Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
“Sort of bodyguard?” he exclaimed. “What the fuck is a ‘sort of’ bodyguard?”
“Uh, I don’t know. Someone who just watches my back, I guess. Keeps me safe.”
“That guy? That guy is going to keep you safe? Does he have a background in guarding people in precarious situations? Has he done this before? Has he even been to the Middle East? Has he got a military background?”
“Um, well. I know that he has some experience with boxing—”
“That is not going to help if you suddenly find yourself under siege or in the middle of a war, or being kidnapped for ransom.”
Wow. His mind really did go to the worst possible scenario, didn’t it?
“I’ve usually managed to get myself out of any precarious situations,” she murmured.
Mostly.
The last situation she’d been in . . . well, it had taken a lot to safely extract herself. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to do that again.
But Aadan was a long way from Kazbrekistan. It wasn’t like they would just run into each other.
In the end, he’d let her go. It wasn’t like he was interested in her. She was the one with the hang-up. Who was scared that he might still want her.
Lord, she was being so silly.
“Where in the Middle East were you planning on going?” he asked in a quiet voice.
Caren winced, knowing this wasn’t going to go down well. “Kazbrekistan.”
“Kazbrekistan? Are you kidding me?” Travis stepped away so he could pace back and forth.
Not a good sign.
“Yes, I mean, no, I’m not kidding you.”
He spun and pointed at her. “You are not going there.”
Caren felt her temper stir. “You can’t actually tell me what to do, Travis.”
“I can when you belong to me. That body is mine. That brain is mine. All of you is mine. And I won’t have you getting blown to bits by going into some fucking war zone with only that dick to protect you.”
“River isn’t a dick,” she protested. “And I’m not helpless. I can keep myself safe.”
“Do you travel armed?” he demanded.
She bit her lip.
“Yeah. I didn’t think so.”
“Sometimes having a gun can make a situation worse.”
He simply shook his head and started muttering to himself.
“Then what do you suggest I do?” she finally asked.
“Not go.”
Caren sighed and ran her hand over her face as she felt a headache start to form.
“Hey. You okay?” he asked, coming back over to cup her chin in his hand.
“Not exactly. It’s like someone dangling everything you ever wanted in front of your face but then yanking it all away because you can’t pay the price.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, leaning both hands against the wall as he dropped his head. She studied him worriedly. Was this it? Was it over before anything really began?
“I had the biggest crush on you as a teenager,” she told him.
His eyes shot open as he studied her.
“It was pretty pathetic and slightly stalkerish,” she admitted. “Sometimes, I’d hide in the bushes around Lacey’s house and watch you in the swimming pool. I was heartbroken when you got into the marines. I actually cried.”
“Baby,” he murmured.
“So you can see how this is my every dream come to life and I . . . I just can’t let myself hope if you can’t handle what I do. And I love what I do. But I could probably do less overseas work, stick closer to home. However, there still might be times I need to go into dangerous situations and if you can’t handle that . . . I guess it’s best we figure this all out now.”
“I am not losing you,” he told her fiercely as he cupped her cheeks between his hands. “So we will work this out.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Really. Not sure if I can handle you going to dangerous areas, though. Even with me along to protect you.”
“You want to come with me?”
“Oh, I will be coming with you,” he told her. “But we also might need to find ways that you can do what you love without risking yourself.”
“I could . . . I could try and do that. I’m finding myself less . . . enthused about going to certain parts of the world.”
Ever since she’d met him.
“But how would you come with me?” she asked. “Aren’t you needed here? To run Raptor Inc and Whip It? Sometimes I go away for weeks at a time. Months. I could cut down the time I’m away, though.”
“We can work all of that out,” he told her. “But from now on, you need to leave New York, I’m in the seat by your side. Got me?”
Relief filled her. This could work. The two of them could actually work. Plus, she was certain that she’d be a lot safer with Travis by her side than River. Although she didn’t like the idea of Travis being at risk. “Got it.”