Page 4 of Protection for Rowan

She shrugged. “My last name changed.”

His face fell. “Oh.”

“We weren’t right for each other. I got my degree while I was married, so I didn’t change my name back just to avoid confusion. Honestly, we parted on good terms, and I didn’t want to have to change every document in my professional history along with the articles I’d written.”

“You’re happy now, right?”

She didn’t need to think about it before answering. “I am happy. How about you?”

He shrugged. “I’ve been single for some time. I’m happy with that status, but…”

His words, plus the look in his eyes, made even more warmth spread through her. Maybe she was assuming too much, or maybe she was on target. "You always wondered, didn't you?"

He nodded. “I’m a different man now. It’s been twelve years.”

The kiss hadn't been much, but after, when they were huddled on the bank of the river, their bodies shaking from the massive amount of adrenaline running through their veins, he'd comforted her. She'd longed for that connection but never found it with another. "Yeah. We were so young."

He cleared his throat, sitting up taller. “So you went to college and then got an advanced degree. I’m impressed.”

She smiled and chuckled, thinking about how driven she’d been. “Because I did dual enrollment classes, I graduated high school the December after the crash, and then took extra hours at the university, graduating early. Getting my doctorate degree was quick. I had my classes done and defended my dissertation a week after I turned twenty-four.”

“Wow, I’m really impressed.”

“How about you? You’re a SEAL, right?”

He flashed a wide smile. “I am.”

“I know training to become a SEAL isn’t easy.”

He shook his head. “No, it’s not. It was intense, but I knew I could do it. The crash pushed me.”

“I am impressed.”

“And I’m impressed with you and your success.”

Laughter spilled out, and she shook her head. “I may not be a success.”

“You have a great responsibility with your job. You are.”

Her throat tingled as butterflies filled her stomach. She was about to say something else when her timer rang. Disappointment rose. She wanted to talk longer, but she had other clients she had to prepare for. Because of her type of work, she spaced clients out so they didn’t run into each other. They had a minute or two, but not too much time.

Shine stood, his gaze staying on her. “I guess that’s my cue to leave.”

She nodded as she stood. "Yes. I have other clients I have to prepare for. Let me give you my number.”

"Here, put it into my phone, and I'll text you. That way, we both have each other's number."

She took his phone and entered her number, her hands only shaking a little with excitement. She sent a text to herself so she would have his number.

She couldn’t believe she had reconnected with this man and had a chance to explore the feelings bubbling up inside. She hoped the reality of him was as good as the idea of him that she’d built up in her mind over the last few years. The attraction flowing between them made her think whatever happened would be good.

Chapter 3

Shine couldn't believehis luck in finding Rowan. She was the one person he'd never gotten over. Maybe whatever he felt for her wouldn't amount to anything. Did he really want to be involved in a relationship with someone? He'd spent years avoiding attachment, and yet he'd given Rowan his number willingly after less than an hour after meeting her again. She wasn't some bunny he would ignore after a few dates, nor was she the type of person he would relegate to a one-night stand. He wanted Rowan in his life.

Because of their history, Rowan meant more to him than most people did. She was the first person he could say with confidence had saved his life. Maybe a relationship wouldn’t work out between them, but if there ever was anyone he wanted to spend time with, it was Rowan.

After the ambulances had whisked them off to different hospitals, he hadn’t seen her or talked to her again. The time they’d known each other had been brief. Maybe his memory was playing tricks on him. They’d both been young, and the crash had been emotional. The momentsthey’d shared, fighting their way to the shore, huddled together after helping other people get onto land, the fear, the doubts about surviving, had been intense.

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