Chapter 2

Chapter

Two

Autumn Cardon, female warrior extraordinaire, taunted and flirted with every single man she found mildly interesting. Her teasing was a front to keep everyone at arm’s length. She would never let a man into her heart again. Especially not a handsome, charming, and wealthy man.

Why, then, was she splayed on top of the charming bachelor billionaire of the year, her celebrity crush, Jarom Love, and savoring every second of it? He hadn’t put his shirt on yet, and the lean, firm muscles of his upper body pressed against her were completely distracting her from her mission. His cologne was specially designed to fit his chemistry, a spicy and manly blend that was mind-clouding.

Autumn didn’t let anyone cloud her mind. She needed to focus and leap off him. For her own sanity and for the sake of the mission.

“Maybe you don’t care about your own life and safety,” she hurled at him, savoring the feel of his arm under one hand with her other hand planted on his nicely built chest. “But I have never and will never fail at a mission. We need to move.”

With that, she used superhuman strength to release him and pop to her feet. He rose as well, and she was awarded with another opportunity to gawk at his defined upper body. When she’d walked into his closet, his back had been turned to her. Now she could appreciate him straight on.

He was tall, his abdomen slightly hollowed. She worked with fit men every day of the week. She’d always appreciated male muscle, but against her better judgment, she was irrevocably drawn to “pretty boy muscle”, lean and ropy and striated.

She should’ve known it was still a weakness. Charles Etherington IV had pretty boy muscles, a pretty boy face, was as kind as he was wealthy, and had ruined her for any future relationship. She’d never before trusted a man because of her lack of a father and her terrifying childhood spent hiding from her mother’s boyfriends. She’d fallen for the charitable and magnanimous Charles but never confided in him about her dark past, not wanting him to know how damaged she was inside. When he saw firsthand how fierce she truly was, he’d gently broken their engagement. It had hurt and had taught her valuable lessons.

Jarom reminded her of Charles. There was a warmth and honesty in Jarom’s blue eyes that felt genuine. She couldn’t trust it.

“Forgive me, breathtaking Autumn.” He said her name in a silky voice that made her pulse quicken almost as much as lying on top of him had done. His honey tongue was famous. She refused to be another easily-persuaded woman who fell for his pet names and insincere words. “I would never want to be the reason you failed your mission. ”

“You know my name?” Had he been lying to her earlier? Against her better judgment, she wanted to hear him say her name over and over again.

“Yes, Autumn.”

He happily complied, staring deeply at her and making her stomach fill with happy bubbles. She almost clapped her hands for joy.

“I read the text from Aiden when I came into change, love.”

“Oh. Yes. Good.” It was a huge relief that he hadn’t been hiding something from her. “Well… let’s go.” She was talking nothing like herself.

He smiled at her discomfiture, bent, and swept his shirt off the ground. To her discredit, she stared openly. Meeting her gaze as he straightened to his full and glorious height, he gave her a slight smirk. He knew exactly how good he looked. The media glorified everything he said and did, each striation of muscle, each alluring smolder, each clothing design that complimented his perfection. Famous and accomplished women around the world fawned over him and lined up to be his next date.

Nobody blamed them. Autumn certainly didn’t, but she had felt jealous of them. Now it was her that Jarom Love was flirting with, looking at, and touching. She considered herself very lucky, but she needed to keep her distance.

Tugging the shirt over his head, he finally covered that glorious chest as she attempted to catch a full breath.

Turning away as if he didn’t affect her at all, she was grateful this was only a job for tonight. She’d take him away, the mole would reveal himself, and maybe they’d get the information they needed to track down the elusive scum Benjamin Oliver. Then she’d return Jarom before morning light and nobody would be the wiser that he was her celebrity crush.

She’d been flirting heavily with the impressive bull rider Easton Coleville since she finally met him a month ago on assignment in the beautiful Key Largo rescuing one of her favorite suspense authors, Marci Richards.

