Groggily, I came to the next morning, with only the light from my digital alarm clock casting a glow in the room with its soft green hue. I squinted at the clock and saw that is was six-fifty. I didn't get any morning sun on this side of the cabin, which always made it a little difficult to get moving. But I managed to stumble out of bed and pull my robe on over my pajama bottoms and old purple and gold high school t-shirt.

Careful not to wake Eli and Wallach, I slipped out to the living room, past my bodyguard's snuggled up and sleeping form, and padded into the kitchen in my fuzzy socks. Mornings in the mountains were pretty chilly, even during the summer, so I always kept my feet covered. I started up the coffee with some of the beans I'd ground the night before and looked around the kitchen, wondering if I should bother making breakfast or just stop by the bakery on my way to the Curious Turtle.

As I was looking around, I noticed some pine needles and maple leaves the boys must have dragged in last night. I frowned, more upset with myself for not sweeping up the mess before I went to bed the night before. Guess I must have had more wine than I'd thought. I grabbed the broom and dust pan from beside the fridge and began sweeping up the tiles to clear the area.

As the coffee began its drip, my boys began their inevitable scratching at the bedroom door. I headed back through the living room, creeping along past the couch where Richard lay, and opened up the bedroom door. “Come on, guys,” I whispered, “back door.”

They ignored me completely and bolted through the doorway and down the hall. “Dammit, guys!” I hissed as they barreled down on Richard's sleeping form.

Richard groaned sleepily as Eli's large form piled on top of him, tail wagging so hard his whole body moved with each to and fro, and he began frantically licking Richard's face.

“Matthew?” he mumbled groggily as Wallach climbed up next to his brother and began running in little circles on Richard's hip and flank. “Huh?”

With a hand to my mouth, I tried to stifle a laugh as I went over and began to pull them off.

“Guys,” I said, laughing as I forced Eli to the floor, “leave him alone, he's not even awake yet.”

Richard wiped a hand down his face, sitting up, his burly, lightly haired chest heaving as he yawned. He scratched lazily, blinking the sleep away.

“Morning,” he said, stretching with his arms over his head, showing off a couple military inspired tattoos on his side and upper arms. Skulls on one arm, identification tags on his ribs.

“Uh,” I said absentmindedly as my eyes traveled down his chiseled form, past his massive pecs to his washboard abs that looked great even at seven in the morning. “Yeah.”

Wow.

He looked up, met my eyes, and realized I was staring. He gave me a lopsided grin, followed by a small blush, and went to cover himself with a blanket.

“Sorry,” he muttered, “not used to sleeping on couches.”

I giggled and smiled back a little as I grabbed Eli and pulled him off towards the back door.

“It's okay,” I said over my shoulder as I guided Eli and Wallach out onto the deck so they could go to the bathroom. “I’m making coffee, if you'd like some.”

“Yep,” he replied with a yawn. “Coffee sounds good.”

I shut the door behind the dogs and turned back around just as Richard stood from the couch, wearing just his boxer briefs. He wasn't facing me, and went to pull his clothes on from where he'd draped them over the coffee table, but now it was my turn to blush as I took in his full form, sculpted muscles, and his perfect, full, muscular ass.

I carefully shut my mouth and took a deep breath as I turned back to the kitchen and I fumbled around for a coffee mug. Well, this had turned into one hell of a way to start my day.

“What time do you normally head into the gallery again?” he asked from the living room as I began pouring my cup of morning coffee.

“Around seven forty-five, eight o'clock,” I replied, careful to keep my eyes focused on the hot, black liquid filling up my ceramic mug, and not on the hot, military veteran security professional in my living room. “That fine with you?”

“It's all up to you,” he replied as he walked into the kitchen, the floor creaking a little as he came up behind me on my right. “We're getting paid to follow you, remember?”

I didn't turn around, a mental image of his nearly naked form filling my mind. I knew if I did, I'd just start blushing again. Instead, I bit my lip and turned to my left, heading for the refrigerator to get the half-and-half.

“Uh, yeah,” I said as I pulled open the fridge, letting the cold air refresh my heated face. “Right.”

Behind me, I heard him run the faucet and squeeze some hand soap in his hand.

It had been a while since I'd seen a man undressed like that. It had been even longer since I'd seen one that looked that damn good undressed. I needed to collect myself. Stooped over with my head almost completely in the fridge, I took a deep cleansing breath, waiting a moment until I felt a little more in control.

“You okay?” he asked, a note of concern in his voice as he dried his hands off on a dish towel.

I grabbed the half-and-half and closed the fridge. “Yup,” I said, my voice more confident than I felt. “Why wouldn't I be?” I looked into his deep gray eyes, his tussled blonde hair mussed on top of his head.

He nodded, pouring himself a cup of coffee. “Anything you need me to do around the house while you're getting ready?”

I shook my head and poured a little of the milky mixture into my cup. “No,” I replied before taking a sip. “Pretty self-sufficient. Anything you need?”

“A shower,” he replied sheepishly, “if that's fine by you. If not, I can get Peter to take over on watch when we get to the gallery, and I can head home to take one. Doesn't make a difference to me.”

“As long as you don't care about froo-froo shampoos and conditioners, be my guest.”

“You got the little soaps that look like decorative flowers and stuff?”

“Just body wash,” I said, smiling and rolling my eyes.

“Won't be like home, then,” he said with a frown of mock disappointment. “But, yeah, sounds great.”

As I sipped my coffee and headed back to my bedroom, Eli and Wallach began to scratch at the backdoor. Richard let them in before I could even mention anything or ask him to do it for me.

With the sound of my bodyguard playing with my two fuzzy children, I set my coffee down on top of my dresser and began pulling out my clothes for the day. It was so strange to realize how easy this had been, how he just seemed to fit, better than any man that had ever stayed here.

Maybe it was because we hadn't slept together the night before. Maybe it was because this was just a professional relationship and nothing was expected. Whatever it was, I kind of liked it.

I almost wished someone would have threatened my life ages ago. Then I would have met Richard even sooner.

Almost.

But what was I even thinking? A guy like him, with a body and a smile like that, would have his pick of the women in town. He wouldn't want anything to do with me.

Would he?