Gunner had gotten that same impression. If he hadn’t been sent here by Lily’s dramatic mother, he wouldn’t have believed the two were related. The only thing they shared was the thick, blond hair and bright blue eyes.
“I won’t hurt her.” Gunner stared deeply into the man’s eyes, knowing this was a guy who could read him. He didn’t mind that. He had nothing to hide, besides who hired him and the fact that he had been hired to protect Lily.
Several seconds passed then the man unclenched his fists and lowered his shoulders. “I believe you,” he admitted.
Gunner tilted his chin to him and hurried for his rented sport utility. He had a job to do. It looked to be an easier job than he’d imagined. Lily Jewel did seem to be sweet and innocent like the man had said. This town appeared to be void of any bad intentions. Yet if there was one thing Gunner knew, things could be much different than they seemed.
Chapter Three
Lily made it to the lake in a little over an hour. The ride was mostly flat and scenic through fields of gold and green with towering mountains to the west. She grinned as she pedaled slowly across the dam and around the west side of the first lake. There was one water-skier cutting through the smooth water, but besides that it was pretty quiet. On every holiday or weekend throughout the summer, the pebble-strewn shoreline had been filled with campers and sun-seekers, but with the summer season winding down it was calm like she liked it. Labor Day was next week and that would be insane again. After that the weather would most likely change, and she’d have to move on from this spot that she loved.
She made it to her small trailer, propped her bike against the exterior wall, and stashed her backpack inside. Taking a long drink from a water bottle, she knew she had about twenty minutes until it was fully dark. Plenty of time for a walk, before she settled in to read until she crashed for the night. Her life was quiet and sometimes lonely. It was exactly what she craved after the drama, neglect, and emotional abuse of being raised by Bella Jolie. Her mother had constantly told her she was a “mistake”, but Lily had often wondered if she hadn’t been conceived to either keep her father close or as a publicity stunt. Keeping her father close hadn’t worked, but Lily had been used for more publicity stunts than she cared to remember.
The memory of the incredible man she’d met outside the deli tonight popped into her head, and thankfully pushed her mother out. She craved more interaction with him. She smiled to herself. She’d see how tomorrow afternoon went, but she was more excited to see him again than she had been for anything in a while.
Walking quickly back along the dirt road that encircled almost the entire lake, she reached the treacherous, narrow part with a hill on one side and a fifteen-foot drop-off to the lake on the other. She hadn’t liked pulling her trailer with her beat-up Chevy around these blind corners, but luckily, she hadn’t passed anyone coming the other way when she arrived here in early June.
She heard a vehicle crunching around the corner up ahead, and her eyes darted to the steep hill or the drop-off. The sun had disappeared behind the towering mountains to the west, and the driver might not see her in the deepening gloom. If only she could scramble down to the lakeside, but there wasn’t a good trail here, and it was too shallow on the edge to jump from the road and not break a leg.
Rushing across to the hill, she shimmied up the almost-vertical, sagebrush-strewn side, but didn’t get far before a white sport utility, a Volkswagen Atlas, rounded the corner. The lights were on but she avoided staring into them. She looked through the windshield and gaped when she saw the handsome man from outside the diner staring back at her. His eyes widened in surprise, either he hadn’t been following her or hadn’t planned on being caught.
He continued along the road and quickly disappeared around the bend. Lily eased back down the road, her heart thumping from the interaction. Could it even be termed an interaction? She’d been so excited to see that man again tomorrow, but now fear overrode any excitement. He was stalking her. He could easily have followed her here on her bike. Part of the reason she stayed safe was her knowledge of self-defense but most of it was she was careful and aware. Her dating experience over the years was limited to men she’d grown to trust. If she went out with a stranger, she met them at the restaurant and never drank alcohol or went anywhere alone with them.
