Title: Self-Licking Ice Cream Cone: An OPS Protector Romance
Series: Owens Protective Services Book 12
Author: Giulia Lagomarsino
Genre: Protector/Alpha Romance, Suspense
Release Date: September 25, 2023
Cover Design: T.E. Black Designs
Photographer: Reggie Deanching
Cover Model: Ryan Stacks
“And that’s not even the best part,” Cash grinned.
“And what is the best part?”
“Well, during this campaign, they’ll be traveling around to various locations. She’ll need someone by her side twenty-four, seven.”
“That’s usually what we do,” I said, still not understanding.
“And…let’s see, what’s the best way to put this?” he said with glee, leaning back on his heels. “Nobody else wants to model with her. After what happened, all the male models backed out.”
My face drained of color as he continued to stare at me. I swallowed hard as Scottie snorted under his breath. “You…you want me to…”
“That’s right. I showed your picture to the photographer Emilio. He happens to love you. He said you had great bone structure and your hair is perfection.”
“No,” I said immediately, shaking my head in denial. “I’m not a model. I protect people, but I do not take pictures.”
“You won’t be taking them,” he grinned. “You’ll be posing beside the lovely Juliette. See, this way, the job continues and we can catch whoever’s after her. And as an added bonus, no one will suspect you’re protecting her because you’re in the photo shoot. Isn’t that brilliant?”
I wanted to smack the smile off his face. “This is not brilliant. It’s horrible and terrible and…atrocious and…”
“Terrible?” he asked.
“Exactly. Made Edu do it.”
“Yeah, they didn’t want him,” Cash tsked. “I know it’s not fair. They said he didn’t have the right look. They love your long hair. Oh, and your tattoos. You have that…tempting look.”
“I’ll cut my hair off,” I said quickly, my heart pounding out of control.
“Too late. I’ve already removed all the scissors and told the salon they aren’t allowed to cut your hair. And…” He slid another document my way. “It’s in the contract. Neat and tidy, just as you like it.”
I flipped through it, swallowing hard as I read what was inside. This wasn’t fair. I didn’t want my face plastered all over everything. My head snapped up and I narrowed my eyes at him. “You can’t do this. It would expose my identity.”
His grin grew wider. “Exactly my concern, which is why you’ll be known on this job as…” He paused for dramatic effect, then said, “Royal Forsythe!”
Everyone in the room aside from me burst into laughter. The blood drained from my face as I stared at Cash in disbelief. “That’s just mean.”
“It’s the job,” he grinned.
“Boss, not a single person will take me seriously with a name like that!”
“That’s the brilliance of this plan,” he laughed. “It can’t fail.”
I shoved out of my seat, about to give him a piece of my mind when Scottie held up his hands. “Quiet, everyone! The king is about to speak.”
They all roared with laughter. I glared at them, but it made no difference.
“I’m not doing it, and you can’t make me.”
He nodded somberly. “You’re right. I can’t make you do it. After all, it’s not like it’s a real job, right? I mean, it’s only a woman’s life on the line. She’s just a model, though. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
“But—” I had no argument other than I really didn’t want to be a model. I did it to myself the day I decided to grow out my hair. I clenched my jaw, refusing to do this his way. “Fine, I’ll do it, but I can guarantee you’re going to regret this.”
He tossed back his head and laughed at me. “I sincerely doubt that.”
“Yeah, and just think of how you can order around your servants while on location,” Thumper jeered.
“Maybe you can borrow a tiara from Anna,” Fox laughed.
“Alright, alright,” Brock stood, motioning for everyone to quiet down. “That’s enough. We all know that if any of us were in the same position, we’d be just as against doing this job. Let’s try our best to support him in his hour of distress.”
I cleared my throat, grateful for the way he stepped up. “Thank you, Brock. That means a lot—”
“Anything for you, my liege,” he said with a sweeping bow.
“And what is the best part?”
“Well, during this campaign, they’ll be traveling around to various locations. She’ll need someone by her side twenty-four, seven.”
