Authors: Elle James
Her cheeks flushed a soft pink. “Thank you.”
They spent the rest of their meal eating in silence. When they left the diner, Hank exited first. He checked both directions, looking for the cameraman, Sadie’s agent or anyone else who might cause problems. When he was convinced the coast was clear, he held the door for her.
Sadie shook her head. “You take your job seriously.”
“Your life is serious business.” He rested a hand at the small of her back, telling himself it was to keep her close. So wrapped up in the warmth of her body against his hand, he forgot about the curb and nearly fell. Though he caught himself before tumbling, the jolt sliced pain through his injured leg and he winced.
Sadie reached for his elbow. “Are you okay?”
Hank straightened, pushed back the pain and the urge to curse. “I’m fine,” he said through clenched teeth. As fine as he could be two weeks after having surgery to remove shrapnel from his knee and thigh. The stitches had been removed the day he’d gotten word his father had been shot. The scars were tender, but he would heal.
“If you need to take it slowly—”
“I said, I’m fine,” he snapped and stepped out like he had no injury, biting down on his tongue to keep from letting go of a sting of profanity. “Where to?”
Her glance searched his face. “I’d like run by the convenience store for a few items, then I’ll be ready to go back to the ranch.”
“We can ride together,” he said.
“No need. It’s just around the corner.” She climbed into her Jeep.
Hank eased into his own, rubbing his sore leg, willing the pain to subside. “Some bodyguard you are,” he muttered. The woman he was guarding had asked if he was okay, not the other way around. If he planned to establish a new career in the personal security business, he wasn’t starting out with a bang. Hank supposed it wasn’t unreasonable to have a learning curve. He hoped the curve and his injury didn’t put Sadie at risk.
S
adie glanced
in her rearview mirror, a frown settling between her brows. She’d noticed Hank’s limp, but until he’d stepped off the curb and nearly fallen in front of her, she’d assumed his limp was a twisted ankle or a blister from wearing his combat boots. She hadn’t wanted to consider he might have been injured in a battle. All these years, she’d tried not to think of the danger he faced on a daily basis.
It made her little incident seem minor in comparison. Except Hank’s father had taken a bullet for her. Nothing had happened since the first attempt, making Sadie rethink the scenario. Maybe it really had been a kid getting stupid with a gun. With the sheriff looking for him, he might be running scared. In which case, hiring a bodyguard might be overkill.
Sadie shot a glance in the mirror at the SUV following closely behind her. She pulled into a parking space in front of the convenience store and shut off her engine, admitting she was happy Hank had been there to add additional support in getting rid of the overzealous photographer. If Sadie wasn’t mistaken, the intruder was Tim Wallis, the man who’d stalked her for the past few months, showing up at every public event, and even finding his way into her backyard to snap pictures of her. He’d cut his hair and shaved his beard, or she’d have recognized him immediately.
Sadie needed to notify the sheriff that she had a restraining order against the man. In a small town like Eagle Rock, it wouldn’t take the sheriff’s deputies long to find Mr. Wallis and remind him to keep his distance. After shopping, she’d pay a visit to the local law enforcement.
Inside the store, she grabbed a small cart and pushed it up and down the few aisles. When she reached the pantry staples, she ran into her brother’s wife, Carla. Sadie gave the woman a friendly smile. “There you are. You’re an early riser.”
Carla frowned. “If you needed anything, all you had to do was ask. I would have bought it for you while I was in town.”
“Thank you, Carla. I figured since I was coming into Eagle Rock anyway, I’d stop by and get a few things.”
“The pantry’s pretty full. We might not have room to store more items. I’ve been after Fin to remodel the kitchen. It’s too small. I want to gut it and start over. It’s way too dated.”
Sadie’s heart clenched. Their mother had remodeled the kitchen a couple of years before she’d died. She’d loved everything retro. From the black and white tiles on the floor to the bright red chairs around the small table nestled in the alcove with the view of the Crazy Mountains out the window. Jeanie McClain had loved her house in Montana, and never tired of the view.
