Page 11 of The Female Warrior & The Charming Gentleman

“Yes.” Desperation clawed at her insides. He had to not bring his blow torch to her iron heart or she’d be liquefied and reshaped before she knew what had happened. “I am a tough, sassy female bodyguard. I tease and flirt with everyone, but nobody gets past my wall. You are a handsome, charming, wealthy player who goes through multiple women per week. We both know who and what we are. We already committed to meaningless flirtations and no commitments. I will treat you the same way I treat every man. You will have no expectations of me falling for you, and I will return the favor. Savvy?”

She glared at him, silently daring him to contradict her.

Jarom simply raised his eyebrows. Then he casually reached over and took her left hand between both of his. She gasped in protest but didn’t pull away. Why didn’t she pull away? Because he was only flirting. It meant nothing.

He lifted her hand to his lips, turned it over, and pressed a heated kiss in the center of the palm.

Autumn quivered from the intensity and allure of that kiss. She all but melted into the seat. What made it worse was the intense and determined look in his blue eyes as he gazed at her from over the top of their joined hands.

“We’ll see,” he said.

Her eyes widened. She should pull her hand away and punch him. Hard. Her defense mechanism whenever she felt threatened.

He threaded their fingers together and rested their joined hands on his muscular thigh, gently trailing his thumb across the back of her hand.

Autumn found herself unable to breathe properly. She couldn’t think of a reply. She had no sass in her. She was a puddle of longing for this man who was as off limits to her as any man had ever been. He was even more charming and enticing than Charles. Jarom would melt the iron around her heart, waltz in, and then he’d destroy her when he realized how dark and ugly she was inside.

Holding her hand as casually as if they were dating, Jarom somehow made the experience feel comfortable and provocative and like a commitment all its own. She’d rarely held hands with a man. Sometimes a kiss at the end of a date, a hug, or a man would escort her with his hand on her lower back.

Why did holding hands with Jarom feel more significant than any other man’s touch? There was nothing threatening in his touch that would dredge up childhood fears as sometimes happened when men touched her. With Jarom, it was sheer pleasure but more meaningful. Holding hands with him blew past their non-commitment barriers and she didn’t even protest.

Her heart thrummed out of control as they soared toward Montana.

“Tell me all about Autumn Cardon.”

She stiffened and would’ve pulled her hand away, but he continued the tantalizing motion with his thumb moving across the surprisingly tender skin on the back of her hand. She couldn’t bring herself to miss out onthe experience.

“Where did you grow up?”

“Detroit,” she murmured, the only thing she’d admit about her childhood. “What about you?” she asked, though she already knew far too much about him. Only child. Raised by loving billionaires. Had homes in Aspen, Spain, Playa Del Carmen, and Boca Ratan.

“Colorado Springs,” he said. “Is your family still in Detroit?”

“No idea,” she admitted.

Jarom’s blue eyes looked too perceptive. “What is your favorite part about your childhood?”

“That it’s over.” Her stomach turned over, and she yanked her hand free and clutched it with her own hand, trying to ignore the warm tingles he’d produced.

His eyes widened and he nodded. “Positive memories from your teenage years?”

Nothing positive. She had fought to stay off of her mom’s boyfriends’ radars, do good in school, and not have anyone notice the bruises her mom regularly left on her face, arms, and abdomen. Her mom regularly beat Autumn because her sleazebag boyfriends noticed her and a long list of other reasons that were always somehow Autumn’s fault.

“I had a neighbor who was an ultimate fighter. He taught me how to fight.” Jed had died of a brain aneurysm five years ago. He’d never been warm with her, but she still loved him more than her own mother. She’d never forget his kindness hiding her at his apartment and standing up for her when she couldn’t reach her safe space in her closet, and most importantly, teaching her how to protect herself. Her mom had stopped coming after her because of Jed. That had been one of the best days of her life. Mom had taken a swing at her. Autumn had caught her fist, spun her around, and slammed her into thefridge. ‘You’ll never touch me again,’ Autumn had said coldly. Her mom never had.

Autumn stuck out her chin, unsteady at what she was revealing and the memories. This was much deeper than any conversation she allowed with men. Even Paul and Aiden didn’t know how she had gotten her start.

“What did you enjoy in high school?” she asked, hoping to redirect.

“Dating,” he admitted. She thought he’d give her his usual sly smile, but he seemed disturbed by her omission. “And I was brilliant at water polo and mountain biking.”

“Water polo, mountain biking, and rock climbing? Some of the toughest sports out there. Makes sense why you’re built like Adonis or maybe Hercules.” She could’ve bitten her own tongue off. The grin that covered his face was too much to resist.

In her defense, they’d agreed to flirt and tease. That was all she was doing. She simply couldn’t let it mean anything.

“Thank you, love. Your beautiful face and shape put Aphrodite and Athena to shame.”

She smiled. “I always wanted to be Athena.”

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