She eased down to the road and walked back south toward her trailer. Scanning each pullout and camping space, she didn’t see the white sport utility anywhere. This part of the road dead-ended half a mile farther south into a trail that a vehicle would have a hard time navigating. She supposed with an Atlas, he could climb up one of the dirt roads and navigate the small mountain next to the lake, or he could have set up camp at the end of the road.
She wasn’t ready to expose herself out alone in the deepening gloom and go search for him. Locking herself in her trailer, she took a long drink and said an even longer prayer. That man hadn’t shouted evil intent to her, but she’d learned that it was rough to escape from a person that well-built. The other thing that scared her about him was how comfortable he’d seemed in his own skin. He wasn’t someone to underestimate, and she suddenly was not looking forward to seeing him again tomorrow. She just prayed she wouldn’t see him again tonight.
Chapter Four
Gunner didn’t enjoy waiting but had learned to tolerate it over the years. All morning long he’d watched the cameras and listened for the sensors he’d set up late last night to focus on Lily’s old trailer, waiting for her to appear. He was a patient person by nature, but his patience had been tested many times in the military, and since then, as he’d done undercover jobs for Sutton. Anyone who thought security was glamorous and action-packed had obviously never done it. There were intense and fulfilling moments in these jobs, but most of the time it was waiting and watching.
He hadn’t planned on Lily seeing him last night and wondered how it would affect the job. He’d followed her discreetly to the entrance to the lake, simply to make sure she got there safely. Then he’d stopped below the dam and waited to drive along the west side and past her trailer, giving her what he thought was long enough for her to get settled in her trailer for the night. Instead she’d come walking back along the dirt road as he came in, and it was obvious by the surprise in her eyes that she’d recognized him.
Her trailer door finally popped open about nine-thirty a.m. Did she regularly stay up late and sleep in? Last night her lights had never gone out. He’d gotten almost five hours sleep then awoken early to run and do the best workout he could using only his body weight, listening for any alerts on his watch that there was movement around her trailer.
She was dressed in a white t-shirt and knee-length black shorts, her long, thick hair braided out of her face, ready for work again. Gunner liked that she took care of herself but that she didn’t pile on the makeup or fancy clothes. She was a natural beauty and that was exactly the type of woman he was attracted to. Not that attraction mattered right now, but he could at least acknowledge she was gorgeous and understated.
She opened her arms wide, leaned her head back, and said, “Good morning, world, thank you for being beautiful.” Then she kissed her fingers and pushed them toward the heavens. “Thank you, Lord. I love your creations.”
Gunner almost smiled. She was cute in her innocent belief. In a way, she reminded him of his new sister-in-law Mae. Innocent and appealing. It seemed his fears of guarding a spoiled debutante were very unfounded. Hopefully he hadn’t messed up last night with her seeing him. He’d follow her to work today and wait until after her shift when they were supposed to meet. He wasn’t charming or a smooth talker like his brother, Jex, but hopefully he’d been around Jex enough to know how to talk her into more than just a late lunch with him.
Lily was jumpy throughout work. Her eyes kept darting to the door, watching for that man. No sign of him inside the restaurant yet. Would he really be waiting for her after work? Had he really followed her last night?
“You oka
y, girl?” James asked.
She nodded quickly. “I’m better than your steak.” She winked at him.
James threw back his head and laughed. “That is true, but only barely.”
“Because your steak is so fabulous.”
“That’s right. Isn’t your shift over?” James always had to be the one to send her out the door. Normally she loved working the lunch-time shift. She’d ride home to the lake and either go swimming or one of the local farm boys with an old jet boat would offer to take her wakeboarding or skiing. She lived to be in, or on, the water. But today she was apprehensive and uncertain. Maybe that man wouldn’t show up. Why did she want him to? Just because he was handsome didn’t mean he was someone she wanted to date. She’d found that out the hard way.
“Yeah, it’s going to be a sweat dripping down my back ride to the lake today.”
“I can take a break and run you home.”
She shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m fine. You keep prepping for the dinner rush. See you tomorrow.”
