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

by Livingston, Bree

  His dad cleared his throat. “We’ve got a late lunch prepared if you two are hungry. I know we are.” He laughed, and the family joined in.

  Cameras followed them through the house to a large screened-in porch. A rectangular table was set up with a line of dishes that ranged from grilled chicken to bacon-wrapped asparagus. There was steam still pouring from the dishes, which meant the crew had just set the plates out, much like they’d done when she’d had a meal with Landon’s family.

  Gunner’s family was just as he described. Friendly, welcoming, sweet, and everything she wanted in her significant other’s family.

  They talked for hours as they sat around the table. His brother told funny stories about Gunner as a kid, from scraping his knee after falling off his bike to breaking his arm as he attempted to do a bike stunt.

  She loved them, and they made her want to fix what she’d broken with Gunner. This was a family she wanted to call hers. Before they left South Carolina, she was going to apologize to him. If he didn’t accept it, she’d keep apologizing until he did. Whatever she needed to do, she’d do it.

  * * *

  The sun was just hitting the lake as Sophia wandered out onto the dock. California was beautiful. It was her home, and she’d never pictured living anywhere else until that moment. The peacefulness and tranquility at Gunner’s parents’ home were addictive. It would have been even better had cameramen not been stationed at the end of the dock with cameras trained on her.

  “It sure is pretty out here, isn’t it?” Fiona asked as she joined Sophia.

  “Yes, ma’am. It’s amazing.” There wasn’t a better word.

  Fiona set her forearms on the railing and leaned over. “Yeah, I thought when David dragged me out here that I’d die. I was a Charleston girl. City life was my calling, but after one night under these stars, I was home.”

  “I can believe that.” Sophia chuckled. “I’m thinking I’d feel the same way.” They stood there a moment, and Sophia got the feeling his mom had a few things to say.

  “I’m sure Gunner’s told you that he had a hand in his high school sweetheart’s death,” Fiona said.

  Sophia nodded.

  “There is nothing further from the truth. That boy was a whiz mechanic. He could touch a dead battery, and it’d practically come back to life.”

  “Then what happened?”

  Fiona took a deep breath and looked up. “That truck was older than dirt, and Bella fancied herself a mechanic as well. Her dad told Gunner she’d worked on the brakes before she took it out, but he’d hear none of it. Bella walked on water to that boy, and she would never have done something so careless.”

  “So all this time?”

  “He hasn’t wanted to see the fault in someone he loved.”

  Sophia smiled. She had known Gunner wasn’t responsible. It wasn’t possible. He was the kind of man to care about someone and take every precaution to keep them safe.

  Another stretch of companionable silence passed. Suddenly, Sophia felt a shift in the mood.

  Gunner’s mom straightened, setting her hip against the railing as she faced Sophia. “Are you in love with my son? And don’t play with me, young lady. I might look dumb, but I’m not. I know how these shows work.”

  Sophia laughed. “I would never think such a thing. And yes, wholly and truly and deeply. He is kind and sweet, and I think I would shrivel up to nothing if I didn’t have him in my life.” Yeah, the cameras were going to have that on film, that she loved Gunner, but she didn’t care if they did. Landon’s mom had asked the same thing, and the answer she’d given was vague and noncommittal. They couldn’t say she’d been playing both sides because she wasn’t.

  “That’s a good answer.”

  “Mrs. Gun, I am head over heels for him, but I did something stupid.”

  “I see.” His mom was quiet a moment. “If you know Gunner at all, you know he loves hard and fast and with everything in him. He always has. Nothing has ever been half-hearted with him. If he cares for you the way you care for him, apologize. That’s all it’ll take.”

  Sophia hugged herself. “You think so?”

  “I do.”

  A bud of hope sprouted in her heart. She’d already decided she was going to apologize, and now she was absolutely driven to do it, even if he never trusted her again. She was going to tell him she was sorry. That there was no excuse for what she’d done and that she’d played into her fears and behaved horribly. Hopefully that would help repair some of the damage she’d done.

