“Miss?”
Lily’s head darted up. The man was now completely focused on her. “Yes?”
“Are you safe with him?” he asked in a hoarse whisper.
Lily glanced at Gunner. Their situation was insane, and if he would’ve told her two days ago that her mother had sent him, she would’ve been running the other direction, but Gunner had protected her and the things he said added up. She couldn’t sense any duplicity in him, but she didn’t know that she could trust him with her heart like she’d thought she might an hour ago.
“I think so,” she murmured.
“You’re sure? You’re with him … of your own free will?”
Lily tried to smile to reassure the man. She could hear Gunner now arguing with his boss. Telling this Sutton guy that they couldn’t wait here any longer.
“Yes. He’s my … bodyguard.” She looked over Gunner’s strong torso. There was honor and inherent protection written in every line of his body. She’d felt that over the past few days and most recently when he dove on top of her in the boat to keep the bullets from hitting her. “He’s watching out for me.”
“If you’re sure.” The man’s tone of voice said he wasn’t sure, but he came out from behind the counter and grabbed two pair of cheap flip flops on a display, one huge and one normal-sized. He handed them to Lily.
“We don’t have any money on us,” she protested.
“It’s a gift,” he said gruffly. His eyes flickered to Gunner again. “Be careful, all right, miss?”
She nodded and slipped the smaller pair on. “Thank you.”
“Thank you, sir.” Gunner ended the call and strode to them, handing the phone over. “Thank you. You might get a call back from 911. If you see a wrecked silver Chevy pull in, leave out the back.”
“Okay.”
Lily handed Gunner the shoes. He raised an eyebrow. “They’re a gift.”
Gunner slid them onto his feet. “Thank you. We’ll get you some money.”
The guy rolled his eyes. “A gift means I don’t want your stinkin’ money.”
“Thank you.” He nodded to the man and took Lily’s hand. “We’ve got to go.”
They waved goodbye to the man. He didn’t return it, still studying Lily as if he wasn’t sure if he should let her go with Gunner. Hurrying out the front door and around to their truck, Lily felt suddenly exposed outside. Luckily, she couldn’t hear any truck motors approaching. Gunner checked the back of the truck before they climbed in. It was severely dented, but not enough to stop the tires from turning.
He helped her into the truck cab, started it, and they roared away.
“That guy thought you’d kidnapped me or something.”
“I bet. He was a good, old boy just trying to protect you.”
“True. Plus, he doesn’t know I can protect myself.” Her gaze slid over him again. “And you do look like a walking weapon.”
Gunner gave her half a smile. “Sadly, I can’t compete with automatic weapons with only a swimsuit and cheap flip flops.”
“You got us away, your brains against their bullets. I’ll take you.”
“Thanks,” he grunted. “We’ve got a few hours’ drive. Thankfully your buddies had the truck full of gas. Sutton has a friend in Jackson Hole. He’s going to have him meet us and take us to a location where we can hunker down until they catch these guys. Hopefully the police will get them and Sutton can verify one of them is the stalker or they’re working for the stalker. Hopefully there’s not someone else after you, besides the stalker.” The last line was said half under his breath.
Lily squirmed in the seat. This whole thing was becoming much too complicated. Big surprise, it all sprang from her mother. Her mother had never given her anything good in her life, except her thick hair and blue eyes. Lily would trade stringy hair and yellow eyes to have a decent mother.
She focused on Gunner again. He was brave and tough, and she was ninety percent certain his only agenda was to protect her. She should grill him with more questions, but she wanted to be certain she could trust him first. That other ten percent worried her a lot.
Chapter Eleven
Gunner waited for the barrage of questions, the tears, and the complaints, but they never came. Lily was truly a unique and impressive lady. She stared out the window, occasionally glancing at him, but she didn’t break the silence. She hadn’t bolted when she heard her mother had sent him, but she was definitely leery of him now. He didn’t like the distance between them, but he was here for a job, not to fall for her. He had to continually remind himself of that. He’d obviously lost the trust they’d been building. She’d been so cute teasing and trying to fight with him, competing with him, and sweetly asking him to play Rummikub. Those carefree moments were in the past. All he could do now was go forward and pray her heart would soften to him, once she was safe and the men were apprehended.
