Paige smelled something cooking. She sat up in bed and sniffed the air. What was he making? And was he making enough for two, or when she walked out there, would he tell her she was on her own?

She clasped her arms around her knees and sat, thinking. Mr. Fluffypants stretched out across the bottom of the bed, his eyes closed, his paws kneading the air as he purred.

It’d been a couple of hours since she’d left Wyatt on the deck. She’d come to her room because there was nowhere else to go. She’d thought about calling Lily but didn’t. Instead, she’d fallen asleep.

Now her belly growled, and she knew she was going to have to go out there. Dammit, why couldn’t they have gone to Daddy’s house? She’d never have to see Wyatt then. She could call the chef and get whatever she wanted. She could hole up with satellite television, Netflix, and gourmet food.

Instead, she was in close quarters with a seriously sexy and infuriating bodyguard. She couldn’t avoid him all night. Especially if she wanted to eat.

It was still light out, but the sun had moved behind a mountain and the shadows were growing long. Paige climbed from the bed and Fluffy jumped down, running to the door.

“You little shit,” she said. “You started the whole thing, you know.”

He meowed and scratched at the door, oblivious. She opened it for him and then went into the bathroom to fix her hair and wipe the mascara from underneath her eyes before she followed the scent of food to the kitchen.

Wyatt looked up from where he was standing behind the counter, chopping a tomato. “Hey.”

“Hey.” Her heart throbbed at the sight of him. Why?

“Dinner is almost ready. If you’re hungry.”

“I am. What are we having? Or do I need to fix my own?” She wanted to bite her tongue after saying that last part. Why antagonize him?

“No, I got it. But you can carry this salad outside,” he said, tossing the tomato into a bowl and holding it out.

Paige went over and took it from him. Their fingers brushed and her belly flipped. “Fluffypants is out and about,” she said. “You might want to keep your bedroom door closed.”

“Way ahead of you,” he replied. He jerked his chin toward the closed doors to the deck. “Figured we’d eat outside. The view is too pretty to waste.”

Paige carried the salad outside, making sure to shut the door behind her so Fluffy couldn’t get out. The table was set with a cloth and silverware, though the plates were paper. There were also paper bowls—for the salad, she presumed. There was a wineglass for her and a bottle of water for him. A bottle of ranch salad dressing sat in the middle of the table.

Her heart swelled ridiculously, though it meant nothing. So he’d made a salad and dragged a bottle of ranch dressing loaded with preservatives from the pantry. It wasn’t meant to be sweet. Wasn’t meant as an apology. It was food.

He came outside behind her, carrying a pizza on a round stone. He set it in the middle of the table, and Paige felt a little bubble of happiness welling inside.

“It’s just frozen pizza and bagged salad with a few extra veggies tossed in. If you don’t like it, you can find something else.”

Paige held up her hand in the universal stop gesture. “Don’t ruin the moment, okay? You fixed dinner. Thank you.”

He took a seat and she followed suit. “Yeah, well, it’s from a box. Just thought you should know.”

“That’s not what I was talking about.”

He reached for a slice of pizza and dragged it to her plate before getting his own. She dished out salad for them both and squeezed ranch onto hers. Then she mixed it up and took a bite.

It wasn’t the best salad she’d ever had, but it didn’t matter. The view more than made up for it. The light was golden, and the river was a dark ribbon slicing through the landscape instead of the sparkling one it had been earlier today.

Wyatt was watching her when she pulled her gaze back from the valley. She found herself panicking that maybe she’d gotten dressing all over her face or something.

“Nothing’s wrong,” he said, accurately reading her expression. “Just wondering if you were going to spit it out.”

“I’m not that much of a snob.”

“No, I guess not.”

“You can’t judge a book by its cover, Wyatt. I’m sure Mary Beth’s told you that more than once.”

“She has.” He took a bite of the pizza and chewed.

Paige sighed. Was eating dinner worth this hassle? She could take it to her room and eat alone. Maybe it was better that way. She clearly annoyed him for some reason.

She started to push her chair back, but he reached out and covered her hand. The heat of him sizzled into her, making her nerves pop like jumping beans.

“Don’t go.” He blew out a breath. “I’m bad at this, Paige. Bad at being social, bad at knowing what to say, bad at holding in all the anger I’m carrying around. It’s not your fault, and I know it. I don’t mean to take it out on you.”

She sank back into the chair and searched his gaze. He was so handsome that he made her tummy flip, and so serious her heart squeezed. What was going on in that brain of his?

“Okay.”

“Eat. Please.”

