Page 31 of Israel

Then he tore a sheet from his notepad and wrote, “Not from the stalker. Just someone to watch over you.” He hesitated for a moment, then signed it “GD.” Grizzly Dick.

He cleaned up his sewing gear, and walked quietly into the hallway by Ashley’s bunk. Carefully, he pulled back the curtain and slipped the bear inside, the note pinned to it. Hopefully, she’d see it as soon as she woke up.

Ashley woke to something furry tickling her face. Her eyes flew open, and she found herself nose to nose with an eighteen-inch stuffed bear. Holding a bunny.

A bunny with horns.

What the hell?

She got a shot of fear in her stomach for a second, thinking the stalker had somehow gotten on the bus. But there was no smell of lilac, and the attached note was on plain white paper. She grabbed her little pocket flashlight out of the bin attached to the wall and flicked it on so she could read it.

Not from the stalker. Someone to watch over you. She gave a soft snort of laughter when she saw the signature.

He was really taking that Grizzly Dick thing to heart.

Not that he didn’t have the right to. She remembered the feel of his huge dick pressing against her backside, and shivered at the thought of how much more amazing it would feel pressing inside her.

No. Bad girl. That way led trouble.

But the stuffed animal was sweet, if a little strange. Although there probably hadn’t been a lot of choice wherever he’d bought it. Probably at a truck stop. He must be trying to make her feel better.

She should thank him. But maybe she shouldn’t encourage him, especially after last night. Being near him like that, sitting right up next to him and sharing a bowl of popcorn, his warmth and strength seeping into her, made her feel a little too good. And she couldn’t afford to get involved with her bodyguard—especially not one she could easily develop smooshy feelings for.

She opened the curtain to her bunk and slid to the floor. The curtain to Israel’s bunk was open and the bunk was empty. A peek into the lounge revealed him sitting at the table, laptop open, frowning over a pile of notes that were spread across the tabletop.

He looked up instantly. “Hey,” he said. “How are you feeling?”

It wasn’t an idle question. He’d put his papers down and was focused completely on her, as if her state of mind really mattered to him.

No one had done that in a long time. With her father and brothers, Ashley was lucky to get about thirty percent of their attention at any given moment. Even with Max, she’d only felt like she had his full attention when they were in bed. And sometimes not even then.

“Okay,” she said. “At least I got some sleep.” She suddenly felt a little shy. “Thanks for staying up with me last night. And for putting me in my bunk.”

“No problem,” he said. “It’s my job to keep you safe.”

He was still intently focused on her, speaking as if his words meant more than he was saying. All of the sudden Ashley was aware of her smeared makeup and her bed-head and her floppy sweats. She smoothed her hair self-consciously, before she could stop herself.

“Don’t worry. You look adorable,” he said.

Adorable, huh? Adorable was for little girls.

“I know you meant to say glamorous,” she informed him teasingly. “I’m a celebrity, remember? You’re supposed to pretend I roll out of bed looking perfect.”

The corners of his eyes crinkled with amusement. “You might have to work on that a little,” he said. “Although, I like you this way.”

He did? She didn’t know how to respond to that, but her hoohah certainly did. It was going all melty again. Something about those intense gray eyes just sent her traitorous pussy out of control.

She decided to change the subject. Quickly.

“Some bodyguard you are, Grizzly Dick,” she said, holding out the bear and waggling it back and forth. “Look who’s been sleeping in my bed.”

“Imagine that,” he said, the eye-crinkles getting deeper. “And without an invitation. Shocking.”

“So what the fuck is this?” she asked.

“It’s a present,” he said, leaning back on the couch. “It’s supposed to be a symbolic representation of our relationship. A grizzly bear protecting a bunny.”

He thought they had a relationship? That was not good. She should discourage it. Even if her hoohah didn’t want her to.