Always (The Protectors Book 3) Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  About This Book

  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

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Contact Leeanna

  Excerpt from The Promise

  ALWAYS

  The Protectors Series, Book 3

  by Leeanna Morgan

  Copyright © 2017 Leeanna Morgan

  Amazon Edition

  ISBN 978-0-9941444-0-9

  Published by Rogan Press

  For more information visit www.leeannamorgan.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is co-incidental.

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the US Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior permission of the author.

  About this Book

  When the only way forward is to confront your past.

  After living most of his life in one battleground after another, Grant Byers craves normal. He’s a search and rescue volunteer, cattle rancher, and ex-Navy SEAL. He’s not looking for trouble, but when he meets Mallory Fraser, he knows trouble has found him.

  Mallory is a U.S. figure skating champion. After a tragic accident she moves to Montana, determined to put her past behind her and protect the people she loves. When the mystery surrounding her accident follows her to Bozeman, she needs help to find the truth. With nothing left to lose, Grant and Mallory walk head first into something neither of them expected, but everything they need.

  ‘Always’ is the third book in The Protectors Series and can easily be read as a stand-alone. All of Leeanna’s series are linked, so if you meet a character you like, you could find them in another book. If you would like to hear about new releases, giveaways and more news, please join Leeanna’s newsletter group at www.leeannamorgan.com. Happy reading!

  Other Contemporary Romances by Leeanna Morgan:

  Montana Brides:

  Book 1: Forever Dreams (Gracie and Trent)

  Book 2: Forever in Love (Amy and Nathan)

  Book 3: Forever After (Nicky and Sam)

  Book 4: Forever Wishes (Erin and Jake)

  Book 5: Forever Santa (A Montana Brides Christmas Novella)

  Book 6: Forever Cowboy (Emily and Alex)

  Book 7: Forever Together (Kate and Dan)

  Book 8: Forever and a Day (Sarah and Jordan)

  The Bridesmaids Club:

  Book 1: All of Me (Tess and Logan)

  Book 2: Loving You (Annie and Dylan)

  Book 3: Head Over Heels (Sally and Todd)

  Book 4: Sweet on You (Molly and Jacob)

  Emerald Lake Billionaires:

  Book 1: Sealed with a Kiss (Rachel and John)

  Book 2: Playing for Keeps (Sophie and Ryan)

  Book 3: Crazy Love (Holly and Daniel)

  The Protectors:

  Book 1: Safe Haven (Hayley and Tank)

  Book 2: Just Breathe (Kelly and Tanner)

  Book 3: Always (Mallory and Grant)

  Book 4: The Promise (Ashley and Matthew)

  Book 5: Coming Home (Mia and Stan)

  Book 6: The Gift (Hannah and Brett)

  Book 7: The Wish (Claire and Jason)

  CHAPTER ONE

  Grant Byers hadn’t seen Sonia Davies in more than a year. She’d moved from Bozeman to Seattle to work for an independent film studio. It was her dream job—a dream he’d never understood.

  They’d met when she was filming a promotional video for the Big Sky Search and Rescue Team. Her personality lit the room, making even the most hard-nosed veteran smile at her quirky sense of humor and joy for life. She’d brought out the best in the guys she’d interviewed—and for a while, tried to bring out the best in him.

  “The helicopter’s on its way. ETA is ten minutes.” Rick Taylor, a trauma specialist and volunteer with the SAR Team, stood beside him. “Mitch is on his way up with a body bag. You going to be okay?”

  He hadn’t been okay for a while, but now wasn’t the time to feel sorry for himself. “I’ll be all right. How are Sonia’s cousins?”

  “In shock, but doing okay. They were lucky the avalanche didn’t sweep them over the rock face as well.” Rick looked at the lifeless body lying on the snow. “Some days I wonder why we do this.”

  “We do it because we care.”

  This morning, Sonia and her cousins had decided to tackle Beehive Peak. It was her last chance to strap on her skis before returning to Seattle. Even though they’d seen small avalanches as they’d traversed the West Ridge, they hadn’t turned back. That decision had cost Sonia her life.

  Rick glanced over his shoulder. “Mitch is here. Why don’t you leave this one to us?”

  Grant swallowed hard as the procession of solemn faces headed toward Sonia. “I want to help.”

  “She was your friend. You don’t need to do this.”

  He ignored the sympathy on Rick’s face and focused on what he had to do. As far as he was concerned, he didn’t have a choice. This was the last thing he’d ever be able to do for Sonia. He was damned if he’d repay her kindness by walking away.

  A gust of wind tore across the mountain, sending icy shards of snow straight into his face. The weather was closing in fast. If the helicopter didn’t get here soon it wouldn’t be able to land.

  He staggered through the snow, joining the rest of his team as they prepared Sonia for her final journey off the mountain.

  Mitch opened the body bag. “Rick and Andy—you hold the bag open. Grant, Jim, Pete, and Danny—you know what to do.”