Sadie swallowed her natural inclination to tell Carla she couldn’t touch a thing. But then she tried to think of how Carla must have felt to be a young bride, brought to live in a house decorated by her dead mother-in-law. If she couldn’t change the decorations, how would she make the house her home?
Carla’s gaze shifted to glance over Sadie’s shoulder. “Hank? Hank Patterson?” Her eyes widened. “I didn’t know you were back in town.”
A warm rush of awareness washed over Sadie. Hank hadn’t taken long to catch up with her. She hated to admit to the certain sense of satisfaction filling her. He’d always been able to find her when he went looking, as if she was his homing beacon.
“Got in today,” he said.
Carla stared at him, her cheeks flushing pink. “You look amazing.” She blinked and glanced down at her near-empty shopping cart. “I mean, I’m sorry to hear about your father. I hope he’s doing better.”
“He appears to be on the mend.”
Carla pouted. “Does that mean you’ll be going back to your unit soon?”
Hank shook his head. “No. I’m on leave for four weeks. I plan on spending it here.”
“I’m surprised.” Carla tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
If Sadie wasn’t mistaken, her sister-in-law was flirting with Hank.
“Oh?” Hank’s lips twitched. “Why?”
“You haven’t been back for any length of time since you left.”
Hank glanced at Sadie. “Haven’t had a reason to come back. Until now.”
Carla’s gaze followed Hank’s.
Sadie’s cheeks heated. Hank had made it sound like she was the reason he’d come home. But she knew she wasn’t. However, she might be the reason he stayed, rather than returning to active duty. Lloyd Patterson hadn’t been all that happy to see him, or that interested in him helping out at the Bear Creek Ranch. If Sadie hadn’t hired him to be her bodyguard, he might already be on his way back to Virginia.
Her pulse quickened. And she hadn’t had to twist his arm all that much for him to agree to watch out for her.
Carla’s eyes narrowed. “You two were a thing back in high school. I remember. No other girl could get the great Hank Patterson’s attention when Sadie was around. Whatever happened? One minute you were a thing, the next you were going opposite directions.”
Sadie didn’t respond. The memory of Hank’s proposal and her response made her stomach hurt like it had back then.
Hank slid an arm around Sadie’s waist. “We made a conscious decision to go our separate ways. Didn’t we, Sadie?”
Sadie swallowed hard and nodded, afraid her voice would crack if she answered. She’d hurt him back then. He’d been devastated, and so had she. More than anything, she’d wanted to be with him. But his relationship with his father had always been edgy. He’d needed to get out of Eagle Rock, and realize his dreams of joining the Navy and becoming a SEAL. That would never have happened if she’d accepted his offer. She’d wanted to, so very badly.
“And yet, here you are.” Carla smiled. “Hometown hero and Hollywood legend together again. It’s like a fairytale come true.”
“Oh, we’re not—” Sadie started.
“We’re not,” Hank interrupted, “ready to let the world in on our relationship.” He hugged Sadie closer and kissed the top of her head. “Although I don’t know how we’ll keep it from everyone, when I move in with her.”
“Move in?” Sadie shot a startled glance at him.
He skimmed his knuckles along her cheek. “Like we talked about. We want to make sure we’re still compatible. You know, like learning each other all over again.” Hank grinned at Carla. “You and Fin won’t mind, will you? The house is big enough, isn’t it?”
Carla’s brows dipped lower. “I suppose it’ll be all right. You’re only going to be here a short time, anyway, right?” Her gaze went to Sadie.
Sadie nodded. “That’s right. Two weeks. Max.” Two weeks with Hank living with her. Panic rose in her belly. But along with the panic was something else. Desire. Hot. Burning. Desire. If Hank stayed with them for the next two weeks, how would she keep him at arm’s length?
He stared down at her, his eyes warm—and was that laughter crinkling the edges? The arm around her waist tightened. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. But there’s no denying the chemistry. It’s still there.”
Oh, how right he was. Sadie felt herself slipping under his spell, even though she figured his actions were all for show. On his part. The rush of emotion and lust was all too real on her part.
Holy hell, what had she done?
H
ank almost laughed
out loud over the expressions playing across Sadie’s face. From sheer panic to the rosy flush of desire. She might be a good actress but, with him, Sadie had never been able to lie or hide how she really felt.
