The Ranger’s Heart: A Clean Army Ranger Romance Book Three

by Livingston, Bree

  “Once you said you were doing the show, I just didn’t see the point in telling you. I love Hillary, and I knew the people who watch the show would love you and it would help her.”

  “She really wasn’t trying to hurt me.”

  “I know, and I would have waited until after the show, but then you started talking about this Gunner guy. He’s not here for you, Sophia. He’s here to catch a bad guy, and he’s undercover. Of course he’s going to make it look good. That’s his job.”

  Sophia shook her head, her eyebrows knitted together. “I don’t think he is.”

  Travis took her hand, holding it to the spot over his heart. “I’m in love with you, Sophia. I’ve been here from the beginning, and I’ll be here at the end. You can’t say that about Gunner. And do you really think he wouldn’t do anything to catch this person writing the letters? You don’t think he has a reputation to maintain?”

  She chewed her bottom lip. “I know you believe that to be true, but I don’t. He’s not what you think he is.”

  “You mean oozing charm and all the right lines?”

  “He’s not. I’ve had two dates with him, and I know my track record is suspect. I just know in my heart he’s different.”

  Travis held her gaze with a look that said I’ve heard that before. “Just be careful. I’d hate for him to hurt you.”

  She would too. The feelings she had for Gunner were strong, and she’d only known him a little while. After spending more time with him, she could see them growing, becoming stronger, and if he hurt her, she’d be ruined.

  Then there was Travis. A completely unexpected complication to everything. She did love him, but it wasn’t the same feeling she had when she was with Gunner. Travis was her friend—her best friend—and while she wondered if there could be more, she knew in her heart she’d never see him as more than a friend.

  Of course, she’d try to keep an open mind because it was a shock, and at the moment, she was still reeling. This wasn’t the time to be making definitive decisions. She needed time. Time with Gunner and time to sort through everything that had just happened with Travis.

  Chapter 18

  The show went from one beachy location to another after the ceremony, but Gunner wasn’t complaining. It had been a while since he’d been to Puerto Rico, and he loved the place. The people, the scenery, and especially the food.

  They’d checked in to a private resort that night right at sunset. The cast and crew would be staying there without the chance of prying eyes getting any scoops to feed the gossip rags. That especially didn’t bother Gunner. He liked the idea of seclusion. There were also no cameras in their living areas when they traveled, a huge bonus.

  “Can you believe this place?” Gunner asked Landon as he joined him on the back veranda overlooking the ocean. “How green it is?”

  They’d been given separate cabins, but Landon had shuffled over to Gunner’s place while they waited for the crew to get things set up for that night. At least they had a little freedom now that there were only two of them.

  Landon nodded. “Yeah, I was here once, and I’ve always wanted to come back. And this place is tons better than the hotel I stayed in during my first time here.”

  Gunner couldn’t say the same. He’d been the bodyguard for a New York socialite, and she’d booked a week-long trip on the island. She’d stayed at a place almost identical to this one, just on the other side of the island. He’d keep that from Landon, though. “Yeah, this is way nice.”

  “I wonder how they’ll be doing things now that it’s just the two of us. Will they just switch between us or what?”

  Shrugging, Gunner said, “Not a clue.”

  Landon turned and leaned his hip against the railing as he faced Gunner. “Between me and you, I think she likes you. Not saying my chance is completely gone, but I see the way you two look at each other.”

  Talk about trapped. “Uh.”

  “It’s okay, man. At least I’m losing to a decent guy. Now, if I’d lost to Blake or Christopher, I’d be ticked.” He laughed.

  “I think everything is still up in the air.” Gunner hoped like crazy he was wrong. He was pretty certain his heart would be broken if she didn’t choose him.

  Landon turned back to the ocean, leaning forward on his elbows, and sighed. “I kinda hope you’re right, but I don’t think you are. I like Sophia. I think we could be great friends, but I don’t think we could ever be more than that. She’s great, but the spark isn’t there.” He straightened. “Which is nuts because she’s beautiful and sweet and, man, can she bake. It’s just not there.”

