Andria stepped out of Suzy’s car and pushed her sunglasses onto her head. She bent over and rested her forearm on the roof of the car. “I’m scared.”

“I know, honey, but you have tall, hunk, and dreamy to look after you,” Suzy said with a smile. “In all seriousness though, sis, you’ll be in good hands.”

Andria lowered her gaze. “That’s what concerns me.” She looked up with a perked brow. “He’s very easy on the eyes.”

Suzy grinned. “You’ll be fine. And I’m only a short drive away if you need me.”

Andria nodded. “Love you.” She shut the door and pulled out her house keys. Jax pulled to a stop behind Suzy’s car just as she pulled away from the curb. He drove a newer Hummer H3 painted black. The windows were tinted dark as well. He rolled down the window and leaned over in the seat toward her.

“Is it okay to park here?” Jax asked. “If you have a garage, I’d rather us park in there sooner than later.”

“Yeah, absolutely.” She pushed a button on a key fob and the garage door opened automatically. “My car is in there right now, but there’s enough room for yours. Go ahead.”

He grinned. “Nice. Thanks.” He rolled the window back up and pulled his car into the garage. The ignition cut and Andria watched him step out.

She’d never had another man park in her garage in Virginia Beach. Hell, she’d not been romantically involved with another man since Draven. Between her fear of sounds at night and nightmares of her past, no one could really blame her.

Andria walked toward the garage and met him inside as he stepped out. Jax was tall, something she was not used to.

“I’d like to get started on our setup and get things moving. Can we go inside?”

“What?” Andria asked then shook her head. “Oh, I’m sorry. Yes, come on.” She stepped past Jax. “Follow me, please?”

She heard his steps follow hers. I wonder what size shoe he wears? He’s so tall. Not that it matters, of course.

“I’ll get you a key. All the locks are the same.” She opened the door and stepped inside. Jax followed her and closed the door behind him, twisting the deadbolt.

He nodded. “That would be great. I need an extra set for the office as well.”

“Why, if I may ask?”

Jax looked around her laundry room as he answered. “In case of emergencies.”

Andria realized where they were standing. She had a few bras hanging to dry as well as undergarments. A blush rushed to her cheeks.

“Umm, come inside.” She rushed through the room that led to her kitchen. “Would you like some water or a Coke?”

“Water would be great,” he told her with a hint of a chuckle.

“I wasn’t expecting company or I would have, you know, put things away.”

“No worries,” he told her and pulled out a seat at her breakfast nook.

She pulled a glass from her cabinet and poured water in it from her fridge spout. “Here you go.”

He took it and sipped. “Thanks. Now as for the set of keys at the office, as I said, emergencies. But also in case we’re not here, or worst-case scenario,” he folded his hands on the table. “If something happened to me, one of my team members would need a way in without busting down your door.”

“Oh,” she whispered. A scenario ran through her mind of Draven holding her down and Jax nowhere around to help her. “Umm, what if, you know, your worst-case scenario happened, and we had no way to get to your team or a phone?”

“That won’t happen,” he told her.

“How do you know it won’t?”

“I’m going to have cameras installed outside the house and in every bedroom.”

She raised her brows. “Wow, that’s a bit invading.”

He lifted a brow. “You want to be safe, right?”

“Yes, but if there’s a camera in my room…”

A grin slowly spread his lips and he chuckled. “Don’t worry. We’ll only watch the coverage if it is required. No one will spy on you while in your own privacy.”

She had a sudden thought of masturbating while he watched. As erotic as that sounded, the thought shot fear through her, as well as laughter. She giggled. “Understood.”

He smiled. “Now that this is out of the way, where will I stay?”

She thought about that. A bodyguard twenty-four seven meant he needed a room. “I have a spare room with a Jack and Jill bathroom that will be all yours.”

“Perfect. We’ll head home and grab a few of my personal items and we’ll be back.”

She raised her brows. “We?”

He nodded. “We’re doing this by the book, Andria. Anywhere you go, I’m there. Anywhere I go, you’re with me.”

She sighed with a nod. “Understood.”

“Please know I need you to be absolutely honest with me about everything. Hold nothing back and don’t worry about feelings or anything of the sort. The more I know, the better I’ll be able to protect you. Jon already put a call in to the Denver Corrections facility. He ordered a copy of Draven’s records. We’ll have those soon. The more information the better, right?”

She nodded again. “Yes, totally.”

“You happen to have old pictures of him?”

