Page 137 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

“Can we just drop it?”

Her voice had a panicked edge. It made him feel for her—how badly she’d been hurt in the past. But he wasn’t the bad guy here.All he’d done was try to help her. “No, I don’t think we can. I need to know where you’re coming from.”

She blew out a breath. “Fine. You wanna know why I shot you down?” Her voice went higher. “Well, here it is. I’m attracted to the wrong type of guys.”

He tensed. “What makes you so sure I’m the wrong type of guy?”

“Because it’s written all over you—your swagger, the intensity you exude like a second set of skin, the rebel.” She let out a harsh laugh. “Believe me, I know you, Corbin Spencer. You know how people say they have a knack for finding the most expensive item in the store? Well, that’s me when it comes to men. You put ten guys in front of me. Nine of them could be upstanding men and only one the rebel. And I’ll pick the menace every time. Guaranteed.”

“So, I’m a menace now? Need I remind you that I am one of the good guys?”

“I’m know you’re fighting for the right side, and I’m grateful you’re in my corner. But tell me, Corbin. Of all the guys Sutton could’ve picked to protect me, why do you think he picked you to go up against Hugh?”

“Because I’m capable … have the right set of skills.”Because he wants to give me a second chance to prove I’m not a total screw-up.

“Because you’re as tough and relentless as Hugh. You fight fire with fire, as Sutton said. You put a gun to Anton’s head, then asked questions later.”

He couldn’t argue with that. Doug had told him much the same thing using different words.“You may be tough,” he’d said,“but tough isn’t enough. You also have to be tempered.”

From the time he was a kid, Corbin carried around the pain of losing his parents. In his teenage years, that pain turned to a hot anger that fueled him, made him a menace to society … justas Delaney had accused him of being. Then he met Doug who saw potential in Corbin. Doug made him want to be a better person, set him on the path of becoming more tempered. Corbin thought he was doing better in that regard, right up until the moment Doug was killed and he lost his head. One moment in time, his reckless nature took over. Corbin’s actions not only cost him the respect of SEAL Team 7, but also an innocent life. “I’m not a bad person,” he muttered, mostly to himself.

“I know.”

He jerked slightly, Delaney’s comment bringing him back to the conversation at hand.

“I don’t mean to accuse you of being a menace. Those are my issues, not yours.”

“I know I can be a hothead, but that doesn’t make me Tuck. I would never hurt you like he did. And I don’t think it’s fair that you’re trying to hold me responsible for his sins.”

“I’m not doing that.”

“Okay, then why’re you so afraid to admit that there’s something between us? I feel it, and I know you do too.” He glanced at her. “I can see it in your eyes.”

She gulped in a strangled breath. “I beg your pardon,” she said stiffly.

“No need to beg,” he said pleasantly. “Just answer the question.”

She angled toward him. “You get great delight out of pinning me in a corner, don’t you?”

He laughed. “I have to admit, pinning you in a corner would have its advantages.” He glanced at her, noting how her face had gone cherry red.

“I knew you were trouble from the first minute I saw you,” she grumbled, her brows furrowing.

“Seriously? You’re talking to the man who saved your life.”

“Thank you very much for doing your job,” she spat.

“You’re welcome.” He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. A frigid silence settled between them. Delaney was sitting with her arms clamped over her chest, her face rigid.

He sighed. That hadn’t gone the way he hoped. He’d known he was probably pushing her too far when he brought up the attraction thing, but he wanted to test the water … break down as many barriers as he could. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. You don’t owe me anything for keeping you safe. Like you said, I was just doing my job.” He hated how cold and sterile the words sounded. Yeah, he was working for Sutton, getting paid for the assignment, but this thing with Delaney was personal … more personal than anything had felt in a long time.

“I shouldn’t have said that.”

It took his brain a second to register that she’d spoken. “Huh?”

“If you’d not realized what Anton was up to, we’d both be dead right now. Thank you. I do owe you my life.”

The sincerity in her words caught him off guard. “I’m glad we averted disaster. And that you were safe.” He hoped she realized how much he truly meant that.

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