“Surveillance is streamed onto a cloud, meaning I can have one of my guys keep an eye on it for us from a remote location. But I’ll be monitoring it as well from an iPad.
Roman blew out a whistle. “Nice, man, nice. Tiff and I should get a place like this one day. I always wanted a log cabin. Got a lake nearby?”
Blayze grinned. “A pond. But it has some decent fish. All contained on this property, so I’d say it’s safe to go out there if you’d like.”
“Well, tell me where I should park my bags for the night,” Roman said. “It’s past this old man’s bedtime.”
“I figure you could stay downstairs if you like it cooler. Or up in the loft if you chill easily.”
“Ooh,” Sophia blurted. “Ichill easily. Maybe I should take the loft. If it’s okay with you, Roman.”
Roman and Blayze looked at one another before Blayze glanced over at Sophia. “I was thinking you and I should stay on the same floor. For safety reasons,” he added.
“Well, I like sleeping where it’s cool,” Roman said, “so if you don’t mind I think I’ll take my leave in the basement. Night, kids.”
“Night,” Blayze and Sophia said in unison. Her eyes looked tired, but that didn’t take from the beauty of her face. Such a strong woman, even in a situation like this.Stop it, Blayze.For crying out loud…
“How many beds are in the loft?” Sophia asked, pressing up on her toes as she scrutinized the log railing.
“Three,” he said. “Jazmin and her husband like to stay up there with the kids. There are two other rooms down here. A master with its own bath. And a spare bedroom across the hall.”
She nodded. “I like the idea of a master bath, but if you don’t mind, I’d feel more comfortable being in the same … space as you.”
Blayze tried to hide the surprise that threatened to show on his face. He forced his eyes to narrow, managing a nod in the process. “I’m going to be in trouble with your dad, you know?” he said under his breath.
Sophia laughed. “Not if you keep me safe, you won’t…” And with that, she strolled toward the winding stairwell, her rolling suitcase at her heels.
Chapter 12
“Blayze?” Sophia had only whispered it, a test to see if he’d woken up yet. She rolled onto her side, looked across the spacious loft to see his muscular profile in the morning sun. Though he lay flat on his back, he’d turned away from the bright, circular window behind him, leaving his face in the shadows.
When no response came, she sat up, stretching her arms over her head while taking the chance to observe him. One foot hung off the edge where it’d broken free from the sheets. And while his foot jutted into the shadows of the loft she could see his muscled calf too. A twisted blanket covered half of his body, mainly just the remainder of his legs and torso. He’d removed his sleeveless undershirt in the night, somehow landing it halfway across the room where it sat in a heap on the carpeted floor.
The sun’s glow illuminated the glorious proportions of his chest, shoulders, and arms. Each well-defined muscle cast an impressive shadow of its own. A long, purplish scar ran along his ribs, something she hadn’t noticed during his morning workouts. But like the scar through his eyebrow, it didn’t surprise her. The man was sure to have battle wounds after all. Some, visible on the surface of his skin. Some that most would never see. Or at least, never detect for what they were: effects from seeing what he’d seen. Doing what he’d sworn to do.
Just picturing Blayze in harm’s way caused Sophia’s heart to race. Blayze was no longer serving overseas, and for that she was relieved. But he was still risking his life. Her heart kicked into an anxious rhythm as she considered what she’d tried to keep in her mind’s shadow, away from the spotlight of her thoughts: That drone. The latest package.Boom!
And just like that, the wretched cocktail of emotions came pouring in—the main ingredient, something she hated to admit—was fear. Anger was there too, a close second, while a deep sense of sorrow clanked around like cubes in a glass. Sorrow for losing her mom. For the fact that it wasn’t a mere accident, like she’d thought. Sorrow for seeing hostiles and fear and ugly, vicious threats win. Call it unhealthy, but Blayze was her one distraction right now. Her onehappy placewhere her troubles didn’t seem so big.
Before the drone made its appearance, their evening had been perfect. Blayze Brockton, aka: the strong, silent type, had opened up to her; something she’d tuck into that corner of her heart, right where all cherished memories went.
And their time spent together on the couch… it was the last thing she’d thought of before falling asleep. And boy had it successfully taken her mind off of every unpleasant thought. She could swear those lips of his held some sort of power. Each move, taste, and touch like trained perfection.
She’d dated men who rushed in for sloppy kisses, paying no mind to the intimacy they could nurture in those moments, too fixed on what lay ahead. As if any warm body would do. Sophia had left them to go find anyotherwarm body but hers. She wasn’t looking for that. She was waiting for something real.
And Blayze… heat swirled around her heart like a calming drug. Blayze had taken his time, murmured her name, and touched her face. He’d kissed her like no other woman could take her spot, and she liked that. Of course, she hadn’t known him long, she’d admit that. And it was unlike her to become so smitten in such a short time. How many movies had she watched where she wanted to yell at the screen,‘Stupid girl, why are you falling for him so fast?’Or‘Foolish boy, you’re going to get your heart broken’?Yet, here she was, caught up in a fairytale love of her own.Well, minus the death threats,she thought wryly.
The truth was, she didn’t know what was developing between them. But the good news was, she didn’t have to define it.
Sophia had dangled her legs over the edge of the bed, readied herself to get up and prepare a few notes for Michelle Marshall, the woman who’d agreed to replace her at tonight’s event. Yet, just as her toes grazed the carpeted floor, a chill swept in, making her want to get under the covers instead. She glanced over at Blayze, still sound asleep where he lay. Roman hadn’t stirred yet either.
Why not take a cue from them?
The thought had her stretching her arms out to either side, pulling in a deep breath, then falling back onto the mattress with a greatswoosh.Later she could call Michelle and discuss some of the key points for tonight’s speech. Later she could consider just how long she was willing to stay at the cabin and what else she’d be willing to miss. But for now, Sophia would let herself enjoy sleeping in. Something she hadn’t done in a long time.
* * *
Sophia focused in on the hand Blayze had hovered over the knight. It was the third chess piece he’d considered during this turn alone.
