“Blayze?” Sophia had only whispered it, a test to see if he’d woken up yet. She rolled onto her side, looked across the spacious loft to see his muscular profile in the morning sun. Though he lay flat on his back, he’d turned away from the bright, circular window behind him, leaving his face in the shadows.

When no response came, she sat up, stretching her arms over her head while taking the chance to observe him. One foot hung off the edge where it’d broken free from the sheets. And while his foot jutted into the shadows of the loft she could see his muscled calf too. A twisted blanket covered half of his body, mainly just the remainder of his legs and torso. He’d removed his sleeveless undershirt in the night, somehow landing it halfway across the room where it sat in a heap on the carpeted floor.

The sun’s glow illuminated the glorious proportions of his chest, shoulders, and arms. Each well-defined muscle cast an impressive shadow of its own. A long, purplish scar ran along his ribs, something she hadn’t noticed during his morning workouts. But like the scar through his eyebrow, it didn’t surprise her. The man was sure to have battle wounds after all. Some, visible on the surface of his skin. Some that most would never see. Or at least, never detect for what they were: effects from seeing what he’d seen. Doing what he’d sworn to do.

Just picturing Blayze in harm’s way caused Sophia’s heart to race. Blayze was no longer serving overseas, and for that she was relieved. But he was still risking his life. Her heart kicked into an anxious rhythm as she considered what she’d tried to keep in her mind’s shadow, away from the spotlight of her thoughts: That drone. The latest package. Boom!

And just like that, the wretched cocktail of emotions came pouring in—the main ingredient, something she hated to admit—was fear. Anger was there too, a close second, while a deep sense of sorrow clanked around like cubes in a glass. Sorrow for losing her mom. For the fact that it wasn’t a mere accident, like she’d thought. Sorrow for seeing hostiles and fear and ugly, vicious threats win. Call it unhealthy, but Blayze was her one distraction right now. Her one happy place where her troubles didn’t seem so big.

Before the drone made its appearance, their evening had been perfect. Blayze Brockton, aka: the strong, silent type, had opened up to her; something she’d tuck into that corner of her heart, right where all cherished memories went.

And their time spent together on the couch… it was the last thing she’d thought of before falling asleep. And boy had it successfully taken her mind off of every unpleasant thought. She could swear those lips of his held some sort of power. Each move, taste, and touch like trained perfection.

She’d dated men who rushed in for sloppy kisses, paying no mind to the intimacy they could nurture in those moments, too fixed on what lay ahead. As if any warm body would do. Sophia had left them to go find any other warm body but hers. She wasn’t looking for that. She was waiting for something real.

And Blayze… heat swirled around her heart like a calming drug. Blayze had taken his time, murmured her name, and touched her face. He’d kissed her like no other woman could take her spot, and she liked that. Of course, she hadn’t known him long, she’d admit that. And it was unlike her to become so smitten in such a short time. How many movies had she watched where she wanted to yell at the screen, ‘Stupid girl, why are you falling for him so fast?’ Or ‘Foolish boy, you’re going to get your heart broken’? Yet, here she was, caught up in a fairytale love of her own. Well, minus the death threats, she thought wryly.

The truth was, she didn’t know what was developing between them. But the good news was, she didn’t have to define it.

Sophia had dangled her legs over the edge of the bed, readied herself to get up and prepare a few notes for Michelle Marshall, the woman who’d agreed to replace her at tonight’s event. Yet, just as her toes grazed the carpeted floor, a chill swept in, making her want to get under the covers instead. She glanced over at Blayze, still sound asleep where he lay. Roman hadn’t stirred yet either.

Why not take a cue from them?

The thought had her stretching her arms out to either side, pulling in a deep breath, then falling back onto the mattress with a great swoosh. Later she could call Michelle and discuss some of the key points for tonight’s speech. Later she could consider just how long she was willing to stay at the cabin and what else she’d be willing to miss. But for now, Sophia would let herself enjoy sleeping in. Something she hadn’t done in a long time.

* * *

Sophia focused in on the hand Blayze had hovered over the knight. It was the third chess piece he’d considered during this turn alone.

“I didn’t picture you being so indecisive when it came to chess,” she razzed.

Blayze took his eyes off the board and shot her a look. “Maybe I’m distracted.”

Sophia wanted to take credit for that, but she knew there was too much on his mind to make assumptions. Heck, not two minutes went by where she wasn’t reminding herself she’d have to miss the event tonight. “I wonder if Roman will catch any fish out there,” she said.

Blayze’s eyes stayed fixed on the same spot. “Yeah.”

