Page 9 of Guarded from Sabotage

My best friend. A job I enjoy. Loving parents. My health. A team of highly-trained former Green Berets who agreed to meet with me and may be able to help figure out this convoluted mess I found myself in.

And it actually works. My stomach feels less jittery. The band wrapped around my chest eases a little. Hope kindles in my chest.

Maybe this will all work out, just like Hanna said.

Then the doorbell rings, and my heart leaps into my throat.

Don’t be nervous, I remind myself sternly. This isn’t a stranger coming to judge me; not like the police or the dozens of customer service people I’ve talked to over the last two weeks. This is Dante. Finn’s old teammate. Part of Hanna’s extended family.

And hewasreally nice when I talked to him at the wedding.

It’ll be fine.

I hope.

As I head towards the door, I check the doorbell camera—my neighborhood isn’t the nicest, and that’s a generous way of putting it—to find Dante standing at my front door, just as handsome as I remember.

Yes, I was still technically engaged when I met Dante at the wedding, but I wasn’t blind. And it’s not like anything happened between us other than pleasant—okay, very pleasant—conversation, but I couldn’t help noticing how good-looking he was.

Especially all dressed up in a suit, the crisp white of his button-down contrasting with his bronzed skin, and his tailored suit jacket stretched across broad shoulders and bulging arm muscles. And he had this dark, wavy hair he’d run his hand through when he was thinking, bright blue eyes that sparkled whenever he laughed, and strong, rugged features that hinted at his Italian heritage.

Even though things with Tanner weren’t going well at that point—he claimed he couldn’t come to the wedding because of work, but I found out later he was spending the weekend withanother woman—I wouldn’t have dreamed of pursuing anything with Dante.

Somepeople are loyal. Not like my cheating ex.

But I really enjoyed the hours I spent talking to Dante, and I definitely remember how attractive he was. Oris, at least judging from the little video on my phone.

Not that it matters what he looks like. And it definitely doesn’t matter that I felt a weird sort of flutter in my belly whenever Dante gave me thatsmile; the one that lit up his entire face and made him look years younger.

Nope. Doesn’t matter at all.

Dante is here to assess my case, as Hanna called it, and sparkling eyes and charismatic smiles have nothing to do with it.

Except.

As I open the door, Dante’s lips curve up, and his expression brightens. “Sarah. It’s nice to see you again.”

And that smile makes everything feel ten times better. More hopeful. Like maybe Hanna’s right, and Dantecanhelp figure everything out.

“Hi.” Did my voice just squeak a little? What is wrong with me? More steadily, I add, “Thanks so much for coming. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”

“Of course.” His gaze softens. “I’m so sorry to hear about what happened. What you’ve been going through.”

Emotion surges again, and I swallow hard before saying quickly, “Thank you. It’s been… well…”

“Do you want to sit down?” Dante asks. “I was thinking we could just chat for a few minutes, catch up a little, then you can tell me the rest.”

“Okay.” But I don’t move. I just stand in the doorway, staring up at him and distractedly wondering if he was this tall when I saw him last spring.

And should I shake his hand? Hug him? It feels weird not doing anything, but if he’s here on business, and I hug him, is that weird? But shaking hands seems so formal.

What is wrong with me? This isn’t a difficult decision.

“Sarah?” His expression turns to one of concern. “Are you okay?”

“Oh, yes. Sorry.” My cheeks go hot. “Come in. I should have… Sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me today.”

“It’s fine, Sarah.” Understanding fills his gaze. “I’m in no rush.”

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