He noticed as they got into Wyoming she was nodding off. He appreciated being able to sneak looks at her beautiful face. Even in the late summer, this area was still green and pretty. Lily was much prettier. He formed prayers of gratitude in his head as they drove that none of the bullets had found a home in Lily.
He hadn’t told Lily much about his conversation with his boss. Sutton had wanted him to wait and make sure his friend Klein was home before they headed for Jackson Hole, but Gunner hadn’t dared wait at that gas station, only ten miles from where they’d left the men. He felt compelled to be on the move. Finally, Sutton conceded that Klein would meet them at the elk arch, the iconic center of Jackson Hole, or send somebody to meet them. The only worry was what if Klein wasn’t around and didn’t answer his phone? Gunner shook off that worry. It was better to be traveling away from those men. And, he knew Sutton. If Klein couldn’t come, Sutton would send somebody on an airplane to them. It might take a little longer, but it was safer than waiting for those men to catch up with them.
His own eyes were gritty and the gas tank low when they pulled into Jackson Hole. He’d never been here and found he liked the rustic appeal of the town. It was getting dark outside, and the streets were quiet. Thankfully there hadn’t been any sign of the silver Chevy or those men. He wished he knew how they’d found them at the lake. Lily had been living there for a while and didn’t broadcast who she was, but she didn’t exactly hide it either.
He found a parking spot on the road, close to the arch and the park in the center of town and turned to Lily. She was so peaceful and innocent looking. It was insane that the diva Bella Jolie was her mother and sad that Lily was now in danger because of her. He reached out and touched her arm. Her skin was smooth and firm. When he’d held her against his chest, carrying her into that store earlier today, he’d had to ignore all kinds of warm feelings toward her. He was on a job and shouldn’t allow his emotions to get involved, especially if they endangered Lily. He’d let his guard down the past few days with her, acting like he was on a vacation with the intention of romance. It was dumb of him, and they were in this spot because he’d not been as vigilant as he should have.
Her eyes fluttered open and she stared at him. “Hey,” she whispered.
“Hey.”
“Any bad guys shooting at us?”
He cracked a grin. She made him smile more than he was used to, he usually only smiled for his little sister, Lottie, and occasionally when joking with a friend or brother. “Not at the moment.”
“Good. I’m starved and need a bathroom. Can you help me with that?”
“I hope so.” She seemed more relaxed around him again. Hopefully she’d forgive him, and they could move forward. She was a chill, relaxed person, but she was also fiercely independent and had told him she loathed her mother. Not simply hated … loathed. He might not get off the hook too easily.
He hoped Klein was here, otherwise there would be no food for a while. “Let’s go find this guy. He’s supposed to meet us at the elk arch.”
“The elk arch?” She stretched her arms above her head, and he had
to turn away so he didn’t gape at her in only her swimsuit. “This I have to see.”
He let himself focus back on her, thankfully she’d stopped stretching. “Your travels haven’t taken you here?”
“Not yet. I was actually planning somewhere in Wyoming or Montana for next summer.” Her eyes turned wistful.
“I’m sure you’ll get here then.” Gunner gave her a forced smile and swung out of his side of the truck, tucking the keys in his swimsuit pocket. He sucked at reassurance and decorum, but something in him wanted to reassure her that everything would be okay. That she could still wander and work in restaurants, living in that little trailer. He was intrigued by her life. It didn’t sound half bad, except the fact that he’d go nuts not being busy.
As he rushed around to get her door, in his mind he was thanking the gruff guy at that store for flip flops. A cold drink and something to eat would be heaven about now. Hopefully this Klein guy didn’t mind taking care of them. Sutton would make it worth his while, but Gunner didn’t like feeling reliant on anyone. He missed his gun, his knife, his wallet, and his cell phone. In that order.
