Page 36 of The Female Warrior & The Charming Gentleman

“I won’t make any assumptions from you letting down your guard and for the moment not breaking my arm.” Jarom squeezed her hand. “Can you just enjoy the beautiful scenery and being together? We’re safe here and you’re safe with me.”

“I’m keeping you safe,” she snipped back. “Not the other way around.”

“That is most definitely correct, love.”

Jarom didn’t clarify that he’d meant emotional safety, but she knew that was what he’d intoned. She trusted him and had shared too much. He made her feel safe emotionally, and she’d already fallen for him, but she had to keep in mind that he was a playboy of epic proportions and they had no future. It would be devastating when he rejected her. She’d move on to another assignment and he would return to dating supermodels, actresses, and influencers.

They walked hand in hand along the pine needle and leaf-strewn trail. Just for the moment, Autumn took his advice and let herself enjoy the beautiful scenery, the smell of fall leaves and pine crunching under their feet, and most of all being close to Jarom. This beautiful and famous man somehow understoodher, had penetrated her shield, and was dissolving the iron armor around her heart. He’d never chinked at it or tried to break it; he’d softly melted it away with his kindness, patience, understanding, and integrity.

Autumn shoved the future pain and fears away and let herself pretend she was someone else. That she was whole and emotionally healthy. That she didn’t have an iron heart and wasn’t a trained killer who would horrify Jarom at some point. That she had a beautiful heart that was all hers to give, and she wanted to give it to Jarom.

They’d develop and maintain a relationship after this assignment was done. Of course they would.

Autumn had never felt so optimistic and content in her entire life. She asked Jarom about his childhood while they walked, and he regaled her with intriguing stories of being the only child of wealthy parents. They’d expected a lot of him but loved him even more. He’d learned hard work, charity, and business and financial sense from them. He’d also been encouraged with his design talents, expected to work hard and learn at school, and been on exotic trip after exotic trip.

“You traveled more before you were eight than I have my entire life, and I’m twenty-eight,” she exclaimed after he shared story after story.

“I’m sorry, love. I’m bragging away. I wish you’d share more with me.” He gave her a sidelong glance.

“I shared too much last night,” she admitted.

“Anything you share is safe with me,” he said. “I would never judge you, share your secrets, or do anything but fall more deeply in love with you.”

Autumn startled. Somehow she kept placing one foot in front of the other when all she wanted to dowas grab him and fuse their lips together. She basked in his words and his blue gaze.

For just that moment, Autumn was the only love of the famous Jarom Love. His fame didn’t matter. His philandering was in the past. She was his entire world, and she’d happily return the favor.

She knew in the back of her mind that being in love, having a ‘normal’ relationship and a happy future weren’t her reality. Those ideologies couldn’t be true. Not for her.

They cleared the trees and came upon a picturesque lake. Rivers entered and exited the otherwise calm lake with mountains soaring above and trees framing it. Except for the clearing they were in.

“Oh.” Autumn looked around. “What a romantic spot.” She regretted her words the moment they exited her mouth. Romance. She didn’t do romance. She was a bodyguard.

Jarom seemed bent on making her think otherwise. He lifted their joined hands to his lips, his warm breath brushing the very knuckles that had slugged him, and then he kissed the back of her hand. “Exactly my thought, beautiful.”

The look in his blue eyes made her knees quiver. He was going to kiss her and change her life’s trajectory forever.

Autumn couldn’t allow that to happen. She had to get some distance. Her mind scrambled for a way to do that without kicking Jarom in the head again.

They had company. Chad would help her. The beefy guard would stay close and interrupt the romance Jarom had planned.

Just as she thought that, Chad approached. “Everything is quiet and secure. I’ll keep a lookout while you two enjoy this beautiful spot.” He winked at Jarom as if the two of them had planned this.

Jarom grinned back at him. “Many thanks, my friend.”

Chad patted his pocket where his note lay. “I’ll never catch up, my friend.” He turned and faded into the forest before Jarom could respond.

Autumn knew Jared Coleville’s family and security team were almost as well trained as Aiden’s people. Chad would keep them safe. She could let down her guard with Jarom’s physical security, but she didn’t know that she could let down her guard with Jarom.

“Is that always the way it goes for you?” she asked, gesturing to where Chad had disappeared.

“What’s that, love?” Jarom quirked an eyebrow.

“You take a burly bodyguard who should have nothing in common with you, should actually be livid and jealous his wife is enamored with you, and you make him your friend?”

“I didn’t do much. Simply wrote a card.”

“I’ve always been impressed with you on social media, but you’re even better in real life.” She ground her teeth as soon as the words escaped. Why had she admitted to that?

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