Guarding Her Heart (Guardians Inc. Book 1) Read online

  Guarding Her Heart

  Belle Calhoune

  Guarding Her Heart:

  When realtor, Marissa Santana, witnesses a murder in the wee hours of the morning, she finds herself suffering post-traumatic stress in the form of amnesia. After two attempts on her life, Marissa realizes she isn’t safe from a killer’s vengeance. Protection arrives in the form of Matt Cruz, Sheriff of Briarwood, who vows to keep her safe. Problem is, Cruz is the last person Marissa wants to give her around the clock protection.

  Town sheriff, Matt Cruz, is duty bound to protect Marissa Santana from a killer’s revenge, even though he doesn’t think much of the gossipy realtor. Cruz is still stewing over a rumor he believes Marissa spread about him and an elderly resident of Briarwood. But now, with danger looming, he vows to keep her from a killer’s grasp at all costs.

  As Cruz provides around the clock protection for Marissa, they find themselves growing closer and bridging the wide gap between them. As their feelings turn romantic, a killer is still waiting in the shadows to strike out at Marissa. Will true love prevail?

  A few of Belle’s books:

  The Heart of Christmas

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6AOBY

  Secrets of Savannah Series:

  Book One: Till the End of Time

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017L5ZPCE

  Book Two: A Moment in the Moonlight

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AARG24A

  Book Three: The Last Kiss

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C1WIPAG

  Book Four: For Love Alone (Morgan and Luke)

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GEE5Q8G

  Book Five: Falling in Love (Charlotte and Marc)

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYTVT4N

  Seven Brides, Seven Brothers Series:

  Book One: The Way Home

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KTCBXSC

  Book Two: Still the One

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M0EUU22

  Book Three: Until You Loved Me

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N15TPFC

  Book Four: Love Me Tender

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OFAVB1I

  Book Five: If only in my dreams

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R6U2PZK

  Book Six: Baby It’s You

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VZ3FCB8

  Book Seven: When A Man Loves A Woman

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011J6ZTE0

  PREQUEL: WHEN YOU BELIEVE

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T52CK1G

  About the Author:

  Belle Calhoune is a bestselling author of Christian romance. She lives in Connecticut with her college sweetheart husband and two beautiful girls. A huge lover of dogs, Belle has two of her own—a toy poodle and a chocolate lab. One of the major perks of being a writer is the ability to work in her pajamas. When she’s not creating love stories, Belle loves to travel, spend time in Cape Cod, read and watch classic films.

  Copyright 2016 by Belle Calhoune

  All Rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher and author, except where permitted by law.

  Cover by Elizabeth Mackey

  http://www.elizabethmackeygraphics.com/

  Dedication: This is dedicated to my daughters, Amber and Sierra. I hope someday you find “the one” who will always guard your heart.

  Dear Reader,

  Thanks for joining me on this romantic journey featuring Marissa and Cruz (aka Matt). This novel is a bit different than previous books I’ve written. There is an element of light suspense in this book that makes it necessary for Marissa and Matt to be in each other’s orbit. Marissa’s life is in jeopardy and Cruz needs to safeguard her. I love the notion of two people who can’t stand each other finding common ground. And love! The path to love isn’t always smooth, but the end result is a wondrous thing indeed. With faith and heart and open minds, two people can find their way to a happy ending.

  I hope you enjoy this inspirational romance featuring one of the members of Guardians, Inc. The men of Guardians, Inc. have only one mission—to keep people safe from harm. And if they fall in love in the process, all the better.

  Blessings,

  Belle

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Epilogue

  Chapter One

  Marissa Santana nursed her diet Coke and watched from across the courtyard as her sworn enemy chatted up a group of good looking ladies. It was like watching a train wreck, she thought. She wanted to look away from the disturbing sight, but she couldn't manage to do it. Matt Cruz was like a panther –sleek and deadly. And the eligible ladies of Briarwood, Texas were acting as if he was the last single man on the planet Earth.

  He was handsome, she had to admit, in a rugged kind of way. He was tall. Six foot three she would guess, with a massive build comprised of pure muscle. His features were strong and bold – high cheekbones, a strong nose and full ruby lips. His skin was burnished, no doubt with a little help from the Texas sun. His onyx colored hair hung to his shoulders in a straight, no frills style. On another man it might've looked girly, but it just served to make him look more manly. His brown eyes were dark as sin and looked almost black. His good looks could certainly make a woman stop and stare. According to her best friend, he was part Native American and part Spanish.

  As a Christian woman she hated feeling so angry toward him, but he was rude and an absolute fool. And he'd made it clear on several occasions that he despised everything about her. Every time she was in his presence, he made her feel unsettled.

  You’re nothing but a small town, narrow-minded petty gossip.

  Cruz's words had been cutting and to the point, leaving no question as to his disgust toward her. It still bothered her that he harbored such animosity towards her, such unbridled hatred. She wasn't used to people not liking her. In her profession it was vitally important that she be likable, personable and approachable. Without those qualities she wouldn't be able to sell ice water in the desert, never mind million dollar homes in Texas. And she was good at her job, the best in fact in the entire region.

