Page 21 of The Female Warrior & The Charming Gentleman

“Yes.”

“Thank you. Now let’s go.”

Goodness. Men!

Jarom gave her a smile that should’ve been illegal. Thinking of his bare chest and lean muscles made it even worse. He gestured for her to walk in front of them. At least his ‘gentleman’ behavior fit what she needed to do. She could lead the way and Easton could take up the rear.

None of them said much as they made their way out of the house, through the dark, chilly pre-dawn October morning and into the barn. The interior of the barn was warmer than outside but not by much. She noticed horse pens and massive bull pens. She wanted to ask Easton if these were the bulls he rode, but it felt too quiet in the barn to disturb it.

They made it to a back room. Easton swung the door wide and flipped on a light. They all filed in and Jarom shut the door behind them. Autumn looked around at a rack of dumbbells from twenty-five pounders up to eighty-five. They had benches and squat racks, bars and plates, even a full cable machine. In one corner, there was a sparring ring. She wanted to spar with someone, but Easton would think it was an invitation to get handsy and flirt and she would decimate Jarom. Despite wrenching his arm last night, she didn’t really want to hurt him, and she certainly didn’t want to humiliate him. It wouldn’t bother her if she won, but she knew male ego and could bet it would bother him.

“This is a fabulous set up,” Jarom said.

“Thank you.” Easton bowed slightly.

Autumn headed for the cable machine. Shecould bet Jarom had ten times the equipment and a hundred times more expensive equipment in each of his homes, but he was gracious and humble about his wealth. That intrigued her.

Charles Etherington IV had treated her like a queen, but his family had been reluctant about her background and career. The night she’d rescued Charles and herself from four gang members, killing two of them and wounding the others, was the night Charles had opened his eyes. He’d realized a cold-hearted security agent who’d grown up with abuse and darkness could never fit in with his family and his world. He’d gently broken up with her and from the photos she’d glimpsed on social media before she blocked all of his accounts, he’d moved on to a beautiful sweetheart quickly.

She would never again trust her heart to a wealthy woman magnet from a different sphere than hers. She and Jarom had agreed to meaningless flirtations. She needed to stick with that plan. It was much safer for her long-term heart health that way.

Easton turned on some country music. She wasn’t a huge fan of country, but she didn’t mind it. Better than acid rock at least. They all focused on their workouts, working around each other but trying to stay out of each other’s way. There was plenty of room and enough equipment to go around.

Her eyes didn’t stray from Jarom. Far from straying, her gaze was magnetized to him. Her security buddies would tease that he had ‘pretty boy’ muscles, not functional strength. She didn’t care. His lean muscles were more than pretty; they were breathtaking. He was focused on a lower body workout but using hand weights or bars to accomplish it. Did his arm not hurt from last night?

He noticed her staring and held her gaze captive every timeshe looked his way. If he or Easton asked why she was gawking at him, she could claim she was making certain he was safe.

The song playing was catchy, something about ‘there was this girl’. Jarom caught her gaze and mouthed, ‘there was this girl’. She danced a little bit and grinned back at him. The look he gave her in return lit up the morning.

Suddenly Easton darted to her, grabbed her hand, and started whirling her around.

She laughed but pulled away from him. “Dance with somebody else, brother. I’ve got a workout to fit in.”

He chuckled, not seeming bothered. She glanced at Jarom. He seemed a little bothered. Biting at her lip and focusing on her anterior deltoid raise, she could admit she liked that.

An hour and a half later, they headed back inside. As they entered the house through the front door, she could smell cinnamon and sugar. Millie Coleville was cooking. She’d figured Millie would be a cook, a baker, a loving and protective Mama. The woman despised her because the first time Autumn and Easton saw each other was on a video chat call between Autumn and Paul while Paul protected Shay Cannon here at the Coleville’s ranch. Autumn may have said the words ‘shallow hookup’, teasing the handsome bull rider Easton and having no clue ‘Mama’ was within earshot. The mama bear did not like that. Not at all. Autumn’s face flared red.

“I’m going to head up and shower,” she said quickly. “Easton, will you stay with Jarom?”

“Jared said I wasn’t to leave your side,” Jarom reminded her.

Her hot face got even hotter. “Jarom,” she chided. “Easton is very capable ofprotecting you.”

“I know.” He folded his lean arms, the defined muscles catching her eye. “But I’m following Jared’s orders.”

“Oh my.” She let out an exasperated breath.

“Come eat breakfast first. Then we can all go shower,” Easton said. “Mama is looking forward to meeting you in person.” His smile was as broad as ever, but there was something in his blue eyes. He wasn’t telling her the truth.

“Oh, I’ll bet she is,” Autumn snipped back at him. Mothers were a trigger for her. “I’m not hungry.” Her stomach growled, undermining her. In her defense, she hadn’t eaten since lunch yesterday. The afternoon and evening had been busy and life changing.

“Is there something I don’t know about?” Jarom asked, leaning one shoulder against the wall and looking like the picture of casual elegance. How would he look in cowboy boots and jeans? Different from his normal style but still fantastic.

“Mama reprimanded Autumn for flirting with me on a phone call.” Easton lifted his hands. “It was no big deal. Mama’s forgotten about it, I’m sure.”

Footsteps pranced from the kitchen, through the living area, and right into the entryway. “Well, there you all are.” Millie beamed at Easton and then Jarom. Her gaze landed on Autumn and she visibly tightened. “Hello, Autumn. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Autumn felt stiff and awkward as could be. She had faced down vicious, murderous criminals, but she could admit to herself she was scared of Millie. No normal person should be intimidated by June Cleaver. The lady thought Autumn was a brash, too-forward female. She didn’t care what anyone thought about her, but that hurt for some reason. She’d never had amother figure that was concerned for her; she didn’t know why she cared to find one now.

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