Chapter 3

Chapter

Three

Jarom clenched his hands into fists to control the trembling and tried to tamp down his anger. He was always the happy-go-lucky, every guy’s friend and every girl’s crush kind of guy. The past few months he’d been a prisoner in his own world, thanks to Benjamin Oliver wanting revenge on him or wanting his fortune.

Now Benjamin wanted him dead, one of his bodyguards and supposed friends had betrayed him, and one of his favorite homes had exploded.

He needed a distraction and it was easy to focus on Autumn, driving the SUV confidently and not looking at him.

“Boyfriend?” he asked again. “How serious would you say this boyfriend is, my beautiful angel protector?”

“None of your business, Mr. Love, and I’m not your anything … except I suppose I could concede on your protector.”

“Hmm. Let’s concede on a few more titles. What do you say? I’ll make it my business to know how easily this ‘boyfriend’ can be replaced. I favor the idea of you being mine.”

Autumn’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel and her neck and cheeks darkened. He smiled. Teasing her was much better than thinking about his house being gone, a psychotic killer after him, and Garrett not being his friend. And instead of standing up to Garrett and Benjamin like he instinctively longed to do, he was being spirited away.

Benjamin Oliver was an experienced and brilliant criminal who could twist someone Jarom had trusted for years into attempting to murder him while he slept. That gouged at him. If Jarom had a fault, it was wanting everyone to like him and be his friend, but could you really call that a fault?

“We need to get something straight,” Autumn said, glancing quickly at him. “First of all, I know what you’re like. You have a different woman on your arm every hour. So don’t pretend you want to make me ‘yours’ and don’t toy with me.”

Jarom started to protest, but she overrode him. “Second of all, I don’t do relationships with anyone. So even if you weren’t the player of the year, you’d stand no chance with me. Understood?”

He studied her. He didn’t like what she was saying, but he couldn’t lie and say what she perceived about him wasn’t mostly the truth. “But if you ‘don’t do relationships’ and I’m not the type to settle down, aren’t we in fact perfect for each other?” He wanted this intriguing woman to give him a chance. He’d break through her walls and maybe let down his own.

“No,” she shot at him in exasperation.

“I feel we are,” he argued. “Neither of us want commitment and we’re both experts at flirtation. We can simply tease and laugh and go our merry ways once your protection detail is finished. No commitment, no stress, and a lot of fun.”

He paused and gave her a moment to form a rebuttal. The words he’d said were correct, but they didn’t feel right. For the first time in his life, Jarom considered why a man might settle down with one woman and want to fight emotionally and physically for her. He’d seen it firsthand with Eli and Livvy. At the time, he’d thought it was fabulous for them but would never happen for him. If the woman he was meant to find and woo was as intriguing and fiery as Autumn, it would take a lifetime to tire of her. Maybe he never would.

“You’re right,” she admitted, but her voice was wary. Did she not love the ‘flirt and move on’ proposal? He didn’t love it either, at least not with her, but he wouldn’t be the first to admit it. A committed relationship was out of his realm; the flirt-and-move-on path had to be the one to take. Even if a long-term agreement held an appeal with Autumn, he wasn’t ready for happily ever after. His mother despaired that he never would be. Maybe someday, but not today. No, he wouldn’t push or suggest a real relationship, but he’d enjoy the flirtations. Especially as it would distract him from his inability to stand up to Benjamin Oliver.

“Wait a minute.” His mind played back through her conversation with her boss, not ready to riddle out why long-term with Autumn would never work. “Aiden knew I was with you, but he didn’t know I was listening in on the call. Was he talking about me being your boyfriend?” He relaxed into the seat, turning slightly to give her an alluring grin. “Because we could definitely talk about a fake boyfriend and girlfriend status. That could explain why you’ll have to stay by my side night and day. You’ll be my protector, but nobody else will know that but myself and Aiden. The media will eat up Jarom Love finally finding the love of his life.”

“Stop,” she said in a voice that was more begging than a command.

