by Anna Blakely
“What do you mean?”
“Take a look at the P.O.’s.”
Grant opened the file and glanced over the documents. “Am I supposed to know what I’m looking for?”
“See the dates and company Cantrell supposedly ordered the supplies from? Those are all for the bridge in Kunar.”
Grant’s brows turned inward. “What’s your point? We already knew they built the bridge.”
“I accessed the listed buyer’s records to see if they matched. They don’t.”
“What’s off about them?” He looked back up at his teammate.
“Everything. There’s no record of that company havin’ ever received an order for those supplies on those dates. Not from Cantrell Construction or any other buyer I could find.”
Grant studied the P.O.’s. again. “What are you saying? These are fake?”
“Looks that way.”
Shit. “The only reason someone within the Senator’s company would falsify purchase orders would be to cover something up.”
Derek’s expression became grim. “Exactly.”
“We need to find out where they got the materials to build that fucking bridge.”
“From everything I’ve found so far, that’s where Mitchell’s investigation was headed when he disappeared.”
Grant closed the folder. “We figure out which company actually supplied those materials, they should be able to point us to the person responsible for the collapse.”
“Whoever it is knows what we know. Probably more. That’s why they’re comin’ after Cantrell.”
“Wrong.” Grant’s chest tightened as he thought of the her being in danger. “They’re coming after Brynnon.”
A shadow fell over Derek’s eyes, the situation most likely reminding him of when his fiancée was in danger. Thankfully, Charlie and Derek no longer had to worry about her sick-as-fuck ex.
With a slight hush to his southern voice, Derek asked, “Do you want to keep this information a secret for now?”
A big part of Grant wanted to do just that. The emotional side that had only just begun to come alive again wanted to shelter Brynnon from anything that could cause her pain. Physical or otherwise. But he knew she’d be pissed as hell if they kept something like this from her.
“No.” He shook his head. “She deserves to know the truth.”
Derek nodded in agreement before saying, “Speakin’ of the gorgeous redhead. Did my eyes deceive me, or were you actually laughin’ when I pulled up?”
Grant stepped past him heading for the cabin. “Don’t start.”
“Oh, come on, man. You had to know I was gonna to ask. Tell me...is it just sex or did the great Grant Hill finally thaw out enough to actually start to care about a woman?”
Turning back around to face him, Grant shook his head. “What’s going on with Brynnon and me is none of your goddamn business.”
“Whoa.” Derek put his hands palms-up. “You don’t have to get so defensive.”
“I’m not getting defensive,” Grant lied.
“The fuck you aren’t. Jesus, you sound like you’re...” Derek’s blue eyes grew wide. “Holy shit. Are you in love with her?”
“Thanks for the file, dickhead.” Grant started to turn, but the other man grabbed the sleeve of his coat.
“You didn’t say no. Interesting.”
“There’s nothing interesting about it. I’m guarding her. Period.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t fall in love in the process. Trust me.”
Grant worked to control his growing frustration. “I’m not having this conversation.”
“Oh, my god.” Derek covered his mouth in shock. “You do love her!”
Grant swung his gaze to the closed door and back. “Keep your voice down, for fuck’s sake.”
Not bothering to heed his warning, Derek started to laugh. “This is...I don’t even...this is huge.”
“No. It’s not.”
Glancing down toward Grant’s crotch, the smart-ass winced. “It’s not? Damn. Sorry about your bad luck.”
“Jesus Christ, can you be serious for one goddamn minute?” Fed up with the man’s juvenile behavior, Grant got into Derek’s face. Forgetting to keep his own voice down he blurted out, “Yes, we slept together. Was it against protocol? Definitely. Was it a mistake? Probably. Does having sex with Brynnon a few times mean I love her? Hell, no.”
Before Derek could respond, both men heard the soft sound of someone clearing their throat from behind him. Grant closed his eyes, his hands fisting at his sides.
Shit. Fuck. Shit.
Though he had zero desire to do so, he turned to face her. She was standing at the top of the porch steps with her arms crossed protectively around her midsection. The devastation staring back at him was clear.
She’d heard every fucking word he’d said.
“I just came out to tell you the coffee’s ready.” Without waiting, she turned her back on him and walked away.
“Damn, man. I’m sorry. I didn’t see her come out or I’d have stopped you.”
Grant wanted to blame his friend, but it wasn’t Derek’s fault. It was one hundred percent his.
“Can you stay with her a couple hours?”
“Wait, you’re leavin’?”
“It’s for the best.” He ground his teeth together, more pissed at himself than ever before. “I didn’t hear you pull up until you were already parking. Didn’t hear her come outside just now.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, G. You just got distracted for a minute, that’s all. Happens to the best of us.”
He whipped his head around. “Not to me, it doesn’t. I won’t put her at risk because my head’s not in the fucking game.” Grant inhaled deeply. “Besides. I’m pretty sure after hearing me run my mouth, she’ll be more than happy to see me go.”
“Whatever you want to do, man. I’ve got your back.”
