| Excerpt |
© Paige Tyler, 2008
| Available from Liquid Silver Books! |
Protective Custody
They spoke little on the ride to her apartment. Once
they got there, Gray told her to wait in the entryway
while he took a look around. It seemed like overkill to
her, but she didn’t argue. However, she didn’t stay
where he’d told her to, either. Instead, she went into the
kitchen to open her mail. That earned her a dark scowl
from Gray when he came out of the bedroom several
minutes later. Paisley pretended not to notice.
“I’ve been on a stakeout for a couple of days,” he said
after declaring the apartment clear. “Do you mind if I
use your shower?”
She glanced up from the Victoria's Secret catalog she
had been flipping through. “No, go ahead.”
“Thanks.” He picked up his overnight bag from the floor
where he’d left it. “I won’t be long. Keep the door locked
and don’t open it to anyone.”
they got there, Gray told her to wait in the entryway
while he took a look around. It seemed like overkill to
her, but she didn’t argue. However, she didn’t stay
where he’d told her to, either. Instead, she went into the
kitchen to open her mail. That earned her a dark scowl
from Gray when he came out of the bedroom several
minutes later. Paisley pretended not to notice.
“I’ve been on a stakeout for a couple of days,” he said
after declaring the apartment clear. “Do you mind if I
use your shower?”
She glanced up from the Victoria's Secret catalog she
had been flipping through. “No, go ahead.”
“Thanks.” He picked up his overnight bag from the floor
where he’d left it. “I won’t be long. Keep the door locked
and don’t open it to anyone.”
Yeah, yeah. She went back to flipping through the catalog, only to pause when she heard the
shower turn on a few minutes later. She had looked for a way to give Gray the slip ever since
they’d walked out of the police station, and she decided she wasn’t going to get a better
opportunity than right then. While she had to admit she really didn’t mind having the hunky
inspector around, she hated being told what to do, especially by her father. Time to exercise her
independence.
Tossing the catalog on the counter, Paisley hurried out of the kitchen and into her bedroom.
Knowing she wouldn’t have enough time to do more than pack a few things before Gray came
out, she decided to forget about the basics and instead, just grab a dress and a pair of high heels
to wear that night. Everything else she could borrow from whichever friend she stayed with. At
least until it was safe to come back to her place. By safe, she meant when there wasn’t some cop
hanging around it.
Shoving the dress into an evening purse, Paisley picked up her shoes in her free hand and
darted from the room. She had barely made it past the bathroom when the door opened.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Gray demanded from behind her.
Paisley stopped in her tracks at the commanding tone in his voice. Crap! She had hoped to slip
out before Gray finished taking his shower. It just wasn’t fair that guys could clean up so fast.
Squaring her shoulders, she whirled around to face him. And blinked. Though he had put on
jeans, he hadn’t bothered with a shirt, and all she could do was stare at him in feminine
appreciation. She had known he was built, but she hadn’t realized just how well. Broad
shoulders, a chiseled chest, and rock-hard abs. Daaaaammmm! He had a body that just wouldn’t
quit.
Gray crossed his arms over his chest. “Well?” he prompted when she said nothing.
Paisley tore her gaze from his perfectly sculpted arms to look up at him. She hadn’t realized he
was so tall. Even in heels, she was still almost a head shorter than he was. She lifted her chin.
“Out.”
His golden brown eyes narrowed. “Not without me, you’re not.”
She let out a sigh. “Look. Like I told you before, this isn’t going to work. I’m going to stay with
some friends until this whole thing blows over. You can just tell my dad that I gave you the slip.
He won’t hold it against you.”
“I don’t think so.”
She clenched her jaw. “I wasn’t asking for your permission, Inspector. I’m leaving and you can’t
stop me.”
With that, Paisley whirled around and started for the door. She didn’t even make it halfway
before Gray caught her arm and turned her back around.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
She glared up at him. “Oh, really?” she countered. “And just how are you going to stop me?
Handcuff me to the bed?”
