Page 19 of Seaside Cowboy's Fairy Tale

“But we’re alive, and we’ve got their license plate.” He paid attention.

She gave him another side-eye as she tapped on the brakes. “You say that as if those two are of equal value.”

“Not at all.” His low chuckle reverberated through her. “I enjoy being alive, and despite this mad dash, I believe you do, too.”

“I do.” Despite taking dangerous assignments sometimes, she didn’t have a death wish. She might’ve chosen her profession because she needed to come a long and opposite way from her upbringing where she’d felt helpless and insignificant. Like a mouse.

No offense to her pets, of course.

She drove forward for some time, but it was no use. The silver SUV had disappeared. She grimaced. “I’ll bring you and your car to your office.” She shouldn’t let disappointment stab her because she’d have to say goodbye soon, and yet it did.

Okay, fine. She didn’t want to walk away from him again. Plus, this was getting worse and worse. She made a total disaster out of her assignment for the second time in a row. Her client wasn’t going to be happy, and in turn, neither would her boss.

How could Rachel salvage this?

“I appreciate that. But could I take you to dinner first?” His voice dipped. Surely, she wasn’t hearing apprehension in it? As if her answer mattered to him.

Her heart skipped a beat. The intensity with which she wanted to say yes shocked her. “It’s not a good idea.” She pushed the words out through her teeth as she made a turn to head back. Never mind that her heart screamed, “Yes! Yes!”

“Well, I should thank you in some way for saving my life today.” His voice softened. “Name the day and the time. Preferably in this decade. I won’t ask your name or what you do for a living. I won’t ask why you have shooting and, I presume, fighting skills or how you happened to be in place to protect me. Unless you decide to tell me it all yourself. I won’t even mention how you look shockingly different from the first time I saw you. Beautiful, but different. I’ll just keep calling you Cinderella and enjoy your company.”

A woman could have only so much willpower. She’d have to talk to her client and her boss. And use all the persuading skills she had. “Someone could’ve shot you today. You should report this to the police and be careful for some time. Best not to show up in any public places. Consider hiring a bodyguard.”

A muscle moved in his jaw. “You have a point. I’ll do all the things you listed, minus a bodyguard. I like my privacy too much. But if nothing happens for several days... Wouldn’t you want to check on me to know I’m, you know, still alive?”

She couldn’t help chuckling. “Fine. How about you give me your phone number and I call you?”

“Okay.” He didn’t push for more.

She was grateful for it. She pulled up to the parking garage in the tall building and turned off the engine. Then she couldn’t move, reluctant to leave. Her pulse spiked. Did he feel the same way? And why did it matter so much if he did?

No.

The budding romance wouldn’t be fair to him or her. She turned to him and caught his blue eyes staring at her with the vulnerability of someone who wanted something so much and feared they’d never have it. A feeling and look she knew too well. And it tugged at her more than all his previous confidence and charm.

Awareness rising between them, she kept his gaze. “You should know something about me. I’m not rich. I’m not famous. And I used someone else’s invitation to get into the charity ball.”

“I already knew that.” He didn’t look away.

“Oh.” That was everything she could say. How eloquent was that?

But then, she was used to being silent. Her assignments often depended on her ability to be silent, to be invisible, or to be a shadow. Or a gray mouse, for that matter. But now she wanted to be seen. The real her, not the pretend one.

To be seen by this man who attracted her despite her best efforts.

Her stomach clenched. After all, sneaking into a sought-after event while using someone else’s invitation didn’t speak well for her. Yet she had to continue to keep up this charade. Talk about a much bigger dilemma than whether to get close to that SUV or not.

This dilemma was whether to get close to this man or not.

She took a shaky breath of air filled with his intoxicating scent and that new-car smell. “Are you sure you’re okay not knowing who I am for now? Not looking me up?” She shouldn’t be doing this, and she knew it. Guilt nagged, but the voice of attraction drowned it out.

“If that’s the price of getting to know you, then yes. I’m already grateful for being able to see your face. You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.” He moved closer.

Close enough to kiss? Breathing became difficult. Of course, he was used to giving compliments.

“Thank you.” It wasn’t about her face, though she’d never considered herself gorgeous. She was a beautiful enigma to him.Thatwas the reason for his interest. Once he knew who she was, his interest would diminish or disappear. Especially if he knew why she’d been interested in him initially.

Something cold gripped her heart—and squeezed painfully. How did she get herself knee-deep in this?

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