Page 135 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

She sighed. Thirteen hours alone with Corbin Spencer. How in the heck was she supposed to keep her head straight? When they got to the door, he put an arm around her, gathering her into the protection of his muscular body. At his touch, her cells swirled into action, sending heat racing up her neck.

When they stepped outside, an instant change came over him. His jaw went rock hard, his eyes intense as he scoped the area surrounding them. Thrilling didn’t even begin to describe this man. He was the type people made movies about … a rebel, maverick, and Captain America all rolled into one.

His eyes caught hers for one brief moment and he gave her a reassuring smile. Her heart melted as she smiled back. No amount of self-talk would be enough to protect her from Corbin. She was a lost cause for sure.

Chapter Eleven

Little by little, Delaney was warming up to him. Corbin prided himself on reading people, paid close attention to those little nuances that gave more information than verbal language ever could. Delaney was attracted to him, just as he was to her. But she was fighting against it hard. Corbin couldn’t blame her. He’d be paranoid too if he’d been through what she had. Maybe after more time, Delaney would relax around him, realize that he was nothing like Tuck Allen. He tightened his jaw. It rankled his gut to think of Tuck abusing Delaney. And then there was Hugh, the cutthroat killer out for revenge. Corbin would do everything in his power to keep Delaney safe, even if it meant he had to die trying. He couldn’t explain it, but Delaney was his responsibility. And now that he’d met her, he’d never be able to let her go. He laughed inwardly realizing how ridiculous that sounded. His grandfather, Wallace, swore that the first time he laid eyes on Lou Ella, he knew they’d be together. Corbin always thought that was wishful thinking, Pops rewriting history to fit with the present. But now, he was starting to wonder if there was something to the story.

Corbin glanced sideways at Delaney. Even with the wig, she was stunning. He was glad they had so much road time so hecould get to know her better. And the best part, she couldn’t retreat. “So,” he began, “if the two of us have any hope of pulling off this boyfriend/girlfriend charade, we need to know details about each other.”

The color seeping into her cheeks indicated how uncomfortable she felt about the situation. “What do you want to know?”

“Favorite food.”

“Sausage gravy and biscuits,” she said without hesitation.

He laughed. “Really? I’ve never been that crazy about biscuits. They’re kind of dry and hard.”

She grunted. “That’s probably because you’ve never had a good biscuit. Where did you eat the biscuit that was dry?”

“I dunno, a restaurant.”

“Out West?”

“Well, yeah.”

“That’s the problem. You’ve never had a Southern biscuit. They’re light and flaky, melt in your mouth. I guarantee you that if you have a biscuit made by someone who knows what they’re doing, you’ll change your mind.”

It was fun to see this side of Delaney. Sassy and more carefree. “Do you know how to make biscuits?”

“Of course. I’m Southern, aren’t I?”

He chuckled. “Yes, you are.” He kept his voice casual, non-threatening. “Maybe you could make me some when we’re at the cabin … see if you can change my mind.”

She hesitated for a moment, long enough for him to fear that she’d refuse. “Okay, you’re on.”

Another win … little by little.He’d love to have Delaney cook him a meal. Heck, he’d even volunteer to help. Anything to keep her by his side.

“How about you? What type of food do you like?”

“Pasta.”

“That’s kind of broad. What type of pasta?”

“All types.”

“Red sauce or white?”

“Yes.”

She laughed. “Okay. What are your hobbies?”

Hobbies? He hadn’t thought about that in a long time, not since way before he became a SEAL. “I like target shooting, camping, hiking, snow skiing.”

“An outdoor man. I kind of figured that about you.”

He could feel her eyes on him. He glanced at her as they shared a smile.

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