Chapter 14

Tory

The house feels quieter than usual as the day begins to slip away, the sun casting long golden shadows across the floor. I’m perched in the living room with my knees tucked up to my chest, staring blankly at the untouched book sitting beside me. I haven’t been able to focus for hours—not since Ranger’s phone call with Dean earlier.

Something shifted after that conversation.

Ranger hasn’t been himself since he stepped out of that back office. He’s been distant, quieter than usual, and every time I catch him looking at me, he glances away like he’s trying not to be caught.

Did Dean find out about us? About what happened last night?

I don’t know how he could know, but the thought burrows under my skin, gnawing at me. I hate this strange tension between us—this invisible wall Ranger’s suddenly thrown up.

I let out a frustrated breath and toss the book onto the coffee table. I can’t sit here and stew in silence all evening. My chest feels too tight, my thoughts spiraling into places I don’t want to go. I need to clear my head, and I know exactly how to do it.

The hot tub.

The safe house has a massive one out on the back lanai, overlooking the ocean. It’s perfect—private, secluded, and quiet. A soak in bubbling, steaming water sounds like the ideal escape right now.

With that plan in mind, I stand and head for my room, closing the door softly behind me. I dig through my suitcase until I find my bikini—a simple black two-piece that’s functional and comfortable but, admittedly, fits me well. As I pull it on, I catch my reflection in the mirror and pause.

Maybe it’s the frustration boiling inside me. Maybe it’s the way Ranger’s been distant all day, like he’s trying to keep himself in check. But suddenly, I want to see him squirm.

I grab a loose, sheer cover-up and slip it over my bikini before tying my hair up into a high bun. With a final glance at the mirror, I take a deep breath and walk back out into the main room.

Ranger is standing near the kitchen, a glass of water in his hand as he stares out the window, his back to me. The light from the setting sun pours in, casting an amber glow over his strong shoulders, making him look even more untouchable.

I should just slip past him quietly. I should ignore him like he’s been ignoring me.

But I don’t.

“Heading to the hot tub,” I announce, my voice light and casual as I waltz past him, my bare feet padding softly against the tile.

Ranger turns at the sound of my voice, and I catch the moment he spots me out of the corner of my eye. He freezes—like, completely freezes—his jaw going slack as his eyes drag over me in stunned silence.

The glass of water in his hand might as well be invisible because he’s not paying it, or anything else, the slightest bit of attention.

His gaze moves slowly, taking me in piece by piece—from the curve of my bare shoulders, down the slope of my waist, to the tie of the sheer fabric swishing around my thighs. When his eyes snap back up to mine, they’re dark and intense, his expression completely dumbfounded.

Good. Let him squirm.

I smirk faintly, pausing in the doorway as if I don’t feel his gaze searing through me. “You know, if you’re done brooding, you’re welcome to join me,” I say sweetly, then turn and slip out onto the lanai without waiting for a response.

The evening air is cool against my skin as I step out onto the deck, but the hot tub bubbles invitingly, steam rising in soft curls into the darkening sky. I shrug off the cover-up, draping it over one of the lounge chairs before climbing into the water.

The instant warmth is blissful, and I sink in with a sigh, letting the jets work their magic on my tense muscles. The sound of the ocean waves crashing in the distance blends with the quiet hum of the jets, and for the first time today, I feel myself begin to relax.

But only for a minute.

Because I hear the door open behind me, followed by heavy footsteps.

I fight to keep my expression neutral as Ranger steps onto the lanai, his tall frame silhouetted against the glow spilling from the house. He’s changed into swim trunks—a dark pair that sits low on his hips—and a plain black T-shirt that clings to his chest.

My mouth goes dry.

“You’re joining me after all,” I say, trying to sound casual even as my heart skips a beat.

He doesn’t answer right away. He just stands there, his dark eyes locked on me as if he’s still trying to figure out how to breathe. Then, without a word, he tugs the T-shirt over his head and tosses it onto the chair beside my cover-up.

I swallow hard.

Oh.

I’ve seen Ranger’s strength before—I’ve felt it when he holds me, when his hands roam over my body—but seeing him now, stripped down and raw, is something else entirely. He’s all muscle, lean and powerful, every inch of him carved like he was made to drive women insane.

“Hot tub’s big enough for two, right?” he asks finally, his voice low and rough as he steps closer.

“Maybe,” I murmur, sinking a little deeper into the water to hide the flush creeping up my neck.

Ranger climbs into the tub, settling across from me, his gaze never leaving mine. For a long moment, neither of us says anything. The air feels thick and charged, the space between us crackling with something unspoken.

Finally, I break the silence, folding my arms on the edge of the tub and leaning forward slightly. “I thought you were ignoring me all day.”

His brow furrows slightly, and he shifts, leaning back against the wall of the tub. “I wasn’t ignoring you.”

“Yes, you were.”

He doesn’t deny it, which only makes my chest ache more. “I had things to think about,” he admits finally.

“Like what?” I press. “Dean?”

His gaze sharpens, and for a moment, I think he’s going to brush me off again. But instead, he sighs and scrubs a hand over his jaw. “Dean and I… we’re just making sure things stay quiet. That there’s no threat.”

“To my father,” I say softly. “Or to me?”

Ranger’s expression darkens, his gaze flickering to me like he hates hearing it out loud. “Yeah.”

I watch him carefully, searching his face for something—anything—that will explain why he’s pulling away from me. “Is that what this is about?” I ask. “The threat?”

“No,” he says quickly, his voice rough. “It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

He looks at me, and for a moment, I see something crack through the armor he’s so carefully built—guilt, longing, fear . “You,” he says quietly. “It’s you.”

The words hit me like a jolt, and I blink at him, stunned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I’m breaking every rule I’ve ever set for myself.” He leans forward slightly, his dark eyes pinning me in place. “I’m supposed to protect you. That’s it. That’s the job. But I can’t stop thinking about you. About touching you. About—”

He cuts himself off, his jaw tight as if he’s said too much.

My heart pounds so hard I’m sure he can hear it. “Ranger…”

“I don’t regret last night,” he says softly, his voice low and steady. “But I can’t let myself lose focus. Because if I do, and something happens to you, I’ll never forgive myself.”

The raw honesty in his voice takes my breath away, and for a moment, all I can do is stare at him. I see it now—the way he’s been wrestling with himself, torn between who he is and who he wants to be when he’s with me.

I move closer without even thinking, the water swirling softly around us. “You’re not going to lose focus,” I whisper. “And nothing’s going to happen to me, Ranger. I trust you.”

His eyes soften, and I see the wall between us start to crumble. I stop just inches away from him, the steam rising between us like a curtain. Slowly, he lifts a hand, brushing a strand of damp hair from my face.

“You shouldn’t trust me,” he says quietly, his thumb grazing my cheek.

“But I do.”

His gaze drops to my lips, and for a second, I think he’s going to pull away. But then he leans in, closing the space between us, and his mouth captures mine in a kiss that steals the breath from my lungs.

It’s soft at first, careful, but then his hand moves to the back of my neck, tilting my head as he deepens the kiss. Heat floods through me, and I press closer, my fingers curling into his bare shoulders as if to keep myself from floating away.

Everything else fades—the setting sun, the ocean waves, the bubbling water. It’s just him and me, tangled in this moment, this feeling that’s too big for me to name.

When he finally pulls back, his forehead rests against mine, his breathing ragged.

“I’m already in too deep,” he murmurs, almost to himself.

I close my eyes, my heart pounding. “Me too.”