Lily slid out. “Thanks.” She immediately rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “Whew! It’s colder here. Don’t they know it’s not even Labor Day yet and should still be summer?” She glanced around. “People are staring.”
Gunner looked also. There were only a few people on the sidewalk but they were indeed staring. He didn’t want people to remember them, in case those guys somehow followed them here. “That’s only because you’re so pretty,” he said.
Lily’s eyebrows rose. “Did that hurt you?”
“What?”
“I know how hard it is on the secretive military boy to give out compliments.”
Gunner chuckled, though there was a little bite to the word ‘secretive’. He couldn’t change the past so he simply said, “You’ve got me there. Let’s go find this guy.”
They fell into step down the sidewalk. Lily wrapped her arms tightly around herself, shivering. It was probably low-to-mid fifties with the sun gone, definitely not the weather for swimsuits and flip flops. Everyone else he saw was in pants and long sleeves, a few tougher looking guys were in t-shirts and Levis. This was not a frou-frou type of town and he and Lily stuck out. Dang it.
They crossed the intersection and stood under the arch of antlers.
“Well, it’s … unique.” Lily’s nose wrinkled.
“You don’t like it?” Gunner asked. “I was thinking when I settle down I’ll do one of these beauties over my front gate.”
Lily laughed. “Gunner … you just pulled a funny.”
He shook his head, hiding a smile. “Don’t get used to it.”
She looked him over. “Don’t worry. I’m not sure I’m going to get used to you.”
Gunner had no response for that. A few hours ago he’d felt closer to her than he ever had to an unrelated woman. It was all messed up now. He couldn’t change it, but he didn’t like it. He’d really found himself being drawn to Lily. She was unique and impressive. That’s what he got for working security. A normal relationship was probably never going to be in the cards for him.
He glanced around the almost-deserted park, not sure who he was looking for. Sutton said this guy had served with him in the Royal Navy, almost thirty years ago, but he trusted him, and Klein would do anything to help Sutton out. He wondered if the guy still had an English accent like Sutton. Jackson Hole seemed an odd spot for a proper Englishman.
No one approached them, and Gunner started worrying. He doubted those men had followed them here, but what would they do if no one came. Lily was shivering, and he thought he heard her teeth chattering. He wasn’t warm but his body didn’t mind extremes in temperature, and he had a lot more padding than the willowy woman next to him. His brothers would probably all be holding her close to keep her warm, well Jex would be. Slade and Preston had their own fiancées to keep warm now.
“Sorry you’re cold,” he muttered.
“It’s okay,” she said, and he didn’t have to wonder, he knew her teeth were chattering. It wasn’t that cold, was it? He glanced at her. Her swimsuit exposed her legs, abdomen, and her arms. She probably was freezing.
The past couple of days it had gotten almost instinctive to pick her up or hold her close. Searching his mind, he was hard-pressed to remember ever feeling so invested in, or attracted to, a woman. He didn’t think it was wise to get closer to her as they had no hope for any kind of future together, but he could almost hear his mom and Lottie yelling at him to be a gentleman. Lottie would probably call him something harsh like a tater tot or, even worse, a Dum-Dum sucker.
He felt jumpy and apprehensive as he stepped in closer and wrapped his arm around Lily’s shoulder. The bare flesh of her shoulder pressing against his chest, and her back under his arm and hand made him feel … tingly like he had when he’d almost kissed her last night. He rolled his eyes at himself. Tingly? He wasn’t a stinking, wussy womanizer who got tingly feelings from touching a beautiful girl. He was a machine, a focused protector of the innocent, and killer of the criminal. He’d let his guard down the past couple of days because she was so appealing and fun. Now he was doing it again. What was he thinking?