Easton was her type. A man she could banter with, maybe have a fun date or kiss, but of course not reveal anything about her past or give her heart to. Nobody could secure her heart. Including the tempting Jarom Love.

Her fellow bodyguards would be stunned to learn she was drawn to a smooth, silk-tongued billionaire. She never gave any of them a chance to date her, no matter how they cajoled her. Before she’d met him, she’d imagined she could beat Jarom up with both hands tied behind her back. But those muscles she’d touched and viewed were the opposite of weak and he’d shown no fear in their interchange. He’d proven himself brave and even more fascinating.

Gah! She didn’t have the time or emotional head space to analyze what Jarom Love was really like under his perfect exterior.

She hurried out of the closet and through his room to the open balcony door. The bed looked believable, as if he were sleeping soundly in it. She had placed a sound machine with slow, even breathing under the pillow.

“I’d believe I was sleeping there,” Jarom said, sauntering to her.

Why did he have to look as fabulous in a black T-shirt and joggers as he had in the high-dollar button down and slacks? His tie off, those few buttons open, his broad shoulders and fine chest evident … that had been delicious. The T-shirt was even more so, draped perfectly over that chest and shoulders and revealing succulent bicep and tricep muscles. He’d most likely de signed each item of clothing to fit flawlessly on his mouthwatering frame.

“I am an expert.” She bowed.

“Now that I believe, my love.” He gave her a warm smile that she had to either ignore or plant a kiss on. She wasn’t his love, and he used pet names with every woman. She was nothing special.

“You love to hear the sound of your name so much that you try to call me by it, Mr. Love?”

“Forgive me.” His look was deep and meaningful and not repentant at all. “I find myself mesmerized by you, and yes, I would love to hear you go by Mrs. Autumn Love someday.”

That was too far. How dare he? He was only teasing but … it was too much.

“Shut down the lights,” she barked at him. Only his voice controlled his house.

His brows rose. He was probably stunned she hadn’t risen to his flirtations.

“Shut down lights,” he said.

The lights disappeared and the room fell into darkness. She had no choice but to take his hand and lead him out onto the wide balcony she’d snuck in on. Of course Jarom couldn’t simply allow her to do her job and clasp his hand. He slid their palms together and slowly, enticingly threaded their fingers as one, as if they were a couple. All kinds of out-of-reach dreams and an unfamiliar connection rose from the simple feeling of his hand holding hers.

No. Never. Not with another wealthy, charming, religious man like Charles. Jarom was more enticing than Charles had even been to her. Charles had broken her heart, but Jarom could shatter her completely. If she ever let him in. Which she wouldn’t.

She yanked her hand free and muttered, “Keep up.”

He stayed far too close, shutting the patio door behind them. The air was refreshing and cold enough to sting her bare arms and face. She liked it.

As they crossed the spacious upper patio, the soft lights decorating his landscaped backyard appeared. She loved this property and home. It was like living in a gorgeous forest. The Jarom Love she’d seen on social media didn’t fit in this rustic and perfect mansion. He should be in the Hamptons or decorating the coast of Newport Beach with his lovely face and chest. But the Jarom she’d met tonight felt right in this space.

He felt right.

Autumn pushed that aside and gestured to the rope she’d left hanging from the patio. “Age before beauty,” she said, though her research showed he was only thirty to her twenty-eight, not much difference in age.

“Ladies before gentlemen,” he insisted.

“Wealth before humility,” she shot back.

“Sass before charm,” he returned.

She actually smiled at him. She wanted to keep going with the banter, but they needed to be gone. “I need to make sure you get down safely,” she said. “Please go first.”

“I’m an accomplished rock climber, Autumn, and a man who has no problem following an exquisitely beautiful woman like a dog on a chain. I promise I’ll be right behind you.”

In the dim light, his blue eyes and tall form were intense. She wanted to argue with him, banter with him, hear him say her name and that she was an ‘exquisitely beautiful woman’ again. He was an accomplished rock climber? Why didn’t his social media people share posts of him clinging from a rock?

