Page 265 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

“And he’s not the angel you think he is.” She rubbed a hand over her brow. “Look, I’ve tried every way I can think of to warn you about him. Despite what you think, he doesn’t have your best interest at heart.”

Frustration splattered over Gracie. “Why do you always see the worst in everyone and everything?”

Surprise tinged Gertrude’s features. “Sheldon is on the road to becoming a dark angel. I don’t have to look very hard in order to see the bad.” She peered over her glasses, making Gracie feel like an errant child. “Frankly, I’m surprised you can’t see this for what it is.”

Unable to withstand Gertrude’s piercing gaze, Gracie turned and stared once more at the garden bridge in the distance. She felt like she was treading in deep water, and Gertrude’s words were a massive waterfall, pounding on her head and threateningto push her under. “Oh, yeah? And what exactly is it that you see?”

“Let’s look at this logically. At the very least, he’s trying to distract you from accomplishing your mission.” A shadow fell over her face as she shuddered. “At the very worst, he’s trying to turn you.”

Dismay throbbed through Gracie. In those suffocating moments when her fears had risen up and become menacing monsters, she’d feared the same thing. But putting a voice to it made it all the more terrible. “Into a dark angel?” she croaked.

Gertrude nodded, her eyes filling with concern.

She let out a shaky laugh. “No, you’re wrong. He wouldn’t do that.” She quickly swept the fear aside before it could overtake her. “That’s ridiculous!”

“Is it?”

“Yes! There’s good in him. I’ve felt it.”

Gertrude was unconvinced. “Have you really felt it? Or is it what you want to feel?”

Gracie’s heart began hammering in her chest as a cold sweat broke over her. She hated the rational way that Gertrude was laying everything out. Had she been furious or hotheaded, her argument would’ve been easier to discount, but her icy logic was stopping her cold. “I don’t know,” she admitted, tears filling her eyes. She looked at Gertrude. “What do you want me to say?”

“I want you to say that you’ll exercise caution when you’re around him. Maybe ask yourself why he’s singled you out.”

The comment struck a nerve. “Is it so hard for you to believe that he might like me … find me attractive?”

She paused, stroking her chin. “You’re as attractive as the next girl, I suppose.”

Had she really just said that?“Geez! You sure know how to make a girl feel good,” Gracie said sourly.

“I’m not trying to insult you. I’ve known Sheldon for a long time, and beautiful women are his stock and trade.”

She gasped like she’d been punched in the gut. Sheldon with other women … beautiful women? Not the picture she wanted in her head!

“Oh, don’t get your feathers ruffled,” Gertrude huffed, “all I’m saying is that I’ve never seen Sheldon settle on one girl for this length of time. You mark my word, there’s more to this than simple attraction. I just can’t put my finger on what it is.”

A thundercloud of irritation rained down on Gracie. Regardless of what Gertrude said, her female intuition told her that Sheldon cared about her. She could feel it in his touch … the way he looked at her. She was sure of it! Gertrude didn’t know everything.

“Just promise me that you’ll be cautious around him. No more of this silly schoolgirl romance nonsense. You’re an angel-in-training, and you need to act accordingly.”

Trying to follow Gertrude’s train of thought was like riding a seesaw. One minute, she was plunging to the ground and the next, flying towards the sky. Hope sprang in her breast. “You’re not forbidding me from ever seeing him again?”

“Heavens no! If I forced you to stay away from him, how could you ever become a real angel? You must learn to choose the good on your own accord. I can’t protect you from everything. And it’s obvious that Sheldon has no intention of staying away from you.” She shook her head sadly. “For better or worse, you’ll have to see this through.”

Gracie squared her jaw. “Okay, I can do that.” She relaxed in her seat. “I’ll be careful. You have my word.”

Gertrude looked her in the eye. “For your sake, I sincerely hope that’s the case.”

It was a huge relief to have that conversation out of the way, and it had gone much better than she’d dared to hope. She couldsee Sheldon again … and she wouldn’t have to feel guilty about it. Hallelujah! Her mind jumped forward to another topic. She cast a surreptitious glance at Gertrude, who’d turned her attention to the garden bridge. Now was as good a time as any to voice the concern that had been eating away at her for some time now. “Do you ever think about what your life would’ve been like if you hadn’t died?”

“What?”

She shifted in her seat. “I guess your situation is a little different because you’re older, but I died so young. I know I was shortsighted and selfish, not to mention that I was so caught up in acting, I couldn’t see anything else. But, deep down, I always assumed I’d get married one day and have a family … and now I never will.” She swallowed the cold lump in her throat.

Understanding touched Gertrude’s features. “Is that why you’re so fixated on Sheldon?”

Heat blistered Gracie’s cheeks. “I’m not fixated on him.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and clasped her hands together tightly.

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