Her words hung in the air between them for a long moment before his mouth finally quirked.
“Though I’ll admit that’s tempting,” he said, “I have something more effective in mind.”
Before she could ask what he meant by that, Gray led her over to the couch. What was he going
to do, sit her down and lecture her?
To her surprise, Gray didn’t sit her down at all, but instead took a seat himself. Totally
perplexed, she was just about to ask what he was doing when a tug on her arm sent her
sprawling over his knee. She had no choice but to drop the purse and shoes so she could put her
hands on the floor to keep herself balanced.
For a moment, Paisley was so stunned she just lay there. She recovered quickly enough though,
and when she did, she immediately tried to push herself upright. But a strong hand on her back
held her firmly in place. Furious at being manhandled, she glared at him over her shoulder.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.
He returned her glower with one of his own. “Teaching you a lesson.”
Paisley opened her mouth to retort, only to let out a startled little gasp when she felt him smack
her upturned bottom. He did not just spank her!Yeah, yeah. She went back to flipping through
the catalog, only to pause when she heard the shower turn on a few minutes later. She had
looked for a way to give Gray the slip ever since they’d walked out of the police station, and she
decided she wasn’t going to get a better opportunity than right then. While she had to admit she
really didn’t mind having the hunky inspector around, she hated being told what to do,
especially by her father. Time to exercise her independence.
Tossing the catalog on the counter, Paisley hurried out of the kitchen and into her bedroom.
Knowing she wouldn’t have enough time to do more than pack a few things before Gray came
out, she decided to forget about the basics and instead, just grab a dress and a pair of high heels
to wear that night. Everything else she could borrow from whichever friend she stayed with. At
least until it was safe to come back to her place. By safe, she meant when there wasn’t some cop
hanging around it.
Shoving the dress into an evening purse, Paisley picked up her shoes in her free hand and
darted from the room. She had barely made it past the bathroom when the door opened.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Gray demanded from behind her.
Paisley stopped in her tracks at the commanding tone in his voice. Crap! She had hoped to slip
out before Gray finished taking his shower. It just wasn’t fair that guys could clean up so fast.
Squaring her shoulders, she whirled around to face him. And blinked. Though he had put on
jeans, he hadn’t bothered with a shirt, and all she could do was stare at him in feminine
appreciation. She had known he was built, but she hadn’t realized just how well. Broad
shoulders, a chiseled chest, and rock-hard abs. Daaaaammmm! He had a body that just wouldn’t
quit.
Gray crossed his arms over his chest. “Well?” he prompted when she said nothing.
Paisley tore her gaze from his perfectly sculpted arms to look up at him. She hadn’t realized he
was so tall. Even in heels, she was still almost a head shorter than he was. She lifted her chin.
“Out.”
His golden brown eyes narrowed. “Not without me, you’re not.”
She let out a sigh. “Look. Like I told you before, this isn’t going to work. I’m going to stay with
some friends until this whole thing blows over. You can just tell my dad that I gave you the slip.
He won’t hold it against you.”
“I don’t think so.”
She clenched her jaw. “I wasn’t asking for your permission, Inspector. I’m leaving and you can’t
stop me.”
With that, Paisley whirled around and started for the door. She didn’t even make it halfway
before Gray caught her arm and turned her back around.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
She glared up at him. “Oh, really?” she countered. “And just how are you going to stop me?
Handcuff me to the bed?”
Her words hung in the air between them for a long moment before his mouth finally quirked.
“Though I’ll admit that’s tempting,” he said, “I have something more effective in mind.”
Before she could ask what he meant by that, Gray led her over to the couch. What was he going
to do, sit her down and lecture her?
To her surprise, Gray didn’t sit her down at all, but instead took a seat himself. Totally
perplexed, she was just about to ask what he was doing when a tug on her arm sent her
sprawling over his knee. She had no choice but to drop the purse and shoes so she could put her
hands on the floor to keep herself balanced.
