Protecting Melody

Book 7: SEAL of Protection

by Susan Stoker

Genres: Military Romance; Romantic Suspense; prosthetic; stalker; kidnapping; handicap; kidnap; Veteran

Synopsis

**Same story...updated cover!**

Tex gave everything he had to his country and his SEAL teammates. When an IED took away part of his leg, and his career, he devoted himself to his country and friends from behind his computer. He’s always been the man that can find anyone, that uses his computer skills, legal and illegal, to keep people safe and to put the bad guys behind bars.

But behind a computer is a lonely place to be. While he might put on a good front, Tex can’t help but feel he’s missing out when he sees how happy his friends are. But when the woman he’s been talking to online for the last six months suddenly disappears without a word, Tex knows it’s time to step up, and use his skills for himself this time.

**Protecting Melody is the 7th book in the SEAL of Protection Series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but it’s recommended you read the books in order to get maximum enjoyment out of the series.

Release date: September 8, 2015

Publisher: EverAfter Romance

Print pages: 286

Sample

Prologue

 

Six Months Ago

 

Tex: Hey, I haven’t seen you in here before. Your username struck me as interesting, so I thought I’d shoot you a private note

 

Tex: Swear I’m harmless

 

CC_CopyCat: Hey Tex. I mostly lurk

 

Tex: Don’t blame you, it’s better to be safe than sorry

 

Tex: You wanna talk?

 

CC_CopyCat: About what?

 

Tex: About whatever

 

CC_CopyCat: That’s kinda vague

 

Tex: Well, we could talk about the weather, but that would be cliché. 

 

CC_CopyCat: LOL

 

Tex: Made ya laugh!

 

CC_CopyCat: Yeah, you did. Thanks

 

Tex: Thanks?

 

CC_CopyCat: Yeah. Thanks

 

Tex: So . . . how’s the weather where you are?

 

CC_CopyCat: Crappy, you?

 

Tex: Sunny and beautiful

 

CC_CopyCat: You’re one of those aren’t you?

 

Tex: ??

 

CC_CopyCat: One of those annoying people who see the good side in everything

 

Tex: Actually, no. Not even close 

 

Tex: You still there?

 

CC_CopyCat: Look, I’m not sure this is gonna work out

 

Tex: You just met me, I couldn’t have pissed you off already

 

CC_CopyCat: I’m not here to find a best friend, I already have one of those

 

Tex: Then why ARE you here?

 

CC_CopyCat: Just passing the time

 

Tex: Then why can’t you pass it with me?

 

CC_CopyCat: Because you’re probably either a 14 year old boy who wants to find someone to sext with or you’re a 50 year old pedophile looking for sex from a 16 year old teenager who doesn’t know any better than to talk to people who spend their time in a chat room on the Internet.

 

Tex: Same goes for you. You could be anyone. You’re probably an undercover cop looking to catch bad guys who use chat rooms to lure people to their death

 

CC_CopyCat: ARE you a bad guy Tex? Are you even a guy?

 

Tex: Are you a woman CC?

 

CC_CopyCat: I shouldn’t say one way or the other

 

Tex: No offense, but I don’t want to chat with a dude. I’m not looking for a relationship, I’m not looking for sex. I have male friends I can talk to 

 

CC_CopyCat: What ARE you looking for then?

 

Tex: Just someone to chat with. My life is stressful. I’d love to talk with someone who doesn’t want anything from me. Who just likes to chat with me because she thinks I’m interesting

 

CC_CopyCat: You never answered my question. Are you a bad guy?

 

Tex: I’m a 35 year old retired military man who lives on the east coast. I’m good with computers and spend most of my time with them. I’m not hideous looking, but I’ve found that I’m also not the guy women want to take home to meet their family. Swear CC, I’m harmless.

 

CC_CopyCat: You know that’s what serial killers say

 

Tex: LOL. You’re right. But you can trust me

 

CC_CopyCat: Yup, they say that too

 

CC_CopyCat: You still there?

 

Tex: You gonna diss me more or are you going to tell me about you?

 

CC_CopyCat:  Sorry. I was kidding. Yes. I’m a woman

 

Tex: Thank you. What else? 

 

CC_CopyCat: I don’t really know you, that’s all you get

 

Tex: I’ll take it . . . for now. You gonna tell me about your handle?

 

CC_CopyCat: I gotta go

 

Tex: Okay, I’ll be here if you wanna talk again

 

CC_CopyCat: How will you know when I’ll want to talk again?

 

Tex: I don’t, but I told you I work on computers, I’m always here

 

CC_CopyCat: Okay, maybe

 

Tex: I’ve enjoyed talking to you CC

 

CC_CopyCat: We haven’t even talked about anything interesting

 

Tex: Yeah, but you aren’t afraid to tell me what you’re really thinking. I like that

 

CC_CopyCat: Most men don’t

 

Tex: I’m not most men

 

CC_CopyCat: Whatever. OK, I’m logging off

 

Tex: Bye CC. Later

 

Tex sat back and smiled at his computer. He didn’t usually engage people he met online, but he’d been visiting this particular chat room for a while now and noticed “CC_CopyCat” lurking. He’d taken a chance and sent the private message, hoping he was messaging a woman. Tex had been honest with her, he wasn’t looking to start up an online friendship with a man. 

