Chapter Six

Tanner

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her the truth, but something held me back. I just didn’t want those big blue eyes to look at me differently once I told her why I was really there. I liked being just a regular guy that could talk and flirt and make her smile without any discussion of drug cartels or danger. Or leaving.

Shit.

I shook my head and peeked out the blinds as she made her way to her grandfather.

The tiny apartment smelled of lemon now, thanks to her cleaning efforts, though I could also smell a hint of what I knew to be her berry shampoo, which made my mouth water and my fingers itch to dig through those thick golden curls while I tasted her lips. Damn, I’d bet she would fit into me like a perfect puzzle piece, so tiny and curvy in all the right places.

I’d watched her work last night at the casino. I’d seen the sleazy bastard at the Black Jack table watching her. He was the one sent to monitor her for the cartel, I’d bet my life on it, but he wasn’t getting any closer to her, especially now that I knew who he was. Stupid fuck. Who did he think he was, slinking around a town like this with his greasy hair and scorpion tattoo, thinking he wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb?

I moved away from the window and went to my bedroom. I unpacked my weapons and laptop, quickly booting up to check for any updates from the team. Nothing. I shot off a text to Tito, letting him know things were under control on my end, tucked my pistol in my waistband, then headed back outside . . . and right into Rebekah.

“Oh!” She bumped into my chest on the top step and stumbled back.

I caught her arms and pulled her to me before she could fall and she grabbed onto my waist, slinging her little body into my chest, toppling us backward into the entry. I managed to right us before we fell to the floor.

Startled eyes lifted to mine. “I’m so sorry!”

“Don’t be.” I tucked a chunky curl back from her cheek.

She stepped away from me. “I, uh . . .” Her eyes flitted down to my boots. “Were you leaving?”

“Nope.”

“Then why were you going out the door?”

“To find you.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I had to think fast. I couldn’t very well blurt out that I needed to keep her in my sights because I was there to protect her. “I wanted to apologize,” I said instead. “For making you uncomfortable earlier.”

She frowned. “You didn’t make me uncomfortable.”

I tucked my hands in my pockets. “Well . . . I didn’t mean to question you or how you protect your home. It’s just my job, so . . .” I offered her a shrug, hoping that was good enough.

“I get it.”

“Do you?”

“Sure. I notice if the coffee isn’t up to par at any restaurant I go to. I guess it’s kind of like that, right?” Her smile was pure sunshine and I wanted to eat it up.

“Right.”

I offered her a hand. “So . . . friends?”

Her gaze darted down to my fingers then back up to my face. “Uh, sure. Friends.”

We shook on it, but I’d always been one to live dangerously. I couldn’t help myself so I brushed my thumb along her hand in a subtle caress just to see how she’d respond. She didn’t disappoint. She sucked in a quick, shaky breath, those big, eerily blue eyes lifting slowly to mine as if she were trapped in a dream. If I didn’t know better, I would’ve thought she wanted me to kiss her.

All too soon, she drew back and inhaled again, wiping her palm down her shorts. “Well. I got Grandpa settled again with his lunch and a book. I need to throw that laundry in the dryer then I’ll clean up the bathroom real quick if that’s okay?” When I didn’t say anything right away, she hurried to add, “I’ll be out of your way as fast as I can.”

“You’re not in my way,” I said. “In fact, I’m enjoying spending time with you.”

She flushed adorably. “Oh. Well . . .” She fidgeted, making me laugh.

“Why don’t I throw the stuff in the dryer and make us lunch while you take a load off on the couch?” I suggested.

“What about the bathroom?”

“What about it? I’ll take care of it later. Don’t worry about it.” I saw her waffling, so I went for the kill. “Come on. I hate eating alone. You’ll be doing me a favor really. Plus, I’ve been told I make an awesome grilled cheese.”

Her expression softened. “Grilled cheese, huh?”

“You like?”

“It’s my favorite.”

“Perfect. It’s settled. Take a seat.” I indicated the couch that doubled as my dining area since the apartment was so small. I didn’t wait to see if she sat down. I rushed and tossed the clean laundry in the dryer that was tucked in a closet, then hurried back to the kitchen.

I shot her a glance and relief slid through me when I spotted her perched on the edge of a couch cushion, trying not to look at my stack of books on the table. I pulled out the ingredients and a pan. “Nothing exciting, I’m afraid,” I said, making her flinch, but I smiled and tilted my head toward the books. “I’m not much of a reader, but my friend, Bubba, is, and he keeps trying to convert me.”

Her brows lifted. “Bubba?”

I buttered the bread. “Johnny Ray is his real name, but we call him Bubba.” I glanced over again. “Kind of a nickname that stuck. He’s from Texas,” I added as if that explained it.

