Page 12 of A Soldier's Destiny
Their eyes met and they had their first battle of wills. She blinked first, and he knew he’d won that point. But damn if she hadn’t brought his pack in with her.
“Fine. But if I think it’s stupid, then I’m going to tell you.”
“Alright, I can live with that. But we’ll discuss it, and if I have a good reason, you’ll follow orders?”
“Orders? I think not.” He winced, poor choice of words.
“How about direction?”
“That could work. Now that we got that out of the way let me show you which room is yours. I really am beat and need to get some sleep.” He was surprised when she didn’t say something about him calling her angel, but maybe she was just too tired to realize.
“Did you lock the downstairs door when you came in?”
“Yes, do you think I’m stupid?”
“No, but again, it’s my job.”
Shaking her head, she started down the hallway off the living room. It led to three bedrooms and one bathroom. He’d learned the layout when he did his recon. One bathroom would make life interesting. He hadn’t shared with a woman since he’d left home. But other than that, the apartment was a decent size and they shouldn’t have trouble staying out of each other’s way.
“Here’s your room. The bathroom is down the hall next to my room. There are towels on the dresser, and I made up the bed earlier before I went to Lily’s. Is there anything else you need? Oh, and if you’re hungry help yourself to anything in the kitchen.”
“It’s great, thank you.”
“Okay, sleep well.” After a smile that was more like a grimace, she continued down the hall to her room.
“Hey Rori?” She stopped and turned back to look at him.
“Yeah?”
“I’m not trying to give you a hard time, just keep you safe.”
“I understand. It’s what everyone thinks and that’s the whole problem. I don’t need protection. But I guess time will tell.”
“Yes, it will.”
“I’m sorry to be rude and leave you on your own, but work starts early.”
“That’s what I’ve heard. Sleep well, Rori. See you at two.”
“Night.”
* * *
Rori couldn’t get to her room fast enough. He was too much. As she leaned against the closed door she thought about him just down the hall. All six foot whatever of solid muscle and it made her lady bits tingle. Can you say muffin man? Or maybe it should be stud muffin man? It took all her willpower to not lean close as she said good night and give him a lick. He smelled like outdoors and citrus…something. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she wanted a taste.
Besides waking up feelings that had been dormant for the last couple of years, there was something about him. Something familiar but she didn’t know what. Maybe she’d seen him around town. He’d never been in the bakery, that she knew for sure because there was no way in hell or gingerbread that she’d have forgotten that sale.
Exhausted she pulled out her nightgown and brushed her hair before putting it up to wash her face. She’d been trying to focus on the bakery and not all the stuff that had been happening. Keeping most of it to herself, the window had been out of her control, especially with Lily there. Thank God her friend hadn’t been seriously injured, or anyone else for that matter. Once Jasper found out about the other stuff she was toast and probably not the French variety with warm maple syrup.
It just seemed like a bit of bad luck at first with the flat tires on the van. The phone calls, the letters, the pictures, but she’d kept that to herself. But the damn plate glass window. And now a new bodyguard who was the best thing since freshly baked bread. But he wasn’t there for a relationship, and she wasn’t looking for one. Was she even over Jim’s death yet? The only thing she’d focused on for the last two years was the bakery. It was her life, her heart, and helped her hold on to the people she’d lost that evening. Her life would never be the same, but she liked to think that they were looking down at her and smiling.
Since coming back to Willow Haven, it had been all about the bakery and closing her parent’s house. She still needed to figure out whether to let Anna list it for sale or not. And if not, what was she going to do with it? It was too hard to stay there without them. It made sense to put it on the market.There, think about that, Rori, instead of the gingerbread man down the hall.
She changed into her PJs. It was way past her bedtime, and her bed was calling to her. No wonder her mind was scrambled, usually asleep by eight, it was almost eleven. Trying to get through tomorrow was going to be like wading through a tub of molasses.
Throwing her robe on in case she ran into Jasper on the way to brush her teeth, she was thankful two minutes later when she opened the bathroom door and walked in on him.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I should have knocked.” Her face burned as she backed up and slammed the door shut.
