Page 13 of The Scout

“Capable,” Will said firmly. “He’s one of the few people I trust to keep you safe.”

“I don’t need a bodyguard,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended.

Ryker finally spoke, his tone as measured as his gaze. “It’s not about what you need. It’s about what Will asked.”

The simplicity of his statement left me reeling. He didn’t say he wanted to help, only that he would because Will had asked. The idea of Ryker watching over me felt both suffocating and strangely reassuring, though I didn’t want to admit it.

“You don’t have to babysit me,” I muttered, crossing my arms. “I can handle myself.”

Will sighed, his frustration clear. “Izzy, I’ll feel better if I know you’re not alone.”

I wanted to argue, to tell him that I didn’t need anyone, but the words wouldn’t come. The truth was, the thought of Will being gone for so long terrified me. Memories of other times he’d left resurfaced, unbidden—long nights in our empty house after Mom died, the oppressive silence after Dad’s funeral, the aching loneliness that never seemed to go away.

But Ryker? He wasn’t the kind of person who offered comfort. He was all sharp edges and quiet authority, the kind of man who didn’t ask if you were okay because he already knew you weren’t.

I glanced at him again, taking in the rigid line of his jaw and the way his hands rested on the table, steady and unshakable. The thought of him stepping into Will’s place, even temporarily, felt impossible.

And yet, a small part of me—a part I hated—wanted to trust him. A part of me wanted to do more than just trust him.

“You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

Will shook his head. “Not on this.”

I exhaled slowly, nodding in reluctant agreement. “Fine. But don’t expect me to like it.”

Will smiled, his relief evident. “You don’t have to like it. You just have to let him do his job.”

I avoided Ryker’s gaze as we ate sandwiches and finished the conversation, focusing on the view of the busy sidewalk outside the window instead. As Will talked, though, his voice reassuring, I couldn’t shake the feeling of Ryker’s eyes on me. It wasn’t overt or intrusive, but it was there, like a low current I couldn’t ignore.

When we finished eating and stood to leave, Will pulled me into another hug. “I’ll call when I can,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. He held me tightly, reluctant to let me go. “Take care of yourself, okay, Izzy Harper?”

“You too, Will Harper,” I whispered, squeezing him tightly. He was a good brother. “Be careful out there. I need you to come back safe. You hear?”

As Will nodded and stepped away, Ryker moved to follow, his expression as unreadable as ever. Just before he turned, he paused, his eyes meeting mine with a quiet intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

“I’ll see you around,” he said, his voice low.

I nodded, unable to form a coherent response. As they walked away, I was left staring after them. The café felt quieter, though the room was still buzzing with conversations and the clinking of mugs on saucers.

I sank back into my chair, my arms crossed tightlyover my chest as if that would hold me together. Will’s words replayed in my mind, blending with the memory of Ryker’s steady, unflinching gaze. I’ll see you around. He made it sound so simple, so easy.

Ryker watching over me? The idea made my stomach twist in ways I didn’t want to examine too closely. He wasn’t the kind of man who faded into the background. His presence was commanding, almost suffocating, like he could see right through the layers I used to protect myself. And yet, the thought of him being nearby—of not having to face the long nights alone—wasn’t entirely unwelcome.

What did that say about me? That I was desperate enough to feel comforted by the presence of a man who probably saw me as nothing more than a duty, a favor to his best friend? My cheeks burned at the thought.

I glanced at the clock and realized my lunch break was almost over. Pushing myself to my feet, I threw away our trash and headed back to the front desk, slipping into my usual routine like it could somehow dull the edges of my thoughts.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the feeling of Ryker’s eyes lingering on me, or the way my pulse quickened when he said my name. He was a storm waiting on the horizon.

The rhythmic hum of The Palmetto Rose lobby greeted me as I slid back behind the front desk, the chatter of guests and the gentle notes of piano music filling the air like a cocoon. It was the kind of ambiance that usually helped me refocus, but today, it barely dented the whirlwind in my mind.

I leaned against the desk, staring at the system monitor as if it held answers.

A year. Maybe more. It was a timeline I wasn’tprepared for, no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise.

“Back to the grind?” Sasha’s voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me out of the haze.

I glanced over to see her leaning on the counter, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. She had a knack for showing up just when I needed a distraction—or when she sensed there was gossip to uncover.

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