By
USA Today Bestselling Author
Maryann Jordan

He’s the man for the job…

A Senator from New Mexico hires Lighthouse Security Investigations to protect his daughter, a social worker who has no idea some of her clinic’s donations are from dirty money, LSI sends Jorge Cobb.

Former SEAL… he can keep her safe. LSI Keeper… he can find out who’s threatening her. Son of politicains… he knows the world she operates in.

She is not what he expects, and he finds out that he might be the man for the job but she’s the woman for him.
Now to convince her of that.

As this book opens Jorge Cobb is attending his father’s birthday gala, he’s staying off to the side after doing the requisite mingling. When he spots a women in a silvery blue gown alone at the fringes he introduces himself as only Jorge, and asks her to dance. Josie also omits her last name and accepts the dance but not the invitation to leave the gala.

Back in Maine with the Keepers, Cobb is surprised to hear his father has contacted Mace. Apparently a friend of his, State Senator John Rector is in need of their services. Rector’s daughter has been receiving threats and he’s very concerned for her safety. She’s a social worker in Las Cruces, New Mexico and discovered something odd with her clinic’s charity donations. As Mace goes over the issues and why Cobb is perfect for the mission, Josh sends a photo of the daughter. This time Cobb is more than a little surprised, the woman he’d be protecting is none other than the elusive Josie from his father’s gala.

While Cobb’s reaction was amusing, Josie’s is downright funny. She’s been informed that the easiest way for her protection to be around her is if they pretend to be dating. Of course Cobb isn’t giving her a heads up on this first meeting.

This is a favorite scene.

Charlene popped her head around the door frame, her smile huge and her eyes wide. “Oh, my God, Josie! There’s a gorgeous man out here to see you!”

She glanced at her calendar, wondering if she had forgotten an appointment. Seeing it blank, she glanced toward Laurie, who simply shrugged. Sighing, she followed Charlene out to the reception lobby. Her feet stuttered to a halt as she stared at the man who had crept through her mind over the past few months.

“Josie.” He stepped toward her, a smile on his face. His voice was just as deep as she remembered. Blinking, she stared, dumbfounded. “Uh, Jorge?”

“I took a chance that you’d still be at the clinic. I hoped you’d have dinner with me.”

“Dinner?”

“Jorge,” Laurie repeated, her eyes wide as she looked at Josie. Then, suddenly, her brows lowered as she turned back to him. A slight gasp slipped from her lips before she breathed, “Oh… Jorge Cobb.”

“Cobb?” Charlene squealed. “Like Governor Cobb?”

“No,” Laurie huffed, rolling her eyes at Charlene. “Like Governor Cobb’s son.”

The air fled Josie’s lungs at Laurie’s announcement of who the man was that was standing… no, filling all the space in her vision. Even as the others moved into the room and Charlene preened, Jorge had not taken his eyes off her.

He stepped closer. “I couldn’t wait to get back here. Please, say you’ll have dinner with me.”

“But… um…” The alternate dimension she’d dropped into continued, and Josie shook her head in an effort to ascertain why he was really here. Sucking in a gasp, it hit her. Dad. Governor Cobb. Investigator. Bodyguard. Jorge. Well, fuck. Glancing to the side, she observed her lobby now filled with all the employees of the clinic, their faces full of curiosity, and for the moment she was stunned silent.

Laurie stepped forward, and with great exuberance, greeted him. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Laurie, best friend and nurse extraordinaire.” After shaking his hand, she turned and pinned Josie with a pointed glare. “You were just saying how much you were looking forward to dinner with him. Head on out, and we’ll make sure the clinic is closed up.”

Grateful that Laurie had a cool head and kept her wits about her, something Josie was lacking at the moment, she nodded, her head moving in jerks. “Yeah… sure. That sounds good. Um… see you tomorrow, everyone.”

“I’ll grab your purse,” Laurie volunteered and hustled down the hall, returning quickly. Handing it to Josie, she offered a hug and whispered into her ear, “Girl, if this is the bodyguard Jorge you danced with and let walk away, fate has just given you another chance. Damn, he’s fine… and the governor’s son!” Squeezing her tighter, she added, “Let me know what’s going on as soon as you find out.”

With her head held high, Josie walked toward Jorge, not saying anything until they made it outside. Walking to her car, she noticed a huge, black SUV was parked next to her and wasn’t surprised when he leaned against it. No, this wasn’t fate. More like a royal kick in the ass.

Sucking in a deep breath, her eyes pinned him to the spot. “Jorge Cobb. Governor Cobb’s son. I can imagine your reasons for not wanting me to know your full name when we met at the gala.”

“My reasons are that I prefer to be known as myself and not who my father is. Although, Jorge is the name my family calls me. To everyone else, I’m just Cobb.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Wouldn’t that be rather telling?” He smiled, and she tried to ignore the tingles running rampant through her body.