For a moment, Paisley was so stunned she just lay there. She recovered quickly enough though,
and when she did, she immediately tried to push herself upright. But a strong hand on her back
held her firmly in place. Furious at being manhandled, she glared at him over her shoulder.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.
He returned her glower with one of his own. “Teaching you a lesson.”
Paisley opened her mouth to retort, only to let out a startled little gasp when she felt him smack
her upturned bottom. He did not just spank her!
shower turn on a few minutes later. She had looked for a way to give Gray the slip ever since
they’d walked out of the police station, and she decided she wasn’t going to get a better
opportunity than right then. While she had to admit she really didn’t mind having the hunky
inspector around, she hated being told what to do, especially by her father. Time to exercise her
independence.
Tossing the catalog on the counter, Paisley hurried out of the kitchen and into her bedroom.
Knowing she wouldn’t have enough time to do more than pack a few things before Gray came
out, she decided to forget about the basics and instead, just grab a dress and a pair of high heels
to wear that night. Everything else she could borrow from whichever friend she stayed with. At
least until it was safe to come back to her place. By safe, she meant when there wasn’t some cop
hanging around it.
Shoving the dress into an evening purse, Paisley picked up her shoes in her free hand and
darted from the room. She had barely made it past the bathroom when the door opened.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Gray demanded from behind her.
Paisley stopped in her tracks at the commanding tone in his voice. Crap! She had hoped to slip
out before Gray finished taking his shower. It just wasn’t fair that guys could clean up so fast.
Squaring her shoulders, she whirled around to face him. And blinked. Though he had put on
jeans, he hadn’t bothered with a shirt, and all she could do was stare at him in feminine
appreciation. She had known he was built, but she hadn’t realized just how well. Broad
shoulders, a chiseled chest, and rock-hard abs. Daaaaammmm! He had a body that just wouldn’t
quit.
Gray crossed his arms over his chest. “Well?” he prompted when she said nothing.
Paisley tore her gaze from his perfectly sculpted arms to look up at him. She hadn’t realized he
was so tall. Even in heels, she was still almost a head shorter than he was. She lifted her chin.
“Out.”
His golden brown eyes narrowed. “Not without me, you’re not.”
She let out a sigh. “Look. Like I told you before, this isn’t going to work. I’m going to stay with
some friends until this whole thing blows over. You can just tell my dad that I gave you the slip.
He won’t hold it against you.”
“I don’t think so.”
She clenched her jaw. “I wasn’t asking for your permission, Inspector. I’m leaving and you can’t
stop me.”
With that, Paisley whirled around and started for the door. She didn’t even make it halfway
before Gray caught her arm and turned her back around.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
She glared up at him. “Oh, really?” she countered. “And just how are you going to stop me?
Handcuff me to the bed?”
Her words hung in the air between them for a long moment before his mouth finally quirked.
“Though I’ll admit that’s tempting,” he said, “I have something more effective in mind.”
Before she could ask what he meant by that, Gray led her over to the couch. What was he going
to do, sit her down and lecture her?
To her surprise, Gray didn’t sit her down at all, but instead took a seat himself. Totally
perplexed, she was just about to ask what he was doing when a tug on her arm sent her
sprawling over his knee. She had no choice but to drop the purse and shoes so she could put her
hands on the floor to keep herself balanced.
For a moment, Paisley was so stunned she just lay there. She recovered quickly enough though,
and when she did, she immediately tried to push herself upright. But a strong hand on her back
held her firmly in place. Furious at being manhandled, she glared at him over her shoulder.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.
He returned her glower with one of his own. “Teaching you a lesson.”
Paisley opened her mouth to retort, only to let out a startled little gasp when she felt him smack
her upturned bottom. He did not just spank her!Yeah, yeah. She went back to flipping through
the catalog, only to pause when she heard the shower turn on a few minutes later. She had
looked for a way to give Gray the slip ever since they’d walked out of the police station, and she
decided she wasn’t going to get a better opportunity than right then. While she had to admit she
really didn’t mind having the hunky inspector around, she hated being told what to do,
especially by her father. Time to exercise her independence.