  “Maybe you need to give it time.” Why was Gunner offering this guy advice on how to win Sophia?

  “Yeah, maybe.”

  A knock came at the door, and Landon jogged to answer it. “Hi, Gwendolyn.”

  “Hey,” she said and waved to Gunner as he walked up behind Landon.

  She looked different. Her hair was hanging loose in soft curls, he could even see a little makeup, and she was definitely dressed differently—a colorful dress that hit her knees with some sandals showing her bright pink toenails. All in all, she was adorable.

  “You look great,” Landon said.

  Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, she smiled. “Thanks.”

  Smiling, Gunner nodded. “I agree with Landon. Do you have a hot date in Puerto Rico?”

  She shook her head as she giggled. “No. Both of you are silly. You’re needed down by the beach. You’re both having dinner with Sophia tonight.”

  Dinner on the beach with Sophia. If only there was one less person, it would be awesome. “Okay,” Gunner said. First a ceremony and then being summoned to see Sophia on the same day? What did the show have planned now?

  He followed Landon out, and they each took a side next to Gwendolyn as they walked. “Have you been to Puerto Rico before?” asked Landon as he cut a glance at her.

  She nodded. “Yeah, they came here the year I was on the show.”

  Landon’s shoulders rounded. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I wouldn’t have asked—”

  “It’s okay. I’m over it now. I won’t let that jerk ruin this place. It’s too pretty for that.”

  Gunner smiled. “Good. Don’t let him. You’re beautiful, funny, and sweet. There’s a guy out there who will appreciate those qualities and treat you the way you’re supposed to be treated.”

  Gwendolyn looked up at him and grinned. “You think so?”

  “I know so. Don’t lower your standards. Make the guy raise his.”

  She bumped him with her shoulder. “Thanks.”

  They reached the spot where they would be having dinner. The place was surrounded by cameras, and Sophia wasn’t there. Gwendolyn gave Gunner one last smile and left.

  “Okay…” Landon said, looking around.

  Candace walked up to them and stopped. “Okay, it’s a date with the two of you. Sophia will be giving you the schedule of events. Who goes on dates first, what you’ll be doing, that sort of thing. This is really no different than any other location shoot except now there are only two of you. Typically, this is when things get serious, so remember that when you’re on your dates.” She stepped back out of the circle of cameras as Sophia joined them.

  Gunner was speechless. Sophia looked fantastic in a colorful spaghetti-strap sundress that flowed around her knees with sandals and a large flower in her hair over her ear. It was simple, but he loved it. It showed off her delicate shoulders, and her skin looked so soft.

  “Hi,” she said.

  “Wow,” Landon said.

  Gunner nodded. “Yeah, wow.”

  A light blush colored her cheeks as she smiled and cast her gaze to the large blanket stretched out on the sand. “Thanks. You two are sweet.”

  “So are you. That dress is something,” Gunner said, shocking himself. He’d meant to keep his mouth shut, but apparently, it didn’t get the memo. It was important to him to make sure she knew he wasn’t playing a part. That he was being re
al. He was afraid saying stuff like that on camera would give her the impression that he wasn’t, especially after the director’s comments after that first full one-on-one date. He’d not been acting then either.

  She lifted her gaze to his and smiled. “I’m glad you like it.” She waved her hand toward the blanket. “Would you two like to join me?”

  “Love to,” Landon said.

  They sat in a circle on the blanket, Gunner on her right and Landon on her left. It felt so weird to be in a setting so romantic with an extra person. How did the guys on this show handle this type of situation? Especially if they really liked the woman? Gunner was great at sharing a lot of things…but this was stretching it for him.

  Not two seconds later, waiters brought in large platters of food and set it in front of them. It was family style with large platters of meat, vegetables, and fruit.

  “Oh, this looks good,” Landon said.

