Page 11 of Soldier Cowboy
It was just as she’d thought.
He needed her.
The compassionate side of Jennifer, the one that had done a podcast special on returning soldiers, the one who’d witnessed Joe’s struggles, didn’t have any reasons left to say no.
“I’ve thought about it enough, and I’ll pretend to be your fiancée if you think that’s the best idea. I trust you because my father trusts you.” She pointed to the smaller room and grabbed a suitcase. “And I’ll take this bed.”
He nodded. “I’m going to take a shower. You can go after me if you want. If I’m not up by seven, it’s okay to knock on the door. Around here, everyone is up early. We’ll have company as soon as day breaks and they see the truck.”
“There’s something we forgot.” She hesitated. “If we’re going to lie about being engaged, shouldn’t we get our stories straight?”
“Right.” He shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Any ideas?”
“Well, we can say we met through my father. The best lies always have a little grain of truth to them.”
“Right. We met years ago through Horace, and when I got back stateside, we reunited and had a whirlwind courtship. I asked you to marry me and you said yes.”
“You’re getting the hang of this.” She tried a smile. “Is your family going to believe you’d get engaged to someone you barely know?”
“I’m just as crazy about a gorgeous woman as the next guy. Why not?” He shrugged.
Dan had called hergorgeous. Then he’d tried to own her, possess her like a piece of furniture that would look good in his home.
“That’s not why people getengaged,” she said.
“I know. Sorry. You’re right.”
The apology just slid out of his mouth like it didn’t cost him anything.
Colton headed into the bathroom, where she heard the shower going. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Jennifer tried to imagine her next two weeks on a ranch in the middle of nowhere. It might be good. Or terrible. At least she wouldn’t have any of the distractions of social media.
And the hope was that eventually Dan would lose interest or feel threatened enough by legal action that she could go back to her regular life.
After a few minutes, Colton knocked on the door to her bedroom.
“Come in.”
He had towels with him, which he dropped into her lap unceremoniously. “In case you want to shower. Have a good night. Tomorrow we’ll talk some more.”
“Colton? What about a ring?”
“Right.” He ran a hand through his damp hair. “I haven’t thought this through all the angles.”
She would imagine he was exhausted, too, and running on fumes. “We can say that you wanted me to choose one because I’m picky.”
“Good idea.”
Jennifer had brought her hair products and soap with her, and good thing because there was only a white bar of soap in the stall. Wet from Colton’s touch. As she lathered up, she couldn’t help thinking that Colton had been in this same spot only a few minutes ago. Naked. And wet and…Okay, she wouldnotgo there. Once you got past the scary factor, yes, he was attractive. Rugged and handsome. Anyone with good eyesight could see that. But for all intents and purposes he was a hired bodyguard, and they were here together only out of obligation. Not a good way to start any relationship. Not that she would start any relationship with asoldier.
Colton still had that rigid posture, the hallmark of a returning soldier. If she did nothing else while here, she was going to get him to slouch at least once. Consider it her civic duty.
The warm water sluiced down her hair and body and she relaxed for the first time in weeks. She’d been terrified, wondering if Dan would show up with his gun, and try to get her to leave her apartment.
After which she might never be seen again.
Now Dan was thousands of miles away and had no idea she’d left town. By the time he figured it out, maybe he would have found something else to obsess over.
Either way, she was safe.