“Be careful, girlie.”
Something in his eyes was different than his normal warnings. Did James sense something was out of the ordinary? They hadn’t talked about him interrupting her conversation with Military Boy yesterday. If James didn’t feel good about him, maybe she should ask for a ride home rather than wait for that man. Yet, he obviously knew where she lived. Maybe it was time to pack up and move on. It still felt like summer but she’d noticed the late nights were getting cooler. She should head south, find a little spot in southern Utah or Arizona for the winter. She’d ride her bike home and pack up. She wanted to say goodbye to James, and her buddies Blake and Josh who always took her boating, but that would make it even harder. Next summer she’d come back by here for a visit, but head farther north to stay. Wyoming and Montana were calling to her.
“I will.” She smiled at him and waved goodbye, savoring the concerned look in his eyes, wishing she could thank him for his friendship. It was interesting that so many people she’d met in her travels seemed to truly care for her when her parents never had.
She hoped she was overreacting today. Maybe the man wouldn’t even appear. Maybe that feeling she’d gotten the first time that she saw him, that he knew her, or the creepiness of him driving around her lake last night were just odd coincidences. Maybe she’d be back tomorrow teasing with James with no worries. But maybe not.
Sauntering out through the restaurant, she said goodbye to a few other employees and some regulars who were lingering over a late lunch. It was hard to think of not coming back here. She’d enjoyed this spot in her quest to find real people. These people were real and kind. They’d been good examples of living a faith-filled life. Lily sometimes felt like she was still navigating those waters as she hadn’t been raised with any kind of faith. Her dad was apathetic about faith, and her mother was one of the devil’s lead henchmen.
Her heart beat steadily faster as she cleared the front door. Darting her gaze around she hoped she’d see the man, and then immediately prayed she wouldn’t. This was silly. Why was she letting some man dictate her life? It wasn’t winter time yet, and she didn’t need to vacate a favorite spot just because some man had made her uncomfortable. She prayed he wouldn’t show up and her fears would be unfounded. If he dared appear, she’d give him a piece of her mind.
A tractor growled by on the main street, and then a few rusty farm trucks and a beat-up sedan. The tough, manly yet beautiful dude wasn’t here. He wasn’t coming. Disappointment settled like a rock in her gut, which was stupid. She was happy he hadn’t come. Happy she wouldn’t have the stress of wondering what his intentions were.
Grabbing her bike from the side of the building, she heard footsteps approach from behind. Whirling, she placed the bike between her and the person. Her heart thudded in her eardrums as the dark-haired man walked confidently toward her. He said nothing, a slight smile decorating his appealing lips. Lily knew she should be cautious, but there was something so intriguing about him.
He stopped a couple of feet away, and she appreciated him giving her space. “Hey.”
“What’s your deal?” she asked.
His eyebrows lifted. “My deal is I’m hoping to buy you a late lunch.”
She pursed her lips and studied him. His dark eyes appeared sincere and interested in her. He definitely didn’t give off any scary vibes, and he didn’t leer at her, but he was so obviously muscular under his t-shirt that she felt it was smart to proceed cautiously. Plus the fact he’d stalked her to her lake.
“Look, you don’t seem like a crusty creeper.”
“Well thank you for that.”
“But I’ve been on my own for six years, and I’ve kept myself safe by learning self-defense and being leery of unknown men.”
“Smart girl.” He nodded, admiration flickering in his eyes. “No family?”
She was tempted to lie, but he already knew the truth. “You know my mother,” she shot at him. That’s why he’d looked at her like that yesterday. He knew exactly who she was. Maybe he was hoping for a little notoriety, or a chance to get an autograph.
“I know who your mother is,” he slowly admitted.
Despair rolled over her as he admitted it. Dang. He was one of those—after her because Bella Jolie was still famous, despite the fact she hadn’t acted in anything blockbuster in years. Not landing big roles was probably making her mother even more insane. Did he know who her father was also? It was rough trying to remain incognito and be normal with two famous parents. People said she shared her mother’s angelic face and her father’s perfect voice. Angelic. Ha!
