“You’ve never been a very good judge of that.”
“I swear, Audra. He’s touched me all of three times. And it’s that friendly cop-to-victim attagirl pat each time.”
“Cataloguing it?”
“Well, sure. He’s hot. He has tattoos.”
Audra snorted. Luckily for Franny, Audra had a million things to do at the ranch, so she’d been able to move the conversation quickly along, promising to go over to the ranch for dinner once this wholesurveillancething was over. She got an update on Rosalie—sick as a dog but finally taking the anti-nausea medication. Then she said goodbye.
And spent the next two hours doomscrolling.
When it got to be close to seven, she forced herself out of bed. She’d make dinner again. Maybe Royal would stop by and she could con him into staying again. Probably not fair. Probably not what she shouldtryto do.
But she was just so much more at ease when someone was here. Not justanysomeone, because there werecameras. It had to be someone she was comfortable with, and since Audra had ranch business and Rosalie had puking and baby-growing business, and Vi had her ever-growing family to contend with… Royal was just going to have to suck it up.
Or tell her no.
Before she could talk herself out of the sinking feeling in her stomach at the thought of himrefusingand how embarrassing that would be, her phone chimed.
Coming up.
It was from Royal. She appreciated that he texted first, so her heart didn’t jump into her throat in fear at an unexpected knock. But why was he here? Did hewantto eat dinner with her every night?
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she muttered, turning off the security system and then going to unlock the door and open it.
He looked just about the same as he had last night, in fresh clothes and wet hair like he’d run through the shower after his shift. There was justsomethingthat happened inside of herevery time she saw him. It wasn’t just thinking he was hot—she thought plenty of guys were hot. It was something in the eyes, the serious cast of his mouth pretty much always, even when he laughed.
Because his childhood was the worst, Franny.Not because he’s a brooding romance hero.
“Hi.” She shifted out of the doorway so he could come in, but he didn’t move forward right away.
“Hey. You busy?”
“Oh, no. Just…figuring out what to eat for dinner. Um, I can make enough for two if you want to stay again.”
“Actually, I promised my sister I’d have dinner at her place tonight. Something we try to do once a week.”
Sherefusedto feel disappointed. Sherefusedto let her expression fall. She kept her smile bright, but before she could think of what to say like,please don’t. He kept talking.
“I came over to see if you want to come with.”
“Come…with.” She had no idea what to do with that invitation or how to feel about it. She wanted to,obviously, but this was his sister and… If it was pity, she didn’t want his full-blown pity.
Did she?
“Sure. I’m picking up a pizza. And you’ve already met, right? So, nothing crazy. Just be two hours probably.” He shrugged, all casual and at ease while her lungs seemed to tie themselves into a knot.
“Is this because you feel sorry for me, or because you literally think I’m in that much danger?” She wouldn’t allow herself to think about any third option, or Audra saying she never recognized when men were into her.
He most assuredly wasnot. This was business. Protection. Hisjob.
He studied her for a long drawn-out minute, standing there in her doorway. He had a way of standing thatseemedcasual,but then she caught that intensity in his eyes, and it dispelled her of that notion right quick. But it certainly didn’t stop the obnoxious fluttering thing her heart was doing.
“I don’t feel sorry for you,” he said very carefully. “I don’t think you’re going to wind up dead if I leave you here, but I have…concerns if I’m out close to Sunrise and you’re here. It’s just too much space. But Mayfield’s a good cop from what I’ve seen. If you want to stay, I can turn over the surveillance stuff to him until I get back.”
She was already shaking her head. “No.” Maybe she should be fine with any cop handling her surveillance, but it had set her on edge enough and she knew, trusted,likedRoyal. She’d never even met this Mayfield. “I’ll…go with you.” She looked down at her outfit—the same thing she’d put on this morning in a panic. “I need to change first.”
“You look fine for pizza.”
