Page 9 of Protector Book Boyfriend

“Yeah—but I’ve been playing around in these mountains for years,” I remind her.

“Is that why you joined search and rescue? Because you love the mountains?” she asks.

I nod. “That, and I fucking hate the idea of folks getting swallowed up by wild grizzlies.”

“Oh, my god. That doesn’t happen,” she says. I flash her a half-cocked smile, one that doesn’t quite reach my eyes.

“Sure, it doesn’t,” I mutter. Her mouth falls open, silent, in disbelief. A few seconds pass before she speaks.

“That happens?”

She leans into me, her eyes staring in disbelief. I hesitate because if she’s planning on living out here; I don’t want her worried and freaked out.

“Let’s change the subject,” I say, but she grips my wrist, wide eyed.

“I probably should know...”

“Yeah. It happens, but you have me.”

A flash of humor crosses her face, and her brow wrinkles. “Are you serious? What are you? Legends of the Fall, all of a sudden,” she teases. “You can’t fight off a damn grizzly bear,” she snaps.

I stare at her. “Nope, but my big-ass fucking rifle can.”

She leans back on my sofa, crossing her legs, staring at the fire I’d in my mountainside home for us after we’d run inside out of the rain. “I don’t know how I feel about having Nia around a gun. I’ve never had to think about it.” She looks at her phone, then sits it on the couch next to her. “I gotta get out of here and get back to my baby. I miss her,” she says. “Plus, I have this thing tomorrow night back in Houston. A meeting with partners whose interested in investing in my jewelry line.”

In the kitchen, I take two glasses from the top shelf in my cupboard and fill them with wine.

“That’s awesome, P.” I walk over to the couch and hand Porsha a glass. Absentmindedly, she takes it and tips it to her lips. The taste of the blend snaps her out of her thoughts. She looks at me. “You drink wine? A rough and tough mountain man like yourself?” she asks and takes another sip. I laugh.

“Not really. But my parents have invested in a winery with some of the rich folks around here. This is their brand.”

“And you get freebies.”

“Whether I want them or not.”

For the first time since she’s crossed my threshold, Porsha smiles, and I love to see it. “Tell me more about this Houston trip.”

She sighs. “Well, it was set up a while ago.” She shakes her head. “The investment deal, not the trip. And I can’t miss it. It’s my future... a legacy for my daughter...”

“Of course you shouldn’t miss it. Why would you?”

“My ex-husband is hosting the event. He still thinks he has a say in what I decide. Even though I created this entire brand and designed all the jewelry myself.”

“Is he an investor?”

“He wanted ten percent for making the introduction...so... that bastard.”

“That’s not enough stake for him to have a say in how you run your business.”

“Tell him that.”

“You could take me with you. Make him crazy. You and your hot lil boy toy,” I grin.

“Absolutely not,” she laughs warily. “It doesn’t take much to make him crazy.”

She stares at the fire once more. “Teach me how to start a fire,” she says, looking past me. I lean closer.

“Sure, like you taught me how to drive stick,” I whisper.

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