“We don’t have time to argue,” she said to prove she wasn’t backing down, that she was focused on the mission and his safety. She scrabbled over the side and scurried down the rope. She’d heard other bodyguards say she could climb, spar, or parkour like a monkey. Dropping to the patio below, she saw one of her fellow bodyguards, Adam Monson, doing a rotation through the lower level of the house. He didn’t indicate that he’d seen her, but he was one of the few who knew her assignment tonight.

Glancing up, she saw Jarom was almost to the ground. He moved so quick down the rope using only his hands she’d think he had gecko gloves on. He dropped easily to the ground and straightened, giving her a devastating smile that made her want to tangle her fingers in his hair and kiss him for a long time.

She mentally shook her head and then grabbed the rope, giving it a hard flick of her wrist to release the grappling hook. It fell toward her. She caught part of it, but strong hands reached out and caught the rest.

“Thanks,” she mumbled. Hurrying forward, she shoved the rope under a bush. Adam would take care of it later. “This way.”

Jarom kept pace as she strode across his manicured grass and onto a trail through the thick forest. Neither of them said anything, but his presence was larger than life. Autumn had a celebrity obsession and followed the famous people who in her mind had morals, were benevolent, and impressed her. Jarom Love had been at the top of the list for a while. Thank heavens she had no female friends who knew about her obsession with him, and none of her fellow bodyguards were in touch with their feminine side enough to ask who she worshipped. She smiled to herself. The bodyguards who weren’t hitting on her either became her buddies or kept their distance. She was known to put them in their place both in sparring and in verbal battles and was proud of it.

A blast of light ripped through the night sky. The blinding light was followed by a boom and a roar of fire. Autumn spun, dodging around Jarom to assess the threat. They were far enough away from the explosion that there was no imminent danger. She could feel the heat, hear the roar of burning timber, and see the orange glow even from a hundred yards into the dark forest. Disbelief filled her as she tried to see how bad the destruction was through the thick tree barrier.

“My house,” Jarom muttered.

Autumn didn’t blame him for being upset. His house was a work of art only surpassed by his face and body.

“Was that why you rushed me out of there?” he asked, peering over her shoulder. One problem with being a female bodyguard: she was usually smaller than the people she was guarding. Few people would be peering over Nick, Aiden, or Paul’s shoulder.

“No.” She eased back to stare at the fire’s glow by his side. “We received intel from one of your guards that there was a mole and he might make a move tonight, but we didn’t know he’d try to kill you or blow up your house. We need to go.”

She turned, tugging at his shirt to get him moving, and started jogging through the forest, dodging trees and leaping over rocks and roots. Thankfully and surprisingly, Jarom easily kept up. He didn’t complain about the pace, the night run through obstacles, or his beautiful house exploding.

Her phone rang .

She slowed to a walk and pulled it out of a side pocket. Aiden. Her boss wouldn’t call if it wasn’t safe to do so.

“What happened?” she demanded. No time to waste on hello.

They reached the clearing where she’d parked the Escalade.

“Jarom’s suite exploded. Adam has the perp in custody. A Garrett Redland.”

“He’s one of Jarom’s guards?”

“Yes.”

Jarom glanced sharply at her. She clicked the button to unlock the vehicle and gestured him around to his side.

“Any casualties?”

“No. Everyone’s accounted for. The bomb was specialized to take out only Jarom’s bedroom. Just a moment, Autumn; I’m on another call with Jared Coleville.”

Settling into the seat, she turned the vehicle on and awaited Aiden’s response. It was a relief no one had been hurt and that she’d gotten Jarom out safely. A huge relief. She didn’t want to imagine a world without Jarom Love in it. Even if he was a playboy and she could never date him, he inspired and blessed millions of people with employment, charitable foundations and donations, and social media posts and speeches that uplifted instead of degraded.

The phone picked up in the car, and she set it on the console. Glancing at Jarom, she noticed his hands were shaking slightly. That surprised her. He’d shown no fear earlier when he thought she was an assassin and could’ve killed him at any moment.

