The Protector

by Cristin Harber

  His forehead creased. “What are you talking about?”

  Tears burned the back of her throat. Her sunburned face had to be greasy with the amount of lotions and ointments she’d applied. Chance couldn’t have missed that. But, just in case, she framed her face with her dry, cracked hands, disgusted and embarrassed. “I did everything I could to hide what I look like. But I’m not blind.” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I look like a leper.”

  “Jane…”

  She shook her head. “I get it. It’s cool. You’re being nice. But you can’t pretend you forgot. And you certainly can’t pretend that people haven’t stared at us like we’re a backward Beauty and the Beast.”

  His mouth hinged but nothing came out.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  If Chance had had an assault rifle pointed at his nuts, he wouldn’t have been able to come up with Jane’s explanation. “Wait—what?”

  Even as that fell out of his mouth, stuttering through what felt like a mouthful of cotton, he knew there were better things he should’ve said. But his brain wasn’t connecting the dots in a meaningful way. The nerve endings that should’ve conveyed a response did nothing.

  Jane had sunburn. The most painful he’d come across. Burns and blisters sucked. He didn’t deny that. But so the fuck what? They went away and had nothing on the woman. Inside and out. Because, again, gun to his nuts, he’d swear the truth. Jane made his dick jump to attention.

  “You’re…” Hot. Sexy. Lush. Sexy. Sexy. Fucking sexy again. More than that, Chance wanted to tell her that she was wrong, and even if she weren’t, he didn’t care.

  She wiped a rogue tear. “Don’t.”

  His heart twisted. She was beautiful. But so fucking what? That wasn’t what made his cock jump in his goddamn jeans. She was smart and strong with a lot of sass behind deceptively innocent eyes. Jane was sweet and caring. And, brave. He swallowed hard. “I can come up with a hundred thousand reasons why you’re incredible.”

  “I look like a freak.”

  “Yeah, okay. So you say. I disagree.”

  Her gaze flitted away. “Even if I wasn’t—” She lurched back. “Oh, God. Come on. I mean, I’m shedding on you.”

  He laughed.

  “Do not laugh at me.”

  “Jane—”

  “You don’t get it.” She shook her head. “If I wasn’t burnt to a crisp, smelling like a medicinal coconut, aloe—”

  “For the fucking record, you smell like a flower.”

  Her brow furrowed as if he’d started singing in Greek. “Compared to you, I’m plain—” Her eyes widened, then she nodded as if she’d finally uncovered a secret. “Plain Jane. I normally blend in, except when I finally stand out, I’m like a flaky…” She gestured. “A flaky something red. Apple. Or, lobster.”

  “Kind of a cute lobster.”

  She slugged him in the chest.

  Chance caught her hand between his palms and held her fists to his sternum. “Careful there, Mary Poppins. I’m not sure I trust myself around you if you want to get physical.”

  She gasped, half-heartedly yanking her arm, but he held firm. He could feel her pulse thunder under his palm, and Chance didn’t know what he was doing, but he didn’t plan to let her go just yet.

  His day had been a rollercoaster. At the first souk, Chance decided he’d never been more drawn to a woman. But, by the last souk, he knew they couldn’t have a future. Their jobs kept them on opposite sides of the globe. No matter what her opinion of the Thanes, she cared about that boy. It was crazy and unfair that he wondered whether or not she might leave Teddy while she wrapped silk fabric around his stomach.

  The driver slowed in front of a restaurant Chance had planned for dinner. It didn’t cater to tourists but still had the splash that the city was known for. The sedan came to a stop. His thumb caressed her wrist before he released her hand. “Hungry?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  He chuckled. “That’s a better answer than no.” The driver opened his door. Chance stepped into the heat and waited for Jane to join him.

  Tentatively, she stepped out. He offered her his arm, and when she took it, he led her through an opulent arched doorway, and he held the door open for her. “Want to get a drink first?”

  “I could use one.”

  She excused herself to the bathroom while Chance spoke with the hostess. When Jane returned, he led her to an elevator which them took to a rooftop bar.