  Chapter 28

  It had been a long time since Gunner had enjoyed sitting on the porch in the rocker in the warmth of a South Carolina summer night. Frogs, crickets, and other assorted animals made their presence known with their songs. A large round glowing moon reflected off the lake, bathing the whole place in light. Man, he loved this. Part of him wished he could pull a sleeping bag out onto the back porch and catch a few winks. At least there were no cameras so he could really take it in.

  The back door opened, and he jumped. Turning around, he found Sophia just inside the porch.

  “Oh. I’m sorry. Did I wake you up? The stairs have squeaked since I was a kid. We’re all just used to them now.” Gunner turned back toward the lake.

  “No, I couldn’t sleep.”

  Just like with Landon’s family, Sophia was invited to spend the night with Gunner’s family. They’d stayed up talking with his momma. Of course, she told Sophia unmanly details about him as a baby, little boy, and, worse, teenager. He’d almost decided to find a park bench and camp out on it until they headed back to California, but everyone finally called it a night.

  Sophia sat in the chair next to him, and he settled back into the rocking chair, slinking down in it and resting his head against the side. “I won’t sleep while I’m here. I don’t want to chance them hearing me. Even when I tell them, I won’t sleep. They don’t need to know the gritty details.”

  “You don’t need to tell them. I promise on whatever sliver of, well, I don’t know. My promises mean nothing at the moment. But what you told me wasn’t filmed. Please, please believe me.”

  He wanted to believe her, but how could he? Hadn’t it come from her own lips that it was her job to get him to spill his guts?

  Sophia slid out of her chair and kneeled at his feet, looking up at him. “I owe you an apology. I was upset, hurt, and angry. I should’ve taken a second to think, but I was tired of being used and thrown away like dirty socks.”

  Angry and hurt? He sat up and leaned down. “Why, though? What did I do? When did I ever treat you like that?”

  She sighed and looked down. “You didn’t. I overheard your conversation with Landon.”

  He sat forward a little more. “When were you at the house? And why?”

  “Gwendolyn said I was needed there, so I was coming over for that. Only, when I got there, it was just you and Landon.”

  “I told Landon what I did because I didn’t know what else to say. There were still three weeks of the show left, and I got the feeling if he thought he didn’t have a chance, he’d leave and the show would be ruined.”

  She nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it, and…something’s off.” She lifted her head and locked eyes with him. “I’ve thought it more than once the last few weeks. I think something weird is going on. Do you think maybe Gwendolyn lied to me?”

  Things were making a lot more sense. “Landon said he heard someone on the crew talking about me staying the night at your cottage. Do you think it was her?”

  “No, because I never saw her talking to Landon. And believe me, I’d know because he barely left my side that day. Plus, I didn’t see Gwendolyn that day.”

  “Then who could have talked about it for him to hear?”

  Sophia took a deep breath, covering her mouth with her hand as she looked down. As if a thought had just hit her. “Travis.”

  “Your friend?”

  “He’s the only one who had access to Landon, and he could’ve
spoken to Gwendolyn that day and I’d have never known. I don’t know why he’d do it.”

  Gunner scoffed. “Because he’s in love with you. That’s pretty obvious.”

  She jerked her head up. “You knew?”

  “Oh yeah. Didn’t you?”

  “Yeah, but this isn’t like Travis.” She shook her head. “But I don’t care about that right now.” Taking Gunner’s face in her hands, she said, “I care about you and how deeply I hurt you. I am so, so sorry. I have no excuse. No matter what I heard, I should have talked to you, trusted in you and your character, and I didn’t. I am so ashamed, and—”

  He set his forehead against hers. “It’s okay.”

  She pulled back. “But I hurt you. Aren’t you furious with me?”

  “I lied to you at the start. And my conversation with Landon reinforced already planted doubts. I was never angry with you. I was brokenhearted.” He wanted to tell her he loved her, but once he said those words, there was no going back. Not that there was anyway, but they were still filming the show. Plus, he wanted to meet her family first. What if they didn’t like him?