Jarom liked that he was affecting her. She’d affected him plenty tonight, and his beautiful Aspen cabin had exploded. He loved that mountainous retreat. That was a double whammy. Being drawn to her and losing his home was an emotional hit harder than being betrayed and almost killed.

“Thank you for coming for me tonight,” he said softly. “That was miraculous. I’d be bits and pieces without you.”

She pulled up to the main road and stopped the vehicle, glancing at him. “I’m grateful you’re whole and healthy.”

Turning onto the road, she upped her speed.

He let that linger in the air between them. After a few moments, he asked, “Is there not a way to draw out Benjamin and take him down?”

She smiled slightly. “Aiden is working night and day to find a way.”

“Use me as bait,” he suggested.

“No!” she yelled.

He was stunned by her vehement response.

“Not a possibility,” she said. “Please don’t ask that again.”

He wasn’t certain what to say. How could they draw out or take down Benjamin if they hid from him? “So we’re going to hide in Kalispell … Montana, right?”

“Yes.” Her grip loosened on the steering wheel. “There’s a large and remote family ranch next to the mountains that has helped with various protection details. You’ll be safe, but you can’t be posting about it on social media.”

“I don’t post anything on social media. ”

“Yes, you do.”

Jarom felt his smile widen. She obviously followed his accounts. “I don’t post anything,” he reiterated. “My social media team posts plenty.”

“Oh. I see.”

The road turned into a larger highway. She took 82 North toward the airport his Cessna jet was at.

“You follow me on social media?” he asked.

“You were almost exploded into bits and pieces tonight. The most dangerous scum on every most wanted list is after you. Is me following you really what you’re focused on right now?” She sounded exasperated. He loved her flirtations, but it was rewarding to know he was getting under her skin.

“Yes, my love. Focusing on your beauty and intrigue and why you are closed off from ever having a relationship is helping me immensely right now. Bless you for helping me not to think about a nefarious criminal wanting me dead, one of my ‘loyal’ guards betraying and almost killing me, and you making me run away instead of face them and fight.”

She swallowed and nodded but didn’t say anything. He didn’t goad her further about social media. She’d all but admitted to following his accounts. He had more important things he wanted to know. “I was teasing you earlier, and I know Aiden wasn’t intoning that I am your boyfriend. Is this blessed man among men located in Kalispell, Montana?”

“Coleville, actually. It’s an hour north of Kalispell.”

“Oh.” He deflated. She was admitting to having a boyfriend. That was unfortunate, and they were driving toward this lucky man.

Silence reigned until he couldn’t stand it. “How serious of a boyfriend is this?”

“Jarom,” she shot at him in exasperation. “Please let me focus.”

“On driving on a quiet highway?”

She pushed out a heavy breath.

“If it’s serious serious, I need to know, love. I don’t want to be flirting with some cowboy’s girlfriend. Handsome and engaging men like myself lose teeth that way.”

She eyeballed him with one raised eyebrow.

“I know I look like I can take down any threat, but I’m never the guy to throw the first punch. And it only takes one pop in the mouth to mess this up.” He waved a hand to his face.

“I won’t let anyone mess that face up,” she said, her voice intense.

He grinned, loving that response. “I knew you were my angel protector.”

“Not an angel,” she bit out.

“The face of an angel,” he insisted. When she glowered at him, he said, “So, back to the boyfriend.”

“It’s not that serious, okay?” she exploded at him. “I’ve only met him in person once.”

He relaxed into the seat again. Mission accomplished. “I see. So you’re not actually dating?”

“No. Aiden likes to tease me and try to get my goat.”

“I can’t for the life of me imagine why. You’re absolutely no fun to tease. Such a drab, quiet sort of girl.”

She actually smiled at him. “I’m off my game tonight. I am usually the one instigating the flirting and the banter.”

“If you’re off your game, I’m on pins and needles to see you at full strength.”

She half-laughed but then shook her head. “I can flirt with any handsome man and taunt and lie to every criminal I’ve encountered, but somehow you got the truth out of me.” She gazed at him as if bewildered.

“I’m your truth serum. I like that, my beauty.”