“That’s usually what we do,” I said, still not understanding.
“And…let’s see, what’s the best way to put this?” he said with glee, leaning back on his heels. “Nobody else wants to model with her. After what happened, all the male models backed out.”
My face drained of color as he continued to stare at me. I swallowed hard as Scottie snorted under his breath. “You…you want me to…”
“That’s right. I showed your picture to the photographer Emilio. He happens to love you. He said you had great bone structure and your hair is perfection.”
“No,” I said immediately, shaking my head in denial. “I’m not a model. I protect people, but I do not take pictures.”
“You won’t be taking them,” he grinned. “You’ll be posing beside the lovely Juliette. See, this way, the job continues and we can catch whoever’s after her. And as an added bonus, no one will suspect you’re protecting her because you’re in the photo shoot. Isn’t that brilliant?”
I wanted to smack the smile off his face. “This is not brilliant. It’s horrible and terrible and…atrocious and…”
“Terrible?” he asked.
“Exactly. Made Edu do it.”
“Yeah, they didn’t want him,” Cash tsked. “I know it’s not fair. They said he didn’t have the right look. They love your long hair. Oh, and your tattoos. You have that…tempting look.”
“I’ll cut my hair off,” I said quickly, my heart pounding out of control.
“Too late. I’ve already removed all the scissors and told the salon they aren’t allowed to cut your hair. And…” He slid another document my way. “It’s in the contract. Neat and tidy, just as you like it.”
I flipped through it, swallowing hard as I read what was inside. This wasn’t fair. I didn’t want my face plastered all over everything. My head snapped up and I narrowed my eyes at him. “You can’t do this. It would expose my identity.”
His grin grew wider. “Exactly my concern, which is why you’ll be known on this job as…” He paused for dramatic effect, then said, “Royal Forsythe!”
Everyone in the room aside from me burst into laughter. The blood drained from my face as I stared at Cash in disbelief. “That’s just mean.”
“It’s the job,” he grinned.
“Boss, not a single person will take me seriously with a name like that!”
“That’s the brilliance of this plan,” he laughed. “It can’t fail.”
I shoved out of my seat, about to give him a piece of my mind when Scottie held up his hands. “Quiet, everyone! The king is about to speak.”
They all roared with laughter. I glared at them, but it made no difference.
“I’m not doing it, and you can’t make me.”
He nodded somberly. “You’re right. I can’t make you do it. After all, it’s not like it’s a real job, right? I mean, it’s only a woman’s life on the line. She’s just a model, though. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
“But—” I had no argument other than I really didn’t want to be a model. I did it to myself the day I decided to grow out my hair. I clenched my jaw, refusing to do this his way. “Fine, I’ll do it, but I can guarantee you’re going to regret this.”
He tossed back his head and laughed at me. “I sincerely doubt that.”
“Yeah, and just think of how you can order around your servants while on location,” Thumper jeered.
“Maybe you can borrow a tiara from Anna,” Fox laughed.
“Alright, alright,” Brock stood, motioning for everyone to quiet down. “That’s enough. We all know that if any of us were in the same position, we’d be just as against doing this job. Let’s try our best to support him in his hour of distress.”
I cleared my throat, grateful for the way he stepped up. “Thank you, Brock. That means a lot—”
“Anything for you, my liege,” he said with a sweeping bow.
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I'm a stay at home mom that loves to read. Some of my favorite titles are Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Horatio Hornblower. I started writing when I was trying to come up with suggestions on ways I could help bring in some extra money. I came up with the idea that I could donate plasma because you could earn an extra $500/month. My husband responded with, "No. Find something else. Write a blog. Write a book." I didn't think I had anything to share on blog that a thousand other mothers hadn't already thought of. I decided to take his challenge seriously and sat down to write my first book, Jack. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing. From there, the stories continued to flow and I haven't been able to stop. I hope my readers enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them. Between reading, writing, and taking care of three small kids, my days are quite full.
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