She took another bite of pizza. No, it wasn’t artisan pizza fired in a wood oven, but it wasn’t bad. The crust tasted like garlic. It was actually quite delicious.

“I’m sorry Mr. Fluffypants pooped on your bed. I don’t know what got into him. And you’re right that I shouldn’t have told you to buy another comforter. He’s my cat and my responsibility. I do clean his box at home. I scoop it every day, and I didn’t today so he might have been protesting that rather than you. Your room is closer to the laundry room.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Did the, uh, stain come out?”

“It did.”

“Do you need help making the bed?”

“I might.”

She sighed. “Do you really want to have dinner with me or would you prefer to be alone? Because you don’t have to entertain me, really. I can manage on my own.”

“I’m not trying to entertain you. I’m trying to say I’m sorry for being an asshole earlier. I was pissed about the cat, but I crossed a line when I made it personal.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

They ate in silence for a few minutes as the shadows lengthened. She began to notice the forest sounds. Birds, crickets, frogs—and other things she probably couldn’t identify. The air was cooler too.

“How’s the pizza?” he asked.

She looked down at her empty plate and laughed. “Gone.”

“You ate three pieces. I guess you didn’t do that just to make me feel good for cooking dinner.”

“No, guess not.”

“There’s ice cream.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You want some?”

“Maybe in a little bit. I think I’m too full.” She hesitated. “I’m sorry about your friend, Wyatt.”

He stiffened, his nostrils flaring. And then he relaxed, as if he’d given in to something. “Thanks.”

She toyed with her wineglass. “If you want to talk—”

“I don’t,” he growled.

“Okay.”

He swore as he raked a hand through his hair. “You know what? What the hell. Maybe it’s time.”

She held out a hand. “You don’t have to. Don’t do it unless you really want to.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Either you want to hear it or you don’t.”

“I do. But I don’t want you to feel as if you have to tell me anything.”

“This gonna end up on television?”

“What? No, of course not!”

He kicked his legs out as he leaned back against the seat. “I grew up in Eagle’s Ridge, like I told you. Made the best friends a guy could ever have when we all got stuck in detention together in high school. Ryder, Adam, Zane, Noah, Jack, and Ford. All of us joined the military. Different branches, though Noah is a SEAL as well. Different team, however. We all left for different reasons. I love Eagle’s Ridge, but I’m not as tied to it as Ryder or Adam and Zane. The others don’t seem to be either. They’re all out of the service or getting out, but only Noah is planning to come back. Ford and Jack live elsewhere.”

He picked up his water and took a drink. She sipped at her wine, nervous about what he would say and also wanting to hear it.

“I should be telling them these things, and yet I’m contemplating telling you.”

“I’m a stranger. Maybe it’s easier.”

“Maybe.” He leaned forward, head turned and eyes on the scenery. “These guys are my best friends, the friends of my heart. But a guy makes friends with his teammates, and there was a dude I went through SEAL training with—”

He was silent for a long moment. Then he rocked back and held up two hands. “You know what, I don’t want to do this.”

“Then don’t. You don’t owe me an explanation.”

He stood and went to the railing, his back to her. She sipped her wine.

“We were on the same team,” he said after several silent minutes. “We were on a recon mission, searching for a terrorist stronghold in the Hindu Kush—that’s the high Afghan desert—when we were attacked. A sniper’s bullet took out my friend. Danny was his name. He was standing beside me and then he wasn’t. He had a wife and child—and I couldn’t save him. It was too late.”

Her throat was tight. “I’m sorry, Wyatt.”

“It should have been me. If it had been me, Lisa and Emma would still have Danny.”

“But Mary Beth wouldn’t have you. Your friends wouldn’t have you.” And neither would I.

Paige swallowed. What the heck? She didn’t have him now—didn’t know him, not really—and didn’t want him.

Well, okay, maybe she wanted him. In the most carnal sense of the word.

But that was different.

He didn’t move for a long time. And then he nodded. Barely perceptible.

“Yeah. There’s that.”

She didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know the right words. But she knew what was in her heart.

“Did you know there would be a sniper that day?”

“No.”

“Then you couldn’t have stopped it, could you? What happened, happened.”

He turned to her. His eyes raked over her. She thought she might have said something wrong. But then he put a hand over his eyes and shook his head before dropping it again.

“I’ve told myself the same thing a million times. But I still wonder if I could have changed it.”

Instinct drove her to her feet. She crossed the distance between them and grasped his face in her hands. His eyes burned hot. Twin coals flaring brighter the longer she held him.

“If you could have changed it, you would have. But Mary Beth would be devastated. Your friends would be devastated. And I—” She choked. “Well, I would be in a shitload of trouble, because who would protect me from King?”