  Sophia hugged him around his neck as he lifted her onto his lap. “If there is one regret I have, it’s that I did that to you. You were trying to solve the problem the best you could, and I assumed the worst. None of what I said was true. I was never acting with you or trying to use you. I wish like nothing ever before that I could go back and never do it. Do you think you can ever truly forgive me?”

  “It’s already done.”

  She took a ragged breath. “I really—”

  He cut her off with a kiss. She’d said she was sorry. He’d forgiven her, and that was it. Once they got back to California, he was going to find out why someone had tried to tear them apart. But first, he was going to hold her and kiss her in an effort to make up for the last two weeks without her. He’d missed her more than he could express with words.

  * * *

  The rest of Sophia’s visit with Gunner’s family went well. By the time they left for California, Gunner was pretty sure his momma was sizing him up for a tailor. He hadn’t been kidding Sophia when it came to that. He knew they’d love her, and he’d been right. She’d fit like a glove. He could picture summer vacations with her in South Carolina, spending time cuddling and watching the sun set over the lake.

  It’d been late when they returned to California. Filming had been grueling, and they’d had several takes before they got the goodbye with his family right. It was utterly ridiculous to Gunner. How could he get a hug and a bye wrong?

  Their early morning call the next day hadn’t been moved at all. Apparently, with enough makeup, it could hide the fact that they’d stayed up too late and gotten up too early. Unfortunately, Gunner was restless again that night. Something was eating at him, and he’d been trying to piece together who had given Landon information about Gunner staying at the cottage and who would have told Gwendolyn that Sophia had been called to the house. It was too coincidental for his liking.

  He and Sophia had decided to keep up the charade that she was still upset with him. It sure wasn’t easy, but they felt they’d managed to pull it off. Of course, his mom saw right through it. She’d let it go, but she’d given him a look that said, You’ll call and explain soon, or the next time I see you, your hide is mine.

  “Hey,” Gwendolyn said.

  Gunner smiled as a woman fussed about his dark circles. “Hey, how are you?” he asked Gwendolyn.

  “I’m okay, and you’re looking better too.”

  “I guess. I think all that traveling got to me.”

  The woman doing his makeup—he hated saying that—finished and left him with Gwendolyn. She waited a beat and then moved closer. “I’m so glad you’re feeling better. I can’t say it wasn’t getting to me too.”

  He nodded.

  “Your family was amazing. I loved your mom. Well, all of them.” She smiled.

  “Yeah, they’re pretty great.”

  She took another step closer, and alarms bells sounded in Gunner’s head.

  “I think you’re great. You’re so sweet and kind, and I hate that you’ve been treated so badly by Sophia. I mean, I don’t have anything against her, I just…I think you deserve better.”

  Oh, there was a whole lot of wrong with this situation, but how did he take himself out of the equation without hurting her or making her suspicious that he had her on his suspect list? “And I think you deserve better than me. Gwendolyn, there’s a lot about me you don’t know. I’m…well, you’re sweet and funny and interesting. I’m broken, and I’d hate for my sharp edges to hurt you.”

  She smiled and nodded. “I totally get it, and thank you for being kind to me.”

  “You’re a sweet woman. A guy is going to come along, take one look at you, and he’ll never see another woman as long as he lives.”

  An alarm clipped to her clipboard went off. “That’s your bell. They need you on set.”

  “Thanks. I’ll talk to you later.” It was all Gunner could do not to run away, but he kept his gait casual as he made his way to the bachelors’ mansion front door.

  They’d be visiting Sophia’s family for the day. It would be casual, so he’d worn some jeans and a t-shirt. He’d been told to bring swimming trunks too. Her parents had a beachfront home, and they’d be having a cookout along with swimming.

  When he got to the door, Landon was waiting for him. “Hey, you ready to meet the parents?”

  Gunner shrugged. “I guess.”

  “Oh, yeah…” Landon leaned in as the cameramen positioned the cameras. “You’re not really here for her.”

