Page 120 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

“Sounds good.” She hugged her arms, glancing around at the handsome study. Bookcases lined one of the walls from floor to ceiling. Her gaze ran over the book spines. Most of the books had to do with the military, strategy, or combat. An enormous mahogany desk sat in front of the opposite wall. Underneath it was an ornate Oriental rug. The cozy space exuded old money and prestige. She scooted back into the comfort of the overstuffed chair and crossed her legs. She glanced at the large clock on the wall beside the bookshelves. She assumed that Sutton would return momentarily, but ten minutes went by, then twenty. She rested her head against the back of the chair, letting her mind get lost in the steady rhythm of the ticking clock.

Delaney stifled a yawn. Until she’d sat down, she’d not realized how tired she was from all the stress. Her eyelids grew heavy as she dozed off.

The door opened and she jumped guiltily. She sat up quickly then realized she’d been drooling. Heat crept up her neck as she wiped it away.

“Sorry that took so long,” Sutton said.

“No worries,” she said automatically, then her eyes popped when she realized who was standing behind him. “You!” Her mind reeled. “I thought the security guards took you away.”

“Sorry, darling, I’m not that easy to get rid of,” he said dryly. He held out his hand, an expression of faint amusement on his handsome face. “Corbin Spencer. Nice to officially meet you.”

She just looked at his extended hand like it was a snake about to strike. This couldn’t be happening! He chuckled and dropped his hand to his side. A blistering heat slapped Delaney’s cheeks as she gripped the arms of the chair. Was this some sort ofcruel joke? Surely this guy wasn’t her bodyguard. An incredulous laugh bubbled in her throat as she looked at Sutton. “Are you kidding me?”

Sutton’s expression never changed as his eyes met hers. “You and I agreed that you would trust me to pair you with the best man for the job. I’ve done that.”

“No, I don’t want him.” She shook her head back and forth. “There must be someone else.” The thought of this guy being around her twenty-four-seven was too much to take. Even now attraction was zinging through her veins despite her best effort to squelch it. She couldn’t get involved with someone right now, especially not this guy. He was a hothead, all fire and excitement that would burn her to the core, leaving only ashes. She squared her jaw, glaring at Corbin.

Sutton flashed a friendly smile. “You came here for my help, right?”

“Yes,” she said hesitantly.

“Then let me help you.” His eyes locked with hers. “Corbin’s the best guy for the job. You have to trust me on this.”

Trust.A double-edged sword. The hard set of Sutton’s jaw let her know that he wasn’t backing down. She ran a hand through her hair. Moisture rose in her eyes as the walls closed in around her. She blinked a few times, trying to clear the emotion. It was ridiculous to get so worked up about this. She had to have help. It was a miracle that she’d even found Sutton. No one else she was aware of could stand up against Hugh. “Okay,” she finally said, exhaling a long breath.

Sutton nodded. “Very good. Corbin has been briefed on the situation. He’ll leave here with you and move into your condo immediately. It’s imperative that you not spend a moment alone until the threat is contained or eliminated.”

Alarm trickled down her spine. She didn’t know which she feared most—Hugh or having Corbin so close. “What about yourthings … luggage?” Had Corbin come to the party because he was going to be assigned to help her? Another thought struck, making her feel like a complete idiot. Maybe Corbin approached her at the bar to tell her he’d be guarding her. And she assumed he was trying to hit on her.Sheesh. This was getting way too complicated.

Sutton turned to Corbin. “I’ll have someone go to the hotel and retrieve your bags.”

“Thank you.” Corbin said with a slight nod.

Hotel? Why was Corbin staying in a hotel? Did he not live in San Diego? Now that she thought about it, she shouldn’t have been all that surprised that Corbin was a former Navy SEAL. She’d known he was tough from the moment she saw him. At least he was on the good team … or so it appeared. At this point, she didn’t trust anyone. Tuck was good at feigning kindness to get what he wanted. He’d used her love for him as a weapon against her. And now, even his impending death was a threat to her. There seemed to be no end to the treachery.

“It’s probably wise to take the bullet-proof SUV instead of the rental car,” Sutton added.

Bullet-proof? Delaney’s stomach churned thinking about the gravity of the situation. Tuck could die any minute, and she’d have a target on her back. Heck, who was she kidding? She was already a target. For all she knew, Hugh was waiting right outside to ambush her. She hugged her arms, sloughing off the shiver that crawled down her spine.

Sutton brought his hands together. “That’s all for now.” His voice went brisk as he looked at Corbin. “Call me anytime, day or night, on the secure line.”

“Will do. You can count on me,” Corbin said. And from the tone of his voice, Delaney could tell he meant it. That made her feel a little better about things.

She stood. “Thank you. I appreciate all that you’re doing.” She didn’t want Sutton to think she was an ungrateful brat because of her outburst over Corbin. Sutton was a gift sent straight from heaven. She hoped with all her heart that Corbin would be able to keep her safe. She thought of something else. “Will I be able to go about my normal routine?” The deadline for the album was looming over her. The execs at Montana Crew Label were being very understanding about her situation, but she didn’t want to do anything to mess up her big shot.

“We certainly hope that’s the case,” Sutton answered. “There are no guarantees. We’ll just have to see how this thing plays out.”

She nodded, her lips forming a grim line. “I understand.” She appreciated Sutton’s honesty and that he wasn’t just paying her lip service.

A brief smile touched Sutton’s lips as he looked from Delaney to Corbin. “I’ll leave you to it. Good luck.”

When he left the room, Delaney was keenly aware that she and Corbin were alone. An awkward silence descended between them. Should she apologize for earlier? Or just leave well enough alone?

“Are you ready?”

“Huh?” It was hard to form a clear thought with Corbin so close. Plus, she was exhausted. She hoped her mind would turn off tonight so she could get some sleep. Oh, how she desperately needed it.

“To go to your condo.”

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