  Gunner nodded. “No kidding.”

  Sophia chuckled. “This is a spread. Not sure we can eat all that.”

  Gunner snorted. “Speak for yourself. I see a stomachache in my future.”

  Laughing, Landon reached around Sophia and fist-bumped him. “Totally.”

  “Men,” she said and giggled.

  “I’m kidding, but once you’ve spent three months wondering if you were going to get another meal that wasn’t rotten, it changes things.” It wasn’t until he felt Landon and Sophia staring at him that Gunner realized his thought was spoken aloud. “Anyway, this looks great.”

  Sophia touched his arm. “That’s why you don’t like rice.”

  He nodded. What had gotten into him that his tongue seemed to need a leash? “Uh, I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. Let’s enjoy dinner.” Sophia pulled her hand back.

  Gunner was grateful she let it go. He locked eyes with her and smiled, hoping to silently communicate his thanks.

  “So, Landon,” she said and turned toward him. “We’ve talked a little about you being a comedian. I know you said you were the class clown, but what’s that like? Do you have a manager that gets you shows or whatnot?”

  That was better than concentrating on Gunner. While he wanted to tell her everything, he didn’t want to tell her everything while cameras were pointed at him and Landon was around. But he would find a way to tell her because he’d told her he’d answer her. He wasn’t backing away from that. She meant something to him, and maybe there was a chance telling someone other than a paid therapist would help.

  * * *

  After walking with Landon to his cabin, Sophia returned for Gunner. She’d spent most of the date talking to Landon because she had the feeling the things Gunner held were for her only. Although she wasn’t sure how that was going to work when they were being filmed. And she also didn’t want to be watching the clock when she walked with Gunner since she was going on a date with Landon the next day.

  As he came into view, she sighed. He was so attractive, but it was how he made her feel that really checked all her boxes. When Gunner stared into her eyes, she got the feeling he was really seeing her and that she was the only thing he was thinking about. He wasn’t dividing his time or his attention, which was something she’d wanted for a long time.

  Although, the world created by the show didn’t give the guys much of a choice to focus on anything else. It was a weird bubble, and it cast doubt in her mind as to how things would be once there were no more cameras pointed at them. What would the real world be like? Would she still have Gunner’s attention, or would his job take his focus?

  “You’re quiet tonight,” Gunner said.

  She tangled her fingers in his and smiled. “I’ve been looking forward to a moment alone with you for weeks. It feels like forever since…since we kissed.”

  He pulled her to a stop and cupped her cheek. “I didn’t want you to think I was…” He glanced at the camera trained on them. “That I was being anything other than myself. When the director made that comment about women fainting, it bothered me.”

  Translation: he didn’t want her to think he was using her. Her heart fluttered. Oh, he made her giddy, crazy as it was. It felt like she’d been waiting for him. That all those times she chased guys who didn’t want her were worth it, because the right guy showed up at just the right time.

  She circled her arms around his neck. “I want to ask so many things, but…I don’t want you to think I’m pushing you.”

  Gunner looked away as if debating. When he caught her gaze again, there was an intensity in his stare. He led her back to the beach and sat on the sand, patting the space next to him.

  Sophia sat down facing him, her back to the ocean. Waves crashed against the shore as they sat in silence. She wondered if he’d changed his mind as the minutes ticked by. The longer he remained quiet, the more she felt that this was a story he didn’t tell many people, and for him to be confiding in her even though they were being filmed was a big deal.

  “In high school, I had a girlfriend. Bella Hamilton. She moved to my little town of Ninety Six at the start of our sophomore year. From the moment I saw her, I was in love. Bubbly personality, sweet, vivacious. Wouldn’t take my nonsense,” he said and chuckled. “She was everything to me. My future was planned, and I didn’t see it with anyone but her.”

  “What happened?”

  “A week before we graduated, she was in a car accident and died.”

  She touched his arm. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

  He covered her hand with his, catching her gaze. “Everyone knows that part, but what they don’t know is that it was my fault.”