“Riiiiight.” She tried not to laugh. “And he doesn’t mind?”

I shrugged. “I dunno.”

Now she did laugh and it was music to my ears. I asked her more about her dream café while I cooked just to keep her talking and comfortable, and honestly, because I liked the sound of her voice. I also needed her to trust me so when the time came to tell her the truth about who I was and why I was there, she wouldn’t balk and would let me take care of her.

Take care of her.

As much as being back in this town was torture for me, the idea of caring for this woman somehow made it all worthwhile, and I wanted to do it more than anything. I needed to do it.

I plated up the perfectly grilled sandwiches, along with a handful of pretzels and a couple pickle spears, and served them with a flourish.

She stared down at her plate. “Wow. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been served. I’m always doing the serving.” She looked up, her eyes sincere, which gutted me. “This is really nice. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I swallowed thickly and grabbed us both a bottle of water then joined her on the couch, pulling the coffee table closer. “Thanks for staying to eat with me.” I took a bite. “You sure James is okay over there?”

She nibbled on a corner. “He’s got his remote control and I already gave him his medication. He’s fine.”

I turned back to my food, not wanting to pry into her grandfather’s illness. Not my business. Still, I could tell it was hard on her and a part of me wanted to ease the burden for her. “What does he do when you work nights?” She shot me a suspicious look. “He told me you work nights at a casino.”

“Right. Of course, he did.” She took another bite. “The neighbor, Mrs. Clancy, stays with him.”

I nodded, popping a pretzel in my mouth. “That’s good.” I almost offered to do it myself, but there was no way I was going to keep my eyes off her at the casino. I was certain the sicario would be after her, not her grandfather, so that was where I would keep my attention. Not that it was a hardship.

“You said you were from around here?” She peered at me from beneath thick lashes. “Do you have any family in the area?”

My stomach clenched in a sudden grind and I looked away, yanking up my water bottle for a long drink before smacking it down on the table again. “Nope. Not anymore.”

“Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

“It’s okay. Ancient history.” But it wasn’t, was it? As far and as fast as I ran, the memories still threatened to close in on me everywhere I looked in this place. Everywhere, but where this woman was, and that was probably the scariest thing of all.

We finished our meal in silence and she rose to throw her paper plate away. “Well . . . thanks for lunch. I need to . . . I guess I’d better go check on Grandpa then get ready for work later.”

I glanced up and saw the uncertainty in her face. Uncertainty that I’d put there. God, the woman wore her feelings on her sleeve and that was so fucking endearing. “Right,” I choked out, rising to see her out, but she left before I could say another word, leaving the place surprisingly empty.

~ ~

While Rebekah was tucked away in the house, presumably resting or getting ready for work, I called my best friend, Red.

“Hey, man. How’s it going?” he said when he picked up.

“Good. You?”

“Perfect. Got Wolf’s folks safely back here to his place in less than a day and now we’re laying low.” He cleared his throat. “So . . . I’m thinking about proposing to Danielle when this is over.”

A surprised smile lit my face. “Really? That’s great, bro. Congratulations.”

“Thanks, brother. I appreciate that. And you know I want you to stand up with me, right?”

“I’d be honored. Hopefully, we’ll wrap this shit up soon so you can get on with that.”

“Absolutely. Speaking of, how are things with Tex’s cousin? How is she taking things?”

“Uh . . .”

“Maverick.”

“What?”

“You have her, right?”

“I have her. I had her the first day,” I snapped, irritated he would doubt me.

“But . . .?”

“But I might not have told her everything yet.”

“Why the hell not?” he demanded.

“It’s a little complicated,” I hedged, peering through my blinds, waiting for her to mosey out to her truck. “She has an elderly grandfather she cares for. It’s just the two of them. They’re kind of a package deal, so I’m looking out for both of them until I fully assess the situation.” He was silent a long, telling moment. “Don’t worry. I’ve got it under control.”

“Does this have anything to do with her being hot and you needing to get laid?”

I reared back. “What? No!” I took a step away from the window and raked a hand over my head. “Look, Red. She’s fucking cute, I’ll give you that. And I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was attracted to her. But I’m here to do a job and I’ll do it. I know how to keep my focus.”

“And being in that town isn’t messing with your head?”

I rolled my neck. My friend knew me too well. “Maybe a little, but I’m managing, and definitely nothing that’s getting in the way of the mission.” I took a breath. “I’ve got this, man. I promise.”

I heard a door so I peered back out the window. Rebekah was sliding into her truck in her cocktail waitress uniform, looking good enough to eat. “Gotta go, bro. It’s showtime.”