Page 7 of Snowed in with My Protector

The rest of the flight was quiet and even though I was exhausted, I couldn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw those three men. But I wasn’t in a hotel watching on my phone, I was home, and they found me.

“You okay?” Blake’s question pulls me out of my thoughts. When I look up at the rear-view mirror, I find his crystal blue, concern filled eyes glancing back at me.

I force a small smile on my face and nod. “I’m good,” my voice is hoarse and even I can hear the exhaustion in my tone.

“We’re almost there,” he assures me. “I know this is a lot, Fallon, but you’re doing amazing. You’ll be able to rest when we get to Hutch’s cabin.” There are those butterflies again even though that makes no sense. “He does contract work for me occasionally but prefers the solitude of being on Alpha Mountain.” He frowns slightly like he’s thinking about something before his face smooths out. “He’ll protect you with his life.”

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Bodhi trusts you. I trust you.”

Honestly, even if Bodhi didn’t trust Blake Higgins, I would be hard pressed not to. He’s a giant of a man that exudes a calm strength that has helped to soothe some of the jagged edges from the last few days. I’m still anxious, but I’m trying to accept that I may never be able to shake that feeling.

I did the right thing, even though it was hard. That has to count for something. It’s not like I regret going to Echo with the truth.

“Blake,” I begin and lean forward in my seat a little bit, “can you please not contact Bodhi. Not yet at least?”

Blake frowns and his eyes are intent when he meets my gaze in the rearview mirror again. “You don’t want to let him know what’s going on? I’m sure he would want to know.”

I nod slowly and lean back against the seat. “I’m sure he would want to know, but it would only worry him. I don’t want to split is focus, not while he’s deployed and too far away to help. When everything is done, I promise I’ll tell him,” I whisper.

“I won’t reach out to him,” Blake doesn’t sound happy about it even though he agrees. “But I reserve the right to reach out to him if I need to.”

I suck in a sharp breath with the words he’s not saying.If something goes wrong. If they’re unable to keep me safe.

I nod and try not to think of how I’ve turned my life upside down in the matter of days. Really, it only took a single moment to upend everything I took for granted as truth.

My mind zones out until the trees clear and we stop in front of a gorgeous wood cabin nestled into the wilderness. I suck in a breath and marvel at the beauty. Duncan is out of the car, opening my door, and helping me out before I’m able to take it all in.

When the door of the cabin opens, my eyes snap toward the man who steps out onto the front porch. He’s a big guy and his muscles strain against the henley he’s wearing, not at all bothered by the cold biting air up on the mountain. His dark hair is longer on top than the sides and when a strand flops forward over his forehead, my fingers itch to smooth it back.

His hazel eyes meet mine and a feeling of warmth, of complete safety, wraps around me. It doesn’t make any sense, and it should have warning bells going off in my head. Maybe it’s just exhaustion talking, but I swear a connection, a tendril of knowing, forms between us.

But that can’t be real. Can it?

CHAPTER 4

HUTCH

For the first time since I’ve moved to my cabin, it feels small. And that has nothing to do with Blake and Duncan taking up space in my living room. It has everything to do with the woman sitting on my couch. She’s only been in my space for a matter of minutes, but it’s as if my body has already become attuned to her.

And I can’t stop fucking looking at her.

Not that taking her in is a hardship. She’s the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen. Her hair is a golden brown that I know would shimmer in the sunlight. Her eyes are a grey-blue color I’ve never seen before. Her lips are pouty and pink.

I’ve imagined kissing her a million different ways in the same number of seconds. Would she moan into my mouth? What does she taste like? Will she melt against me the moment we kiss?

She might be sitting in my living room, but it’s clear she’s a million miles away, which I can’t blame her for, and exhausted. I know she’s running on fumes, and my gut is screaming at me to go to her, wrap her up in my arms, and watch over her while she’s sleeping.

I shake off that instinct because it feels too big, and I needto focus on Blake, Duncan, and the plan. I pull up the feed from around my property and show them. “I have the perimeter covered with motion sensors. I’ll know if anyone approaches the cabin long before they can get too close. There aren’t any dead areas where someone can slip in. Everything is concealed and I’m notified immediately.”

Duncan nods as he clicks through the different camera angles and looks impressed, which is saying something, when I show him the coverage map. Since I moved here, the only thing I’ve been notified about has been animals moving through my territory. But with Fallon here, I’m glad I have eyes on everything. Knowing someone is coming is key since we’re so remote out here.

“You should consider showing her some basic things,” Duncan murmurs and nods in Fallon’s direction. “Self-defense and shooting. It may make her feel more comfortable and help her to feel empowered since she’s had to leave behind her entire life.”

I look over at her and my heart aches for the woman who looks like she’s about to bolt at any moment. I’m going to figure out how to help her feel comfortable here while she makes peace with saying goodbye to everything she knew. It won’t be easy, but she’s strong.

She wouldn’t be here right now if she weren’t.

“Yeah,” I agree, “I’ll do that. I want her to feel comfortable defending herself. I keep all my guns locked up at all times, but I can’t be in the safe room with her and out taking care of business if someone figures out where she is and comes for her.”

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