He almost released her, but Lily gave a sigh of relief, “Oh, thank you,” then she curled her body against his, and all those tingly feelings jumped to desire, warmth and fireworks in a flash. Gunner should not have done it, but instinctively his other arm came around her, and he cradled her close to his chest. Her arms were tucked against his sides, but they didn’t provide any barrier from their bodies aligning perfectly. His much larger body seemed custom-made to wrap around hers and shield her from the cold and anyone who would hurt her. Oh, good night, was he going to start spouting poetry next?
He should’ve stiffened and pulled away from her or at least not let himself enjoy the experience, but they had minimal clothing on, and she was desirable and vulnerable. Everywhere their bodies touched seemed to race fire through his system. Maybe they didn’t need this Klein guy to come. Gunner felt like he was flying. He could lie down in the grass of this park and hold Lily all night. She would be warm, and he wouldn’t need anything but her in his arms. Yep, sappy poetry was definitely going to come out if he didn’t get a grip.
Instead of pulling away, he leaned his head down closer to her. He wasn’t prepared when she glanced up suddenly. His lips brushed her forehead, and luckily, he was still in control enough that he didn’t bend farther and claim her lips then and there. He would’ve kissed her last night at the lake, when she turned her head, but everything felt different now. He knew he had to regain her trust, but he also had to keep in his mind that he wasn’t the type to have a normal relationship. He knew he shouldn’t be endangering her by even messing with these warm feelings that could make him not be as diligent and aware of their surroundings. He’d pull back, as soon as he was certain she was warm.
“Thank you, Gunner,” she murmured, staring up at him with liquid blue eyes and soft lips. Everything about her was much too appealing. “I was freezing.”
“Better now?” he managed to grunt out.
She nodded. “This feels … incredible.”
Gunner would have to agree with that. It made sense to him now, all his friends and brothers that had fallen for women. Holding this woman close could be more addictive than the shooting range, working out, or going skydiving with Jex.
She giggled and Gunner startled, but he didn’t release her. He didn’t know that he had the strength to do that. That was dumb. He was stronger than most people he knew. “What?” he asked.
“Your beard is soft. It tickled my forehead.”
At that moment Gunner did something so un-Gunner like his brothers would’ve made him take a DNA test to see if it was really him. He bent lower and rubbed his cheek against hers, making her giggle even harder. Gunner found himself smiling, again. This whimsical woman just brought out the kid in him. “You like that?”<
br />
“Very much.” Lily smiled up at him. Her arms had been tucked close to the sides of his abdomen and chest as he held her. She released them and ran her hands around his lower back, making desire and more mind-numbing heat rush through him as her warm palms encircled his bare lower back. “I kind of like you, Gunner Steele, even though I’m still ticked at you for lying to me.”
Gunner had no clue how to respond to that. She couldn’t like him. He couldn’t like her. The truth was over the past few days he was afraid he’d fallen harder than “like”. Yet he was on a job, and he couldn’t risk her safety again. It wasn’t fair of him to let her get more invested in him either. He released her completely and pulled away. “You’re warmer then?”
Lily’s eyes widened, and her body stiffened. Gunner could feel her disappointment and frustration from a foot away. “I was.”
Gunner pushed out a breath and stared desperately around the park. A few cars puttered down the main street, but the town was getting quieter and quieter. Only a handful of bars were open, and he wasn’t about to take Lily into one of them in only her swimsuit. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself again and turned away from him. He’d messed up with her, but it was for the best, right?
Gunner had dated in high school and at the academy, not as much once he was full-time and deployed. He’d never gotten serious with anyone. Lately he’d been too focused on work to even give dating much of a thought. What he wouldn’t give to be out of this situation and date Lily, bring back the carefree, happy warmth of the past few days with her. But that wasn’t reality—at least not at the time being—so he needed to push it from his mind.
They sat there as the night deepened around them, broken up by the pale streetlights. A large truck sped up to them and Gunner flinched. It was black, not silver, but the windows were so dark he couldn’t see inside of it. Even though it was shiny and new, it reminded him of an assault vehicle, and he could almost guarantee it was bullet-proof and loaded with weapons.
Steele Family Romance Collection Page 31