Dare - Unreserved

"F uck, I hate wearing a tux," I complain as I fidget with the bow tie.

My dad smacks my hand away. "You're screwing it up. Let me do it."

I don't own a tuxedo but have multiple suits for work. They arent overly formal, and this affair tonight is black-tie. I'm attending as protection detail. Our police department isn't large by any means. I'm one of two detectives on the force, but the other one is away on vacation for the week, so I get to do this job for the night.

Reaching down, I pull at the crotch of the pants. Dad pauses and gives me a hard look. "What? This thing is riding up and compressing my dick."

"Maybe, if you bought a tux of your own, you wouldn't have to borrow mine, which was specifically tailored for me."

"We're close enough in size, I grumble. We are, but these pants are going to annoy the shit out of me all night. I don't get paid enough to deal with this. Thats a lie. I get paid well, but I still dont want to do this. I had a nice night of barhopping until I found someone who wanted to tumble into bed with me, planned.

Dad raises his voice a little. "Man up and buy your own damn tux if it bothers you so much.

"I'm not wasting my hard-earned money on something I'll hardly ever wear."

He fixes the black tie one last time and steps back, looking me over. "It'll do. And you never know. One day you might meet someone who likes this kind of shit, and then you'll have to buy one." I adjust myself again. "For fuck's sake! Stop grabbing your balls and pull the pants down a little lower onto your hips."

Oh, yeah, I didn't think of that. Dad is slightly taller than me, and I pulled them up so they wouldn't brush the floor. But with my polished black shoes on, even pulled down, the pants don't hit the ground.

"See?" he asks in a gruff voice. "Now get your ass out of my house and go to work. I expect this back dry-cleaned and pressed. And if you bring someone home tonight, take my shit off before you get it dirty."

"Holy fuck, old man. I'm not going to screw someone with your tux on."

I love my dad and the kind of conversations we have. Nothing is off-limits. I might be a grown man, but he's all I have in my life. All I've ever had. My mom died in childbirth, leaving my dad to raise me.

I wave as I leave and jump in my metallic grey Dodge Durango. The event Im working is in the city. The woman I'm watching is someone with a lot of money. Her father owns five very high-end clubs across the country, one in the city near my hometown. But this event is a charity fundraiser for the local children's hospital. The person I have to protect is the woman who runs the organization in her father's business name.

She insisted I meet her at the event and not at her home. Its not ideal, but arguing with her is pointless. Once I arrive, I give the valet the key to my SUV and wait on the sidewalk, feeling like a jackass in the tux. I'm much more at home in a pair of worn jeans and a T-shirt. The only part of this getup I like is the feel of my two guns, holstered tightly against my body, under the jacket. On the outside, I look like everyone else. But no one knows I have the guns on me, nor what Im capable of doing with my bare hands.

A limousine pulls up to the curb and suddenly, I'm on high alert. Like the air has changed and something in it is prickling my skin. The valet steps up and opens the back door. The first thing I catch sight of is two long, tan, incredibly smooth-looking legs. Then I get my first peek at a black dress, which seems to hug every curve. However, it's the woman's face that has my breath faltering and my heart hammering in my chest like its never done before.

Her hazel eyes are warm, her makeup light, and her smile shines brighter than the sun. Long, light blonde hair is pinned back on the sides and hangs down her back in soft curlscurls I want to run my fingers through to find out if they are as silky as they appear.

"Rider?" she asks from a couple of feet away, snapping me out of the haze that has my dick stirring to life.

"Yes, that's me. You must be Alicia," I reply, holding out my hand for hers.

Her delicate palm touches mine. A chill races up my spine. What the hell is it about this woman?

"Are you okay?" Her voice is like a soft song, reaching every part of my being.

I shake my head, needing to get my shit together. "Yeah, sorry. Are you ready to go inside?"

She nods and I keep two paces behind her as she makes her way up the stairs, a few reporters taking pictures. Seems this charity event is a pretty big deal. Maybe if I paid more attention to the news, I'd know that. I get stuck in my own world where everything revolves around work. But my job isn't to know all about the event. Its about the woman I'm protecting. And boy, did I read up on her.

Twenty-seven years old. MBA graduate. Works for her father, handling this charity, as well as many other impressive things. I saw her picture online, although it did nothing to prepare me for how she looks in real life. How this woman is still single is beyond me.

When we get inside, I step closer to her. The sweet floral scent of her perfume floats to me, and fuck if it doesnt affect me. It's not overwhelming like I've noticed some women wear. It's light and makes my dick stir even more.

Leaning down, I softly say, "I'll be near you at all times. Only a few steps away, but I won't interrupt your evening."

She turns, her eyes holding mine for a second before drifting down to my lips. I hold back a groan at the need stirring inside me. What I wouldnt give to kiss that mouth of hers. Her lips part, as if she's about to say something, but then nods and steps off into the crowd.

Alicia walks around the room with me ghosting along the sidelines, always knowing where she is while scanning the room for people who might be a threat. Her dad told my chief she'd been shaken up ever since someone she considered a friend was spending the night and up and left her home while Alicia was sleeping. It was a woman who had rifled through her personal things. Alicia checked and nothing was missing, but it left her on edge, wondering what else might have happened that she didnt notice. A part of me wonders if it was the same woman who was stealing checks from wealthy people. She was never caught. Our other detective, Rowe, was on the case for a while, but then he moved and it fell to me. A cold case. I still text Rowe and give him grief for not solving that shit before he left.