Page 122 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

“I had no idea who you were, or I wouldn’t have been so cold.” Pink tinged her cheeks. “I thought you were trying to hit on me.”

A laugh rumbled in his throat. Should he tell her the truth? Or should he keep that to himself? He winked. “And here I thought that you were hitting on me, when you checked me out as I came into the party.” He relished the deep blush that colored her cheeks. She was gorgeous. He had the unreasonable urge to pull her into his arms and see if her lips tasted as good as they looked.

Her eyes narrowed as she straightened her shoulders. “I was not checking you out.”

Even though her voice was edged with outrage, Corbin couldn’t get over how lyrical her accent was—as smooth as Gram’s lemon chiffon pie with just the right amount of huskiness. A smile tugged at his lips. It was fun teasing her. “I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.”

She lifted her chin, her eyes sparkling. “You can be a real jerk sometimes.”

The insult took him off guard as he laughed. Sparring with Delaney was much better than the awkward silence. He winked. “Only fifty percent of the time.”

Her hand went to her hip, but he could tell she was trying not to smile. “Oh? And what about the other fifty percent?”

“Charming … witty … a perfect gentleman.”

She grunted. “I doubt that.”

“It’s true,” he said with a straight face.

“You’re humble too,” she said sarcastically.

He took a step closer to her, his pulse pumping up a notch. “So, Delaney Mitchell … are you gonna sing me a bedtime songif I can’t get to sleep?” He cringed inwardly. Not the most appropriate comment, but he couldn’t seem to reel himself in around Delaney. He really liked her, wanted to get to know her.

She blushed again, her chocolate-colored eyes popping indignantly. “You wish.”

He laughed. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.” He made a mental note to use his phone to Google Delaney before he went to sleep. He wanted to know more about her career. Mostly, he wanted to hear how her sultry voice would sound when put to music.

“I think I’ll leave on that note,” she clipped. “You know where the kitchen is. Help yourself to whatever you need. I’ve got to leave for the recording studio at eight a.m. We’ll eat a quick breakfast and head out.”

“Sounds good.” His gaze locked with hers, and he felt again that same connection he’d experienced when he first arrived at the party. He could tell from the look in Delaney’s eyes that she was attracted to him too. But she was also scared of her feelings. It was crazy how he could be so in tune with a woman he’d only just met. But he felt her thoughts as if they were his own. Anger pulsed through his veins. It was probably a good thing Tuck Allen was in a coma. Otherwise, Corbin would’ve been tempted to beat the man to a pulp for hurting Delaney.

Suddenly, he wished he were sleeping in the same room with Delaney. Not necessarily because he was so attracted to her, but because he wanted to keep a close eye on her in case Hugh Allen tried anything. His mind did a risk assessment. It would be nearly impossible for Hugh to enter from the patio. He’d have to come through the door like Tuck had done. Or try to get to Delaney in transit or at the studio.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and removed his shoes. His shoulder blades were tight with tension. “What else do you have planned for tomorrow other than a trip to your recordingstudio?” If he knew the agenda, he could get prepared for any surprises. He loosened the bowtie and removed the tux jacket. He wasn’t sure what time in the morning Sutton’s guy was bringing his luggage, but it had better be early. He didn’t want to wear this getup any longer than he had to. He made a mental note to text Sutton before he went to bed.

“Tomorrow night, I’m singing at Senator Fleming’s birthday party.”

He winced. “What? Sutton didn’t mention anything about that.”

“Well, probably because he didn’t know,” Delaney retorted. “I met Sutton for the first time, shortly before he brought you into the study.”

Corbin was surprised by that. Then again, he shouldn’t have been. From what he could tell, Sutton tended to act swiftly with very little explanation. It would be a challenge to protect Delaney in a large group, especially when she was performing. He’d have to ask Sutton to send over a team of bodyguards. He rubbed a hand over his jaw. This was getting more complicated by the minute. Then again, you didn’t get paid the kind of money he was getting for easy. The SEAL motto flitted through his mind.The only easy day was yesterday.

Delaney leaned against the doorframe, her hands going into the air. “I can’t just put my life on hold because of this threat. I have commitments … obligations. My career is just now taking off. To stop now would be career suicide.” Delaney’s forehead creased, her eyes heavy with exhaustion, shoulders sagging. She removed her stilettos, holding them both in one hand.

“I understand where you’re coming from, but to knowingly put yourself in a risky situation could also be suicide ... literally.”

Her face paled, making her look vulnerable and lost. He was taken back by the fierce protectiveness that welled in his chest. Again, he wanted to gather her in his arms, soothe the worrylines from her beautiful face. She gave him a pleading look. “What other choice do I have? I have to sing tomorrow night.”

It only took him a second to reach a decision. He’d never been able to stand by idly when there was a woman in need. Of course, he’d lost count of the number of times that philosophy had gotten him in fights, many of which landed him in jail. But that was beside the point. “Okay, we’ll go with it. Tomorrow morning, before we head out, we need to sit down and go over your schedule. That way, I’ll know what’s coming.”

“Agreed.”

He pressed his fingers into his eye sockets, then rubbed them over his forehead, and back through his hair. He needed a good night’s sleep so he could look at the situation through fresh eyes. Because right now, all he could think was that he was alone in a condo with the most intoxicating woman he’d ever met. He was supposed to keep her safe from a very dangerous and immediate threat. And all he could think about was kissing her until neither of them could think straight. He realized she was studying him, an enigmatic expression on her face. “What?”

A slight smile touched her lips. “I know we didn’t get off to the greatest start, but thanks for being here.” She hesitated. “It’s nice to know someone has my back …” she shuddered, her voice losing sound, “in case.”

This was serious … the threat large … Delaney’s life on the line. He had to remain sharp, push aside the attraction he felt for her. Something as indefinable as a whisper yet stronger than steel wafted over him as his eyes met Delaney’s. This thing between them was real … more than physical. He felt her pain, knew in some indescribable way that even though they’d only just met, he’d go to the end of the earth and back for this woman if necessary. “You need to know that I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe … whatever it takes.”

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