If I’m being honest, there were a couple times when I pictured where Ronin lives.

I haven’t spent much time around the man at all, but he’s not the kind of guy you can just forget about once you’ve met him. The intensity in those gorgeous sage-green eyes. All of that bronzed, taut skin stretched over miles of rock-hard muscles. And the way he carries himself is…gulp-worthy. He oozes power and sexiness, moving like a panther with coiled-up energy ready to strike at any moment. And now that he’s basically come to my rescue, I can add “Ronin protecting me from all the scary things in my life” to my seemingly endless list of fantasies about this man.

He’s not the kind of guy who fits into my very small, very planned-out comfort zone. But he’s apparently the kind of guy I fantasize about.

Walking into his condo, I gaze around me in wonder because it isn’t at all what I would have expected. Ronin lives near the top of a really large building. It’s the kind of place with a glossy front lobby and amenities galore: fitness center, pool, rooftop deck. The unit is large and wide open, with modern fixtures and sparse decor. As soon as I walk in the front door I can see straight through to the wall of glass at the back of the living room and my attention is drawn there.

Ronin closes the front door behind us. He sets my bag down on the gray marble tile and leads me down the short hallway leading to the wide-open great room. “This is my place.”

I twirl in a slow circle, my designer’s eye finding points of interest at various spots in the space. The high ceilings. The mosaic tile fireplace surround. The contrasting colors of white natural stone countertops paired beside navy blue shaker cabinets in the kitchen.

“It’s beautiful, Ronin.”

A half smirk indicates the pleasure my compliment brings him and he lifts one shoulder in a shrug. “Thanks.”

I decide to distract myself from this horrific night by focusing on the beauty of his home. “Was it a new build? Did you get to pick the finishes yourself?”

He nods and I give the room one more appreciative sweep with my gaze. Who would have thought a man like Ronin Shaw would have a good eye for design?

The whole space is done so well. Where I expect to see black or brown leather sofas and chairs, there’s actually a really lovely white sectional sofa and a driftwood coffee table. I walk over to it, running my hands along the wood. “This is handcrafted.”

I glance at Ronin, who’s still standing in the mouth of the entry hall and am met with his nod of confirmation. “Worked on it with Jeremy. He’s got a workshop in the back of his house.”

My surprised gaze is stuck on the man before me. I’m seeing him in a completely different light than I had before, and it’s unnerving. Sharp tingles of interest and attraction sizzle along my skin and a very clear line of tension pulls tight between us as he stares back.

Clearing my throat, I look away and walk toward the wall of glass. It’s late, and there are no city lights in sight, which lets me know that this balcony must overlook the ocean. Glancing back at Ronin, I indicate the slider. “May I?”

Crossing the room, he unlocks the door and pulls it open. I step out onto the balcony and the rush of the waves to kiss the sand gives me an instant feeling of serenity like I’ve never felt before.

I grew up here in Wilmington, so the beach is nothing new to me. It’s never really been anything to marvel at either, in my opinion. But for the first time, here on Ronin’s dark balcony, all the best parts of the sea hit me at once: the salty, fresh air, the lulling sound of ocean against shore, the enormous sense of something bigger than you making a place like this possible.

I sigh, walking up to the railing and resting my hands on top of the metal. In the dark of the night I can make out the different shades of black marking the horizon, the sea, and the sand, and a feeling of utter peace washes over me.

This isn’t at all like the security I’ve surrounded myself with in my little suburban community with friendly neighbors and a perfectly ordered home. This isn’t a white picket fence and a manicured lawn. No, this sense of home is completely different and I can’t for the life of me understand how I can feel so perfectly comfortable here. It’s wilder, freer, more wide-open and unpredictable.

Four things I avoid at all costs.

I close my eyes and just listen to the sea.

I feel Ronin as he steps up beside me, his presence unmistakable and almost tangible in this place especially. His place.

Neither of us speaks for several moments. But then his voice rumbles across the bit of distance between us and I shiver.

“Everything makes more sense out here, doesn’t it?”

Opening my eyes, I turn my head and take him in. He’s leaning against the railing on his forearms, his big hands clasped. His heat pulses into the air around us, warming me from the inside out. I suck in a breath and exhale slowly, trying to calm my galloping heartbeat.

“I never thought so before…but right now? Yes. I’m at peace.” I swallow around the words. I’m uncomfortable, because I don’t know exactly how much of that peace comes from the ocean, and how much of it comes from the man standing beside me.

He turns to face me. The scrutiny in his expression is clear. “You never thought the ocean was peaceful before?”

