He glanced over at her, the silence between them dragging on yet still comfortable.For whatever reason, they both seemed at ease with one another.She’d relaxed a bit as the minutes passed, her breathing growing regular once more.Luciana’s long hair fell past her shoulders, dark and shiny, and she brushed a piece back behind one ear.Despite being a prisoner for the past month, they’d taken care of her.They’d clearly kept her fed and clean.He didn’t want to know what else they’d done, however, his mood darkening.
Luciana hadn’t been afraid of him or his teammates.If she’d been regularly assaulted in the home, he wasn’t sure that would’ve been the case.She didn’t seem fearful of men.It again made him note she’d been different than the other victims.
“Are you ready to go inside?”he asked in a low voice.“We can wait out here for Avery and Ryan if that would make you more comfortable.”
“You want to wait here in your driveway?”she asked in surprise.
“If that’s what you need.They’ll be here shortly,” he told her.“It’s not like I’m suggesting we sit in my driveway all night.”
That earned him a tiny smile, and he felt his heart stutter.He hadn’t brought a woman to his home in God knew how long, and this one was an entirely different situation.He wasn’t making her dinner and trying to get her into his bed.Far from it.While Harrison could admit he found her attractive, that was neither here nor there.The last thing she needed was a man coming onto her, and he’d never take advantage of her like that.He’d provide Luciana with a safe place to stay while she got back on her feet, and then they’d part ways.
Luciana glanced over at him, and he looked into her brown eyes, trying to ignore the sudden warmth filling his chest.“Can we wait outside?”she asked.
“Of course.”She was already getting out of the SUV herself, and he silently cursed.“I would’ve helped you,” he said as he climbed out of the driver’s seat.
“There’s no need,” she told him.
He smirked.For whatever reason, Luciana wasn’t afraid of him.Harrison could be an intimidating man, but he liked that she treated him as she would anyone else.Her anxiousness earlier seemed to stem from the shock at suddenly being free, not because of his presence.If she stayed in his home, however, she might be surprised that he would indeed do things for her.Just because he barked orders at his men didn’t mean he’d treat her the same way.He’d pick up groceries and cook meals.He hadn’t survived forty-four years as a bachelor without knowing his way around the kitchen.If she was a guest in his home, he’d treat her as such.
In the back of his mind, he had a feeling she’d protest.He had no problem if she wanted to do things herself, but the fact of the matter was, she’d been through hell.He didn’t mind hosting her in his home for the time being.
Harrison shut the driver’s side door and left his gear in the back.Ironic that he’d never really done well in relationships yet was fine with a woman staying here.Luciana didn’t seem to be the type of woman who would be nosily going through his home or taking advantage of the situation.She wasn’t needy or clingy.Even with as little as he knew about her, that fact was as clear as day.
She was independent.Strong.And she’d probably be back on her own two feet before he was ready to let her go.
The thought surprised him.
As brief of time as they’d known one another, Luciana Rodriguez had captured his interest.
Luciana was already looking around his yard, eyeing the palm trees and lush foliage.He studied her for a moment, taking in the curve of her breasts pressing against her top and the way her narrow waist led to shapely hips and a rounded ass.Despite the fact that she had on borrowed scrubs from the base in Panama, she was a knockout.And Harrison appreciated her softness.Yes, she was strong as hell to survive, but she still had the gentleness of a woman.Lush curves.Smooth skin.That shiny, satiny hair he’d noted earlier.
Harrison looked away, feeling uncomfortable.He wasn’t going to stand there ogling her and tried to ignore the way his heartbeat had suddenly sped up.He was a red-blooded male.Of course he’d react to being near a beautiful woman.That didn’t mean he’d ever act on it.
“It’s beautiful here,” she told him.“Somewhat similar to Panama, no?”
He nodded, relieved that it was familiar to her.He wanted Luciana to feel both comfortable and safe with him.“It’s similar, albeit safer than where you were working.I have to admit I’ve enjoyed living in a tropical paradise.I’m originally from the East Coast.I grew up with cold winters, several feet of snow on the ground....”He shook his head.“I loved it when I was a kid but can’t say I miss it much now.”
“What’s to miss?”
His lips quirked.He liked seeing some of Luciana’s personality come through.When she wasn’t quiet and introspective, no doubt in shock because of her sudden freedom, he could see the woman she was beneath.There was even a brief sparkle in her eyes that hadn’t been there earlier.And that smile.He’d only gotten a small one from her so far, but he was certain that seeing her happy could light up his whole day.
“There’s not a damn thing to miss about it,” he admitted with a low chuckle.
“No, I’d imagine not,” she said lightly.
A spark shot straight through him as he looked at her.The woman was actually joking with him.She’d been free for less than a day, but she was clearly somewhat more relaxed after sleeping for hours on the plane and putting thousands of miles between her and her captors.
She held his gaze, and all he could think at that exact moment was how damn beautiful she was.
Harrison looked away, breaking the connection between them.He wasn’t the type of man to ever back down from a challenge, but lusting after her was all sorts of inappropriate.“There’re some beautiful beaches close by as well,” he said, pointing in the direction of the ocean.“Usually, I ride my motorcycle to a secluded one to get in a morning run.I enjoy the quiet.”
“The quiet of a motorcycle?”she joked.
Harrison bit back a grin.“Of the beach,” he murmured, but he saw another brief glint of amusement in her eyes.This woman would be the death of him.He could already tell.
“I can understand wanting your peace,” she admitted.“You’re busy all day on a bustling military base.I can imagine the operations you are part of given my own rescue.My career is different, but treating a constant stream of migrants was grueling day after day.There were always too many patients to see and never enough time to do so.It can wear on you.I enjoyed my brief reprieve each evening to recharge, but it was a never-ending cycle.”
“I respect the work you did there,” he told her, his voice serious.“Medical care is desperately needed in that part of the world, and not just anyone would put themselves in harm’s way like that.You and Avery are both selfless to take on that job.”
