The Determined Groom: Texas Titan Romances

by Checketts, Cami

  “Kryptonite hurt Superman. I don’t think you’d hurt me,” he said in a low rumble.

  Claire couldn’t resist turning to look at him. “You have no idea how wrong you are. There would be nothing but hurt in store for you and me.” Her stomach curdled. Hurt? What would he say if he knew she was responsible for her fiancé’s death? She knew more about hurt than anyone, and she wouldn’t allow herself to destroy Brig like she’d destroyed Peyton.

  Brig’s smooth brow wrinkled, and his blue eyes looked troubled. “You’re wrong, Claire. Please give me a chance.” His voice deepened irresistibly. “Just one date.”

  Claire took a steadying breath and shook her head. She couldn’t hold his gaze. Why did he have to look like she’d hurt him already? If only he knew. It was so much smarter to keep her distance. Head of security, military man. No thank you, may I please choose again?

  The traffic light turned to yellow, and she took the out, rushing across the crosswalk. Staring at the pavement, she prayed she could get away and he wouldn’t come after her. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyelids, and that made her angry. How dare Brig worm his way into her heart with his kindness and patience? She was protecting him as much as herself. He had no clue how twisted her heart was and what she’d done to the last man she’d claimed to love.

  A screech of brakes startled her out of her misery. Her head whipped up to see headlights bearing down on her. She screamed and tried to hurry out of their path, but her tight skirt and heels were working against her. Please help, she screamed a prayer in her head as she heard Brig calling out her name.

  * * *

  Brig’s chest was tight as he watched Claire spring into the intersection before the light even went red. She didn’t want him, that much was obvious. Why was he such a stupid, idiotic sucker for her? He’d be teaching a class in an hour and a half that was always full of women hitting on him. He could have his pick. Yet all he wanted was the stunning, pint-sized sports agent who had no desire to even go on one date with him. He’d seen her many times throughout the years visiting Knox Sherman’s property where he was the head of security. He was pretty serious about his job and Knox and his family’s protection. Claire managed to make him feel like a superhero and tease him out of his seriousness. He’d give anything to take her on a simple date, but she never said yes.

  He had started to turn back to the studio, sparing himself the agony of watching his dream woman walk away, when he saw the flash of lights speeding toward the intersection. Claire! She noticed the car bearing down on her at the same time and screamed, the headlights illuminating the terror on her face. Brig sprinted through the intersection and plowed into her, tackling her onto the asphalt and out of the car’s way.

  Claire’s head smacked the road with a sickening thud. Brig had no chance to protect her from the impact, and his body weight compounded the hit she took. Her body went slack underneath his and Brig immediately scrambled off her and onto his knees, fear making it hard to breathe. He’d just protected her from getting hit, but had he hurt her even worse?

  The car stopped short of the intersection with a squeal of brakes, and the driver popped out. “Is she okay?” the guy yelled.

  “Call 911,” Brig hollered back.

  The guy nodded and yanked out his phone. Claire lay flat on her back with her eyes closed. Brig bent close. He could feel her soft exhalations. At least she was breathing. He didn’t dare move her, worried about spinal injuries. How hard had she hit the ground? He weighed almost two sixty, and she was teeny. He’d reacted to protect her, but as he glanced back at the car, he realized the guy had stopped in time. She would’ve been fine if Brig hadn’t tackled her.

  He glanced down at her beautiful face. Her features were fine, delicate, yet there was a strength about Claire that told you immediately she wasn’t someone to take lightly. He said a quick prayer, begging for her to be all right. Seconds ticked by as the guy in the car moved it around in front of her and turned on his hazards to stop any oncoming traffic from hitting her since Brig had knocked her into the other lane. Luckily, the streets were pretty quiet this early in the morning. Unluckily for Claire, not quiet enough.

  Finally, Brig heard the whine of police sirens approaching. Thank you, Lord. Please help her.

  The driver kept pacing around them as Brig knelt by Claire’s side, feeling helpless and wanting her to open those beautiful jade-colored eyes and say something to him. Anything. He didn’t even care if she rejected him for the dozenth time. He just wanted her to be okay. To be his feisty, dynamic Claire.

  She let out a little moan, and her long eyelashes fluttered. Brig leaned forward, hope racing through him. Claire’s eyes opened, but they didn’t focus.

  “Where am I?” she mumbled.

  “Um, on the street.” Brig fumbled with an answer. He was ecstatic to see her waking. “You were in an accident.”

  Her eyes focused on him, and she whispered, “Who are you?”

  Brig’s own eyes widened. “I’m Brig.”

  She blinked up at him. Then her eyes rolled back in her head, and she was gone again. Brig’s pulse raced. She didn’t know who he was?

  Police cars squealed to a stop. Two officers dropped to their knees beside Brig and Claire, asking questions, checking her pulse, telling him the EMTs were almost here. Brig wanted help to get here fast, for Claire to be all right, and for her to remember him. How could he have such strong feelings for someone who not only wouldn’t go on a date with him, but now didn’t even remember who he was?

  Find The Irresistible Groom here or buy the entire collection here.

  Also by Cami Checketts

  Navy Seal Romance

  The Protective Warrior

  The Captivating Warrior

  Texas Titan Romance

  The Fearless Groom

  The Trustworthy Groom

  The Beastly Groom

  The Irresistible Groom

  Billionaire Beach Romance

  Caribbean Rescue

  Cozumel Escape

  Cancun Getaway

  Trusting the Billionaire

  How to Kiss a Billionaire

  Onboard for Love

  Shadows in the Curtain

  Billionaire Bride Pact Romance

  The Resilient One

  The Feisty One

  The Independent One

  The Protective One

  The Faithful One

  The Daring One

  Park City Firefighter Romance

  Rescued by Love

  Reluctant Rescue

  Stone Cold Sparks

  Echo Ridge Romance

  Christmas Makeover

  Last of the Gentlemen

  My Best Man’s Wedding

  Change of Plans

  Counterfeit Date

  Snow Valley

  Full Court Devotion: Christmas in Snow Valley

  A Touch of Love: Summer in Snow Valley

  Running from the Cowboy: Spring in Snow Valley

  Light in Your Eyes: Winter in Snow Valley

  Romancing the Singer: Return to Snow Valley

  Other Books by Cami

  Pass Interference: A Last Play Romance

  Saving Sycamore Bay

  How to Design Love

  Oh, Come On, Be Faithful

  Protect This

  Blog This

  Redeem This

  The Broken Path

  Dead Running

  Dying to Run

  Fourth of July

  Love & Loss

  Love & Lies

  Cami’s Collections

  Billionaire Beach Romance Collection

  Billionaire Bride Pact Collection

  Billionaire Romance Sampler

  Echo Ridge Romance Collection

  Texas Titan Romance: Cami’s Football Collection

  Copyright

  The Determined Groom: Texas Titans Romance

  Copyright © 2018 by Cami Checketts

  All rights reserved.

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nbsp; No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover art: Novak Illustrations

  Editing: Daniel Coleman, Julia Lance, and Jenna Roundy