He took a deep breath, tramping down on the twinge of pain. He was sure she hadn’t meant to hurt him with her words. He was a warfighter, a soldier to the core. He looked like one, acted like one, and probably smelled like one most of the time, too. It wasn’t a surprise for her to peg him as strong or tough. But was it so wrong of him to want her to see past the warrior’s mask he wore like a second skin? “Sometimes, what you didn’t see on the surface was what matters most.”
She leaned back against the porch railing, giving him a thoughtful look. “Do you think I don’t see the kind heart under all the gruffness, Caleb?”
His eyes flashed with surprise. “Do you?” he asked quietly, glancing down at her. “Because I’m not sure you do.”
Rose narrowed her eyes. “If not for kindness, then why do all of this?” She waved her hand toward the landscape. “Why bring me here? Why help me?”
“Because it was the right thing to do.” From how her shoulders tensed, he figured she could tell he was leaving something out.
“Uh-huh, and is that the only reason?”
“No.” He leaned in slightly, his gaze intense. “I don’t do this, but with you, I find I can’t help myself.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Do what? You are talking in riddles. I do not understand what you are trying to tell me. Please explain?”
“Bring women home, and especially not here to the ranch.” He didn’t want to make her run from him, but she’d find out at some point anyway, “Don’t get me wrong, I love women, all sizes, all shapes. But while the guys think that means I spend time in their beds…” He snorted. “I don’t. I just love spending time with them. Dinner, talking, movies. Kissing, sometimes more, but not often. They call me Casanova, but I’m really kinda—not.”
She peered up at him as if he was a puzzle she needed to resolve. “And you say I’m different. I’m not sure if I understand what that means.”
He nodded. He was making a mess of explaining how much he was drawn to her. Anyone who may have been in his past no longer existed for him. “I’m screwing up explaining it. But right now, I’m not sure it matters. What does, is I’m happy you’re here,” he paused and waited for her to lift her gaze to his, “with me.”
She took a deep breath and studied him for so long he shifted his feet, about to walk away. “I’m happy to be here with you too…”
By the way she trailed off on her words, he had a feeling she wasn’t quite finished. It took more effort than it should have for him to stay silent and allow her to continue.
“I should be figuring out what my next steps are,” she whispered softly. “I should be running and trying to hide from him.”
He leaned on the porch railing next to her, his expression thoughtful. “Is that what you want to do?” It might kill him, but if she didn’t feel safe here, then he’d find her somewhere shedidfeel safe.
She shook her head. “No, and I don’t understand why,” she admitted. “I shouldn’t trust anyone…”
Holding his breath, waiting for her to give him a sign, any sign, was becoming dangerous. If he kept it up, his face would be purple like one of those cartoon characters on TV.
“I shouldn’t trust you, but I do.”
He reached for her, brushing the backs of his fingers down her face. “Thank you for trusting me.” Her eyes watched him curiously and with a touch of anticipation. His heart hammered against his ribs, and his balls tightened in eagerness.
She reached up and pressed her lips against his. There was a second where he didn’t move, then he let loose a groan that rumbled his chest.
A sigh escaped her when his hand cupped the back of her head. She tilted it to the side as the kiss deepened. He struggled with the need to push for more and held himself in check. He could feel the fear underneath her desire, and he didn’t blame her for it. But if they were going to do this, then he wanted it to mean more than just scratching an itch.
Caleb ended the kiss and straightened. Confusion filled her gaze. He smiled and wrapped her into a hug. There was a millisecond where she stiffened, and he thought she’d pull away, then a sigh huffed against his throat, and she relaxed, hugging him back.
He rested his chin on the top of her head and closed his eyes, blocking out the world to focus and enjoy the peace this moment brought. He understood now why Dalton sought out Lina. It made sense why Logan smiled for Eedana or why Wolf Steel’s eyes lit up the second his woman walked into the room. There was peace to be found in the arms of someone who settled the beasts of regret caused by decades of fighting for justice and right. Sometimes, the warfighter in a man’s soul craved the softness of his woman’s trust to remind him why, after all these years, he stayed in the fight.
But he wished she was. He wanted her to be his and his alone.
“Caleb?”
“Hi,” he whispered softly.
“Kiss me again.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t need a second invitation and dipped down to claim her lips, pausing to search her eyes before he made contact. “If I do this, I might not want to stop.”
