CHAPTER THREE

Renner

Another overnight appointment, prepaid, on Renner’s calendar. At least expectations weren’t a mystery. This felt different. Not like he was a Knight, but in his bodyguard role. Just a different kind of guarding.

His forte; he’d loved it. The job requirements had fit his protective nature perfectly. He’d been that way since he was a kid. But too many close calls, including that last critical trip to the hospital, had forced him to change careers.

Renner strode up Cassie’s walkway in jeans and a gray t-shirt, carrying a bag of goodies for the night. Not the typical chocolates and flowers for a date, or even ‘toys’ for some of his eccentric clients.

These were just for Cassie. To make her smile, and more importantly, relax.

When he rang the doorbell, her voice drifted through.

“It’s open.”

The house was picked up, complete with vacuum streaks on the carpeting. Lemon cleaner filled the air, and Cassie stood by the sink with her back turned.

She was in her comfortable pajamas again, and cute bare feet. Good. Just what he’d hoped for. Her hair was loose this time, falling just below her shoulder blades.

“I brought a few surprises for you.” He grinned and set the bag on the kitchen table. The stack of mail had now been reduced to a small pile of papers. No blueberry muffin mix boxes on the counter, and the sink was empty. She’d been busy.

Cassie turned and spotted the bag, a confused smile on her lips.

Words dissipated. This was a different woman in front of him. Nothing zombie about her.

Pink cheeks, smooth hair framing her unwrinkled face combined with smiling eyes. Revived and…comfortable.

Beautiful.

“What?” she asked.

“You look great.”

A grin split her face. “No, what’s in the bag?”

“Oh. Yeah…” Smooth move, jackoff. Renner pulled out several bags of popcorn and three movies. “First surprise. Your pick between two action flicks or a comedy. Time to check our brains at the door for the night.” He’d been careful not to pick romances or dramas. She’d clearly experienced enough of both recently.

Cassie really had an excellent smile with perfectly straight teeth. The kind people paid thousands for orthodontists to copy. Totally understandable how a guy could fall in love with her at first grin.

Not that that was what this was.

“Fantastic choices, Renner.” She picked the comedy and grabbed the popcorn. “You get that started and I’ll heat these up.”

Goal number one, get her to smile— accomplished.

“What’s the other surprise?” she called from the kitchen as he fiddled with the machine.

“That’s for later,” he grinned.

For goal number two.

When Cassie chose the opposite side of the couch than Renner, each with their own little bowl of popcorn, a twinge of disappointment panged his chest. She still didn’t trust him. Or care for any show of intimacy. However, the fact that she hadn’t chosen the armchair on the other side of the room was promising. Loosening up a little at a time.

He couldn’t expect overnight transformations. Particularly with something this dramatic in her life. It wasn’t like Renner could ease her worries with a quick romp, or even a heart stopping make-out session.

Many clients expected dripping heat the second he pressed the doorbell, to escape their lives even for an hour. That was his goal for every one of them. To help them escape.

Not with Cassie.

Digging to his roots—his protective instincts—was the only thing that would help her.

Although, he’d stop at calling himself a savior. He’d been careful in this new career to distance himself from that label. It had too much responsibility, coupled with unachievable expectations. Like that damn magazine declaring the Sexiest Man Alive had any implications on bedroom skills.

Renner’s were exceptional, of course.

“What are you smirking at?” Cassie broke into his thoughts.

“Um…just glad to see you relaxed,” he half-lied. “You’ve clearly had a busy day.”

“Oh, yeah. All that just…snuck up on me. But it’s easier to get all of it done without my son running around the house.”

“Does your mom have him again tonight?”

“Actually…” She fiddled with a popcorn kernel between her fingers. “My mom and dad took him camping for the week. Get him away from everything so I could…sleep.” Her smile slowly disappeared as she spoke. Cassie’s eyes were on one of the kid’s pictures on the shelf of knick-knacks across the room.

The love and worry in her eyes reminded him of several clients he’d protected as a bodyguard. Mothers were the ultimate figures in that role. Guarding not only their children’s bodies, but their minds and hearts as well.

An endless job, from which no one ever retired. And never grew easier with time.

Now, she had to do it alone. With no one to protect her.

“You think too much,” she broke in again.

Renner chuckled. “That’s my line.”

Throughout the movie, he let her slowly relax on the couch without impeding on her space. She’d chuckled in a few places, but no outright laughter. Maybe she’d seen the movie before, but that didn’t matter. Her small smile had been in place for most of the flick. Toward the end, Renner noticed her legs weren’t curled as tightly underneath her, and her toes were only a few inches away from his thigh.

Time for goal number two.

Renner pushed himself off the couch and grabbed the bag from the table.

“Where are you going?”

“Just keep watching. I’ll be right back.”