“Don’t plan on getting any more out of me.”

Jarom smiled. He was tempted to touch her smooth arm but resisted. Now was not the moment to push. He dated multiple women each week, always had fun, even sometimes went on a second date. He’d never found a woman who didn’t want him for his money, his fame, or his ‘pretty boy’ face and body.

Autumn was a puzzle. She’d all but admitted she followed him on social media, she’d said some telling things and let down her guard a few times, but she was a challenge. She would flirt with him, but she wasn’t going to let her brick walls down easily or at all. She claimed she didn’t do relationships. Intriguing. He couldn’t wait to make her eat those words.

Everything about tonight, besides his house being blown up, had been delightful truly. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation of more.

“You don’t have your phone to post on social media anyway,” she said.

“I do.” He pulled it out of his pocket.

She gave an audible gasp, swiped the device from his hand, powered it off and then removed the cover, searching it with her hand and her eyes as she drove with the other hand.

“I thought you needed to focus,” he teased.

Dropping the phone into the console, she shook her head but didn’t respond.

After a few beats of silence, he said, “So we’re back to you and I pretending to be dating for this protection detail. When we do the photo shoot, I hate to inform you, but you’ll have to kiss me, and make it look convincing.” He rubbed his palms together in anticipation. “I’m looking forward to those moments already, love.”

“No.” She shook her head and pulled off the highway and into the airport. “We’ll be at a quiet and private ranch surrounded by security. There’s no need to pretend anything. No photo shoots.”

“Disappointing, but I can work with it.” He gave her his most winning smile. “I think the solution is we simply date for real. What a blessing that would be for me and hopefully for you. We can kiss nonstop, you can taunt me relentlessly, and I’ll have my exquisite bodyguard by my side at all times. Win-win.”

She didn’t respond as she pulled the vehicle up to a large airport hangar only five down from his own hangar that housed his Gulfstream G700. He’d had his pilot’s license for six years now and loved the freedom it granted him. Freedom he’d forfeited the past few months with Benjamin on his tail. It appeared things were about to get worse. Or better if he considered the engaging woman who had to stay by his side.

Pushing a remote opener, Autumn studiously ignored him, but her smooth skin was much darker than usual.

The huge hangar door lifted. She drove the Escalade inside, pushed the door button again, and then turned off the vehicle.

“What do you think?” he asked, giving her his most charming smile.

“I think you caught me off my guard and off my game. You want meaningless flirtations and nonstop teasing, knowing you’ll never gain access to my heart?”

“Eh …” That wasn’t quite what he’d been hoping for, but from the challenging look in her uniquely golden eyes, he thought it was in his best interest to play along. He’d find a chink in her armor, break down her walls, and pierce her heart. He had no idea what he’d do then as he’d never engaged in such behavior, but the battle would be fun. She’d said she didn’t do relationships. Jarom had never had a long-term romantic relationship. They were a perfect pair. No expectations, all reward.

“I think you’re right, beautiful. We can flirt and tease and have an impeccable time, knowing neither of us would ever be interested in anything serious or lasting.”

She gave him a sly smile, as if she read something in his words. As if she’d won this round. Jarom had never been so intrigued and off-kilter.

“Game on, Mr. Love.” She winked, and he was lost. “I am not only the top female security operative in the world; I am also an expert at no-commitment banter. Try and keep up.” She jumped out of the vehicle and slammed the door.

Jarom chuckled. He may be off kilter, but so was she. It was obvious.

The games were just beginning. His house exploding and the threat of death weren’t at the front of his mind anymore. It was all Autumn. This would be loads of fun. The perfect distraction from a death sentence hanging over his head, losing his home, and running into the night without even an eyebrow tweezer.

His personal challenge and objective was to see if he could break through her walls and secure her heart along the way. What he’d do with it at that point he wasn’t certain, but all was fair in love and the battle of the sexes. Jarom didn’t do war, but he was an expert at making a woman fall for him.

Game on indeed, Miss Autumn Cardon, beautiful female warrior extraordinaire. He’d win this game. With style.