Carla’s lips tightened for a moment, and then she smiled. “I guess I’d better buy more groceries if Hank’s coming to stay.”
Holding up a hand, Hank shook his head. “No. No need. That’s why we stopped by the store. We figured you might not have sufficient provisions for another person in the house. We’ll take care of it.”
“If you’re sure.” She glanced down at her empty cart. “I was going to get fresh vegetables, fruit, milk and bread.”
“If you leave your list with us, we can get them,” Sadie said.
Carla shook her head. “That’s it. Just the vegetables, milk, fruit and bread.”
“We’ll take care of it.” Sadie gave her sister-in-law a weak smile. “Thank you for being so patient with me. I know it must be an inconvenience, going from just the two of you to the four of us.”
“No. I’m sure Fin will be delighted.” She nodded to the two of them. “Well, then I’ll see you two back at the house in a little while.” Carla breezed past them and disappeared around the corner of an aisle.
When she’d gone, Hank followed to make sure Carla left the store completely before he returned to Sadie.
“Why did you tell Carla we were back together?” Sadie asked in an urgent whisper.
“I’d rather not let everyone in the community know that I’m your hired bodyguard. I think we have a better chance of finding whoever shot at you if we play this…arrangement…close to our chests. When Carla jumped to the conclusion we were back together, it was natural to say we were. Everyone else will follow our lead. If I remember correctly, Carla was one of the biggest gossips back in high school. I bet by the time we get back to the White Oak Ranch, everyone in Eagle Rock will know you and I are back together.”
Sadie chewed on her lip. “But we’re not. That was the agreement.”
“You and I know that, but the rest of Montana won’t.”
She stared at her hands on the handle of the cart. “I don’t know…”
“Just go along with it. The sooner we discover the culprit behind the shooting, the sooner we can reveal the truth to everyone.” He touched her arm. “Besides, if I moved in as your bodyguard, the rest of Eagle Rock would either come to the same conclusion, or tip off the shooter that you know it wasn’t just an inexperienced hunter with more bullets than brains.”
Sadie looked around, as if not happy about the turn of events and searching for a way to escape.
Guilt rose in Hank’s chest. At the same time, he knew he had to be with her in order to protect her. “I can’t protect you from Bear Creek Ranch. Either you come with me, or I go with you. I have to be with you, twenty-four-seven. This is the best way to do that, and to keep it under wraps. Our past will make it easy and believable.” He held up his hands. “Unless you’ve changed your mind, and want to hire someone else.”
“No. I haven’t changed my mind.” Sadie chewed on her fingernail, something she used to do when she was nervous.
Out of a long-forgotten habit, Hank grabbed her hand, pulling it away from her mouth and pressed a kiss to the tip of her finger. “It’s going to be all right,” he said, his tone low, the way he used to talk to her when she was down or upset.
“You’re right. Everything will be okay.” She snorted softly. “And to think, I came here for rest and relaxation.” She shook her head, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. “I’m beginning to think it’s safer for me in LA with its gang violence and insane traffic.”
“Or you need a full time bodyguard no matter where you go.”
She looked up at him. “If you ever stop being a SEAL, you have a career for yourself in personal security.” Sadie glanced around the small store. “Especially here in Montana. Do you know how many rich people purchase huge ranches in this state, just to get away from it all?”
Now she was babbling, her nervous energy going from biting her fingernail to talking. Hank nearly smiled. If being near him made her nervous, he hoped it was because she felt the electric currents he was feeling. Standing in the store, between the canned goods and the breakfast cereal, made the spark no less potent.
“Come on. We have shopping to do. And then we need to make a quick stop at the sheriff’s office for a status on your shooter and to warn him about your paparazzi-stalker dude.” He took over the cart from her and pushed it toward the processed meat section. Loading up on the only lunchmeat the small store carried, Hank moved on to find the fresh vegetables and fruit.
Sadie followed. When he purposely reached for overripe bananas, she stepped in—as he guessed she would.
After they checked out, he helped her load the groceries into his rental and followed her to the sheriff’s office.
