Page 22 of Hunted Hearts
“No.”
“It adds a layer of stress defense. NAD therapy can put your cells under pressure while it’s doing its job—repairing, boosting energy, all that. NAC helps take the edge off. It backs up your system, boosts your defenses so you don’t crash while everything’s getting overhauled.”
Without realizing, she’d drifted closer. The warmth of his body mixed with the clean, masculine scent clinging to his skin—something sharp, almost woodsy, layered with the faintest hint of soap. She inhaled before she could stop herself, filling herlungs with it. She wasn’t sure if it calmed her or made everything tighter under her skin. If she didn’t step away, she would need a supplement to calm her hormones.
“It sounds like you did your homework,” she managed to say.
“It’s important to me to keep my body in good working order.”
Oh, it was in good working order. Excellent, in fact, judging by the way her pulse stuttered.
He opened a bottle and poured it into the dispenser. With a few taps of the buttons, he programmed it like he’d done this a hundred times.
The little machine whirred and clicked. A soft chime sounded. He reached for the plastic medicine cup, then turned to her. No words—just a quiet offering he held out.
Her fingers brushed his as she took it, warm skin against warm skin.
The touch sparked something electric between them. Her breath caught. He didn’t move. Neither did she. The silent pause was filled with everything they weren’t saying—curiosity, attraction…
Something neither of them expected but couldn’t ignore.
* * * * *
Theo hadn’t really slept.
He’d crashed on the couch somewhere around three in the morning, feet hanging off the side, his weapon within reach. But real sleep hadn’t happened, not with his ward ten steps away.
He spent half the night wishing his glare could dissolve the closed bedroom door into thin air so he could catch a glimpse of that tantalizing sliver of skin on his ward’s stomach, and theother half thanking whatever powers there might be that he couldn’t.
What time he didn’t devote to thinking—or forcing himself not to think—about how Juliette’s fingertips were actually lightly callused from playing violin, Theo’s brain remained wired.
He ran through threat assessments, replaying entry and exit points of the hotel…and yes, thinking about how Juliette’s thick hair swayed against her spine as she strode away.
By morning, his body ached like he’d gone a few rounds in the field, but there was no time to shake it off. Today wasn’t a day to let his guard down.
Somehow, he made it through the morning of packing and her team coming and going from the hotel suite, all chattering about things he couldn’t keep track of. When they got on the road to the next venue, he had a firm grip on himself.
The drive was only a few hours of open highway that wove through California towns. Juliette sat in the back seat, perfectly composed, her dark sunglasses reflecting the bright, cloudless sky. When he glanced back at her, he saw her hands rested lightly in her lap, fingertips tapping out some silent rhythm.
If she was experiencing a case of nerves about her upcoming performance, she didn’t show it.
He checked the rearview mirror, noting the SUV behind them carrying Juliette’s entourage. After his chatty briefing with her team, he’d made the call—everyone else would ride together, but Juliette would be with him. If things went sideways on the way to the venue, he wanted her where he could see her, where he could control the situation. Which meanthewas behind the wheel.
He also learned that tonight’s gala was no simple concert. It was the kind of event that made headlines and drew eyes—expensiveeyes. Five thousand dollars a plate, with deep-pocketed donors flying in from three countries to wine, dine and write checks big enough to change the lives of the kids Juliette fought so hard for.
A performance, a speech and then a live auction that would, hopefully, fund the orphanage’s next year of programs.
It was the perfect opportunity for whoever was stalking her to make a move. Which was why Theo had called in every favor he had to make sure nothing happened to her.
Two ex-military buddies he trusted were already onsite, sweeping every inch of the building. He’d told them to shake down the whole place—service entrances, catering bays, stairwells, rooftops and every last inch of the main ballroom.
When they pulled up to the back entrance, Theo spotted his other backup, the man he trusted on his six like he trusted his own SEAL team.
His brother Denver was there, leaning against a black SUV. His stance was casual, but Theo could see his eyes tracking every shadow and parked car in the area, same as his own.
“Everything tight?” Theo asked as he stepped out, scanning the lot before opening Juliette’s door.
“As tight as it can be for a ballroom full of billionaires drinking champagne.” Denver sidled over in a way that screamed you could take the boy off the ranch but never strip the ranch off the boy.
