Page 4 of Lone Star Protector

He glanced around at the shelves stuffed with all sorts of glass sculptures, vases, and bowls. Again, he knew that some of them would be going to gift shops in San Antonio and Austin. Others would be shipped all over the world.

Caroline stood there, her back to him, staring at the ruined sculpture. Even now, when things seemed to be racing to the hell in a handbasket arena, he could feel the heat.

The lust.

Yeah, that was it. Lust. Probably because of the forbidden part playing into it. But he thought maybe it was something that went deeper than that. All the way to the marrow of his bones.

He’d felt it the first time he’d laid eyes on Caroline.

She hadn’t been standing then but had rather been in a hospital bed. Six weeks into that three month and four day stay. Nash had been about to head out on his first deployment as an Air Force Combat Rescue Officer, but he’d made a detour to the hospital to try to tell Caroline just how sorry he was that his dick of a brother had done this to her.

Nash hadn’t gotten past the door.

He’d seen her sleeping. Just lying there. So beautiful. Still so damaged and recovering from her most recent surgery. He’d stood there, silently cursing what’d happened to her.

Silently cursing the lust, too.

After all, he’d been twenty-three. A big age gap, considering Caroline had been just eighteen. But even that wasn’t the biggest obstacle. No. Not when his brother had come so close to ending her life.

Nash had been contemplating that. His dick brother. Her injuries. Her amazing face. And the lust.

When Ruby had stepped up beside him.

Because Nash had researched Caroline, he’d also known who Ruby was. A lieutenant colonel in the Army. Former special ops. All hard-assed. And she had advised Nash that now wasn’t a good time to spill his apology. Ruby and he had been discussing that when Caroline had woken up and asked who he was. After Nash had drawn in enough air to speak, he’d told her.

Caroline had been more than civil, but he’d also seen the wariness in her eyes. Even though he didn’t have a close resemblance to Bodie, they did have the same black hair, the same build. That must have given her flashbacks from hell.

And it was the reason he’d avoided her from then on.

The avoidance had lasted until three years ago when Caroline had run into him at a Christmas party. Nash and she had talked. Even danced. And he was certain she’d felt the same pull of heat that he had.

Certain, too, that she had put up an equal resistance.

There was some of that resistance in her now as she turned toward him. “Is Bodie still obsessed with me?”

That was a good word for it. Obsession. Caroline had gone out with Bodie once, but after she’d declined another date with him, he’d stalked her. Harassed her. Terrified her.

And then tried to kill her.

“I haven’t had any contact with Bodie for years,” he replied. “I went to see him in prison after…afterwards,” Nash settled for saying. He’d wanted to know why Bodie had done it.

Nash had gotten an answer he’d take the grave.

Because if I can’t have her, no one else will. No one. Caroline is mine.

A sick asshole response from a sick obsessed asshole, but Nash had no idea if Bodie still felt the same way. Considering the exit Bodie had taken, Nash was thinking the answer was yes.

“Have you had any contact with him?” Nash asked her.

She shook her head, peeled off the bandana, and repeated the headshake. “Thankfully, he wasn’t allowed to send me letters, emails or such.”

The words had barely left her mouth when Nash heard something. The sound of a car engine, and it was making a fast approach toward them. He didn’t have to draw his gun since he was already holding it.

“Move back,” he told Caroline, and he made sure it wasn’t a request but rather an order.

Did she listen?

Of course not.

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