Introduction

Remy Guidry doesn’t do relationships. He tried the marriage thing once, back in Louisiana, and learned the hard way that all he really needs in life is a cold beer, some good friends, and the occasional hookup. His job as a bodyguard with McKay-Taggart gives him purpose and lovely perks, like access to Sanctum. The last thing he needs in his life is a woman with stars in her eyes and babies in her future.Lisa Daley’s life is finally going in the right direction. She has finally graduated from college after years of putting herself through school. She’s got a new job at an accounting firm and she’s finished her Sanctum training. Finally on her own and having fun, her life seems pretty perfect. Except she’s lonely and the one man she wants won’t give her a second look.There is one other little glitch. Apparently, her new firm is really a front for the mob and now they want her dead. Assassins can really ruin a fun girls’ night out.Suddenly strapped to the very same six-foot-five-inch hunk of a bodyguard who makes her heart pound, Lisa can’t decide if this situation is a blessing or a curse. As the mob closes in, Remy takes his tempting new charge back to the safest place he knows — his home in the bayou.Surrounded by his past, he can’t help wondering if Lisa is his future. To answer that question, he just has to keep her alive.

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Excerpt

She walked down the stairs, unable to take her eyes off the massive windows that showed her the bay. There was a big patio area where patrons could sit and watch the boats in the distance. Morning made the world gauzy and soft. Beyond the patio there were several piers with boat slips. Most of the large ones were empty, likely the big shrimpers, but the smaller personal boats were still docked in their places. Beyond the pier was endless ocean and gentle waves.

Her breath caught when she saw several fins break the surface. Dolphins. They had dolphins. And gulls flew in the sky.

There was nothing like it in the city, nothing that made her feel both awesomely small and entirely connected to the larger world. That view literally took her breath away.

“Yeah, it’s something, isn’t it?” Remy joined her, standing beside her. “I’m sorry about my brother. I’ve made it plain our room is off limits.”

“It’s okay. I think I made myself plain to him, too. Do you wake up to this every day?”

“I tend to see the sunrise and the sunset right here,” he admitted. “I’ve missed this view but I know another one I’ll miss even more.”

She turned and he was staring down at her. She couldn’t help but ask the question. Zep seemed to have disappeared and they were alone. “You don’t have to keep this up. You have the money and Will doesn’t expect it back. I promise I’m not going to be rebellious or sullen. I’ll follow the protocols. I want to live through this. I won’t make it hard on you.”

His face turned solemn. “I love you and that’s not about money. If you leave me, I’ll be lonely for the rest of my life because I know I’ll never meet another woman like you.”

He knew exactly what to say to get to her. There was only one problem. “I don’t know how to believe you anymore.”

“Well then, you probably shouldn’t have told everyone we’re engaged. You know people take that seriously around here. I might be a ruined man if you leave me at the altar.” When she didn’t laugh, he turned serious. “It’s all right, chèrie. I’ll tell everyone it was only a joke on your part. I’ll have Sera spread the word that we’re nothing more than friends.”

“Can I have some time before you do that?” She was confused and the last thing she wanted was more curiosity about them. “I’m not going to lie to you. I think I was way more invested in our relationship than you were.”

“Until I thought I lost you. Sometimes men are dumb and we get happy and don’t want things to change, but we can grow up mighty fast when we need to. I’m not going to lie to you either. I want to marry you. If I wasn’t such a gentleman, you might have found yourself with a ring on your finger this morning.”

Ah, but the question was why the sudden change of heart? Did he feel guilty about the cash and marrying her would wash some of that blame away? Or had he realized he needed a partner in this business and she might be a good one? The situation was complex and she needed to think. “Can I have some time?”

“Time away from me? Not physically, of course, but do you want me to back off? Not touch you, not try to be close?”

Did she want him on the couch? She’d been willing to sleep with him when they had an expiration date. That hadn’t changed except she had a decision to make. It would be smarter to stay away from him—as far as she could and certainly emotionally.

“No. I’m a dumb girl. I miss you. I miss you holding me and kissing me. I want that for as long as I can, but I’m not promising anything else. I’ll probably go home when this case is over.”

“I’ll do everything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen.” He turned to her, his hands cupping her face as he leaned over and kissed her. “Everything I can. I thought you would be miserable in a town like this, but you belong here. You need this weird place, and god knows we need you. Every town needs a queen.”

She didn’t know about that, but she melted in his arms. It was foolish, but she couldn’t stop herself. view abbreviated excerpt only...

Discussion Questions

From the author:

1. What impact do you think Lisa Daley’s childhood had on her romantic relationships as an adult?
2. Family is a theme in Close Cover—both biological and found. What are some of the differences in the way the Daley family and the Guidry family handle Lisa and Remy’s relationship?
3. Do you agree with how Lisa’s siblings protect her? Remy goes along with the idea of not telling Lisa he’s actually her bodyguard. Does Lisa forgive him too easily?
4. How do you feel about the town of Papillon? Remy and Lisa go from the cosmopolitan city of Dallas to small-town Louisiana. What kind of adjustments will they have to make and how will it affect their relationship going forward?
5. Should Lisa give Josette back her hair?

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