  The bar was more crowded than he expected, but he found a small table next to the glass rail that overlooked a bustling market below as the orange sun melted against the horizon.

  A server greeted them, offering the drink list, and introducing himself as Sagar.

  Jane looked it over after Sagar departed. “What are you having?”

  He skipped the cocktails and perused the extensive beer list. “I don’t know.”

  Sagar returned, and Jane handed him her drink list. “I’d like to try a great beer that’s not readily available in the US.”

  Sagar interest had been piqued. “Would you consider a flight that would meet your request?”

  Chance grinned, raising his eyebrows. “I’m good with that if you are.”

  “That’s perfect.”

  “Sweet.” He flipped the menu over. “What about something to eat before dinner?”

  Jane nodded. “I’m good with whatever.”

  “Yeah, but what do you want?” He nudged her drink list closer to her. “Other than the moutabal sitti, because I’m not leaving this place without trying it.”

  She rolled her lips together, smiling as she reviewed the menu. “And, the labneh with mint.”

  “Nice choice.” Chance nodded and thanked Sagar. Once they were alone, he admitted, “I pegged you as a fruity cocktail girl.”

  Her eyebrows arched as she playfully shook her head. “You’d be wrong.”

  “So I keep learning.”

  Jane rolled her lips tightly and then laughed. “When I first met you, there was a small chance.” She pinched her fingers together. “That I thought you were wrong a lot.”

  “Shocking.”

  “I thought you couldn’t tell,” Jane laughed and brushed her hair back. “What else have you been wrong about?”

  He snorted. “When you’re around, I’m starting to think everything.”

  Their flight of beer arrived and cut off her response. Chance let his attention linger on her before appraising the small glasses that rested on a skinny wooden plate. The beer samples were arranged in color from lightest to darkest.

  “You choose first.” He waited as she picked the lightest beer. He selected its opposite; the darkest sample. “Cheers to those who have seen us at our worst and our best but can’t tell the difference.”

  The corners of her eyes tightened, and she waited a beat. “Cheers.”

  His lips quirked and then they sipped the beers. After trying the other samples, they agreed that Sagar had done right by them.

  The cold mezzes plates arrived, and their conversation died as they devoured the dishes.

  “Guess I was hungrier than I realized,” Jane admitted with a laugh. “And it was delicious. All of this is so… amazing.”

  “A little trendier than my style.” He shrugged. “But I couldn’t do this all the time like you.”

  “Me?”

  “You know. Living life with the Thanes. Everything perfect and just, I don’t know—” he snapped, “arrives when you want it.”

  “That’s how you picture my life?”

  He chuckled. “The Thanes are as close to royalty as Americans can get.”

  “Oh, no.” Her nose wrinkled. “Their lifestyle is way out-there, but it’s not for me. I’m more of a homebody.”

  A homebody he met in Syria…

  Jane tilted her head. “What’s that look?”

  “I’m a bit of one too.”

  She leaned forward and dropped her voice. “Want to know a secret?”

  “Always.�
��

  “During the summer, Teddy and I sit in the backyard when the sun goes down, and we watch the fireflies.”

  “Nice.” Chance wondered how hard Liam’s global commute was. “Why’s that a secret?”

  “If he’s up late, Dax and Gigi would prefer he attend events with paparazzi and photo lines.”

  Teddy’s parents were first-class douche canoes. “I’d watch fireflies with you guys.”

  A sweet grin curled on her lips. “Wouldn’t that be crazy.”

  He finished the last swig of a beer, thinking it wouldn’t be that crazy.

  Wistfully, she glanced over the glass rail. The sun had sank behind the horizon, painting the sky a deep orangish-red that wouldn’t last. It deepened the red of her dress and warmed the lightness of her hair. He wouldn’t have noticed the light at any other time. But now, her sunset-cloaked image burn into his memory. “What should we do tomorrow?”

  She met his gaze. “I’m leaving tomorrow.”