  “Yeah.” He hated lying to the guy, but what choice did he have?

  “I take it those sparks are flying now?”

  Landon shrugged. “I want them to, and I’m trying. She’s so great. I enjoy spending time with her. We laugh at the same things, and it’s been fun.”

  “But?”

  “We’ll see how today goes. I don’t want to hurt her, but since that meeting, she’s been a little friendlier. Mostly I’ve been trying because she seemed to be trying so hard.”

  Gunner nodded, grateful that maybe Sophia wouldn’t break Landon’s heart. It wasn’t fair that he was in the dark, but there was nothing Gunner could do to change that. “You know, I think it’s okay if you’re just yourself and you tell her the truth.”

  “True. Like I said, I’ll see how things go today. I’m not holding my breath, though.”

  “Okay, guys,” Gwendolyn said as she approached. “The limo is here and ready to go. Sophia is already at her parents’ home, waiting for you.”

  Landon smiled. “Thanks, Gwendolyn.”

  “Sure.”

  She caught Gunner’s gaze and smiled. “Have a good time today.”

  “Thanks,” he said as he followed Landon.

  Gwendolyn caught him by the hand, and again, alarm bells went off. He couldn’t understand why, though. As far as she knew, he and Sophia were on the outs, but his gut said she was involved in what happened. Had she worked with Travis maybe?

  “Gunner, we need you to get in the car,” Gwendolyn said.

  He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. Another call to Noah was in order. When he got home, that’s exactly what he’d be doing. Gunner needed to work through his suspicions and come up with a plan.

  * * *

  “I guess this is it,” Landon said as the limo pulled to a stop at Sophia’s home. “You know, I thought I’d be more nervous, but I’m not.”

  Gunner couldn’t say the same. He was extra nervous because he was meeting Sophia’s family and didn’t want to lie if they asked him about his profession. “I think it’ll be okay.” His dry mouth didn’t give him confidence at all. The cameras surrounding the limo didn’t help either.

  Landon opened the car door and stepped out with Gunner following him. They walked to the front door, and Gunner knocked. When it opened, Sophia answered, ushering them in and immediately introducing
her mom and dad.

  “This is my dad and mom, Henry and Tamie.”

  Her dad shook hands with Landon. “It’s nice to meet you. Sophia’s had nothing but good things to say.”

  “It’s nice to meet you too, Henry,” Landon said.

  Gunner shook her dad’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.” He shook Tamie’s hand. “And you too, ma’am.”

  Sophia’s mom smiled. “Ma’am. You can call me Tamie.”

  “I think my mom would kill me.” Gunner chuckled.

  Tamie laughed as she waved for them to follow her. “Come on in. We’ve got lunch just about ready. We’ll be eating out on the pavilion, and then I think Henry said he’d be taking you two jet skiing.”

  “Oh yeah, we’ll have some fun.” Her dad shared a look with Sophia.

  Her cheeks turned dark red. “That means he’s going to take you out on the water and grill you,” she said as they walked through the house.

  Gunner shrugged. “If I had a little girl, I’d do the same thing.”

  Henry patted him on the shoulder. “I like this guy.”

  “I’m not a little girl,” Sophia grumbled, but a smile played on her lips.

  Landon nodded. “If we can’t take a little grilling, we don’t need to be here.”

  Henry put an arm around Sophia and looked at Gunner and Landon over his shoulder as they followed. “See? They get it.”

  “You said you’d behave yourself.”

  “I am. I didn’t answer the door with a gun.” He laughed.

  Sophia rolled her eyes. “Oh, Dad.” She looked at Gunner. “He doesn’t even own a gun.”

  “Hey!” Henry narrowed his eyes. “Don’t give away my secrets.”

  “Henry,” Tamie admonished. “Stop. You’re embarrassing her.”

  “At least I don’t pull out photo albums.” Her dad bumped her mom with his elbow as they stopped at the sliding glass doors leading to the pavilion.

  Gunner leaned over and smiled. “Wow, this is great.”