Nodding, Grant mumbled, “Give me a minute.”
Once inside, he found Brynnon standing in the kitchen. Her eyes were red and her adorable-as-fuck nose flush, both telltale signs she’d been crying.
Motherfucker.
Removing his gloves, Grant set them on the table before trying to explain his way out of the giant mess he’d made. “Brynnon, I—”
“Don’t apologize.” She stared up at him, the light in her gorgeous eyes dimmed. “It’s not like we made each other any promises or anything.”
He ran a hand over his jaw. “What you heard...I was just pissed at myself and—”
“You don’t owe me an explanation, Grant,” she cut him off again. “After all, you warned me. From the start, you said you weren’t the man for me. I guess I thought maybe...” She shook her head, swallowing back emotions he knew she didn’t want him to see. Her smile didn’t come close to reaching her eyes. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. The last couple of days have been fun, but that’s all it was, right? Fun. Now, it’s over, and we can go back to the way things should’ve stayed. With you as my bodyguard and me as your client.”
Brynnon turned to dump her coffee down the drain as Grant went to get his things. When he came back downstairs, she was still standing in the kitchen. Staring at the window, she didn’t turn around when she spoke.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?”
Grant’s heart hurt knowing he’d caused her pain, another validation that he was making the right decision.
“I called Coop. Derek will stay with you until I can get to your father’s office to relieve him.”
Even from behind, he could feel the disappointment rolling off of her.
“Fine.”
Goddamn it, he needed her to understand. “I let myself become distracted. By you...by us. I can’t”—he shook his head— “I can’t risk you getting hurt because I’m too lost in what’s happening between us to see the threat.” When she remained silent, he added, “I can’t protect you like this, Princess.”
“Don’t call me that.” Brynnon spun aroun
d, glaring back at him. “And there hasn’t been any sign of danger since we spoke to Wright and his daughter, so don’t try to pretend you’re leaving for anyone else but yourself.” She stormed past him, parting with a final, “You know the way out.”
Grant stood there, quietly watching as she walked up the stairs. It wasn’t until the bedroom door slammed behind her that he made his way out of the cabin.
This is exactly why you never mix business with pleasure. The thought continued running through Grant’s mind as he drove his truck away from that fucking cabin. Away from Brynnon.
Not only had he lost his chance with the first woman to break through his defenses, Grant would probably get an ass-chewing of epic proportions once Jake found out what he’d done.
Maybe it was for the best. Hell, he’d warned her. She’d even said so herself. He’d warned her away from him because Grant knew damn good and well something like this was bound to happen. So why had he allowed it to in the first place?
Because you love her.
No, that wasn’t it. He couldn’t love Brynnon. Grant Hill didn’t do love.
Years ago, after Baylee and that whole shitshow, he swore he’d never open himself up to that kind of pain again. Since then, he hadn’t allowed himself to imagine laying down roots.
He didn’t do strings or think about having kids. He sure as fuck hadn’t entertained the thought of growing old with someone. Not until Brynnon Cantrell came along.
Except, after that first night with her, Grant had found himself thinking of all those things...and more. And look where it got him.
With a fucking door slammed in his face. Not to mention potential career suicide. Yeah, he’d done a bang-up job this time.
The farther he got from the mess he’d left behind, the more Grant told himself he was better off this way. He’d help Derek figure out what the fuck was going on with this case and then walk away scott-free.
No attachments. No one to worry about losing. No one to warm your bed at night, or laugh with, or love.
Gritting his teeth, Grant continued the drive to Cantrell’s office, hoping he could come up with a plausible excuse as to why he’d just left someone else to watch over his daughter. He also prayed the senator couldn’t tell just how hard it was for him to walk away from the woman who’d come damn close to being his everything.
****
Chapter 18
Three days. It had been three long days since Grant left the cabin. Not wanting to deal with the noise of the city, Brynnon had decided to stay here and bury herself in work.
Determined to not think about Grant or what Derek had shared with her about what he’d found, she’d used the time to finish the paperwork for the bank, as well as diving back into the search for her next flip property.
Earlier today, she’d made the mistake of calling Angie to discuss which ones she thought were worth looking at in person. The conversation had quickly turned to Grant, at which time Brynnon spilled it all.
Okay, maybe not all. She’d purposely left out a few parts. Like the fact that, beneath his rough exterior lay the gentlest, most passionate man she’d ever known. Or, at least that’s what she’d thought.
Brynnon did, however, tell her best friend about his shouting out to the world that he most certainly did not love her. Right before she told the other woman how Grant had unceremoniously left.
Angie tried to reason it. Her sweet friend had suggested he was probably just worried about his job. Or that maybe Grant felt guilty for starting something with her while she was a client. But, Brynnon had told her what she could no longer deny.
He’d gotten what he wanted, and when it looked like things could possibly become more serious, he’d split. Using his concern for her safety as an excuse, the coward had run off as far and fast as he could.
Which was fine. She was fine. At least, that’s what Brynnon told herself every time she became lost in a memory of the two of them together.
