Page 4 of The Female Warrior & The Charming Gentleman

She should’ve known it was still a weakness. Charles Etherington IV had pretty boy muscles, a pretty boy face, was as kind as he was wealthy, and had ruined her for any future relationship. She’d never before trusted a man because of her lack of a father and her terrifying childhood spent hiding from her mother’s boyfriends. She’d fallen for the charitable and magnanimous Charles but never confided in him about her dark past, not wanting him to know how damaged she was inside. When he saw firsthand how fierce she truly was, he’d gently broken their engagement. It had hurt and had taught her valuable lessons.

Jarom reminded her of Charles. There was a warmth and honesty in Jarom’s blue eyes that felt genuine. She couldn’t trust it.

“Forgive me, breathtaking Autumn.” He said her name in a silky voice that made her pulse quicken almost as much as lying on top of him had done. His honey tongue was famous. She refused to be another easily-persuaded woman who fell for his pet names and insincere words. “I would never want to be the reason you failed your mission.”

“You know my name?” Had he been lying to her earlier? Against her better judgment, she wanted to hear him say her name over and over again.

“Yes, Autumn.”

He happily complied, staring deeply at her and making her stomach fill with happy bubbles. She almost clapped her hands for joy.

“I read the text from Aiden when I came into change, love.”

“Oh. Yes. Good.” It was a huge relief that he hadn’t been hiding something from her. “Well… let’s go.” She was talking nothing like herself.

He smiled at her discomfiture, bent, and swept his shirt off the ground. To her discredit, she stared openly. Meeting her gaze as he straightened to his full and glorious height, he gave her a slight smirk. He knew exactly how good he looked. The media glorified everything he said and did, each striation of muscle, each alluring smolder, each clothing design that complimented his perfection. Famous and accomplished women around the world fawned over him and lined up to be his next date.

Nobody blamed them. Autumn certainly didn’t, but she had felt jealous of them. Now it was her that Jarom Love was flirting with, looking at, and touching. She considered herself very lucky, but she needed to keep her distance.

Tugging the shirt over his head, he finally covered that glorious chest as she attempted to catch a full breath.

Turning away as if he didn’t affect her at all, she was grateful this was only a job for tonight. She’d take him away, the mole would reveal himself, and maybe they’d get the information they needed to track down the elusive scum Benjamin Oliver. Then she’d return Jarom before morning light and nobody would be the wiser that he was hercelebrity crush.

She’d been flirting heavily with the impressive bull rider Easton Coleville since she finally met him a month ago on assignment in the beautiful Key Largo rescuing one of her favorite suspense authors, Marci Richards.

Easton was her type. A man she could banter with, maybe have a fun date or kiss, but of course not reveal anything about her past or give her heart to. Nobody could secure her heart. Including the tempting Jarom Love.

Her fellow bodyguards would be stunned to learn she was drawn to a smooth, silk-tongued billionaire. She never gave any of them a chance to date her, no matter how they cajoled her. Before she’d met him, she’d imagined she could beat Jarom up with both hands tied behind her back. But those muscles she’d touched and viewed were the opposite of weak and he’d shown no fear in their interchange. He’d proven himself brave and even more fascinating.

Gah! She didn’t have the time or emotional head space to analyze what Jarom Love was really like under his perfect exterior.

She hurried out of the closet and through his room to the open balcony door. The bed looked believable, as if he were sleeping soundly in it. She had placed a sound machine with slow, even breathing under the pillow.

“I’d believe I was sleeping there,” Jarom said, sauntering to her.

Why did he have to look as fabulous in a black T-shirt and joggers as he had in the high-dollar button down and slacks? His tie off, those few buttons open, his broad shoulders and fine chest evident … that had been delicious. The T-shirt was even more so, draped perfectly over that chest and shoulders and revealing succulent bicep and tricep muscles. He’d most likely designed each item of clothing to fit flawlessly on his mouthwatering frame.

“I am an expert.” She bowed.

“Now that I believe, my love.” He gave her a warm smile that she had to either ignore or plant a kiss on. She wasn’t his love, and he used pet names with every woman. She was nothing special.

“You love to hear the sound of your name so much that you try to call me by it, Mr. Love?”

“Forgive me.” His look was deep and meaningful and not repentant at all. “I find myself mesmerized by you, and yes, I would love to hear you go by Mrs. Autumn Love someday.”

That was too far. How dare he? He was only teasing but … it was too much.

“Shut down the lights,” she barked at him. Only his voice controlled his house.

His brows rose. He was probably stunned she hadn’t risen to his flirtations.

“Shut down lights,” he said.

The lights disappeared and the room fell into darkness. She had no choice but to take his hand and lead him out onto the wide balcony she’d snuck in on. Of course Jarom couldn’t simply allow her to do her job and clasp his hand. He slid their palms together and slowly, enticingly threaded their fingers as one, as if they were a couple. All kinds of out-of-reach dreams and an unfamiliar connection rose from the simple feeling of his hand holding hers.

No. Never. Not with another wealthy, charming, religious man like Charles. Jarom was more enticing than Charles had even been to her. Charles had broken her heart,but Jarom could shatter her completely. If she ever let him in. Which she wouldn’t.

She yanked her hand free and muttered, “Keep up.”

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