Page 33 of The Female Warrior & The Charming Gentleman

Hurrying out into the hallway, she came up short whenJarom was already standing there. His smile was warm and intimate. As if he knew her. He didn’t. Nobody did, and if they did, they’d wish they didn’t. Just as Charles had.

“Hello. Did you sleep all right, my love?”

Her eyes widened. Time to tease and hide the emotion. “Fabulous, Adonis. I always sleep better in a man’s arms.” She winked.

“Whose arms have you slept in besides mine?” Jarom’s blue eyes narrowed. He was obviously upset, and his voice was as husky and angry as she’d ever heard it.

“You’ll never know.” She winked and sashayed past him.

Jarom wrapped his arm around her waist and tugged her to a stop. Her instinct was to whip around and punch him. Her fist darted forward almost of its own accord. She tensed all her muscles and stopped her fist an inch from his abdomen.

“Whoa,” he murmured. “Look at that self-control, my love.”

“Don’t make me regret not punching you.”

“I’ll take the risk.” He wrapped her up tight and pulled her in to his chest. “Please answer the question before I go insane.”

“Jarom.” Her throat was dry and scratchy. He risked getting hurt to hold her tight and know if he was the only one she trusted as she’d trusted last night.

She wanted to keep teasing, but she didn’t know how to at this moment. That scared her. Her answer scared her even more. “I’ve never let down my guard and fallen asleep in a man’s arms before.”

The look he gave her surprised her. She thought he’d show the overconfident man he was and maybe not gloat because he was so classy, but at least look triumphant. Instead, he looked compassionate for the obvious fear she hadand grateful she hadn’t been sleeping around or trusting other men as she trusted him.

“Autumn. Thank you for trusting me so deeply,” he said in a husky voice.

“I don’t …” She tried to lie, but it stuck in her throat. She cleared her throat and blinked quickly. She would not cry and make him even more concerned. If anyone else in this world knew Autumn Cardon could be this weak, she’d lose all credibility. With Jarom, she had no fears of him mocking her or spreading her weakness. He was trustworthy. “Thank you for being trustworthy,” she managed to say.

Jarom’s blue gaze penetrated through her. Did he realize she hadn’t trusted a man like that? Ever? Even dating Charles, she’d only told him sparse details about her childhood and never slept in his arms.

She’d pretty much admitted to Jarom he was the only one she could trust like this, but she didn’t think anyone could understand how deeply her mistrust of others went. Her only friends were some fellow bodyguards who for the most part had the emotional depth of a gnat. That wasn’t fair; Paul and Aiden were compassionate. But she’d never let her guard down around either of them, and Paul had betrayed her trust by telling Jarom he had a chance. Jarom was getting far too many tools to dismantle her heart of iron. She had to be stronger.

Footsteps came on the steps. Jarom looked her over and said, “This conversation will be continued.”

She gave him a sassy look. “I don’t think so. Unless you want a punch in the gut.” She wasn’t about to tell him her commitment to not hurt him again.

“Worth it,” he said, his jaw rock hard and his blue eyes determined.

Autumn trembled and redoubled her commitment to sass him and create an emotional distance. Even if she couldn’t punch him.

“What’s the plan today, friends?” Easton called out.

Autumn stepped back and turned to the cowboy. Easton’s gaze was wounded and frustrated. She could only imagine what he thought, and it wasn’t good. She had no moral reputation to uphold, she didn’t turn to heaven, but Mama Millie had been kind to her yesterday and she didn’t want her or the Coleville family thinking she or Jarom were some … loose people.

“Jarom held me after I had a nightmare,” she burst out with. “Nothing happened. We’re not together or doing something inappropriate.”

“Autumn,” Jarom said softly. It wasn’t a reprimand; it was as if she’d wounded him.

She refused to look at Jarom. Easton appeared pleased.

“That’s good to hear.” Easton said. “So what you’re saying is … I’ve still got a chance?” He gave her a cheeky grin.

Jarom touched her arm softly. She glanced up at him and saw in his eyes that he wanted her to say they were together. He wanted to protect her emotionally and love her.

“Not happening,” she muttered to Jarom. She hated hurting him, emotionally or physically. What was happening to her?

His blue eyes pleaded with her. She couldn’t let him melt her heart of iron. She feared he already had.

“What is our plan?” she asked brightly, spinning to focus on Easton.

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