He reached up and laid his palm over her hand. His other hand went to her cheek, caressed it with infinite tenderness.

“I won’t fail you, Paige. I won’t let King near you.”

“I know that.”

He drew in a breath. His eyes burned bright. His hands tightened on her.

“I’m tempted to kiss you again, princess. But it’s not a good idea because I don’t know if I can stop this time.”

“What if I don’t want you to stop?”

The heat in his gaze flared and then banked. “Not a good idea to tempt me. Your safety is my priority. Getting involved could compromise my ability to protect you.”

“Bullshit.”

He stared at her for a long moment and then laughed. “Bullshit? Really? I thought you were more proper than that.”

Paige cocked her head. “You’ve never seen American Princess, have you?”

“No. Why?”

“Because if you had, you’d know I’m not proper at all.”

* * *

Wyatt couldn’t believe he’d told her as much as he had. But she was staring up at him with her fierce gaze, the gaze that said she believed in him, and he knew why he’d done it.

If he could tell someone who had no connection to him, no reason to be anything other than truthful with him, then maybe he could eventually tell his friends. He didn’t feel any less guilty, not really, but somehow he felt a little better. He’d said the words to someone, and he hadn’t fallen apart while doing it.

Maybe he could do it again. Maybe, if he said it enough, he’d start to believe there was nothing he could have done differently.

Her lips parted, her lashes dropped as she focused on his mouth, and his groin began to ache with need. He wanted to lose himself in her. But he couldn’t.

“Paige.”

“Wyatt.”

She was cute as she gazed up at him expectantly.

“I want you. I really do. But we can’t. Maybe when this is all over…”

But he knew it wouldn’t happen then. She’d go back to Seattle, and he was staying right here in Eagle’s Ridge. Going back to doing odd jobs and trying to find his footing again.

She sighed and he dropped his hands, taking a step backward. She crossed her arms over her chest and turned to the view. Her profile was lovely and sad.

“You’re right. We hardly know one another, and these circumstances are far from normal. I’m sorry for putting you in a position you aren’t comfortable with. And just so you know, I have never, not once, had an inappropriate relationship with a bodyguard. It’s just…” She shook her head as if clearing it. “This doesn’t seem like the usual bodyguard relationship to me. You don’t act like a bodyguard.”

“How do you mean?”

“You aren’t distant and stuffy, you don’t wear a black suit and carry a firearm in a shoulder holster beneath your jacket. You don’t act like a typical tough guy. I think maybe you don’t have to act like one—it’s clear from your stance that you’re somebody no one wants to mess with.”

“You decided that in the past twenty-four hours?”

“I decided it in the first few seconds. It was the way you stood in my path at the airport, the way Bruce looked at you. You just seem so much more competent and, well, badass than any bodyguard I’ve ever had before.” She waved a hand at him. “I can’t tell where you’d put a firearm, and yet I’m sure you have one—”

“More than one. And a K-bar too.”

“A K-bar?”

“A knife.”

She smiled softly. “See? That’s what I mean. You don’t look armed and dangerous, but you are. That makes you kinda scary. It also makes me glad you’re on my side. Maybe you should consider being a bodyguard full time. I’d hire you.”

He shook his head. “I can’t leave Gran again. I came home for her, so no. But thanks for the offer.”

“I know Eagle’s Ridge isn’t huge, but there are tourists. My dad has property here. He can’t be the only rich person who does. Maybe you could open a security firm of your own right here in town. Then you wouldn’t have to leave at all.”

He’d never thought of that before. But he also didn’t think it would work. There couldn’t be that big of a demand for personal security in Eagle’s Ridge.

But there could be a demand for security in general.

Personal security, business security, event security. Yeah, there could be a demand. And he knew people. Friends who’d left the military. Not his best buddies who all had work of their own, but other former military Special Forces guys.

“Nah, I don’t think there’d be enough work,” he said even while his brain turned the idea over.

“You might be right.” She gave him a bright smile. Maybe too bright. “Well, I suppose I should get online and tend my social media. I still have a brand to build, and a business deal to angle for. Thanks for dinner, Wyatt. It was lovely.”

“You’re welcome.”

“If you need help making the bed, let me know.”

“I will. Thanks.”

“Yes, well, okay.”

She stacked the plates and bowls they’d used, grabbed the silverware, and headed inside. He watched her go, hands stuffed in his jeans pockets, not moving as the sky darkened and the stars started to wink into existence.

Something had changed between them tonight. But whether it was good or bad, he couldn’t say.