Page 7 of Vinny

Never having been around a man like him, she felt overwhelmed. He was larger than life, like a hero from one of her romance novels. Tall, handsome, powerfully built. A face that would make women swoon. A panty-melting smile. Sighing, she wondered how many women had swooned at his feet or had their panties melted right off of their hips before he…Stop! Geez, I’m so lame. He’s just a man and he’s certainly not interested in me. I’m just a job. Well, Easnadh is his job actually. I’m just a by-product.

Finally giving up on sleep, she rose from the bed and settled in the chair with her harp on her lap. Stroking the strings she began to play softly, slow lullabies from her childhood filling the air.

In the room a few yards from hers, Vinny found sleep lacking as well. He heard her moving around earlier and now that it was silent, assumed she was in bed. His mind rolled back over the events of the day.

The first late plane from Richmond followed by the next one delayed out of Chicago. The rush to the concert hall only to be blown away by his assignment. Her music had stilled him. Filled him. Moved him in ways he had not been moved in years. Familiar sounds from her harp took him back to a time when his mothersang to him and Gabe every night. Haunting sounds from the last time he allowed music to fill his soul only to be ripped from him in violence.

He had been stunned when the creator of that music was none other than his mission. First shocked. Then bowled over by her beauty up close. Dark, silky hair hanging in waves down her back with small jewels woven throughout. The sky-blue evening gown swirled around her slender form, giving her a princess look.And when I barked at everyone to be quiet, she gave me a look…like I was the prince in her fairytale.

Fuck, I’m no prince,he thought ruefully. But, for the first time ever, the idea that he could be someone’s prince appealed to him.

Listening carefully and not hearing any sounds coming from the connecting room, he called Tony. “Yeah,” came the sleepy response.

Oh yeah, Virginia was three hours ahead so it must be about three in the morning there.“Wake up, Captain. Just thought I’d report in.”

“Okay, okay,” Tony said. “Let me get up so we can talk.”

Vinny heard Tony murmuring to his wife, Sherrie. He knew Tony would not want to disturb her rest and was probably going to another room.

“Okay,” Tony answered, “So I guess you know by now why I didn’t give you the name of the mission.”

“What the hell, man? He contacts you to protect his daughter’s harp, which just happens to have a name. And who the hell knew that musicians named theirharps? But what I want to know is did you know who played that harp?”

Chuckling, Tony said, “Here’s the full story, Vinny. I was contacted by Mr. O’Brian saying his daughter was flying with a group of people to Los Angeles for a concert but he wanted her and her harp back the next day and not to wait for anyone else. He kept talking about some Asnev, or however the hell it’s pronounced. I had no idea he was talking about a harp’s name until the actual contract came in. By then, I’d seen the daughter and even saw a YouTube of her playing her harp.”

“You could have told me,” Vinny said.

“No, I really needed your head in the game. This girl’s got talent, but seems to be surrounded by people that push her one way and another. I wanted you there, without any predisposed ideas about the players. Yes, I need you to escort her and the harp back tomorrow, but more than that…I thought you’d be the right man for making sure that both the harp andthe harpistwere safe.”

Vinny nodded, smiling to himself. Tony had always been the best leader he had ever served under. He knew his missions. He knew his men. And Tony never had a problem matching up the two.

“You anticipate any problems?” Tony queried.

“Not at all, boss. I’ll be with Annalissa and her harp until we have it checked at baggage. Everything will go like clockwork, Tony. No worries on this end.”

“I knew you were the man for the job,” Tony added. “Safe travels and I’ll see you when you get in.”

Vinny’s mind went to the beautiful woman lying in a bed not twenty feet from his. He tried not to think of her.She’s a mission. An intriguing, talented, musical, beautiful, totally charming in the most innocent way mission.

Shifting over in his bed, he wanted to ignore the call of the wild as his dick pressed against his boxers.Down boy. She’s not even my type. I like ‘em blonde, tall with long legs, curvy hips, and big tits. Loud and brassy for me. Not petite, dark-haired, green-eyed, women who looked like they would run away if someone said ‘Boo’ one minute and the next minute protecting a named harp.His mind went back to the change in her when she realized that she did not know where Easnadh was. Suddenly the mouse could roar.

And what would it feel like to take that untapped passion and teach it, tame it, turn it toward him?Groaning, he knew that if he kept this up he would need a cold shower. Sighing once again, he thought of the mission.It doesn’t matter how much I’m noticing her as a woman, I’ve got to tamp that down.Ruefully he realized, even if she was not a mission, her purity was not for him. He would protect. Care for. See safely home. But nothing more.

Then he heard the soft music drifting from her room. The tinkling sound of the harp drifted over him, calming his mind. But stirring his heart. Running his hand over his face, he tried to block out the memories.There’s nothing the same between this music and the unfamiliar sounds of a woman singing in the middle of a goddamn war. So why the hell does it make me crazy? That Army psychologist told me that I now associatedit with the loss of control. Fuck that. No way I’m not in control now.

The music finally stopped and the quiet of the night once again penetrated his mind. He laid in bed a few more minutes, running through the needs of tomorrow trying to take his mind off of the woman in the connecting room. He had already checked on the limo service that would take him and Annalissa to the airport, as well as ordered breakfast from room service to be delivered to them. It would be a tight fit, but since her harp was a smaller Celtic harp, it would be able to travel in the limo with them. Then it would be checked for the flight. And they had a non-stop flight to Dulles International Airport in the D.C. area. Then another limo ride to Richmond.

Perfectly planned. All those years of Special Forces training taught them to plan extensively for every mission…and then be prepared when things go wrong. But what could possibly go wrong?

4

Annalissa woke to the sound of knocking on her door. Sitting up on the bed, she pushed her sleep-tousled hair from her face as she tried to remember where she was and who would be knocking. Suddenly, the connecting door to her room opened and in stalked Vinny. He winked at her as he walked to her main door and opened it to the tantalizing smells of breakfast.

After tipping the server, he set the tray on her table and nodded at the food. “I ordered some breakfast for you. It may be a while before we get to the airport and their food is sometimes less than desirable.” Giving her another wink, he walked back through the connecting door and closed it.

Stunned, she ate quickly before heading into the shower. Thirty minutes later as she emerged from the bathroom, hair washed and a touch of makeup applied, she walked over to the door and knocked. Her hand shook as her nerves gave out on her. Turning, shestarted to walk away when the door opened and Vinny filled the doorframe.

“You need something, Annalissa?” he asked, the deep timbre of his voice sliding over her.

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