CHAPTER 1
Brooklyn snuck another peek at the handsome military man next to her. She hadn’t been comfortable around men for months. Ever since… She shook her head to erase the angry face that loomed in her thoughts.No. I won’t think of him.
He’d driven her car away several blocks from the gathered newsies and onlookers who’d swarmed around her car after she helped Giana flee from her assailant before she pulled herself together enough to note her location. Brooklyn forced herself to break the silence that filled the interior of her car. “Thank you for your help. I was too shattered by the chase to navigate out of there. I don’t want to put you out anymore. I bet you need to get back to the base. Is there a back entrance or somewhere convenient where I could drop you off?”
“Trying to get rid of me?” he asked, drawing his words out slowly with a Texas accent that poured over her like warm honey.
As Brooklyn pondered the implications of how a voice could be so damn sexy, she caught his sideways glance toward her and rushed to answer. “No. I just don’t want to impose. Youdefinitely weren’t expecting to have me screech to a stop on base and need Prince Charming to come save me.”
“Prince Charming, hmm? I think I like that.”
She turned in the seat to stare at him in disbelief. Who was this guy? He was older—not like her father’s age, but more seasoned than the other soldiers who had rushed to Giana’s aid. He also didn’t react like any man she’d ever met before. “Maybe I should call you Caden?”
“That works too,” he agreed and smiled at her.
Holy moly. That smile is lethal.She squashed the arousal that flared inside her.Men are bad. Dangerous.Her mind argued with the self-preservation warning system she’d built up over her time with her ex.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “Should I pull over?”
“Yes. Stop anywhere,” she agreed quickly.
To her amazement, he did. Caden steered into the first parking lot he came to and parked the car before twisting in his seat to meet her gaze directly. “Brooklyn, he’s locked up for a while. Tom can’t get you.”
“That’s good. Thanks again for helping me,” she told him.
“Do you want me to get out?” he asked.
“Yes, please.” Brooklyn was polite automatically as her mind raced several steps ahead to returning to the apartment and grabbing her stuff. She needed to be out of town before Brent saw her on the news.
“I won’t hurt you.”
That pulled her out of her plans. “Of course not. You’re not that kind of guy.”
“Then why are you so eager to get rid of me?”
“It’s better for you to get far from me,” she forced herself to explain. When that concerned expression she’d noted as he protected her from the press reappeared, she added, “I have a crappy ex who habitually beats up on me and anyone stupidenough to be anywhere around me. You do not strike me as dumb.”
“I try to avoid that.”
Brooklyn waited for him to say something else, but silence filled the car. She hadn’t explained herself well. “I stick to myself because I don’t want anyone else’s pain on my conscience. I’ll pay for an Uber to take you back to base. I’ve got to empty my apartment and find a safer place to stay.”
“You’re safe with me, Brooklyn.”
She laughed hoarsely. “That’s what my last boyfriend said too. He ended up in the hospital with a skull fracture. Seriously, Caden, get out of the car and forget we ever met.”
To her surprise, Caden shifted the car into reverse and pulled out of the parking space. “What are you doing?”
“Give me a minute.” He tugged his phone out of his pocket and selected something on the screen. Instantly, she heard a ringtone.
“Who are you…” She snapped her jaw shut when he held up a finger to signal her to be quiet.
“Caden? We’re starting a ten-mile hike. Did you change your mind about taking the day off?” a deep voice asked.
“Not exactly, Jerico. Bring the team. We need to move Brooklyn now.”
She shook her head vigorously, mouthing the word no.
“At Giana’s old complex?” the other man answered. “Bring a van?”
