Would Scar be lying if he said he didn’t like the fact that Shayla was lying on his bed at the hotel staring out the window right now? Yes, he would be lying, and he didn’t know if anyone could make him tell that lie. Not even the U.S. government.

As they walked into the hotel, it had amused him how awestruck she looked as they entered the old-fashioned elevator. She’d grinned from ear to ear, and all the worry and pain from earlier had evaporated.

By the time they got to his room, she was acting normal. She’d done a pretty thorough job of inspecting it. After she looked at everything, she asked if she could use the bathroom.

“Treat my room as yours,” he’d said, and tried to be silly about it.

The truth was what he wanted to do was go to the police station and grill them about every perp out there. He wanted to get a pack of his SEAL buddies together and form a perimeter, twist arms and rip off heads until they found the loser who was doing this. But him leaving right now would not help her. At the moment, she needed him. He felt humbled by that. No one had needed him in a long time. Not like this. Of course, she wasn’t the needy type, so it was hard for her. Which was so dang sexy.

Holding up a glass of water, he held it out to her. “I thought you might be thirsty.”

“Thank you.” She took a drink and gave it back. “You don’t have to treat me like a kid. I can get water for myself.”

He tsked his tongue and sat on the edge of the bed next to her, putting the water on the side table and trying to relax. “What if I just want to be nice? In case you haven’t heard, I’m a nice guy.”

She laughed and lay back into the pillows. “You are a nice guy. I owe you so much.”

“No.” He didn’t want her to feel that way. “I’m really glad I can help in whatever small way is possible.”

Turning onto her side, she smiled up at him. “I want to ask you something, but I know we’re friends, and I know this may send mixed signals.”

Now, he was definitely liking this. Whatever she thought, he couldn’t help hoping for more, so everything was a signal to him. “What?”

She cringed. “No, never mind.”

“No, tell.” He touched her nose softly.

Closing her eyes, she shook her head. “No, you go in there, and let’s go to sleep.”

“Not leaving.” He crossed his arms. “Out with it, Castle.”

Shayla sighed. “Fine.” Flicking open her eyes, she said, “Would you stay in here, but not in the bed?”

Not waiting for her to continue, he ran back to the couch, grabbed a blanket and pillow, and threw himself and them on the floor. “Done.”

She giggled and peered over the bed at him. “No, sorry, I can sleep on the floor.”

“Not gonna happen.”

She relented. “Okay, but I have to make this up to you some time.”

He hopped up, turned out all the lights, and went back, thinking there was really nothing he’d rather be doing, which made him smile because he was about to sleep on the floor.

They sat in silence as his eyes adjusted to the moonlight. He saw her edge to the end of the bed next to him and drop her arm, reaching out her hand.

He scooted over and took it.

“Sorry, I just hate feeling so vulnerable.”

He smiled, loving the feel of her soft hand in his. “You’re cold.” He sat up, noting that she was beneath the blankets. He thought about how she was young and so far away from home. Was she in shock? “Are you okay, dream girl?”

“Fine,” she said, smiling faintly.

“No you’re not.”

She sighed. “I hate asking this.”

“What?”

“Would you hold me until I fall asleep?”

The way she asked was so childlike and innocent. Surprisingly, he didn’t feel like it was a mixed signal at all. “Of course.” Doing a silly leap, he flung himself over and landed next to her on the bed. “It would be my honor.”

“I don’t want you to think—”

“Shh,” he said, staying on top of the blankets. “I’ll stay on top of the blankets, and I’ll just hold you like this.” He snuggled up against her, holding her in his arms.

It felt heavenly, being here with her, smelling her. Dang it, he knew he was gone. At this moment, he realized he wanted this. Someday, he wanted to be beneath the covers with her. Marriage? Was he thinking that? He thought about how he knew that’s what she would demand of him if he wanted her. Amazingly, he was willing to give it. It was weird.

He felt her relax. She let out a slow breath. “Thank you.”

He hugged her tighter for a moment, then put his head right next to her hair. Man, this was cozy. Forcing himself to not go to the place where he was thinking things he shouldn’t, he focused on being here and protecting her. He focused on the fact that they had more days for him to show her around. He focused on the fact that he was going to do something about her current situation. He didn’t like her feeling so defenseless.

“Pillow talk,” she said softly.

He smiled. Pillow talk would be much more enjoyable here with her than over the phone. “You want me to start?”

“More about Scar Walker, the autobiographical book.”

He smiled. “Okay.”

She said softly, “I want to meet your brother, and I want to go on a whale watching tour.”

Every part of him tensed at thinking of her meeting his brother.

“Please,” she said softly.

He relaxed, thinking to himself he didn’t know if he could very well deny the woman in his arms anything. He was already like soft putty and the relationship had barely started. “Fine.” Steven would rub it in his face, but Scar would do it for her. “More pillow talk,” he ordered, hating the fact he wasn’t in the mood to sleep after thinking of his brother.

She sighed. “Okay.”

“Your turn.”

“For what?”

“Tell me something interesting.”

“What?”

“Tell me something you wouldn’t tell another soul.” Even as he said it, he felt the intimacy of the request.

She didn’t answer for a long time. In fact, he thought she might have fallen asleep. Then she said, “I have all these feelings for you—so different than I had for Jason.” She sniffed. “It’s …”

“Hey. Hey.” He ran his hand down her hair. Was she crying?

She scoffed. “I thought I’d marry Jason. I don’t know if I’ve let go of that dream or not. I mean, being with you has helped. A lot.”

With a pang, he realized he might be the rebound. He really didn’t want to be a rebound. Not with her. Not with all the things he’d been feeling about her.

“I killed the mood, didn’t I?” she asked.

“I guess we are both good at being conversation killers.”

She laughed, turning in his arms.

He pulled back from her and rolled onto his back.

“I guess I’m not so much the dream girl anymore.”

All sorts of thoughts were going through his mind. He filtered it down to the most important: he wanted to spend the next four days with this woman, even if there was nothing after that. “Oh, you are,” he said quickly.

He heard her sigh. “I know that’s—”

“I’m not staying in San Diego, so it’s a moot point. Don’t worry about it.” But he could hear it in his voice. Disappointment.

She scooted toward the edge of the bed. “I think I should just waitress tomorrow. Then you can decide if you really want to take the needy girl around to cool spots in San Diego.”

He turned on his side, propping his head up to look at her. “Nope, you’ve already agreed. You work tomorrow and finish the paper. Then, you’re mine.”

She leaned back into the bed, not saying a word.

Scar was painfully aware that he liked this girl a little more than she liked him and he spent days with her while liking her more. When he left, he missed her. It still wasn’t a bad option. He would take it.

“What are you thinking?” she asked.

“Assessing risks.”

She didn’t reply.

He decided to explain. “In the military and on the field, you have to assess risks with every move you make. Now, I’m doing the same. And I’ve decided that it’s worth being your friend, dream girl. Or even just a rebound guy.”

She laughed. “You have?”

“As you’ve said, I’m leaving. You’re focused and driven and going to get everything you want out of life.”

“You really think that?”

“I know that. Go to sleep,” he said encouragingly.

At first, he could tell she wasn’t asleep. Eventually, he felt her relax, and her breathing deepened.

He closed his eyes and drifted off into dreams about the beautiful woman lying in his arms.