Page 7 of Protector Book Boyfriend

Porsha settles into her seat, a trace of regret in her eyes. “Sorry about that. She wasn’t feeling well this morning, so I had to leave her with my mom. But I didn’t want to stand you up.”

I nod, but I can’t help but feel disappointed. “Of course, I understand. I hope she feels better soon.”

“Me too. I don’t really know any pediatricians in town anymore. And it won’t be fun trying to find one on short notice.”

“I can help you with that,” I offer, a little too eagerly. “Anything, anytime. Just ask.” She looks at me, a faint smile tugs at the corners of her lips. “Thank you, that would be amazing,” she says softly, her voice filled with gratitude.

“So, your daughter. What’s her name?”

“Her name is Nia and she’s five.”

“Sweet. Love that,” I beam. “Where’s Nia’s dad—is he moving to Trinity to be close to her?” I inquire. Porsha chuckles bitterly.

“No,” she says, “he’d never. He enjoys being in a big metropolis. Thank God.”

“Why thank god?”

“Don’t really want him around, you know. Life’s been easier with him at a distance.”

“What? Is he a pyscho?” I ask, my brow creasing.

“He’s not what I thought he would be.” A frown set into her features.

As we peruse the menu and make small talk, I can’t shake off the feeling that this brunch is not what I had imagined it would be. Instead of reminiscing about old times with family and friends, we spend much of our time discussing life’s disappointments. Gray clouds that have seemed to follow us no matter what. “So, how have you been?” she asks, trying to steer the conversation onto more comfortable ground.Porsha’s smile widens as we talk, and I feel some of the initial tension between us ease. I tell her about my job on Trinity Falls’ search and rescue team and how I’d been on sabbatical for a year. I don’t go into all the grizzly details of my leave, but give her a tepid recount of the incident that still haunts me. A hiker found, one day too late, the remains mauled my what most believe was a hungry wolf or bear. I leave the morbid details at bay, only revealing that one of my searches ended in tragedy. Immediately, Porsha was sympathetic. And I think she took comfort in being able to comfort me. She softened when our food came, growing more and more at ease as we talked about how the town and region had changed. Change we both agreed was much needed around these parts. Despite the hiccup with her not bringing Nia, there’s still a chance for me to connect with her little girl. I remind myself that this is just the beginning, and I need to stay positive and show Porsha that I am serious about getting to know her and her daughter.

Isit in my quaint yet cozy mountain home, the warmth of the fireplace casting a soft glow across the room. The peaceful silence of the mountains is usually comforting, but tonight, my mind is restless and I hate that shit. Despite my leave from Search and Rescue soon ending and realizing I’ll have to transition back into my hero on duty role, my thoughts keep circling back to Porsha. The brunch date at the bistro was just the beginning, and I can’t stop thinking about her. I pick up my phone, my finger hovering over the delete button on the dating app Sable had talked me into joining. I’m considering deleting my profile on the Book Boyfriend Dating app and focusing solely on Porsha. Our connection is instant, like something out of a storybook anyway, and I want to pursue it more intensely.

But a part of me hesitates. What if I’m moving too fast? What if she’s not on the same page?

“Fuck it,” I mutter. I open the app, ready to hit the delete button, but a notification pops up. My heart skips a beat when I see her name.

Great news! We’ve found your match. Porsha is waiting for you!

I stare at the screen, a mix of disbelief and excitement washing over me.

She matched me. She’s on this app, too.

I smile to myself. Maybe she’s feeling the same connection I am. I quickly send her a message through the app, my fingers tapping out the words before I can overthink it and I hit send. I consider what this could mean for us. I decide to let things unfold naturally, for now. Both of us being on this app and coming up as a match for one another is some crazy shit, and it feels like another layer added to whatever this is between us.

Fate? Destiny? Meant—to—fuckin be? Whatever the hell it is, I have no intention of walking away from it.

Chapter Four

Porsha

I’M DRIVING THROUGH the winding mountain roads near Trinity Falls, my eyes scanning the terrain for the perfect lot to build our new home. The area is breathtaking, with majestic peaks and lush forests promising the peaceful life I envision for Nia and me. I’d found a lot on the Texas Acreages for Sale website and have been driving around for forty-five minutes trying to find it.

I can’t stop thinking about Asa though, especially now that I know we’ve matched on the Book Boyfriend Dating site. I’ve been keeping our communication minimal, even though he’s rated a staggering 99.5 percent match on my profile. Ignoring his messages has been hard, particularly because the adult version of the kid I used to babysit is so damn dreamy. Just thinking about him makes me blush, my body reacting in ways I haven’t felt in years and I can’t fucking believe it. But I need to take care of myself first, before jumping into another relationship.

Another ten minutes pass before I realize I’ve taken a wrong turn and find myself driving by a lake. As I pass, I spot a group of men fishing and hanging out, loud music blaring from their F-150’s. A group of the hunkiest men I’d ever seen in my freaking life dip in and out of this lake, bouncing back and forth between their trucks strewn around the lake, parked in tailgating fashion. They hop from truck bed to truck bed, burly, athletic and like nothing you see walking the streets of downtown Houston. I know one thing for sure. If Zahara was here she’d shit a damn brick. I laugh, envisioning my bestie breaking her neck to holla at one of these gods.

Then one of them catches my eye—Asa, along with his brother, Dylan. My heart races unexpectedly, and because there’s no one around to witness it, I let a shutter pass through my body because the thirst is real. I keep driving for a half mile and pull up to the Trinity Falls Search and Rescue headquarters. I park, hoping that wasn’t the entire search and rescue team I just passed down at the lake. I step out of the car, trying to steady my nerves, and head inside. The interior is bustling with activity; the walls lined with maps and rescue gear. A man I assume is the chief looks up as I enter. “Can I help you, ma’am?”

“Yes, please,” I say, my voice shaky. “I think I took a wrong turn. I’m looking for a lot. It should be off Highway 87...”

Before I can finish, Asa hurries in, his eyes lighting up when he sees me. “I thought that was your car,” he rumbles. A sexy smile spreading across his face. His skin was still damp from frolicking around in the lake, his gray tee shirt clinging to his beautiful, toned body.

Lord Jesus. Who is this kid, and why have You sent him to torture me?

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