Page 45 of Deadly Peril

Chapter 13

Jana chose a coffee shop in town. After parking, Thaddeus took her hand and they jogged through the falling snow to the warmth of the café.

Inside, the place was buzzing. The weather had sent people indoors, so the tables were nearly full. Jana spotted a couple of open seats in the corner and pointed. Then Thaddeus followed her over and they settled at the wooden table.

Jana looked up at the chalkboard menu to decide what she wanted. But she kept thinking of Thaddeus and how gentle he’d been with the swan. The vision of him stooped by the water, carefully freeing the bird from its binding, was going to stick with her for a while.

Thaddeus was tall, and his broad shoulders gave him a warrior image. His formidable size and the delicate form of the bird had sharply contrasted. He could be a fierce protector, as she’d witnessed, and was often stoic.

But the gentleness of his touch on the swan’s smooth feathers and the look of kindness in his eyes had moved her. In that moment, Jana had seen into his heart. He would probably prefer that she not see that side of him.

It was too late for that. The warmth Thaddeus had shown for the trapped animal provided a window to his soul. For all his sternness and soldier-like demeanor, he had a softer side. It had touched Jana.

“What will you have?” Thaddeus said.

“I can’t pass up the cappuccino.”

Thaddeus went to get their orders at the counter. Jana watched him walk away. He’d taken off his coat, so she had a good view from the rear and liked what she saw. His broad shoulders veed to a narrower waist, and his masculine stride sent a ripple of excitement through her.

The woman who eventually hooked up with Thaddeus would be lucky. And it would happen, despite his aloofness. He was a decent man and as sexy as Jana could imagine. Someone would melt that rough exterior and connect on a deeper level.

A flicker of desire warmed her, and briefly she wished that she could be that woman. That wasn’t realistic. It didn’t stop her from imagining what it would be like, and the vision was luscious. Jana tingled at the thought of feeling his bare skin underneath her palms.

Thaddeus walked back. “He’ll bring the drinks over in a minute.” He sat across from her, with his forearms on the table, and his hands close enough to touch. “You look thoughtful. What’s on your mind?”

Jana glanced out the window. “Oh, not much.” She took a breath. “Just wondering how long it’s going to snow.”

Thaddeus nodded, but she had the distinct feeling that he knew more than he let on. The drinks arrived, giving them something to focus on besides each other. Jana sipped the hot coffee through the foam and let the warmth seep into her.

Sitting across from Thaddeus, the coffee tasted better than she remembered. Many things were better with him there. She watched him drink black coffee then take a bite of a donut. If he was hers, she’d cook him breakfasts and…

It wasn’t like her to daydream like that.

Thaddeus motioned toward the other donut. “It’s good. Don’t you want one?”

“I’ll just have the coffee for now. You can have it.”

Jana watched him enjoy the food, and her mind drifted to other things he might enjoy. She’d better start a conversation or do something as a distraction. Without thinking, she blurted out, “Why are you a bodyguard?”

The question didn’t fluster Thaddeus, and she wondered if anything would. He shrugged. “It’s all I’m good at.”

And that said it. Thaddeus believed that was where he belonged. “You are good at it,” she said. “But it’s not all you’re good at.”

“It’s all I’ve done…protection, I mean. I joined the Navy right out of high school. I acclimated quickly. It seemed I was cut out for the military.” Thaddeus took the last bite of donut. “I can’t imagine doing anything else. I’d be like a fish out of water.”

“Don’t you have a social life? Friends…other interests?”

“What for?” Thaddeus looked at her, and she realized he meant it. “Let’s put it this way: I’m lousy at that stuff.” He leaned back. “I’m not completely antisocial. I go for a beer with the guys sometimes. And I visit with family.”

“Is that enough for you?”

Thaddeus stared at her. “I’ve never thought about it.” He shifted in his seat and gazed out the window. “The snow is coming down heavier. I think we might have a problem.”

Jana took out her phone. “I’ll send a text to Eva and tell her I’m at the lake. She’s used to me being away. But with the threat still unhandled, she might worry.”

The weather grew increasingly worse, and after another coffee, Jana wasn’t inclined to drive the mountain roads to get home. Her decision was made for her when a weather warning beeped on her phone. Heavy snow was predicted into the night.

Thaddeus checked the weather report. “A Pacific storm moving inland has brought heavy snow and high winds.” He scrolled on his phone for more details. “The road is closed.”

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