 

Call him sexist, but Tex was more comfortable talking with a woman than a man. Maybe it was because he was around men all the time. It was just . . . different, speaking with a woman. 

 

Ever since he’d lost part of his leg to an IED while on a SEAL mission, Tex was more comfortable talking to people behind his computer or phone. Before he was injured, he’d never had a problem attracting the ladies. He was in his mid-thirties now and still worked out every day. Physical fitness was too ingrained in him to give it up after he was injured. 

 

While Tex knew firsthand, on the surface, women still found him attractive and they’d gladly go home with him, after getting weird looks and two less than satisfying sexual encounters, he found it more comfortable for everyone to not bother. He now took care of his needs himself. Tex knew his friends all thought he was still sexually active, but the awkward explanations about his injury and the pity fucks got old fast. 

 

He tried not to care what people thought of his leg, but when he connected with people via his computer, he could be anonymous . . . whole. Talking to CC was refreshing. Tex liked it. 

 

He hadn’t lied to the woman on the other end of the computer. She intrigued him. She wasn’t fawning all over him, as some women Tex had messaged in the past had. She was cautious, but he could sense her humor under her stilted words. Tex hoped she’d log back in and they could talk again, but if she didn’t, he wouldn’t lose any sleep. There would be more women, and he’d keep busy living vicariously through his friends’ lives. 

 

Four months ago

 

CC_CopyCat: Hey Tex. How are you?

 

Tex: Hey CC. I’m sorry, but I can’t talk right now

 

CC_CopyCat: Oh sorry

 

Tex: It’s not you. I’d rather talk to you than anyone else, but my friend’s woman is in trouble and I’m trying to figure her situation out

 

CC_CopyCat: That sucks. 

 

Tex: Yeah, her man is overseas and can’t get to her. So I’m trying to get him home and keep her safe

 

CC_CopyCat: OK, go do your thing. If you want to talk later, I’m here

 

Tex: Thanks CC. I needed that. Later

 

Tex hated to put CC off. They’d been talking pretty regularly for the last two months and Tex really enjoyed their conversations, but Fiona was counting on him. She was obviously having a mental breakdown after whatever had happened in the shopping mall. He was calling her every four hours. It was heartbreaking to listen to her try to figure out what was going on—trying to decide what was real and what was imagined in her head. She was so scared. Tex turned back to the computers and typed frantically to try to get Cookie home and to his woman. 

 

The next day, after the entire situation with Fiona was finally over, Tex tried to see if CC was around. 

 

Tex: You around?

 

Tex: Guess not. If you come back, I’m here

 

Tex ran a hand over his face. Jesus. Fiona had just about broken his heart. He hadn’t ever met her, had only met Caroline, Wolf’s woman, but Fiona was just as tough, yet vulnerable at the same time, as Caroline was. She’d done exactly what he’d asked of her and every time Tex had called, she’d answered. Tex had no idea what he would’ve done if Fiona hadn’t picked up the phone. She was in California and he was in Virginia. 

 

Tex knew his friends had a lot of faith in his abilities, but if something had really gone wrong, there would’ve been nothing he could’ve done. Tex cursed his leg, again. Not a day went by that he didn’t wish he’d have done something different on the mission that took his leg. Not a day went by that he didn’t wish he was whole and the man he used to be. 

 

He was good at the computer, but he wished with all his heart he could be on the front lines, with his friends, saving lives and serving his country. Tex looked down at the box blinking at him in the corner of his computer screen. CC. 

 

CC_CopyCat: Hey Tex, I’m here. You there?

 

Tex: Yeah CC, I’m here

 

CC_CopyCat: Everything go OK with your friend?

 

Tex: Yeah

 

CC_CopyCat: I know we’ve only been talking to each other for a little while, but you’re not your usual self 

 

Tex: CC, you have no idea

 

CC_CopyCat: You wanna talk about it?

 

Tex: You sure you want this? We can keep this light and fluffy and superficial. We can say hi every now and then and go on with our lives as we have been. But I’ll tell you. I’ve had a tough few days and could use more than that. But if we get deeper, I can’t go back to light and fluffy. You choose.

 

CC_CopyCat: I don’t like that you’ve had a shit day, and I’d love to talk to you about it, but I can’t give it back to you. I want to, I just can’t.

 

Tex: It’s OK. We can keep it light

 

CC_CopyCat: NO! Dammit Tex. You need to talk about stuff. You can’t keep it in. I didn’t mean that I didn’t want you to talk to me

 

Tex: I don’t need a therapist, I need a friend. I get that you’re cautious and it’s smart. I get it, but CC, I’ve enjoyed our chats over the last 2 months, but I’d like to be more real with you. We’ll never meet, so I feel safe talking to you about stuff. You can’t share my secrets ‘cos you don’t know who I am. I can’t share yours because of the same thing. Please, tell me something, anything, personal about yourself.