  Grant knelt by Sonia’s head. As he gently wiped fresh snow off her cheeks, his eyes filled with tears. The only color in her pale face was the sprinkling of freckles across her nose. Sonia had hated those freckles. She’d tried every lotion she could find to make them disappear.

  In a cruel twist of fate, they now gave life to her still body. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear she’d fallen asleep in the snow. He didn’t have to try hard to imagine her eyelids slowly opening. Her blue eyes would crinkle at the corners and she’d laugh at how silly they were to think she could possibly be gone.

  “Grant?”

  He looked up at Mitch.

  “Are you ready?”

  He took a deep breath. “Let’s take her home.”

  On the count of three, they lifted Sonia into the body bag. He supported her head, worried for some stupid reason that she could get hurt. He made sure her hat and jacket were on straight, that there was as little sign as possible of the trauma she’d suffered.

  A hard knot of grief stuck in his throat as Mitch slowly pulled the zipper over her face.

  He wasn’t much of a believer in the power of prayer—he’d seen too much and done too much—to ever think there could be a higher purpose to life. But right at this moment he needed to believe in something. So he closed his eyes and prayed, hoping that, wherever she was, Sonia heard his words.

  The sound of an engine cut through the heavy silence.

  He wiped his eyes as a red helicopter fl
ew toward them.

  Rick stood beside him and wrapped his arm around his shoulders. “It won’t be long, now.”

  Grant took a deep, shuddering breath. Her parents would meet the helicopter in Bozeman. It was almost over for him, but for Sonia’s family, this was only the beginning.

  ***

  Mallory tightened the laces on her boots and smiled at the group of nine- and ten-year-old girls she was teaching to figure skate. “Don’t go too far away. I’ll be ready soon.”

  A chorus of giggles bounced off the frozen lake.

  “Miss Fraser...” a little girl skated toward Mallory. “Do you think we could start with Somewhere Over the Rainbow?”

  “Not today, Bella. It might get too confusing when we’re at the Winter Festival. We’ll start with the first song on our program, Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah, and then dance to Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

  “My dad said you deserve a medal for teaching us to skate.”

  Bella’s words stirred memories Mallory would rather forget. She took a deep breath and smiled. “I like helping you.”

  Natasha, a friend of Bella’s, stopped beside them. “Come on, Bella. I’ll race you to the rock over there.”

  By the time Bella saw where her friend was pointing, Natasha had already left.

  “Wait for me!” Bella dug her blades into the ice and skated as fast as her arms and legs could go.

  Mallory pushed away the sad memories. She had so much to be thankful for and today was one of those times.

  “Miss Fraser! Look at me.” Aimee Rogan skated past Mallory holding a beautiful spiral position.

  “Well done.”

  With her left leg straight and her right leg extended behind her, it was an incredible achievement for someone who had been skating for only a few months.

  Aimee slowly lowered her leg and chasséd back to Mallory. “I’ve been practicing what you showed us. Mom said I’m her ice princess.”

  “I’m so proud of you. That was wonderful.”

  “Thank you. Do you think you could show me some more chassés after class?”

  “Of course I can.” Mallory turned on the sound system. “Are you ready to practice our program for the Winter Festival?”

  “I can’t wait.” Aimee skated toward her friends. She stood beside Zoe, giggling at something she said.

  As the music drifted across the ice, Mallory’s gaze wandered over the snow-covered mountains surrounding Emerald Lake. Practicing outside was so much better than being inside Haynes Pavilion.

  The rest of her students took their places. Mallory was glad she’d suggested they perform in Bozeman’s Winter Festival. Everyone had improved so much. It would give them a chance to shine—although she wasn’t sure whether it was the ice skating or their costumes that they were more excited about.

  “It’s time to warm up. Everyone stand in a line behind Zoe. I want you to make big circles with your arms as you skate around the ice.”

  Within minutes, the girls were following Zoe, moving their arms like windmills.

  Mallory turned up the music and skated toward the back of the line. “Now let’s try sculling. Remember…toes in, toes out, knees bent, knees straight.”

  The girls followed Zoe across the ice. They knew these exercises were important. No one was willing to risk an injury—especially this close to their performance. They went through another six moves, twisting and turning until everyone had pink cheeks.

  When they raced toward the area they were using for their practice, Mallory followed at a slower pace. “Take your positions for the first dance. Remember, chin up, arms outstretched, and a big smile.”

  Mallory cued the music, made sure everyone was where they should be, then pressed play. With toes pointed, they began a routine she hoped their audience would enjoy.

  The girls glided across the ice, keeping in perfect formation. They were nimble on their skates and had a great sense of timing. But most importantly, they were motivated. More than anything, they wanted to show their families and friends how much they’d learned.

  As they split into pairs and began the next sequence of steps, Mallory thought about how important it was to be motivated. For her, it had meant the difference between winning a gold or silver medal at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships—and learning how to live without the two most important things in her life.