Shaking my head, I think about how I can explain it. “Not really. Too wild.”

Ronin’s head cocks to one side. “But the sea is one of the most predictable things on the planet. It might be wild, but it’s also tame in that way.”

“I’ve never thought about it like that before.”

But Ronin is absolutely right.

We spend a few more minutes at peace before Ronin pushes off the railing and gestures toward the slider. “Let me show you the guest room. It’s late. You must be exhausted.”

Neglecting to point out that he’s right—I am tired—but I don’t want to be alone, I follow him back inside the condo and down the hallway that leads to the bedrooms. He opens a door on the right and enters, my bag clutched in one of his hands. Sparing a quick glance for the closed door on the right, I follow him inside and smile at the cool, calm blues that surround me. The bed is big and inviting, and I suddenly feel the need to curl up in the center of it and completely cover myself. Shield myself from the world outside while in the safety of Ronin’s home.

If I have to be alone right now, I’m glad it’s here.

The thought startles me enough that my eyes find Ronin, who’s watching me. He’s set my suitcase down on the bed, and he’s evaluating me while I stare around the room.

“You thinking about what happened tonight?”

Glancing away from him, I study the floor at my feet. “I just…when I woke up this morning, this wasn’t how I pictured the day ending.”

Ronin folds his arms across his chest. “You’re gonna be okay, Red.”

Lifting my head, I see his belief in me so clearly. “How do you know that?”

He gives a small shake of his head. For a second, confusion flickers across his handsome face. “Because you’ve got real strength inside of you. Anyone would be stupid to underestimate that.”

I swallow, looking for any sign that he didn’t mean what he just said. But there’s nothing but truth staring back at me. I suck in a breath, wondering if the way he see me is what’s really inside, or if it’s just the facade I put on. I’m only as strong as the control I hold, and right now it feels like that’s slipping away.

“I’m going to let you get settled. If you need anything, Red, just holler.”

He doesn’t move.

Staring at his chiseled face, I’m struck by how beautiful he is. He’s a huge, solid wall of what can only be described as everything masculine, but there’s a hard beauty there just the same.

I try to put into words how I’m feeling. “Thank you, Ronin. This is…you didn’t have to let me stay here. I appreciate it more than you know.”

His expression holds a thousand secrets, and I can’t begin to guess at any of them. “Yeah…well…I don’t mind. Jeremy’s like my brother. And that makes Rayne family, too.”

I drop my gaze. The fact that he’s helping me out of obligation to my sister and her husband shouldn’t sting, but it does. It really, really does.

Ronin turns to leave, and my mouth blurts out the question before my mind can stop it. “Where’s your room?”

He pauses, still facing the door. It takes a beat for him to answer me. “Right across the hall.”

Right across the hall.

The thought is ridiculously comforting and insanely terrifying at the same time.

Ronin shuts the door quietly behind him, and I turn to my suitcase. There’s a bathroom adjoining this bedroom, and I can see some of what’s inside through the open doorway. It’s been such a long, draining night that the bathtub is calling my name.

Walking into the bathroom, I sigh in appreciation at the soothing design, light gray floor tiles making the white cabinetry and stand-alone tub sing out chorus. The sea foam wall color is just as calming as the muted blues in the bedroom, and as I stare around me in wonder I think I might just love this place. There are no knickknacks on the counter, nothing decorating either room that makes it scream out “home,” but it doesn’t matter. I know that this is Ronin’s place and that’s enough to make me feel comfortable and safe.

Leaving the hot water running in the bathtub, I head back into the bedroom to pull out some of the things I’ve brought with me. Hanging up a couple of outfits for work in the closet, I then pull out comfortable pajamas and new underwear before shucking off the clothes I wore to work and dinner with Ken—

Ken!

I let my head fall back against my shoulder blades and sigh. How is it that I’ve gone through two hours since finding out that my house has been broken into, talked with the police, and agreed to stay at another man’s home, and not remembered to call the man I’d been out with earlier tonight?

If that’s not a red flag then I don’t know what is.

I glance at the closed bedroom door, knowing my purse is still out in the living room where I’d dropped it after seeing the view from the sliding glass doors. I contemplate throwing on clothes and going out to get it but then I shrug. What’s the point? If I’d felt the need to have Ken by my side during this ordeal I would have thought to call him first. But who had I called?

Ronin.

I snort, thinking about just how much trouble I might be in when it comes to the strong, quiet ex-soldier who oozes sex appeal without even trying.

Leaving my purse where it is, I grab my pj’s and head for the bathtub that’s calling my name.