When they entered, the sheriff straightened from behind a desk. “Miss McClain. I’m glad you stopped by.”
Hank stared at the sheriff a moment before he recognized the man in uniform. “Joe? Joe Barron?” He stuck out a hand. “Remember me? Hank Patterson.”
“Remember you?” Joe’s face stretched into a huge grin. “How could I forget the best running back in the history of Eagle Rock?”
Hank shook the man’s hand.
Joe wasn’t satisfied with just a handshake. He pulled Hank into a bear hug. “About time you came back to Eagle Rock. Are you staying, or just passing through?”
“I’ll be around for a couple weeks. Maybe more,” he said.
Joe nodded. “I’m sorry about what happened to your dad. We’re working on identifying the one responsible.” Joe turned to Sadie and shot a look back at Hank. “You two back together?”
Hank answered for Sadie. “We’re testing the water. But it’s looking good.” He grabbed Sadie’s hand and pulled her close. She settled against his side, a little stiff, but she didn’t refute his comment.
“I’m glad to hear it. I always thought you two should be together.” Joe’s smile faded. “We canvassed the nearby campground and hunting outfitters, asking if anyone had been out hunting near the intersection where Mr. Patterson and Miss McClain were fired upon. So far no one has seen, heard or owned up to firing those shots. I sent the bullet slug they dug out of Mr. Patterson to the state crime lab, but haven’t heard anything back from them. I’m sorry I don’t have any more news than that.”
“We actually stopped by to let you know that Sadie was accosted outside Al’s Diner by an overzealous fan. You might want to check him out.” Hank gave Joe the description of the man, his old truck and the California license plate he’d managed to pick up as the guy sped off.
Sadie added, “I think he’s the same stalker I had in LA. Tim Wallis. I had to file a restraining order against him.”
“I’ll check the local bed and breakfasts, lodges and campgrounds and see if he turns up. I can’t get inside his room or vehicle to look for a weapon without a search warrant. Just because he wanted a picture of Sadie doesn’t make him an attempted murderer. If he’s your Tim Wallis, I can arrest him on charges of violating his restraining order. You don’t happen to have a copy of it, do you?”
Sadie reached into her purse. “Normally I wouldn’t be carrying it around, but I got the official document the day before I left LA, and stuck it into my purse.”
The sheriff took the document, made a photocopy and handed the original back to Sadie. “I’ll put out a be-on-the-lookout.”
Hank nodded. “Understood. But you’ll let us know if you find him?”
“Will do.” Joe reached out for Hank’s hand. “It really is good to see you. I hope you decide to stay. Montana needs more men like you in the state. If you ever give up the glamour of being a SEAL, I have a
real
job waiting for you here as a deputy sheriff.”
“Thanks,” Hank said, and meant it. With the possibility of being medically discharged from the navy, Hank was happy to know there were jobs in the civilian world. He could hire on as a deputy sheriff, or like Sadie had suggested, and he’d been considering, start his own protective service. The idea had merit. What did most SEALs do once they left active duty? It wasn’t like they quit being a SEAL. Once a SEAL, always a SEAL. But how did the sharply honed combat skills translate to employment on the outside? Well, now he had two possibilities. And with him and Swede facing the potential of being booted out, he had to start thinking past active duty.
He’d run the ideas by Swede and see if he was serious about starting a protective service made up of former SEALs and other combat veterans. And if they could base out of Montana, he would at least get to see Sadie whenever she came home to visit. Hank had no desire to live in LA, unless he lived with Sadie. Then, anywhere in the world would be fine with him.
Who was he kidding? Sadie was a huge celebrity, with every man in the country wanting to be with her. She could have her pick. Why would she pick a washed-up SEAL?
Hank led the way out of the sheriff’s office and checked both ways before holding the door for her. “Why don’t you ride with me? We can leave your vehicle in town.”
She crinkled her brow. “I might want to have it handy.”
“You’ll have to get used to having me around. I’m not letting you go anywhere I don’t go. That’s kind of how it works, you know.” He winked. “Being a bodyguard, means guarding the body. I can’t do that if we’re too far apart.”