“Only to people in New Mexico. Outside of my father being the governor, no one knows or cares about the name Cobb. It’s what I was called in the military, and it stuck.”

Shaking her head quickly, she said, “I don’t even know why we’re talking about what name you want to go by. What I really want to know is why are you here? Are you a bodyguard or was that another deception?”

“There was no deception, Josie. I work for a security and investigative company. I’m qualified to provide protection detail as well as investigate suspicious activity and crimes.”

That news was unexpected, and she chewed on her bottom lip as her eyes cut to the side for a moment before returning to his. “You’re the person that my father said would be coming to help me?”

“Yes.”

Inclining her head back toward the building they just left, she asked, “And we act as though we’re going out on a date?”

“Right now, it’s best if no one knows what’s going on. As far as I’m concerned, no one is above suspicion. I take it, though, that your friend Laurie knows.”

She nodded her head slowly. “She’s my best friend, and I trust her. But I also admit that I said something to her before I talked to my father and was given the direction that no one else should know.”

“She thinks fast on her feet and covered for you very well.”

In the light of day, she noticed his eyes were as dark as she had remembered, only little flecks of gold-rimmed the irises. He seemed even taller, but considering she was now wearing comfortable flats, her five-feet-three-inches made her at least a foot shorter than him. While he had cut an elegant vision in his tux, seeing him in jeans and a dark-blue polo that stretched over his muscles, showing off arms that looked like they could chop wood, rope cows, and cuddle with equal prowess, she was struck dumb, something that rarely happened.

“Josie?”

Blinking, she jerked, feeling her face heat. “Sorry, my mind is… I’m distracted… a lot is going on.”

His gaze was intense but kind. “I know. I’m sorry to just show up here, but it was necessary.”

There was no impatient macho-vibe from him. Instead, he seemed genuinely concerned.

“Come on, Josie, let’s get out of here in case someone is watching from the clinic. I’d truly be honored if you’d have dinner with me. There’s a lot we need to talk about.”

Licking her lips, she nodded. “Okay,” she sighed. “I need to run home first to feed my cat—” “I’ll follow you.”

Jerking again, she narrowed her eyes, but he continued before she could object.

“I’m going to have to assess your house for security anyway. I might as well get that started.”

“My house?”

“Yes, my protection detail will include your house. But we can talk about that later. We should get moving.”

Again, his words were firm but not high-handed. She wanted to argue but knew he was right. “Okay. I’m not dumb, Jorge. But let me just say that all this seems like overkill. If I’ve stirred the shit, I need to be prepared for the smell.”

His smile widened before he leaned his head back and laughed. She stared and her heart pinged just a little. He was handsome, but when he laughed, he was gorgeous. Turning, she opened her car door, mumbling, “You can follow me.” Climbing inside, she continued to grumble. He’s going to be trouble, I can just tell.
Maryann Jordan. Cobb – Advanced Reader Copy – not for sale or distribution (Kindle Locations 614-670).

The nature of Josie’s job doesn’t make things easy but Cobb adjusts and the investigations begins smoothly.

While some things are easy to follow others are deeply hidden. The suspense ramps up as does the heat both in the investigation and the relationship between Cobb and Josie.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next.

I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

5 Contented Purrs for Maryann!

Maryann Jordan

As an Award Winning, Amazon International Bestselling and All-Star author, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble Best Selling Author, I have always been an avid reader. In 2013 I started a blog to showcase wonderful writers and finally gave in to the characters in my head pleading for their story to be told. Thus, Emma’s Home was created.

My first novel, Emma’s Home became an Amazon Best Seller in 3 categories within the first month of publishing. Its success was followed by the rest of the Fairfield Series and then led into the Love’s Series. Soon, other spin-off series came along and 8 of my books have made Amazon top 100 Bestselling books.

Gabe, from the Alvarez Security Series won Silver Medal and 5 Star Review by the 2016 Reader’s Choice Awards.
Honor Love was an award winning novel from the 2016 Reader’s Choice Awards.
Serial Love was an award finalist novel from the 2016 Reader’s Choice Awards.
Coming Home was awarded the 5 Star Review by the 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards.
Discover Love was awarded the 5 Star Review by the 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards.

My books are filled with sweet romance and hot sex; mystery, suspense, real life characters and situations. My heroes are alphas, take charge men who love the strong, independent women they fall in love with.

I worked as a counselor in a high school and have been involved in education for the past 30 years. I have just retired and look forward to more time with family and writing!

I have been married to a wonderfully patient man for 36 years and have 2 adult, very supportive daughters.

When writing, my dog or one of my cats will usually be found in my lap!

I love to hear from readers, so please email me!