Tossing the catalog on the counter, Paisley hurried out of the kitchen and into her bedroom.
Knowing she wouldn’t have enough time to do more than pack a few things before Gray came
out, she decided to forget about the basics and instead, just grab a dress and a pair of high heels
to wear that night. Everything else she could borrow from whichever friend she stayed with. At
least until it was safe to come back to her place. By safe, she meant when there wasn’t some cop
hanging around it.
Shoving the dress into an evening purse, Paisley picked up her shoes in her free hand and
darted from the room. She had barely made it past the bathroom when the door opened.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Gray demanded from behind her.
Paisley stopped in her tracks at the commanding tone in his voice. Crap! She had hoped to slip
out before Gray finished taking his shower. It just wasn’t fair that guys could clean up so fast.
Squaring her shoulders, she whirled around to face him. And blinked. Though he had put on
jeans, he hadn’t bothered with a shirt, and all she could do was stare at him in feminine
appreciation. She had known he was built, but she hadn’t realized just how well. Broad
shoulders, a chiseled chest, and rock-hard abs. Daaaaammmm! He had a body that just wouldn’t
quit.
Gray crossed his arms over his chest. “Well?” he prompted when she said nothing.
Paisley tore her gaze from his perfectly sculpted arms to look up at him. She hadn’t realized he
was so tall. Even in heels, she was still almost a head shorter than he was. She lifted her chin.
“Out.”
His golden brown eyes narrowed. “Not without me, you’re not.”
She let out a sigh. “Look. Like I told you before, this isn’t going to work. I’m going to stay with
some friends until this whole thing blows over. You can just tell my dad that I gave you the slip.
He won’t hold it against you.”
“I don’t think so.”
She clenched her jaw. “I wasn’t asking for your permission, Inspector. I’m leaving and you can’t
stop me.”
With that, Paisley whirled around and started for the door. She didn’t even make it halfway
before Gray caught her arm and turned her back around.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
She glared up at him. “Oh, really?” she countered. “And just how are you going to stop me?
Handcuff me to the bed?”
Her words hung in the air between them for a long moment before his mouth finally quirked.
“Though I’ll admit that’s tempting,” he said, “I have something more effective in mind.”
Before she could ask what he meant by that, Gray led her over to the couch. What was he going
to do, sit her down and lecture her?
To her surprise, Gray didn’t sit her down at all, but instead took a seat himself. Totally
perplexed, she was just about to ask what he was doing when a tug on her arm sent her
sprawling over his knee. She had no choice but to drop the purse and shoes so she could put her
hands on the floor to keep herself balanced.
For a moment, Paisley was so stunned she just lay there. She recovered quickly enough though,
and when she did, she immediately tried to push herself upright. But a strong hand on her back
held her firmly in place. Furious at being manhandled, she glared at him over her shoulder.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.
He returned her glower with one of his own. “Teaching you a lesson.”
Paisley opened her mouth to retort, only to let out a startled little gasp when she felt him smack
her upturned bottom. He did not just spank her!
| Scroll down the page to see what reviewers are saying! |
| Reviews! |
| Romance Junkies Gives Protective Custody 4.5 Blue Ribbons! "PROTECTIVE CUSTODY is a romantic suspense story that’s definitely heavy on steaminess and sensuality. Although the stalker plays a central role in this novel, it is really the relationship between Gray and Paisley that draws the reader in. As these two characters progress from antagonizing each other to bringing each other screaming pleasure in bed, we get to follow along as they start to realize how much they do love one another. Author Paige Tyler does a terrific job of setting up the mystery surrounding the stalker, as well as giving us glimpses into his mindset without revealing any secrets until the end. I was kept guessing right alongside Gray and Paige. PROTECTIVE CUSTODY is an exciting read and comes highly recommended!" - Cheryl at Romance Junkies Reviews To read the complete review, click here! |