Page 10 of Mountain Man Bodyguard
“Hm.” Her nod clued me in to her real response.
“What does that mean? Don’t you believe me?” The urge to reach over and play with a loose curl that had escaped the updo she’d created made me want to show her even more just how attracted I was to her.
“No. I mean sure. Um, do you want to hear this or not?” Flustered and with her cheeks now matching the color of her hair, Chassie sent me a narrowed stare only a trained nurse could pull off.
I've got to admit, the contrast was definitely doing it for me. “Proceed.” Saluting her with my mug, I drank down the last of my cocoa to cover my satisfied grin.
“So, perimenopause. I began having symptoms earlier than normal, but what’s normal, right? I was working long hours in the trauma department at Harmony General, and the hot flasheswere becoming a problem. Being a nurse, I did what we all do and quizzed my co-workers instead of making an appointment with my gyno. But nothing helped. So, I finally get in to see my doctor, and he tells me sure, I’m a bit young, but it’s still normal.” Chassie threw up her fingers when she said “normal,” and rolled her eyes.
“I went back to work, took some supplements, and continued to suffer. During that time, I was also experiencing brain fog and extreme fatigue, plus a handful of other annoying problems. And all the normal female monthly stuff, which had always been harsh for me. But nothing helped. So, I went to another doctor. This one ordered some tests. And I did some sleuthing on the internet. And hey, I’m losing you. Sorry, I’ll stop.”
She hadn’t. And she had no idea how dynamic she’d become as she spoke. I’d shifted my body toward hers and leaned my head on my fist, totally focused on her story. “You’re not. Keep going.” My response sounded more commanding than reassuring, but at this point I didn’t care. I needed to know more about her.
She looked at me for what felt like several long minutes, her head tilted, studying me as if I were a bug under a microscope. But I didn’t take offense. Instead, her intensity felt as if something deeper was happening between us. Had she been any other woman, I would have made up an excuse to stop the conversation, to leave. But this was my house. And I didn’t want her to stop.
“Long story short, I finally got some answers. Not all of them good. I’d been suffering from endometriosis; probably since I was a teenager. And one of the tests showed I had some precancerous cells on my cervix. Which, if you recall, both my mother and my grandmother had and eventually died from. So, I had a big decision to make.”
The storm's last gasp rang out, and the weight of her words hung between us. “Seems like you made the right decision. I mean, you’re here, and in spite of what’s going on with this crazy fan, you’re doing something you love.”
“I am. And I’m going to keep doing it. No matter what. And that decision? I had my cervix and uterus removed as a preventative measure. And my hormones were out of whack, so I’m on bio-identicals, which have helped more than you can imagine. And I’m sharing my journey with other women, so they know they don’t have to suffer from ‘being born female.’ That they can empower themselves with knowledge and find community.” Chassie’s eyes were bright; her excitement was contagious.
“And it sounds like you’ve succeeded.”
“I have. And no one is going to take that away from me.”
“Damn straight.” I added.
That laugh. The fire in Chassie’s eyes was addicting.
“Okay, your turn. Now you have to spill your guts. Tell me about why you went to LA after you left the service?”
The air was still charged between us, and it had nothing to do with the storm outside.
“Well, I knew doing something behind a desk, or inside a building for eight plus hours a day would be a death sentence. And when Hollywood beckoned, I followed the yellow brick road.”
“Becoming a stuntman was a perfect fit for me after the service. And having served as a Ranger didn’t hurt my resume, at least not in that field. I was always a hyper kid. Being still was not a skill set I ever possessed. Well, not until that last injury made me wake up and ended that phase. And then I came here for Ridge’s wedding. And Addy, Ridge’s now wife, who’s a therapist, cornered me one day, convinced me to try a fire pit session with their client guests. And that was it. I’d found mynext act. So, the Triple R became my home, and these men, who became my brothers all those years ago in the Army, welcomed me back in like we’d never been apart. And despite their endless comedy bits about me being Henry Cavil’s butt double, I’m glad I made the move.”
“What? No way. Were you really? I’d say that’s a claim that needs a little more show than tell.” Chassie teased. The sassiness was back, thank God, and so was my erection.
“Never happened, but they didn’t care. They just enjoy ribbing me every chance they get. But what I haven’t told them yet is I was a stunt double for another A-lister several years ago whose character gets blown up in a movie. That’s a point of pride I’m saving for just the right moment.” The distraction of my confession had little effect on her or my dick, thank fuck.
“So….”
“So?” I didn’t think I was missing her signal, but I really needed her to spell it out for me.
Chassie shifted closer, her perfume reaching me first, then the warmth of her body as she leaned her hand inches away from my knee. “You going to kiss me now, or do I have to make the first move?”
EIGHT
CHASSIE
No longer caring if I was making a fool of myself, because I could tell by the thick erection pushing against Kane’s pants, he wanted me. And he hadn’t run away screaming when I talked about my female stuff, which earned him major brownie points.
“You always this forward?” Kane’s lids had gone heavy, his voice deeper, sexier if that was even possible.
“No.” Why lie? Kane was the reason I was making this move. He may not be my usual type, not that I had one, but I’d quickly come to discover he was so much more than the arrogant, movie star-handsome stuntman persona he projected at first.
“Good to know. Come here.”