  Oh, right. Here today, gone tomorrow. Likely never to cross paths again. “So…” He didn’t know what should happen next. Asking her to go home with him seemed like the obvious and cliché thing to do. Plus, Chance was certain she’d demure. He didn’t blame her. There was something odd about a one-night stand with a woman he wanted to see again. “Do you need to head back?”

  “Not necessarily.”

  What the hell did that mean? Was that a vague way of asking to go back to his place? Chance leaned closer and whispered, “I don’t know what the hell that means, Mary Poppins.”

  Her eyes brightened, and she mimicked his behavior. “You don’t have to babysit me all day and night. I’m sure you have things to do.”

  Wait. What? He jerked back. “Do you always put others before yourself? Or, only when I’m around. Because I can’t tell if you’re—”

  Her shoulders stiffened. “I’m a nanny.”

  “That’s a job. Not who you are.”

  “Sometimes that’s not true. Look at you—”

  “Me?”

  She bit her bottom lip. “Why do you have your job?”

  “Easy. Because I feel a sense of duty.”

  Jane smiled as though Chance had walked into her trap. “A lot of jobs could fulfill a sense of duty. But you live where the job says. I bet you only socialize with your teammates. Unless, there’s a woman you meet on the job—”

  “I never meet women on the job—present company excluded.” He held her gaze until she pulled away.

  “You are your job, too.”

  He pursed his lips, knowing that his fuckin’ job was keeping him from whisking her off this rooftop bar and into his bedroom. She wouldn’t be a one-night stand if not for Aces. Chance pulled his bottom lip into his mouth, frustrated and not wanting to admit defeat. But she’d made her point.

  Abruptly, he stood and tossed his napkin on the table. “Let’s go.”

  Carefully, Jane folded her napkin and placed it on the table, then pushed out of her chair. He moved close enough to rest his hands on her hips and yank her close. Instead, he shoved his fists into his pockets, refusing to step back. His heart thudded, knowing that only a few inches of space remained between her warm, soft body and his.

  Jane angled her head back to meet his gaze. “Where are we going?”

  A server brushed by. They stepped out of the way, and Chance seized the excuse to rest his hand on the small of her back. “Hell if I know.”

  Then without another word, he guided her across the rooftop bar. A hot wind blew over them. Flowering vines lined their path to the elevators. Their thick green leaves rustled.

  She stopped and turned. “What are we doing?”

  That was one hell of a loaded question, and far harder to answer than where were they going. Except, Chance knew the answer. He’d been falling for her. That was the truth, whether it was a good idea or not. “No idea.” Which was an absolute lie, but he followed it up with the God’s honest truth. “But I’m not ready to stop.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Jane couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe. Chance had locked her in place with quiet words and his all-consuming presence. Her back touched a wall covered with plants. He towered over her and arousal hummed around them.

  She had no idea what to do. The most beautiful man she’d ever met was acting as though he might kiss her. The possibility terrified her. She didn’t want the moment to end, and she’d never survive the certain disappointment that would course over his face if he, for some insane reason, actually kissed her.

  The elevator chimed. A talkative group exited, and Jane threw herself out of Chance’s reach, practically running to the safety of the open elevator.

  He followed behind her and reached over Jane’s shoulder to catch the elevator door as it tried to close on her.

  Jane scurried through the doors, mumbling, “Thanks.”

  “Sure.”

  When the doors finally shut, Chance pressed the button for the first floor and stayed on the opposites side of the small space. Between them, Jane stared at the ornately patterned floor that looked as though it were drawn with gold.

  Thankfully, Chance had more manners than she did. He was a perfect gentleman, not asking why she sprinted away. She couldn’t imagine what he must’ve thought, and her cheeks flamed.

  The elevator made its slow descent, and Chance pulled out his phone, typing until they arrived on the first floor.

  Finally, she glanced at him as they stepped out. His casual demeanor was a lesson in cool. Nothing could faze him. He slowly ambled out, and she self-consciously walked by his side. They passed through a small hallway then he held open the door as they exited, acting as though nothing had just happened.

  Well, nothing had happened.