  “You’re fault? How?”

  “I’d worked on her car. I’d done it more times than I could count. It was an old truck and broke down more than it ran. I guess I didn’t get the brake line right, and when she rounded a curve, she pressed on the brake, and nothing. She died instantly.”

  Sophia could feel the pain in his words, but she wasn’t sure she believed it was his fault either. “Oh, Gunner.”

  “I’ll never forget getting the call from her mom. For the longest time, I’d tell people I died that day and what they were seeing was just a shell, trying to make its way to the end. She was my heart, and once she was gone, I was nothing.” His voice broke, and he looked away. Heartbeat after heartbeat passed before he returned his gaze to her.

  “Is that why you joined the Army?” Sophia asked.

  He nodded. “A buddy of mine was talking about joining the Army, and I thought since all my other plans were up in smoke, I may as well do that.” He took his hand off of Sophia’s and raked it through his hair. “I drifted a long time.”

  Sophia scooted closer. “Have you ever been in love with anyone else?”

  “No. My friends will tell you I’ve had an armful of relationships, but I haven’t. I put on an excellent show because I didn’t want to hurt like that ever again.” A soft smile spread on his lips. “I binge-watched your show, and I knew the second I saw you I was in trouble.”

  “But what if you’d met me and I was awful?”

  With a chuckle, he shook his head. “My gut said you were something special, and it rarely steers me wrong.”

  “Thank you for telling me that.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. “There are a few other things, but you wanted something real from me. This is as real as I can get.”

  She circled her arms around his neck. “I guess I’m a little surprised you told that on camera.”

  “That’s why I did it. Plus, I feel a little lighter now. It was something I’d held since high school. Coming here made me realize how lonely I’d been feeling.” He pushed a flyaway hair from her face. “Telling you wasn’t just for you; it was for me. I needed it out because it’s a ghost I don’t want to carry around with me anymore.”

  Catching her bottom lip between her teeth, she slid her hands down to his chest. “I have a confession.”

  He narrowed his eyes but didn’t speak.

/>   “I have a tendency to chase guys I like.” She looked down. “It usually ends up with me running the guy off. By the time it’s over, I’m embarrassed and brokenhearted.”

  “Sweetheart, I’m right here with no desire to run.”

  Her lips parted as she lifted her gaze to his. “They say I’m too intense.”

  His laugh was deep and came from his chest. “They weren’t me.”

  Whoa. With the way he was staring into her eyes, there was no doubt he was telling her the truth. “That’s good to know.”

  “I need to walk you to your cabin so you can get some sleep. You have a date tomorrow.”

  She wanted him to kiss her so badly, and as if he’d read her mind, he pressed his lips to hers. She’d waited two weeks for another one of his kisses. When had a guy ever wanted her as much as she wanted him?

  Gunner ran his hand up her back, into her hair, and held her as he deepened the kiss. The anticipation of the moment came out in a soft moan as she melted into him. It was just as hot and wonderful as before, and she couldn’t imagine being kissed by another man the way he kissed her. What would it be like to have him kiss her like this the rest of her life?

  In the back of her mind, the thought nagged that there were cameras everywhere capturing every moment of the passionate kiss they were sharing, but she didn’t care. It was too incredible to give it a second thought or worry.

  When he finally broke the kiss, her breathing was ragged, her lips were bruised, and her heart was begging for more. “I should walk you to your cabin,” he said.

  “Or you could just keep kissing me.” Did she actually say that out loud? Her eyes widened, and her cheeks burned. “I can’t believe I said that.”

  He lightly kissed her cheeks. “Believe me, I want to, but we probably shouldn’t.” He stood and pulled her with him.

  As he walked her to her cabin, she touched her fingers to her sore lips. She could definitely picture a future where this was a constant problem for her, but she also knew she had an obligation to the show and to Landon. How was she going to manage that when she wanted to serve her heart on a platter to Thomas Gun?