  Heat seared through her as he looked up and met her gaze, his dark eyes inscrutable and forbidding. For goodness sakes he was practically scowling at her, Marissa realized. Who did he think he was anyway? She had just as much right to be here as he did. Sierra was her best friend, and her relationship with Caleb had grown into a solid friendship over the past few months.

  When Sierra sidled up to her and lovingly put an arm around her shoulder, it provided Marissa with a well-needed distraction from Matt Cruz's annoying presence.

  “Hey, my friend. Thanks for the fabulous party. Caleb told me how much you helped with the planning. I can't tell you how much it means to me.”

  Her best friend was beaming, Marissa thought. She radiated happiness. And she was looking more gorgeous than ever. She held her hands up in protest. “Don't thank me, Sierra. Your Mom was like a machine the way she ran things. She could be a professional party planner if she
wanted to.” Self-consciously, she darted a glance in Cruz's direction.

  Sierra followed her gaze and said, “Like bees to honey. They're really swarming around him, aren't they?”

  Marissa sniffed and said, “It's amazing what some people find attractive.”

  Sierra let out a throaty laugh. “C'mon, Marissa. You may dislike the man, but you have to admit he's gorgeous.”

  “And ugly on the inside,” she muttered.

  Sierra swatted her hand at Marissa. “Stop it. He's not so bad. I know the two of you got off on the wrong foot, but he's a really good guy.”

  She sputtered on her soda. “Wrong foot? That's putting it mildly. The last time we ran into each other he had a lot of nasty things to say about me. And then some.”

  Sierra patted her on the arm reassuringly and said, “I'm sorry about that. He doesn't know you like I do. You're one of the most generous, kind people I've ever known.”

  Tears pricked in Marissa's eyes as she listened to Sierra's soothing words. She'd never wanted to admit how much it had hurt her when Cruz had called her out and labeled her as a vicious gossip. And all because of a simple rumor she'd passed on about him and the widow Jenkins. She hadn't created the rumor, for goodness sakes. She'd just passed it on a couple of times. Well, perhaps it had been more than a couple of times, but talking to clients was part of her job duties as a realtor. Sometimes exchanging tidbits of information was part of the process of selling real estate. She barely remembered repeating the story. And how did he know she was the one who was responsible?

  Caleb suddenly appeared at Sierra's side and wrapped a strong arm around her waist, pulling her toward him in a tight embrace. As Marissa looked on, Caleb planted a tender kiss on Sierra's lips, one that drew clapping and whistles from the guests. Caleb pulled away from his wife and scowled at his audience. “Hush. Can't you see I'm trying to romance my beautiful wife?”

  “By the looks of it bro, you've already done a bit of romancing,” Drew, Caleb's handsome twin brother, piped in as he pointed to his sister in law's bulging belly. His comment drew laughter from the crowd, and she couldn't help noticing that Cruz threw his head back in laughter and clapped Drew on the back. So he does laugh, after all. He wasn't just brooding looks and snarky comments. He wasn't just a bully with a badge. He was human.

  The party was in full swing, complete with a rhythm and blues band, a cartoonist drawing caricatures, an impromptu performance by an up and coming blues singer and enough catered food to feed an army. It was the perfect time for her to slip out of the festivities unnoticed. Anyone who was anyone in Briarwood had shown up for Sierra and Caleb's celebration, Marissa thought with admiration. They were beloved by all. She'd bet that nobody would even notice her disappearance from the party.

  She was exhausted. There was nothing she wanted more than a hot shower and some bed rest. After waking up at six this morning she'd put in a few hours at the office, then headed over to the Jackson's estate for her best friend's baby shower. As much as she hated to admit it, she'd suffered a small twinge of jealousy at the sight of a very pregnant Sierra, radiant in her floral maternity dress, slow dancing with the love of her life, Caleb. She'd watched from the sidelines as he'd lovingly patted Sierra's belly, his eyes filled with worship as he whispered secrets to his unborn child and his soulmate.

  In truth, Sierra and Caleb were her inspiration. Despite the fact they had been separated for many years by lies and deception, the couple had found their way back to each other last year. Caleb had stepped in to protect Sierra when her life was in danger. Now were married and blissfully awaiting the birth of their first child. Caleb liked to say they'd never stopped loving one another – they'd just lost their way. The fact that they'd overcome incredible odds to end up together served as a reminder to her that with love all things were possible.

  Tears misted her eyes as a feeling of deep longing swept through her. She wanted a man to look at her the way Caleb was gazing at Sierra. She wanted a love that withstood all the bad things that life threw at you. She wanted her happily ever after moment, complete with a vintage wedding dress and a handsome groom waiting for her at the altar. She wanted the fairytale.

