Page 4 of Soldier Cowboy
“I love you, Daddy, but this is your worst idea to date.”
Colton straightened. “I’m afraid I have to agree with her. This isn’t a great plan. As I said I have to go to Texas.”
“And there’s no way I’m going to Texas.”
Colton smiled then, just a little quirk of his mouth, but it transformed his face. He was definitely less frightening for a nanosecond.
“You heard her, sir.”
But her father’s scowl had gone to full-scale mode. “Don’t listen to her. If you’re going to Texas, she’s going with you. This would just be temporary, Bug.”
At the sound of her pet name, she softened. But go somewhere withthisscary guy? Already her throat constricted at the thought of being stuck in an airplane with him. Sharing all that recycled air. Her knee bumping into his. Him, eerily quiet the entire time. He didn’t want to do this, that much was clear. No doubt he was another soldier indebted to her father.
“Why can’t I stay home and have him look out for me there?”
“Your stalker knows where you live. I won’t take chances with this man’s life any more than your own.”
“How long would I have to be in Texas?”
“Until you’re safe.”
“I still don’t think—” Colton said.
“Please,” her father interrupted.
To her knowledge, her father had never beggedanyone. As she worked to recover from the shock, Colton, too, blinked in surprise. No one spoke for a moment in which Jennifer heard the sounds of cards shuffling and slot machines rolling in the near distance.
Colton held out his hand and shook. “Done.”
Outside, within minutes, her suitcases were loaded into the bed of Colton’s truck. That’s when she understood they weredrivingto Texas from Nevada. Not flying. A twenty-four-hour road trip with a stranger.
She couldn’t believe this was happening. All because of one truly bad date and a man who didn’t understand that they weren’t right for each other.
“Give your father your phone,” Colton ordered.
“Wh-what? No!”
She glanced at her father for help. Rescue me,she sent via mental telepathy. How wouldsheget help if this man hurt her? But she knew better. Her father would never hand her over to someone he didn’t fully trust. Someone who would lay down his life to protect her.
And someone, she figured, he could easily find should the need arise.
Her father held out his open palm. “Phone. It’s the best way to track you.”
Herphone. “But, how will I communicate with you?”
“You can use mine.” Colton slammed the tailgate shut. “And landlines.”
“Both of you check in with me often,” her father said. “Your safety is the single most important thing to me.”
An hour later, Jennifer was on the road to Texas with a man she’d just met. It was apparently enough that he was former military, herfatherknew him, and that he obviously trusted Colton with his own life. Still, how odd to be traveling with a virtual stranger. Colton informed her they would be arriving in the wee hours of tomorrow morning and that she could relax and take a nap if she’d like.
At least he was a courteous stranger, one who had loaded her bags into the back of his truck. He held the door open for her and waited until she had buckled in before starting to drive. But as she’d suspected, he was the silent, brooding, quiet type.
God, shehatedthe quiet type.
“Look, I have an idea. Drop me off in Utah. That’s another two hours from here and then we’ll part ways.”
He quirked a brow. “What are you going to do inUtah?”