  Maybe nothing had even been about to happen. Jane could have projected her fantasy into a perfectly benign conversation.

  Their driver waited for them at the curb, and they slid into the back seat. Chance was still cool as cucumber. Her embarrassment grew, and she recalled his words. No idea what they were doing. Of course not, because they didn’t make sense! She could’ve slapped herself on the forehead.

  The car sped off. She didn’t trust her voice enough to ask where they were going. It would kill her when they arrived at her hotel. She didn’t want to end the night like this, didn’t understand what Chance saw in her—or didn’t—and Jane wanted to scream.

  “We’re here.”

  This wasn’t her hotel. How long had she zoned out? They couldn’t have been in the car for that long. Their driver opened the door, but she didn’t see the bright lights that lined Abu Dhabi’s now-dark streets.

  Chance helped her out. The sounds of the city became clearer. Jane chewed on her bottom lip and scanned the dark parking lot. There wasn’t much to see beyond a large partition. Perhaps it was a retaining wall. Then she realized scent of water hung in the air. “What are we doing?”

  “We’re going kayaking.”

  Jane turned toward Chance and could faintly see his face. “Did you notice that night fell?”

  His lips quirked. “I did.” With a tilt of his head and a grin that was more than enough to make her heart trip, he led them toward a dock.

  She’d grown up in Pensacola and had seen her fair share of docks. By those standards, this dock was nice. Just like everything else in Abu Dhabi. Chance took her hand and pulled her stiffly around the gate. He didn’t let go. Her gait only became more awkward as they walked by a deckhouse.

  And that’s when she saw the kayaks that stole her breath. “Chance?” The kayaks glowed. “Those are…” She didn’t have words. Kayaks weren’t beautiful things. Yet, the two that floated side by side were. They left her breathless. She turned to him, met his eye, and know he had made her breathless.

  “Greetings, Mr. Evans!”

  She turned toward the voice as a stout man emerged from the shadows.

  His belly was as large as his smile. “Welcome!”

  The men spoke as t
hough this activity had been quickly planned. She couldn’t look away from the kayaks. Underwater lights were attached at the front of each, and the result was magical.

  “Cool, huh?” Chance stepped to her side. “I always wanted to do this.”

  Cool wasn’t in the same universe. She peered over the side of the dock as they were fitted with life jackets, given woefully few instructions on how to kayak and where they could go, and before Jane knew it, the stout man situated her in one kayak. Chance floated beside to her side.

  Their movement disturbed the shallow water. Clouds of sand whirled to their sides.

  “Are you ready?”

  “Sure,” she said.

  His kayak glided away, and she tried to follow her instructions. Apparently kayaking was easier said than done.

  Chance called over his shoulder, “Come on, Mary Poppins.”

  The Disney nickname was yet another reason Jane was sure this wasn’t a date. But, at the moment, she didn’t care and had bigger problems: moving.

  She fumbled with her paddles, splashing when she meant to stroke. The impossible little boat moved sideways instead of following Chance.

  He glided back as easily as he’d left. “Stuck?”

  “No, thank you very much.” She paddled again just as fruitlessly as before. At least this was an activity she didn’t mind embarrassing herself over. “I’m enjoying the view. That’s all.”

  Chance snatched the end of her paddle.

  “Hey!”

  With his other hand, he effortlessly padded from his kayak, towing her along. Maybe if she hadn’t run from him at the rooftop bar, this would be embarrassing. But she just laughed. “Show off.”

  He chuckled, easily sliding his paddle from one side to the other, not letting go of her.

  “Pretty impressive, Hercules.”

  “Obviously, my goal.”

  She smiled and relaxed. Chance did all the work. It felt as though they were sliding across glass until he stopped paddling. They drifted, and he used her paddle to pull her by his side. A beautifully lit circle surrounded their boats. Beyond them, the night sky and dark water blended together into a black abyss. “I feel like we’re the only people on earth.” Fish darted by. Underwater plants moved with the underwater currents. “I didn’t know anything like this existed.”