Her Intense Protector
Night Storm, Book Four
Caitlyn O’Leary
Passionately Kind Publishing Inc.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Epilogue
About the Author
Also by Caitlyn O’Leary
© Copyright 2020 Caitlyn O’Leary
All rights reserved.
All cover art and logo © Copyright 2021
By Passionately Kind Publishing Inc.
Cover by Lori Jackson Design
Edited by Rebecca Hodgkins
Content Edited by Trenda Lundin
Technical Editing by Jared Fortna
Cover Photo by Wander Aguiar Photography
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, and places portrayed in this book are entirely products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.
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To the men and women of our armed services.
Synopsis
Ezio Stark never saw it coming.
For the longest time there had been only one woman who’d sparked his interest, but she was a continent away, so he immersed himself in his life as a Navy SEAL.
A year after breaking things off at the altar with her cheating fiancé, Samantha Brooks has moved across the country for a fresh start. She’ll concentrate on friends, not potential relationships, especially with good-looking Navy SEALs, no matter how much they’d already sparked her interest.
Now Samantha is miles from home, embroiled in a life-and-death situation to help a friend. Sure, she can find a way out on her own!
Ezio thought his toughest mission was going to be overcoming Samantha’s relationship fears and capturing her heart. But can he now save her life?
1
“Are you happy to see me, beautiful?” Ezio’s heart swelled when he saw her. She was gorgeous and had a heart of gold to match.
One brown eye and one blue eye shone up at him with adoration. Ezio got down on his haunches and rubbed his hands through Tabitha’s fur. He was impressed that she hadn’t barked.
“How’s she been doing, Fred?” he asked the manager of the shelter.
“Great. I’ve been taking her out, just like the videos showed me. I think you found a winner.”
“Did you hear that, girl? I’m thinking I can take you to Phillip’s house real soon, and your full-time training can begin. What do you think of that?”
The licks came fast and furious and Ezio laughed. “Yep, you like that idea. You’re going to make someone very happy, aren’t you, girl? You’re going to be a Godsend to some lucky veteran, I just know it.”
Tabitha wiggled with excitement. Hell, Ezio was pretty excited too. So far, working at the shelter he’d only spotted four dogs with the temperament to be therapy dogs. Not that he was volunteering his time just to do that; he loved it here, but knowing how long the waiting list was for the dogs, he couldn’t help his sense of satisfaction when he found a dog like Tabitha.
“Shall we go visit Duchess and see if we can talk her into playtime?”
Tabitha wagged her tail. She knew who Duchess was and was eager to see the medium-sized border collie mix. The poor abused collie had come in three months ago and was frightened of men, so Ezio always led with Tabitha before going into her enclosure. A treat never hurt either.
They moved in front of Duchess’s spot and Ezio crouched down in front of his therapy-dog-in-training. The husky-Labrador-shepherd mix was wagging her tail, her tongue lolling out.
“Calm, Tabitha. Remember, play nice and calm.”
Ezio could swear Tabitha nodded. She clearly understood because as soon as he said the words, she stopped wagging her tail and she looked over at Duchess who was trembling in the back of her pen. Tabitha gave her a sympathetic whimper that had Duchess raising her head in response and standing up.
Ezio opened the enclosure and Tabitha walked slowly in. Soon the two dogs were sniffing one another. Finally, with Tabitha’s prodding, Duchess came to the front of the pen.
“Hey girl,” Ezio said as he held out his hand. “What do you think? Would you like to go play out in the yard with me and Tabitha?”
Ezio had high hopes for Duchess. He volunteered here at Harmony Rescue twice a week when he wasn’t overseas on a mission. He was really hoping that he could acclimate Duchess to people, because he believed with his whole heart that she would be a perfect companion for his shy niece in upstate New York. Lucia had mentioned that Sarafina wanted a teacup poodle, but Ezio still thought Duchess would be a great fit.
Duchess sniffed Ezio’s hand and finally licked it. He took that as a sign that he could give her a scratch behind her ear. When he was done, he gave her a treat. Tabitha held back, never begging, another sure sign that he’d chosen wisely. He waited one more beat, then rewarded her with her treat, which she daintily nipped from the palm of his hand.
“Okay you two, let’s go out back and play ball.”
He’d start with these two, then come back for the others that Fred thought would be good together. All in
