least at how he'd managed to bluff his way through that Eden hoped he realized what he might be in for. While the young woman's father had given her specific instructions to make sure his daughter cooperated it didn't mean he wouldn't get pissed off at someone else telling her what to do. And in a sense he was going to take the fall out from whatever her father had to say.
A man willing to get the job done at any and all costs she wasn't sure how kindly he'd take to the new guy technically pulling rank. But as she watched him stand his ground; refusing to back down from the mean girl pout; she had the feeling her father would be okay with it. Even laugh maybe.
"Fine." Melanie planted her hands on her hips. "But this isn't over."
"I wouldn't expect it to be." Swagger all but pushed the girl into the vehicle for the second time that night.
Door securely closed Eden nodded to the driver; telling him to stay alert as they headed towards the lead car. Speaking quickly into her mike; telling everyone to get into position; that they'd be on the road momentarily she turned her attention to the man she'd dubbed the rookie. Arms crossed over his chest; causing his jacket to strain against his muscles and her mouth go dry as he tried hard to stop a smirk from crossing his face. And failing miserably.
"Okay you just had way too much fun doing that." She informed.
"There's just something about telling a prissy socialite to basically kiss your ass that makes a man want to smile." Swagger shrugged.
"Well even though is wasn't a hardship for you thanks." Eden was grateful. "It wasn't necessary."
"Yes it was." Swagger countered. "There was no way I was going to let her trash the good reputation your families built for FLJ just because she couldn't have her way."
"Figured because you're the new guy it'd be easier for you to deal with any possible fall out." Eden surmised.
"Pretty much." Swagger agreed. "And on a personal note I just wanted to piss her off because she kept looking at me like a rack of meat."
"In that case I've got some bad news for you." Eden confessed.
"And what would that be?" Swagger turned from getting ready to step into the vehicle.
"You're going to have to get use to it." Eden reminded. "Much as I'm sure you'd love to piss off every female that'll do that tonight we don't have time. And even you'll run out of insults after a while."
"You could always help me and I can do likewise when the guys become too much." Swagger offered. "It could make the night go by faster."
"For a second there you sounded like a lot of the guys from my old team." Eden made to walk away. "Which means I'm definitely going to take a rain check that I'll probably never use."
"Damn; and here I thought we'd both get to have a little fun." Swagger slapped his thigh.
Turning to walk backwards she just gave him a you've got to be kidding look. "Considering I'm rarely if ever hit on I'd have to say a big fat no to that."
Once she was out of ear shot Swagger turned to the oldest Blackmore child; having come over as he saw his sister making her way back to the middle SUV. "Is she serious?"
"To herself yes; everyone else not so much." Todd confirmed. "Problem is Eden's been around guys so long that she knows every trick in the book. So as far as she concerned their being nothing more then a big pain in the ass."
"Special forces isn't exactly the best to group to judge the rest of us by." Swagger argued.
Following the other mans lead as he hopped in the car; having heard the woman who was the current topic of conversation give the go order; Todd got comfortable in the drivers seat before turning to the ex-Marine. "While I agree with that it's not just the spec ops world she has trouble with. Most men see her looks and nothing else at first. But when they get past all that it's never pretty."
"Basically they don't like the fact that she can kick the shit out of them if they get out of line." Swagger put it together as they headed out of the drive way.
"That or the fact that she's independent and actually has a brain in her head rather then just air." Todd concluded.
"Most don't see past the outer shell." Swagger could see how that was a problem.
"Would you upon first meeting her?" Todd checked to make sure everything was good with the other two SUV's as they started into the city traffic. "She's my sister and I even I have to agree that she could've made a crap ton of money modeling for a living rather then joining the military."
"No." Swagger agreed to the first part of his statement. "It didn't take me long to see otherwise though; she made sure of that."
"And she always will." Todd warned. "Eden believes that while a physical attraction is necessary to make any kind of relationship work it shouldn't be the entire reason why you're with someone. What they have to offer past that should matter a great deal more."
"Is it just me or did this conversation stray into some strange territory considering your sister and I just met a couple of days ago." Swagger decided to just go for it rather then beat around the bush.
Attention fully focused on the other man now that they were stopped at a red light Todd realized he had steered their talk into something that could be a possible bad subject for him. There was no mistaking how the Marine felt about the only Blackmore daughter. Bringing up his love life; or potential lack there of; was a sore spot for some men. Unfouratently for him their family wasn't known for their tact.
"Considering the fact that she's gotten along better with you then any other non-family male not really." The oldest Blackmore confirmed.
"When we first met she just about kicked my ass." Swagger confessed. "So I'm not sure that assessment is correct."
"That's normal for Eden." Todd assured. "But warming up to someone isn't."
"She's been hurt pretty bad in the past; hasn't she?" Swagger concluded.
Glad the mans ability to read people was as good as they'd been expecting Todd wasn't sure how to answer that. What had seemed like a lifetime ago but in all reality had only been three years crept back into all their minds from time to time. His sisters more so then anyone else. Though she was one of the strongest people he knew next to his wife and mother she'd been through hell on that last mission that had nearly taken her life.
"No more then most that come from the spec ops world." Todd answered. "She's a tough one though. And the fact that you picked up something she's becoming very good at hiding tells me you care about her."
"She's my partner; of course I care about her." Swagger shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm going to let you in on a little secret." Todd checked the review mirror before he spoke again. "You can't bluff a Blackmore; we always know when you're flat out lying or twisting the truth."
Cursing under his breath Swagger felt nervous again for the second time that day. Lying to the people who had given him a second chance at having a life wasn't something he wanted to ever do. But keeping his growing feelings for the only Blackmore daughter a secret was going to take everything he had. As welcoming a family as they were they were extremely protective of their own; Eden especially. Why he wasn't sure but something told him it had to do with her time in the service.
What unnerved him more then anything was how calmly the other man was sitting there; waiting for him to contemplate what he was going to say next.
"Okay so I care about her for reasons other then the fact that she's my partner." Swagger spoke. "How the hell it happened in such a short time I don't know and frankly that annoys me."
"It'll continue to annoy you until you decide to do something about it." Todd pointed out. "But a word to the wise before you do; Eden is not an easy person when it comes to letting her guard down. Which is why I brought up this conversation. You've done something no other man has been able to do. And I think that scares the shit out of you."
"I sense a but coming…" Swagger interrupted.
"Good radar because there is one." Todd praised. "And that would be that your in so far over your head after only a few short days that it outweighs the nerves."
"Just out of curiosity how did you come to that conclusion?" Swagger felt his self starting to sweat.
"The way you looked at her when we first arrived at the office. How you were staring at her while my dad went through our other cases." Todd shot him a knowing smile. "And you thought no one was watching."
"Some how getting caught staring at my bosses daughter doesn't freak me out as much as I expected." Swagger admitted.
"Maybe because it's not the boss who's having this talk with you." Todd reminded. "But a word to the wise he did notice. And we aren't going to hinder any relationship you may want to pursue with Eden because we like you. We wouldn't have given you this opportunity if we didn't. Just remember the kind of family you're dealing with."
Information from the file he'd been given on the company; Blackmore family in particular; flashed across his mind. Soon the woman in questions smiling face came into view; changing to a scowl as she watched Melanie prance down the stairs. Anyone of her protectors, even her included, could kill him twenty different ways if he crossed her and not give a damn about it. But the feelings welling up inside whenever he thought of the ex-SEAL were too strong to just push aside.
"I'm so screwed; aren't I?" Swagger spoke aloud.
"You have no idea." Todd agreed.
A/N: Or does he? Swagger's a quick study so you never know…..
