Page 2 of Defender

If she weren’t already driving, I would, but the roads up here are kind of sketchy, and I value my life. “You’ll have to spank me later. What are you helping him with?”

She glances toward me quickly, then back at the dirt road ahead of us. It’s a sunny day, but there are rain clouds in the distance that look to be moving this way. “He’s got his hands full with his kids and he’s going to need help. I don’t know what to do.”

“What do you mean? You need the money, and you need to stare at him, so… it’s an easy choice, right?”

“Yeah, but I get this weird, nervous thing every time we’re together. I don’t think I could focus on the kids with my stomach in knots. I’d probably drop one on their head or something.” She laughs under her breath. “Anyway, that’s my news. What about you?” She flicks on her blinker to turn down the old pine highway that leads to Main Street. Summer in Rugged Mountain is my favorite time of the year. The air is warm, everyone is happy, and there’s a buzz in town that’s full of life. “When are you meeting your guy?”

I shrug. “Not sure I’m ever going to meet him.”

“Okay,” her tone rises and falls quickly as though she’s confused, “why not? I thought you guys were hitting it off.”

“We are. He’s a nice guy, but he’s like, really old, and I’m not sure I’m as into that as you are. There’s about a twenty year age gap between us. My mom would lose it. She’s been so weird after Dad died. I don’t know.” I glance out the window, studying the flags blowing in the breeze as Nora turns onto Main Street. “Plus, I haven’t told him everything about me yet.”

Her brows wrinkle as we near the Queen Anne house that belongs to Mrs. Robinson, the town's oldest and most cherished resident. She’s working to have a public playground built on her property and the town loved the idea. So, everyone is chipping in to help build‘Grandma’s Playground.’

“What are you talking about? You and Gunner talk all the time. You were video chatting all day yesterday. I think you took him on a video tour of the grocery store when you needed to pick up milk and eggs. I mean… that’s a level of closeness I’m not sure you get with someone you’re just friends with.”

“Yeah, but I’ve kept certain, very important things a secret.”

She checks her blind spot before pulling into Mrs. Robinson’s driveway, where a few cars are already parked. I don’t know why, but I thought we were the only ones coming today. “What do you need to tell him?”

I draw in a deep breath and let it out slowly as I chew the inside of my cheek. “You know the whole—” The front door swings open and air stops circulating through my lungs. “Oh my God!”

“Oh my God, what?” Nora’s tone matches mine. “What’s wrong?”

I bend forward and squint my eyes, trying to convince myself that I’ve lost my mind. I mean, I must have lost my mind because there’s no way in hell the guy I’ve been talking to online is here, at Mrs. Robinson’s house.

No, that’s not possible… except it is. He’s right there in jeans and a t-shirt. God, he’s huge. Huge and really attractive. How is he so hot? I mean, I knew he was good looking, but here and now, he’s like… a god.

“We have to go.”

“What? We can’t go. Mrs. Robinson is counting on us today. What’s wrong?” Her hand lands on my back as she parks the old truck by the little fence along the driveway.

“That man that just came out of the house… is Gunner.”

Nora’s brows narrow. “Gunner,Gunner?The fisherman online,Gunner?”

“Yes!It’s him.”

“No, it can’t be. Why would he be here? That doesn’t make any sense. Does he live in Rugged Mountain?”

“No. I mean, I don’t think so. We didn’t share our locations. I was trying to be online safe. Besides, he said he had a fishing trip planned this weekend to see family.”

“Okay,” Nora fingers through her long, blonde hair, “maybe it’s not him then. You’ve only seen Gunner online and right now you’re looking at a man from a hundred feet away. I’m sure it’s just a guy that looks similar. Do you want me to go figure it out before you come in?”

“No. I don’t want to look stupid. It’s fine.I’m fine. I’m probably being ridiculous. You’re right. The guy is probably just some dude who looks a lot like Gunner.”

Heart pounding, I climb down from the truck, tugging up my jeans and straightening my shirt before we make our way up to the front porch where Mrs. Robinson and the man are standing. Mrs. Robinson notices us first, and though I’m trying to focus on her sweet smile and the bright pink dress she’s wearing, all I see is the giant, inked up, monster of a man in front of me.

He’s not some other guy. Not a chance.

This guy is one hundred percent the man I’ve been talking to. There’s no doubt about it. I haven’t seen all of his tattoos, but he has this skull on his hand that I remember pretty clearly, and there it is. There it is on his very worn hands. I knew he was older, but in person that reality is much clearer.

A nervous smile tugs at my lips as I step forward, pulse pounding. Despite his age, he’s gorgeous. Like, insanely hot and wildly out of my league.

I don’t even have makeup on. Nora and I were just coming over to play in the dirt. I literally look like shit!

Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh, my freaking God!

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