She frowned. “Hell no.”

He grinned. “Okay then. No worries. We’ll get one from Denver and keep it with your records. Now,” he stood and rubbed hands together. “Do you have any food allergies?”

She frowned. “What?” This sudden change of subject confused her. She tilted her head. “Why?”

“One of my passions is cooking. If you’ll let me, I’ll cook for us during the day.”

She raised her brows. “Oh wow. I hate cooking. This is perfect,” she said in a rush, then blushed. “I mean, I don’t really know how. And no allergies.”

He smiled. “I’m a good teacher. You have pots and pans?”

“Of course, but they never get used other than to boil water if I need to make mac and cheese or something.”

“See? You cook,” he grinned. “Tonight, I’ll make us chicken and stir-fried vegetables. Sound good?”

Her stomach growled and she placed her hands over her belly to hide the sound, if it were possible to. She grinned. “Yes, sounds good.”

“Andria,” Jax started. “No one should have ever had to go through what you did. I’m very sorry about your father and what you’ve had to survive on your own.”

She smiled a soft smile and a part of her melted inside. “Well, I’ve not been totally alone. I’ve had my sister, Suzy.”

He nodded and stepped closer to her. “You’re a survivor, Andria. Take a moment to recognize that. You’ve been through more than some soldiers I have known. You came out on top and lived to tell about it. Others haven’t been as fortunate.”

“Thank the police for showing up in the nick of time then. Otherwise he would have killed me.” She lowered her head and turned away from Jax. “He shattered my arm, broke my nose a few times, broke my leg once, and the last time, he stabbed me in the chest and stomped on my head. I was in a bad space in my head for a long time. If it weren’t for Suzy and the therapist I was talking to, I don’t know if I would be here right now.”

She rubbed her wrist that had the metal rod and lowered her head. “Well, are you ready to go?” She turned to face Jax and gasped at the closeness between them. She backed up a few steps and felt her heartbeat rise. Her chest tightened and she felt the air pull from her lungs.

Panic.

Jax held his hands up. “I’m sorry, Andria, it’s just me. I’m sorry. Did I come too close?”

She nodded and closed her eyes. She swallowed hard and let out a breath. “Give me time to become accustomed to you being here, Jax. It’s nothing personal, it’s me.”

“I understand, but Andria, please don’t apologize for anything. You did nothing wrong. You’re in a safe space. I promise, I will not come close to you again until you give me permission to do so. Okay?”

She thought about what he said, giving permission. No one had ever offered anything like that before, but then again, she hadn’t let anyone new in her life since the ordeal with Draven. She met his gaze.

His blue eyes were sad. The corners aged him ever so slightly with his laugh lines. She was curious what his laugh sounded like. He held her gaze and did not break it. She submitted first and lowered hers to the floor. “It’s fine, Jax.”

“Andria?”

She looked up at him. “Yes?”

“I’m here, remember that. And I don’t mean in the physical sense. If you ever need anything…”

She nodded. “That’s nice of you, Jax. I’ll keep that in mind.” She turned away from him and walked toward the hallway. “Follow me and I’ll show you to your room.” She stepped through the guest room and stood to the side.

Jax passed her and his size took up much of the room space. He nodded a few times then turned to face her. “It’ll do.”

She smiled and motioned toward the door in the room. “Through here is the bathroom. It connects to the other room. To your left is the closet.”

“Perfect. I’ll setup what I need in here. I’ll ask, though, please do not enter unless permission is granted.”

She furrowed her brows at that. “I wouldn’t enter your room without permission, Jax.” Well, that was off-putting, she thought. She turned to leave the room when he grabbed her arm. She paused and looked over her shoulder to him.

“I wasn’t meaning to be rude. I don’t want you looking on some of the items I’ll have in here.”

“Why, will it scare me?” she teased and pulled her arm away. His grip was solid. She rubbed her arm where he palmed her.

“Quite possibly.”

She made an ‘oh’ with her lips and lowered her gaze. “I won’t sneak around, don’t worry.” She lifted her gaze to his once more and found him looking over her body. She took a step back and turned away. “I suppose we should leave for your home now?”

She heard him clear his throat. “Yeah. I only need a few things. We won’t be gone long.”

She had spent the last few years alone and suddenly a stranger, a man…no, a hot SEAL was moving into her home. As much as it was an invasion of privacy, this was what she asked for. But at what cost? She looked over her shoulder to him and a corner of his mouth lifted in a grin.