Page 7 of The Female Warrior & The Charming Gentleman

“I don’t know about that, love. Having you tackle me to the floor again is high on my priority list, and we can’t be participating in such activities with a boyfriend marring the scene, now can we?”

Autumn’s stomach hopped happily. She focused on the dirt road that led out of the forest. Her temporary assignment with Jarom had just expanded to more time with her idol. She had to keep her heart safe from this heartthrob and somehow balance Easton and Mama Millie Coleville.

Give her a nice simple op with men shooting at her and trying to punch her lights out. This assignment was officially out of control.

Chapter

Three

Jarom clenchedhis hands into fists to control the trembling and tried to tamp down his anger. He was always the happy-go-lucky, every guy’s friend and every girl’s crush kind of guy. The past few months he’d been a prisoner in his own world, thanks to Benjamin Oliver wanting revenge on him or wanting his fortune.

Now Benjamin wanted him dead, one of his bodyguards and supposed friends had betrayed him, and one of his favorite homes had exploded.

He needed a distraction and it was easy to focus on Autumn, driving the SUV confidently and not looking at him.

“Boyfriend?” he asked again. “How serious would you say this boyfriend is, my beautiful angel protector?”

“None of your business, Mr. Love, and I’m notyouranything … except I suppose I could concede on your protector.”

“Hmm. Let’s concede on a few more titles. What do you say?I’ll make it my business to know how easily this ‘boyfriend’ can be replaced. I favor the idea of you being mine.”

Autumn’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel and her neck and cheeks darkened. He smiled. Teasing her was much better than thinking about his house being gone, a psychotic killer after him, and Garrett not being his friend. And instead of standing up to Garrett and Benjamin like he instinctively longed to do, he was being spirited away.

Benjamin Oliver was an experienced and brilliant criminal who could twist someone Jarom had trusted for years into attempting to murder him while he slept. That gouged at him. If Jarom had a fault, it was wanting everyone to like him and be his friend, but could you really call that a fault?

“We need to get something straight,” Autumn said, glancing quickly at him. “First of all, I know what you’re like. You have a different woman on your arm every hour. So don’t pretend you want to make me ‘yours’ and don’t toy with me.”

Jarom started to protest, but she overrode him. “Second of all, I don’t do relationships with anyone. So even if you weren’t the player of the year, you’d stand no chance with me. Understood?”

He studied her. He didn’t like what she was saying, but he couldn’t lie and say what she perceived about him wasn’t mostly the truth. “But if you ‘don’t do relationships’ and I’m not the type to settle down, aren’t we in fact perfect for each other?” He wanted this intriguing woman to give him a chance. He’d break through her walls and maybe let down his own.

“No,” she shot at him in exasperation.

“I feel we are,” he argued. “Neither of us want commitment and we’re both experts at flirtation. We can simply tease andlaugh and go our merry ways once your protection detail is finished. No commitment, no stress, and a lot of fun.”

He paused and gave her a moment to form a rebuttal. The words he’d said were correct, but they didn’t feel right. For the first time in his life, Jarom considered why a man might settle down with one woman and want to fight emotionally and physically for her. He’d seen it firsthand with Eli and Livvy. At the time, he’d thought it was fabulous for them but would never happen for him. If the woman he was meant to find and woo was as intriguing and fiery as Autumn, it would take a lifetime to tire of her. Maybe he never would.

“You’re right,” she admitted, but her voice was wary. Did she not love the ‘flirt and move on’ proposal? He didn’t love it either, at least not with her, but he wouldn’t be the first to admit it. A committed relationship was out of his realm; the flirt-and-move-on path had to be the one to take. Even if a long-term agreement held an appeal with Autumn, he wasn’t ready for happily ever after. His mother despaired that he never would be. Maybe someday, but not today. No, he wouldn’t push or suggest a real relationship, but he’d enjoy the flirtations. Especially as it would distract him from his inability to stand up to Benjamin Oliver.

“Wait a minute.” His mind played back through her conversation with her boss, not ready to riddle out why long-term with Autumn would never work. “Aiden knew I was with you, but he didn’t know I was listening in on the call. Was he talking about me being your boyfriend?” He relaxed into the seat, turning slightly to give her an alluring grin. “Because we could definitely talk about a fake boyfriend and girlfriend status. That could explain why you’ll have to stay by my side night and day. You’ll be my protector, but nobody elsewill know that but myself and Aiden. The media will eat up Jarom Love finally finding the love of his life.”

“Stop,” she said in a voice that was more begging than a command.

Jarom liked that he was affecting her. She’d affected him plenty tonight, and his beautiful Aspen cabin had exploded. He loved that mountainous retreat. That was a double whammy. Being drawn to her and losing his home was an emotional hit harder than being betrayed and almost killed.

“Thank you for coming for me tonight,” he said softly. “That was miraculous. I’d be bits and pieces without you.”

She pulled up to the main road and stopped the vehicle, glancing at him. “I’m grateful you’re whole and healthy.”

Turning onto the road, she upped her speed.

He let that linger in the air between them. After a few moments, he asked, “Is there not a way to draw out Benjamin and take him down?”

She smiled slightly. “Aiden is working night and day to find a way.”

“Use me as bait,” he suggested.

“No!” she yelled.

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