She climbed into the passenger seat of his vehicle, albeit reluctantly. “Are you certain this is all necessary? No one has taken a shot at me since the first incident.”
“Do you want to put yourself up as a target and see what happens?” He forced a shrug when his insides clenched. “It’s up to you. You’re the boss.”
She glanced out the windows, as if debating his words, then finally leaned back against the seat. “No. I actually feel safer with you around.”
Hank let out a long breath, drove out of the parking lot and onto the road leading out of town. “For the record, I don’t want to put you up as a target. But I also don’t want you to feel smothered.”
She gave a shaky laugh. “Thanks. It’s just all so new to me. It’s not like I’m anything special.”
“Darlin’, that’s where you’re wrong. You’re a beautiful, amazing actress; capable of making your fans laugh, cry and
feel
something. And if that’s not enough, you’re Sadie McClain from Eagle Rock, Montana, one of the smartest, brightest young women I have the pleasure of calling my friend.”
She reached across the console. “We were always that, weren’t we?”
“Friends?” He nodded. “And if that’s all you want us to be now, I guess I can be okay with that.” Although he would really have to work on squelching his desire to kiss her whenever she smiled. Or laughed. Or chewed on her fingernail. Hell, he had his work cut out for him.
S
adie didn’t let go
of Hank’s hand until they left town. Then he’d needed both on the wheel to handle the curving, winding road into the hills that led to the White Oak Ranch, the place she had called home. Hank had been there often enough her parents had more or less adopted him. Hank and Sadie’s brother had played football together with Joe. In a town as small as Eagle Rock, every able-bodied young man played on the football team. Some pulled double duty, playing in the band as well, marching in their football jerseys during halftime. Sadie had been content to watch from the sidelines. Neither in the band, nor a cheerleader.
Sadie had been a quiet child, satisfied to let others shine. She read voraciously and felt deeply. Nobody quite understood why Hank, one of the best-looking guys in high school would find her at all interesting. What they hadn’t known was that Hank and Sadie had been friends long before they were boyfriend and girlfriend.
Their ranches bordered on each other’s. Hank and Fin had grown up throwing a football back and forth, riding horses and going out to the hunting cabin whenever Hank could get away from his father’s demands. Only a year younger, Sadie had tagged along, preferring the company of her brother and his best friend over the company of the silly girls in high school. Though she’d enjoyed reading, she’d also liked riding, and the beauty of the Crazy Mountains had never ceased to fill her with wonder.
“Have you been riding since you left Montana?” she asked.
Hank shot a glance her way. “No. Have you?”
She shook her head. “Not much chance of riding in LA. I only ride when I’m home.”
“For a land-locked farm boy, becoming a Navy SEAL was a stretch.” He laughed. “All those years of swimming in the freezing lakes with you and Fin helped prepare me.”
“I’ve seen the videos of SEAL BUD/S training. What you did to make it through was amazing.”
“BUD/S helped me to grow and learn what it takes to trust my teammates to get us through the hard times.”
“And I imagine there were some hard times.” Sadie glanced at him, noticing how his jaw hardened, and his hand drifted from the steering wheel to his leg. “Were you injured recently?”
He frowned. “Why do you ask?”
“I’ve seen you rub your leg several times, and you walk with a slight limp.”
His brows dipped. “I can still do the job of bodyguard.”
“I’m not doubting your ability. I just wanted to know.”
For a long moment, he didn’t respond. Finally, he said, “Yes. I was just being discharged from the hospital when I got the call about my father.”
Sadie’s chest tightened. “Were you hurt badly?”
He raised his hand back to the steering wheel, his fingers wrapping around it so tightly his knuckles turned white. “Not as badly as others.”
Sadie wanted to know more, but didn’t want to push. Apparently his team had taken a pretty bad hit. Maybe losing one of their own. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For whatever you and your team went through.”
“Danger is part of the job.”
“Yeah, but I know what it’s like when someone you love is lost or hurt badly. You feel helpless. Or you second-guess yourself, asking if you could have done something differently to keep it from happening.” Sadie stared out the window, remembering when she’d gotten word her parents had died in a car wreck, coming to visit her in LA.