The Florida sun warms my skin as I relax. This last mission took its toll and I’m in need of the two days of rest and relaxation I’m currently enjoying alone. The sound of the waves breaking in the background have lulled me into a comfortable trance. The best part about being back in the Sunshine State is the beach. I’ve always been a sucker for the sun and sand that surrounds me.

The ringing of my phone snaps me out of the zone and I lift my sunglasses up to glance at the caller ID. Summer Arden the screen reads. I smile to myself. She’s my younger sister’s best friend and we’ve been friends—best friends—for years. She pretty much grew up at our house so I know everything there is to know about her, and thanks to a hot affair one weekend last summer I know all there is to know about grown-up Summer too.

As soon as I hit the button to connect I ask, “M, how are you?” I started calling her M&M when she was a kid and somehow we’re now down to M.

“Mike…” Her voice breaks like she’s crying and all my senses go on high alert. Summer is one of the most positive, upbeat people I know so if she sounds like this, there’s a problem.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, unable to hide the worry.

She sniffles and I fight the instinct to yell at her to tell me what’s going on. “Come on, M. You have to say something.”

“Someone broke into my room while we were out filming this morning and left…stuff in my bed. God, Mike, I’m so scared. I know you’re finally off this weekend, but I didn’t know who else to call. I need you.”

“You’re still in Key West?” I ask, already standing and gathering my belongings as I wait for her to answer.

“Yeah. I’ve got a few more days here. The weather messed up filming two of the days so we had to add time. I’m so sorry. I know how little time you get off.”

“Don’t say another word, M. I’ve always told you that if you need me I’m there. Text me your address. Is there more to this story that you aren’t telling me? It’s not like you to get spooked like this.”

“Yes, but we’ll talk about it when you get here. I’ll pay your expenses.”

“You aren’t paying for shit. Text me the address. I’m sending someone over there to sit with you until I can get to you. I’ll text you his picture and name. Don’t open your door for anyone else.”

“I’m not in my room. I’m with Maggie, in her room. I can’t go back in there.”

She starts crying again and I’m wishing I had a jet I could jump in to make the trip faster. Six and a half hours is too long to worry. Fuck!

“Don’t let anyone into that room except you two. Don’t order room service until I have someone with you. That door stays locked and you stay put.”

“We have to shoot again this afternoon.”

“You can go to the set once I get someone with you. I’m hanging up to call my friend. I’ll text you what you need. Just hold tight, sweetheart.”

“Okay, I will. Thanks, Mike.”

“You’re welcome. Gotta go, hon.”

“Bye,” she says softly with a sniffle and hangs up.

Fuck! I dial quickly as I swing into my jeep and throw it in gear, switching to my Bluetooth.

“Hudson,” a deep voice answers.

“It’s Wade. Gotta call in a marker. You still in the Keys?”

“Yeah, I was leaving today for the Bahamas but I can hold off. What’s up?”

“I don’t know. My sister’s best friend is in Key West filming a movie. Some freak broke into her room. There’s more to the story, but I didn’t get all the particulars. She’s scared and I’m in St. Pete. It’ll take me six and a half hours to get there without traffic. Any chance you can go play bodyguard until I arrive? She has to shoot later today and I don’t want her going to the set without protection. I’m almost home and can be back out the door in about 10 minutes.”

“Anything, man. You know that. Text me the address. I’ll send you a picture of me right now. Tell her not to open that door for anyone else. I’m in Marathon which is about an hour from Key West and can leave now.”

“Thanks, man. Call me when you get there and figure out what the hell is going on. I didn’t want to waste time with particulars until I had her covered.”

“You got it. See you soon.”

I hang up and spend the next several minutes calling around to find someone to look after Scooter, my basset hound rescue dog. Thank God for my neighbor. Last year when she wasn’t available I ended up with an overzealous ex-girlfriend half naked in my living room. That made things a little tense when Summer and I returned home together.

Summer. Her name rolls over and over in my head and my gut clenches. I haven’t seen her much since our weekend spent between the sheets last year, but that doesn’t mean I want her less. The timing wasn’t right for us to take things farther, but it’s not because I didn’t want it. In fact, it seems like I’ve been waiting my entire life for the right time with her. The end of our amazing weekend is the only heartbreak I remember suffering since high school. Of course, I’ll never tell her that. Our friendship was more important in the end than anything else—or that’s what I keep telling myself. More than anything I haven’t wanted the awkwardness of unrequited love to take away what little time I do get with her.

An hour and a half later my phone rings with Hudson’s number on the caller ID and I answer.

“Hey, you got her?” I ask, impatient to know she’s okay.

“Yeah, I’m with her and she’s fine, but you’re not gonna like this situation. This isn’t the first time she’s had an incident. This is number 10 and things seem to be escalating.”

“Ten?” I shout. “Same guy? What do you mean ‘escalating’?”

“Dude did a cum dump on her bed and used her lipstick to leave a little note on the headboard.”

“What in the ever-loving fuck?” I growl, ready to punch the shit out of something. No wonder she called me freaked out. “What did the note on the headboard say?”

“You’re mine.”

I drop a string of cuss words. “Don’t leave her side until I get there.”

“No problem, relax, you know she’ll be fine with me. Besides, it’s not a hardship. You didn’t tell me she was smokin’.”

“Back the fuck off, dude,” I growl, knowing I’d go to blows with my friend if he tried to take it there with her.

He laughs long and hard. “Sister’s best friend, my ass,” he says between guffaws.

“Fuck off. Don’t worry about anything except keeping her safe. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I disconnect without a goodbye, his laughter coming through the line as I do. Bastard.