  Who was she kidding? She wasn't Sierra Jackson Matthews. She wasn't a beautiful heiress brought up in a world of unimaginable wealth and influence. She wasn't the owner of the Horseshoe Ranch, one of the biggest ranches this side of Texas. She was plain old Marissa Santana. Sierra's best friend. The working girl with the middle class background and the over-sized mouth. But who was she really? Who did she belong to? Whose eyes did she have? Did she resemble her Mama or her Daddy? She had to rid herself of these crazy questions, ones that kept her up half the night, creating dark circles under her eyes and leaving her with lingering feelings of self-doubt.

  What difference did it make? She'd been raised with all the love and care in the world by Eddie and Carmen Santana, two kindhearted souls who'd taken her in to their home and adopted her at the age of five. They had raised her, along with their biological son, Tony, in a modest, God fearing home filled with love and affection. Her adopted parents had always told her that she was “the child of their dreams if not their bodies”. And that would've been enough for her, had it not been for the periodic flashes of memory that came to her at various periods in her life. Although the flashes were indistinct, fleeting images, they stirred up painful feelings of great happiness and unbearable loss. And there were the nightmares. Dark, terrifying dreams of fire and ash that left her shaking and sobbing.

  The insistent peal of her cell phone gained her attention and she quickly glanced at the caller ID, letting out a loud groan as she instantly recognized her brother's phone number on the display. He had been blowing up her phone for the last few hours with non-stop phone calls. Not to mention he’d called her a few times while she was at the shower.

  “Leave me alone, Tony,” she pleaded as she willed herself not to pick up the call. Ignoring her brother's phone calls was an exercise in futility. She knew him well enough to know he would keep calling her phone until she answered. She let out a sigh and picked up the phone.

  “Hi, Tony. What’s going on?” she asked in a clipped tone. “I was at Sierra’s baby shower and I see you’ve been calling me repeatedly.”

  “Your baby brother needs you, Marissa.”

  “You're not my baby brother. You're three years older than I am.”

  Tony laughed on the other end of the line. “But I know you’d still do anything for me, right?”

  Marissa rolled her eyes, wishing she had never taken his call in the first place. Tony usually called her to borrow money or to fill her in on some ridiculous personal matter such as his latest girlfriend drama. She was tired of being his personal ATM machine and twenty-four seven sounding board. It was time for her brother to grow up and get a life. As it was, he was draining her of the little energy she possessed.

  “I'm about to pull into my driveway. I'm in need of a serious bubble bath and a glass of Merlot. Can I call you tomorrow? It's been a long day.”

  “I know you're not going to desert me in my hour of need,” Tony said in a whiny voice.

  “If you're calling me again for money, I'm all tapped out. Like I told you last time, I am not your ATM machine or your personal bank. If you insist on gambling away your money, you need to make sure it's your hard earned money that you're throwing away. I work way too hard to throw good money after bad.” She hated to be short with her brother, but enough was enough. She’d prayed for him, given him the benefit of the doubt and waited patiently for him to grow up. So far it hadn’t happened.

  Marissa could hear the sound of sniffles over the phone. “Baby sister, it's serious this time. Really serious. I'm in the hole really deep this time. Problem is...if I don't get the money into certain people's hands tonight, you may be singing at my funeral.”

  She put her head on the steering wheel and began to massage her pounding temples with her free hand. It never failed. Her brother's pho
ne calls always gave her a migraine. Time after time she told herself she wasn't going to let her brother pull her back into his sordid situations. Yet time after time she found herself being dragged back into Tony's messes.

  “Marissa? Are you listening? They've made threats to kill me...to chop me up into small, unrecognizable pieces. They want their money tonight. Marissa? Marissa? Can you hear me?”

  At that moment she was paralyzed by a feeling of intense, pulsing fear. As a result, her hands began to tremble. These low lives weren't playing around. They were threatening violence, perhaps even death. She couldn't lose her brother! Beside her parents, Tony was her closest living relative. For a moment she was swept up in a dark current of sadness and overwhelming pain. The feeling wasn't unfamiliar, she realized. Goosebumps tingled on her arms and she willed herself to remember where and when she'd experienced these powerful emotions before. For a second she felt as if she could almost remember a smell of a burning fire on an icy cold night. And then it was gone, along with her tidbit of memory.

  This wasn’t the first time she had been catapulted into the past, courtesy of a fragment of memory she couldn’t place.

  “Are you still there?” Tony asked in a teary voice.

  “I'm here, Tony. I'll always be here for you. You're my brother,” she responded, her voice full of emotion. “I love you.”

  She heard a loud sigh of relief on the other end of the phone. “So, you'll do it then? You'll meet Ronnie at the Limelight with the money?”

  She let out a gasp. “The Limelight? That place is practically condemned. You know the wharf is a dangerous place even in broad daylight.”

  “You'll be fine. You won't even have to get out of your car. I'll let Ronnie know you'll hand off the payment to him from the driver's side window. Is one a.m. Okay?”

  She made a tutting sound. “One in the morning? Tony! That's crazy. I have to be at the office at seven.” A profound silence ensued on the other end of the line. She bit her lip. Guilt swept over her. Her brother’s life was on the line. “I guess that's okay, given the circumstances. Maybe I can ask one of my male friends to come along for the ride for protection.”