So many memories in such a short period of time.
For the two days they’d been stranded together, she and Grant had made love in nearly every room. Now, each time she walked into one, pictures of those incredible moments with him assaulted her.
They were everywhere, continuously tainting the one place she’d felt truly at home. It was why she’d decided to go back to her condo tonight. There were memories of the two of them there, too. But somehow, the ones they’d made here seemed more...personal. More real.
After the conversation with Angie and a phone call to her father, she’d worked a little longer before re-packing her bag and tidying things up.
“You about ready to head out?”
Brynnon looked up to find Coop peeking in through her bedroom door. For a second, she still expected to see Grant’s face, and it took everything in her not to crumble from disappointment when it wasn’t.
“Yep.” She zipped her bag. “All set.”
The two left, and for the first few miles, Coop did his best to keep the conversation light. He told jokes, filled her in on his family and his crazy, childhood antics. He talked about Mac and some of the crazy sniper shots she’d made in the past.
Brynnon did her best to join in, but found keeping up appearances more difficult than usual.
Sensing her struggle, Coop looked over at her as he drove. “I don’t know if you’re aware, but Grant’s sort of a complicated guy.”
“Tell me about it.” She snorted.
He gave her an understanding smile. “Hill has a hard time opening himself up to people. I don’t know what happened to him, but whatever it was, it scarred him pretty good.”
Her chest became tight as she remembered Grant’s words. I’ve never told anyone that story.
Grant’s heartbreaking confession rang through her mind. “It’s okay, Coop.” Brynnon sighed. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but you don’t have to. I’m sure Grant’s a great guy to have on the team. He’s just not relationship material, which is fine, considering he was only supposed to be my bodyguard.”
The handsome sniper looked her way, his hazel eyes laser-focused on hers. “He left because he cares about you.”
She shook her head. “That’s what he said, but—”
“No,” he cut her off. “There’s no but. Trust me. I’ve known that man a long damn time, and I’ve never once seen him as torn up as I did when he walked into your father’s office. Hell, he spilled his guts right there to your old man. Told him everything.”
Brynnon’s wide-eyed gaze swung to his. “What do you mean, everything?”
“He wanted to make sure your father knew he’d crossed a line with you.”
Horrified, she asked, “Why in the hell would he do something so stupid?”
“Not stupid. Honest.”
“Oh, God.” Brynnon groaned, covering her blushing face with her hands. “My father knows we slept together?”
Coop chuckled. “Yeah, but he actually didn’t seem surprised. In fact...and I could be wrong...but your dad looked sort of happy about it.”
“Happy?” She growled. “Remind me to kill Grant the next time I see him.”
“Don’t think that’s gonna be necessary,” Coop chuckled before turning serious. “Look, Brynnon. There’s something you need to know about Grant. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that he doesn’t like to admit he has actual feelings like everybody else.”
“Oh, I know. Trust me.”
“Right? The thing is, I was there when he explained his reasoning for the sudden switch in guards. Grant told your dad he left because he cared about you and was afraid you’d get hurt if he stayed.”
Brynnon looked down at her lap. “Really?”
“Really. Look, Grant’s not some player looking for a quick score and an exit sign. You’ve just gotta give him some time. He’ll come around.”
Brynnon wanted to believe him. She really did. But the fact was, the second things got a little murky, Grant had taken the first chance he had to walk
away. She wasn’t sure how to get past that.
Glancing out the window, she saw a billboard advertising a realty company, the ad jogging her memory. After a panicked glance to the back seat, she cursed loudly.
“Shit.”
“What’s the matter?”
“I forgot my computer.” She gave him an apologetic grin. “I’m so sorry, but I have to have it for work.”
“No worries,” Coop looked at the road up ahead. “We can turn around at the next exit.”
“I guess I was so lost in my thoughts, I forgot to grab it.”
“Seriously, Bryn. It’s not a big deal. We’ll turn around, grab your computer, and then hit some drive-thru on the way to your condo. Sound good?”
“Thanks, Coop.” Brynnon gave him a little smile. “I really appreciate it.”
He chuckled. “If this is the worst thing that happens while I’m in charge of your safety, I’ll call it a win all day long.”
With a grateful smile, she glanced out the window, watching the scenery darken as night began to fall around them. By the time they pulled back into her driveway, the sun had set completely.
Thankful she’d left the security light on, Brynnon reached for the door handle. “I’ll just run in and grab it real quick.”
“I should probably come in with you.”
She looked at the well-meaning man. “I’ve been here for the last five days and nothing happened. Besides, I’m pretty sure I know where I set it down. I’ll be in and out in no time.”
He didn’t looked convinced. “You’ve got five minutes. After that, I’m coming in after you.”
“Careful, Coop,” Brynnon teased. “You’re starting to sound like Grant.”
“Nah. Grant would probably order you to stay here while he went in and got it for you.”
Chuckling, she hopped out of the car and headed for her front door. Not bothering to flip on the light, she ran up the stairs to her bedroom in search of the computer.