From the sight of the pantry, they wouldn’t go hungry if he didn’t. The large assortment of pasta, rice, and soups could feed a family for weeks. She rested her chin in her hands and sighed. Dang, Blayze was handsome. If she relayed that fact to him in Spanish, would he know? “What are you thinking about, Mr. Guapo?” she asked.

“I’m thinking that…” His face turned hard, nearly tortured.

She watched him as the moment lapsed on, somehow knowing exactly what he would say: That becoming romantically involved was a mistake. It’d been written on his face all day. Since they met, actually. She just hadn’t wanted to admit it.

A hot flash of panic sparked in her chest. “Strike that,” she blurted. “Tell me about your father. Your parents divorced when you were young. And unlike your mom, he remarried, right?”

His brow smoothed, the distraction seeming to do its job. Tension melted from his brow and chin. He moved the knight he held and leaned back into the chair. “My dad was partly my incentive to go into the Navy, but…” a rueful smile pulled at one corner of his lips, “not in a good way. I lost respect for him after he cheated on my mom. I’m sure the guy had—or has— a lot of good traits. In fact, I know he does. But the one thing that stood out most, the one thing I hated, was the weakness I saw.”

Sophia draped an elbow over her lifted knee, watching as Blayze shook his head, his blue eyes thoughtful. She felt herself lean in, anxious to receive another morsel of who he was. Of what’d shaped a man like him.

“He’d made a promise to my mom. And she was an amazing woman. I mean, she had her faults like the rest of us, but… she was closer to perfect than anyone I’ve known.” Moisture welled up in his eyes. The slightest glisten. When he blinked, it was already gone. “I couldn’t respect a man who was so weak in the flesh like he was. Chasing one woman after the next. Mainly, his secretaries. It turned me off to white-collared living and made me want to do something with my life that… proved I was strong. Strong enough to do anything I set my mind to.”

Sophia wouldn’t admit it then, but she’d researched this BUD/S training she’d heard everyone talk about. In fact, the physical and mental requirements to become a SEAL were so rigorous, of those tough enough to attempt it, less than ten percent achieved it. She dropped her eyes to the board, looking blindly over the pieces as another question came to mind. “Do you think your dad’s faithful to his wife now?”

“Yes,” he said. “I think he’s realized he’s lucky to have Barbara. She’s good to him. They seem happy from what I can tell. I’m just glad Jazmin didn’t choose a man like that. I’d have had to kick his trash.”

She laughed, sensing he was only half joking about that.

“I get the impression that your parents had a good relationship,” he said.

Sophia nodded, smiled. “The best. He used to march into the kitchen after work, whisk her away from the stovetop to dance. He’d twirl her around the island, bring a hand to her back, then dip her low and kiss her.” Now she was the one tearing up. “They were very much in love.” She sensed the upset coming back to her now. That sick knot in her gut that grew horns each time she considered the senselessness of her death.

“I’m sorry this happened to you and your father,” Blayze said. His jaw tightened as he held her gaze. “We’re going to stop this guy before he can do any more harm, I can promise you that.”

But could he? Could Blayze actually make a promise so bold?

He cleared his throat and motioned to the board. “Looks like someone is stalling,” he teased.

She dropped her gaze. “I’m not very good at this game. I get too impatient. I hate having to think so many steps ahead.”

Blayze nodded. “Yeah, but it’s the only way to win. And you can’t just be thinking about what gets you ahead. That’s a fatal error in war. You’ve got to figure out what gets the other guy ahead. See things from their perspective. If you’re only focused on your own game, you’re bound to get blindsided.”

She shivered, checking the wall clock as a knock came to the back patio door. The iPad resting beside the chess board showed the footage captured by each camera spread throughout the property. One look at the back porch said it was Roman out there. A fishing pole erect in one hand, a bucket gripped in the other.

Blayze hurried over to the door to open it.

“We’re eating fish tonight,” Roman announced proudly. “I got some real beauties.”

Blayze helped Roman find his way around the kitchen while Sophia considered the event she was missing. In twenty-five minutes on the dot, Michelle would step up to the pulpit and deliver a speech in Sophia’s stead. No worries, she assured herself. Michelle would do an excellent job. And hopefully soon, all of this would be over.

When she couldn’t imagine what an end would look like, Sophia forced her eyes on something higher. Sometimes, only God knew how to set things right. The truth of that struck her, had her nodding her head in acceptance. And with that, Sophia closed her eyes and offered the few words she could muster in her heart. Please help us get through this.