She’d been attracted to this guy, and liked his vibe. At least he wasn’t dangerous. She didn’t think he was dangerous.
Pushing out a disgusted breath and one hip, she said, “You’re going to be disappointed if you want an autograph because Bella Jolie and I aren’t on speaking terms.”
His eyes darkened. “I don’t want an autograph. I’m … not a fan.”
Oh? Someone who could read through her mother? Without having met her in person and seeing the façade slip? That made her like him more.
“What do you want then, tough guy?”
He tilted his head across the street. “Lunch.”
Lily smiled. Could he truly not care who her parents were? “Are your intentions that innocent?”
The man grinned and Lily found herself clinging to her bike again. It was good he didn’t bring that full smile out very often, or she’d be a quivering idiot. That grin was potent.
“I don’t think any man looking at a woman as beautiful as you can claim complete innocence.”
His compliment and intonation washed over her making her both quiver with warmth and also worry about his intentions again. Yet he had no airs of being a player and the words seemed as sincere as anything she’d ever heard.
“Did that hurt you?” she asked.
He tilted his head, and his forehead wrinkled.
“Giving a compliment? You don’t seem the type.”
He gave her half of a smile. “I don’t give them out easily. I promise my words are sincere. And I also promise you,” he continued, “that my mom taught me to respect and honor women. I would never act on my non-innocent inclinations toward you.”
“You respect your mom?” That was a foreign concept to her. And what non-innocent inclinations did he have toward her? The words were thrilling, and a little scary.
He nodded solemnly. “My mom taught four boys how to use manners, respect, and decorum while still making life fun and adventurous for us. She deserves my respect and has it, and my love.”
She liked what he’d said about his mother but almost couldn’t compute it. A mother who was fun and yet taught them to be respectful? A mother someone could love? She’d seen mothers like that throughout her travels but it still felt unfamiliar.
“You’re a pretty serious guy.” Almost too serious for her. She mostly just flirted with men, went on a date or two, a
nd then moved on. He’d done okay flirting yesterday, but he was a rookie and she was a master. It might be fun to teach him.
“Yes.”
“Why’d you follow me last night?”
He stared at her for half a beat and she waited for the lie. She’d been lied to many a time and could almost always recognize untruths.
“I was intrigued by your beauty, but also hoping to ensure your safety. When I almost ran you over on that blind corner, the look in your eyes when you recognized me was … scared. I didn’t want to scare you so I stayed away. Pitched a tent down the road, and slept horribly.”
She was the one staring now. He was honest, and seemed to care how she felt.
His voice lowered and the husky quality of it sent tremors through her. “If I would’ve thought you were interested in spending time together, I would’ve been braver.”
She was interested, but grateful he hadn’t approached her last night. “I was pretty … unsettled last night.” She glanced away and admitted, “I wasn’t brave at all. Slept with the lights on like a wussy girl.”
“Living like you do shows you’re anything but a ‘wussy girl’. I apologize for scaring you.”
She simply nodded. Instead of going on her normal run around the lake and early morning swim, she’d hardly slept during the night, and then crashed through the early morning hours. He had scared her, but he might be able to make up for it now. She liked his honesty, and that he didn’t hand out compliments to everyone.
“What do your friends call you?”
“Gunner.”
“Aw, the military boy.” She laughed. “What’s your real name?”
“Gunner.”
“Truly?” He nodded and there was no indication he was pulling her leg. “The way you talked about your mom, I thought you’d have a stuffy name like Henry or Richard.”
He gave her that hard-earned half-smile. It was enough to make her knees weak. “My mom is classy but not stuffy. All of my brother’s names are more unconventional. She told me once that she regretted giving me a name that fit so well with the military. She’s spent a lot of time praying for me.”
Steele Family Romance Collection Page 25