“No one was hurt?” Jarom confirmed.

“No.”

“One of my guards betrayed me?” he asked quietly.

“Garrett Redland,” she said just as softly.

“Garrett?” His brows arched. “Garrett’s been by my side for years. I thought he was a friend.” He passed a hand over his face and looked out the window at the forest surrounding them.

A few seconds passed. She should just let him ponder, but she heard herself say, “Are you all right?” She felt sympathetic to his anguish, though she had no clue what it would be like to own a twenty-million-dollar mansion in the forests of Aspen that had exploded. She did know how it felt to have someone want to kill her; she felt that often.

“I’m …” He swallowed and admitted in a tightly-controlled voice, his hands clenched, “Angry. I’m through running from Benjamin Oliver and his minions.”

Her eyes widened. He was surprising her left and right. The world would expect a man like him to be hiding in the space behind his seat, head covered with his arms.

“You’re not scared?” she clarified. There was no dishonor in being scared, knowing one of the most devious criminals of their day was after him. She’d been scared too often as a child. She loathed that feeling.

“No.” He bit out the word as if it were preposterous, his gaze determined and his head tilted at a proud angle. This wasn’t a man who backed down.

“I figured you for a pretty boy wimp,” she admitted.

He actually smiled at that. “I might be a pretty boy, but I’m no wimp.”

She could see that. She wanted to tell him she’d seen that and felt that in his bedroom and closet. More important than his physical strength and appeal, she was impressed with his emotional resiliency.

Thankfully, Aiden’s voice clipped on before she could admit to Jarom she’d been enthralled with him for years and shockingly was more intrigued the more time she spent around him. That was not a good discovery for her. She’d assume most celebrity crushes would disappoint if met in real life. Not Jarom.

“Take Jarom to the commuter airport in Aspen. Paul luckily didn’t get far after he dropped you off. He’ll come back for you and drop you both off in Kalispell.”

“Kalispell?” Her neck was tingling.

“The Colevilles will take you and Jarom in until we figure out why Benjamin Oliver wants him dead. I thought Benjamin only wanted to kidnap him for his vast resources or utilize his fame and platforms for one of his nefarious plans.”

Autumn did not want to go to Coleville, Montana. Easton Coleville was fun to flirt with, but she had no designs on a relationship with anyone. She darted a glance at Jarom. Because she could never have him .

She could keep the likes of Easton Coleville at bay. He was a top-notch charmer for certain but no real temptation to her.

The real problem with Coleville was the fact that Mama Millie Coleville loathed Autumn, and she didn’t know how to act around motherly figures. This was going to be uncomfortable.

“All right,” she said.

Despite her feisty nature, her respect and gratitude for Aiden Porter was off the charts. He’d recruited her from the FBI moments after Charles had broken up with her. It was a time when she’d desperately needed to change her life and her zip code. Some would claim it was heavenly intervention, but Autumn didn’t believe heaven cared for her one way or another.

Aiden had taken her training to a different level and given her a life she’d never dreamed of. He and his wife Chalisa were some of the best people on earth in her opinion. Aiden and his pilot Paul Braven had become like brothers to her.

“Tell your boyfriend hi for me,” Aiden teased.

“Signing off, boss,” she replied and pushed the button for drive.

“Boyfriend?” Jarom asked.

She didn’t let herself look at him. “I think my boyfriend is the least of your concerns at the moment.”

“I don’t know about that, love. Having you tackle me to the floor again is high on my priority list, and we can’t be participating in such activities with a boyfriend marring the scene, now can we?”

Autumn’s stomach hopped happily. She focused on the dirt road that led out of the forest. Her temporary assignment with Jarom had just expanded to more time with her idol. She had to keep her heart safe from this heartthrob and somehow balance Easton and Mama Millie Coleville.

Give her a nice simple op with men shooting at her and trying to punch her lights out. This assignment was officially out of control.