  ***

  Grant pulled himself out of his truck and headed toward his brother’s house. He’d thought the drive out to Emerald Lake would make him feel better, but if anything, the breathtaking scenery made him feel worse.

  John opened the front door before he’d made it halfway across the yard.

  Milo, Bella’s dog, ran toward Grant, looking for the stick he usually brought with him.

  “Not today, boy.”

  Milo, not to be deterred, barked once then made a sharp right-hand turn.

  “How do you do that?” John asked.

  Grant shrugged his shoulders. “Beats me. He’s got a sixth sense when it comes to what I say.”

  “Some days I’d swear you’ve got the whole dog whisperer thing happening.”

  Grant hugged his brother. “It’s good to see you. I was hoping you hadn’t left for Vancouver.”

  “My meeting was canceled.” John’s eyes narrowed. “You look terrible. Is everything okay?”

  “We had a call-out this morning.”

  “How bad?”

  “One dead and three family members in shock.”

  “Not a great way to start the weekend. Come inside.”

  John hung Grant’s jacket on a coat hook inside the front door. “Bella has been baking. If we’re lucky there should be some extra cookies in the pantry. What was your call-out?”

  “Avalanche. They were skiing near Hanging Garden on Beehive Peak. The lead skier triggered a small avalanche that swept her over a rock face. She died before we got there.”

  “You okay?”

  Grant took off his boots. “I’ll tell you after you’ve made me a coffee. Where’s Rachel and Bella?”

  “Rachel’s upstairs making lesson plans for her students and Bella’s on the lake practicing for the Winter Festival.”

  “On her own?”

  “She’s with the rest of her team and their coach.”

  “And?”

  John’s eyes narrowed. “Tank and Tanner are watching from the back of the house.”

  Grant didn’t know how his brother coped with the extra security he needed. As the owner and Chief Executive of Fletcher Security, John’s company worked on high-profile cases around the world. They provided personal protection to rock stars, government officials, and business people. If that wasn’t enough to put his brother in the spotlight, his company also developed state-of-the-art surveillance hardware for the U.S. Government.

  There were plenty of crackpots around only too happy to take out a billionaire. The security detail assigned to John, Rachel, and Bella had only one goal—to make sure they were safe.

  Grant pulled out a kitchen stool. “I thought you were reducing the number of bodyguards around the house.”

  “I did.”

  “And?”

  “I increased it again last night.”

  Grant knew better than to ask why, but it didn’t stop him. “Who have you been annoying this time?”

  “Someone who wants me to give him something that he’s not going to get.”

  “Where does this someone live?”

  John took two mugs out of the pantry. “South America.”

  “You’re playing with the big boys again. Be careful.”

  “If I hadn’t made a promise to Bella’s skating coach, there wouldn’t be fourteen girls on the lake at the moment. But they didn’t have anywhere else to go.”

  “At least if they’re here, Bella doesn’t need to leave your property.”

  “There’s got to be a silver lining somewhere. Here’s your coffee.”

  “Thanks.” The thick, black, brew slid down the back of
Grant’s throat.

  John pulled a cookie jar out of the pantry. “Bella’s trying different gingerbread recipes. This is her latest experiment.”

  He peered in the container. “Are they safe to eat?”

  “They’re good. This is the peanut butter and jelly variety.”

  Grant cautiously bit into the gingerbread man’s frosted leg. Two layers of ginger and peanut cookie with a jelly center tasted surprisingly good.

  “What do you think?”

  “Not bad. She could start her own cookie-making business.”

  “Maybe when she’s older.” John sat beside him. “We’ve had a lot of snow. Do you need help with anything on the ranch?”

  “Not at the moment. We’ve almost caught up after Thursday’s storm. The only thing I’ve got to do is fix one of the tractors. It wouldn’t start this morning.”

  “I’m only a phone call away if you need me. Are you ready to tell me why you look so terrible?”

  Grant took a deep breath, fighting the emotions that were clogging his throat. He took a sip of coffee, but all that did was make him feel worse.

  “It was Sonia Davies,” he said softly.

  “Who?”

  “The woman who died this morning.” Tears filled Grant’s eyes.

  “You dated her for a while last year, didn’t you?”

  “They weren’t really dates. We were friends.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Grant wiped his eyes and nodded. Bozeman was a relatively small, close-knit community. When a person was injured or died, there was a high chance that someone in one of the search and rescue teams knew them. Today had been his turn.

  “Sonia went skiing with her cousins. They triggered an avalanche and she was swept down a rock face.”

  “Did you go to the debrief?”

  “Yeah. I don’t know whether they’re designed to make you feel better or worse.”

  “They’re what you need them to be.” John watched him closely. “Has this got anything to do with mom and dad?”

  More tears filled Grant’s eyes. “I miss them.”