Protecting His Best Friend's Sister was originally published as Duty Bound. It has since been expanded, revised, and re-edited. The only woman I want is the one I can never have. Harper. My best friend's sister. I've wanted her since I was eighteen, but she's always been off-limits. Now I'm home after years in the Marines, and nothing has changed—except everything has. Her brother is dead, and she's on a hopeless quest for answers about his death. And I want her just as much as ever. Someone is trying to kill her now, and she won't let me keep her safe. I have to protect her anyway, even if she doesn't trust me, even if she hates me for it. A man protects what's precious to him, whether or not he can ever claim her for his own. And Harper has always been precious to me.

My life was just like any other girl’s until the Maxwell corporate empire ruined my family and stole my future. I’d given up hoping to see justice done, but then the way to right this wrong was dropped in my lap. My job with an event planner can get me into the home of one of Maxwell’s business partners. I can find evidence of what they did to my father. I can make sure they pay. I wasn’t expecting Sebastian. Sebastian has been hired for security, but he is also the son of the man I despise. I should hate Sebastian purely on principle. I shouldn’t care that he’s sweet and funny and sexy as hell. He’ll always be a Maxwell, and that means he’s my enemy. I can’t help but want him anyway. He seems to want me too, but only for a good time. He’s the son of privilege, and he’ll never be serious about me. He’ll also never betray his family. If he finds out what I’m really doing here, he’ll turn on me in an instant. He’ll keep me from finding justice. It’s just that I keep finding him instead.

Listening time 5 hours 6 minutes I’ve been a lot of things in my life. Marine. Bodyguard. Security expert. Player. Heart-breaker. Occasionally an asshole. Never a first-grade teacher. Until now. It’s the most ridiculous undercover security job I’ve ever had to deal with. Corralling a bunch of six-year-olds while I try to do my job and keep anyone from knowing how clueless I really am. I manage to fool everyone. Except her. She’s an actual teacher, and she’s determined to find out what I’m really doing here. She doesn’t trust me, and her daughter doesn’t like me. And the worst part is that I’m starting to like them. A lot. So now, instead of being the tough guy, I’m stuck with rowdy children and Christmas pageants and falling in love. It’s not the way I thought I’d spend Christmas.

The story of my life isn't pretty. I come from the wrong side of the tracks. I've been a criminal. I've been homeless. I almost killed my father, and I might be responsible for the death of my best friend. I should not be wanting her. Her life story is the stuff of dreams. She's America's sweetheart - beautiful, talented, and famous - and she doesn't want anything to do with me. I'll protect her from a stalker since it’s my job, but that's all I'm allowed. No touching, no lusting, no falling in love. I'm all wrong for her, and she's completely off-limits. But I've never been good about following the rules...