Page 11 of Radical Daddy

The Wilde Ridge Farm, Bunkie, Louisiana……

“I have to admit, I never pictured you as a farmer,” Sera mused, her gaze fixed on the picturesque scene below. Verdant fields stretched out, adorned with contentedly grazing cattle that dotted the landscape.

“I grew up on a farm.” A small smile tugged at Tanner’s lips as he observed her thoughtful expression. “It runs deep in my roots and is a part of who I am.”

Her curiosity piqued, Sera’s brows furrowed as she redirected her attention to the cattle. “What breed are those?”

Tanner’s amusement danced in his eyes. “You’re not familiar with them?”

“Would I have asked if I knew?” She retorted in a voice tinged with irritation.

“Seems you’re a true city girl at heart.” Delighted by her spirited response, Tanner looked out of the helicopter window over the sprawling expanse of his farm with pride evident in his gaze. With a casual shrug, he continued, “Those are Brahman cattle. They’re well-suited for Louisiana’s hot and humid subtropical climate, which we experience for most of the year.” He was surprised that she didn’t recognize the breed since the hump above their shoulders and pronounced dewlap made them quite distinctive.

Eyes sweeping over her lithe form, his heart constricted as she tossed her hair—buttermilk and moonlight woven together in the tresses that flowed and shimmered as the blonde locks ignited with life in the sun’s gentle embrace. She possessed a magnetic allure he found hard to resist.

She embodied a kind of beauty that seemed to radiate from the depths of her soul. Her authenticity was a rare gem, outshining the need to parade her stunning physique for attention. Watching her walking away from him as he had lain in the hospital bed, the term femme fatale came to mind. Bold and confident, her long strides beckoned every man she passed to sneak glances at her enticing legs.

Her full cupid lips curved into a subtle smile as their eyes caught, revealing an azure gaze that held an arresting clarity in its directness.

Confidence. The key to unlocking a man like Tanner’s wild inner beast.

A primal growl of attraction surged within him, a raw, visceral response he struggled to contain. Tanner, renowned for his bachelor lifestyle, approached his intimate relationships with meticulous sagacity, especially since he had a distinct kink and a specific dynamic he sought. To date, he had yet to find the one who resonated with his desires. A woman with the perfect balance of sass, class, and allure.

Sera Brookes ticked all the boxes. She had no idea which rabbit hole she had jumped into when she agreed to pose as his bodyguard under the guise of his fiancé.

“I can’t shake this feeling that our paths have crossed before, and I’m not just referring to the recent rescue,” Tanner’s perceptive words cut through the air. Legendary for his ability to decipher unspoken tells etched on faces, he spotted the faint twinge on hers. It was a subtle nuance, but it didn’t elude him.

“I don’t think…” Her response faltered as his gaze bore into her, an unmistakable focus that prompted her to rethink the course she was heading. “Actually, wait, I recall now,” she hastily redirected her thoughts. “Weren’t you at Quantico years back? I have this vague memory of a Captain Wilde among the trainers.”

A shadow of a smile played at the corners of Tanner’s lips as her memory triggered his own recollections. “Indeed, I was. It was right after I chose to step away from the black ops team. A sort of recovery period, you could say, a respite from all the chaos and violence before I re-immersed myself in the realm of legality.” His unwavering gaze remained fixed on her, probing deeper. “Still, there’s something in me that suggests our association went beyond my role as one of the trainers.”

Sera responded with a nonchalant shrug and kept her eyes steadfast on his. “Nope, that’s pretty much the extent of it. Our worlds didn’t exactly intersect in those years. Being one of the few women on the team, I had to put in twice the effort to prove myself. I was buried in training the entire time I was there. There was no time to socialize with the guys or indulge in their revelries. I had my sights set on success, and getting wasted wasn’t part of the equation, thank you very much.”

Perception is nine-tenths of the law, a principle that had held profound significance in Tanner’s life in his legal career. Every fiber of his being sensed that she was concealing something. A notion that only fueled his determination to unearth whatever it was. Patience was his greatest asset. Once he had time to relax and allow his mind to methodically sift through the labyrinthine chambers of his memory, where an extensive reservoir of facts lay enshrined, he would remember.

“Very well. Let’s leave it at that… for the time being.” One thing he was certain of was, in some way, shape or form, their relationship in the past had consisted of more than him training her on the odd occasion at Quantico. The echoes of their shared history reverberated through his thoughts, each fragment waiting to be illuminated by the spark of recollection. He was determined to piece together the puzzle, to weave threads of memory and perception into a tapestry that would reveal the truth.

“Thanks for arranging the helicopter,” he said as the pilot landed in the open field next to his imposing two-story Southern-style ranch house. “It made the trip much shorter than driving all the way.”

“Of course,” Sera smiled. “It was the safest route to get you out of the hospital without anyone the wiser.”

“However much I appreciate the DEA’s insistence to keep me safe, I assure you, I can take care of myself. For one thing, you will not play the hero if, for some reason, my life is in danger.”

“I trust you’re aware of the extensive responsibilities that come with the role of a bodyguard, don’t you, Senator?” Sera remarked with a hint of playful sarcasm and interlocked her fingers with his proffered hand as she gracefully disembarked from the helicopter. Keeping her hand clasped in his, he guided her away from the gusts created by the churning rotor blades, a protective gesture that spoke volumes even before he replied. In that fleeting moment, an unspoken understanding passed between them, a silent recognition of the uncharted territory they were venturing into. As they moved beyond the reach of the helicopter’s downwash, he met her jest with a knowing smile, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

“Indeed, Sera. The intricacies of safeguarding are well within my comprehension, but in this case, the role you elected to play as my fiancé takes precedence. In case you’re unaware of the dynamics of an engagement, it’s the man’s responsibility to protect his woman. Since I am in the unfortunate position as a newly elected senator that forces me to always be in the limelight, you will not play my protector.”

Glancing sideways at her, he grinned. “Besides, my best friend, Kaden Frazer, owns Triple K Secure, and he has already set up an entire protection team on the farm, at my office, and to covertly be in the background wherever I go. The only role you need to play is that of my loving fiancé.”

“Why didn’t you mention this when I arrived at the hospital and told you what my role would be?”

“Because, Babygirl, as a U.S. Senator, having a fiancé at this point in my life is beneficial to me. For one thing, it’ll keep the hordes of females gunning for the exact position out of my hair.”

“So, you decided to use me,” she exploded indignantly.

He stopped and looked at her with one eyebrow lazily crawling higher. “Much like you and your deputy chief are using me.”

Her shoulders stiffened perceptively. The slight flickering of her eyes gave her away, but she stood her ground. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

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