Chapter 2

Chapter

Two

Navy SEAL Lieutenant Miles Coleville raced along the picturesque Newport coastline and out onto the Balboa Peninsula. He had a five-day long weekend break from Camp Pendleton and his new friend retired-Captain Aiden Porter had offered his Newport Beach mansion. The huge home was a west coast headquarters for Aiden's security teams, but nobody was using it currently.

The top-of-the-line and spacious beach retreat sure beat his one-bedroom condo just off base in Oceanside. Miles didn't need much and was rarely home, but it was nice to relax in a twenty-million-dollar mansion once in a while.

He'd need to turn around soon, or he'd run the two miles back in the dark. The dark didn't bother him; sitting alone trying to entertain himself did. Even in a gorgeous home and beach location with a food service delivering gourmet meals, he couldn't relax. He didn't like being alone. Miles soaked up the brotherhood and camaraderie of his SEAL team. He was also missing his brothers, parents, and their Montana ranch more and more.

He should be missing his sort-of-girlfriend Lily Lillywhite. Lily was great—adventurous, happy, easy-going. If his mom and hers had their way, they'd already be married. They'd grown apart over the twelve years he'd been gone from Coleville, but every time he suggested she date other people, she turned the question around and asked if he wanted to date someone else. The answer was always no. He was too busy with the SEALs to spend time dating, and he wasn't into shallow hookups.

He wouldn't have been surprised or sad if Lily decided to move on. He didn't mind having a ‘girl back home' and he was loyal to her, but she should be ready to find a local man who could get married and settle down. At the same time, maybe working in a small county hospital and living in the tiny town of Coleville didn't lend itself to many dating options.

The last time he visited home six months ago for his brother Clint's failed wedding, he had taken Lily on a date. It hadn't gone well. The silences had been awkward and long as they both scrambled for something to start a real conversation, grasping at straws to reconnect after over a year of not seeing each other in person.

At the end of the night, he'd tried not to ‘trip around the issue' like his brothers Walker and Easton accused him of regarding Lily. They claimed him asking her if she wanted to date other people wasn't strong enough. He needed to be firm like he would with his military career or really anything else in his life.

So Miles had told Lily they were going different directions and needed to be done with the relationship. She needed to be free to date and find what she was looking for. Lily had broken down and sobbed. He caught words like ‘missed opportunity, keeping her safe, and a wasted life'. He'd held her as tears slipped down her smooth cheeks and nothing she said made sense. He'd felt awful, rescinded his words, and apologized. When she calmed down, they'd gone home without resolving anything.

He'd regretted not breaking up with her ever since and they hadn't communicated much. He had tender feelings for Lily and hated hurting her, but they weren't right together. Stringing each other along would only hurt both of them more in the long run. She should be free to date and have a life beyond her nursing career and nurturing all the children who stayed on her parents' ranch. She was a golden girl and would find someone great.

As soon as he went home again, he'd end it for good. Unfortunately, he couldn't do it over the phone or on a video chat. That wasn't a gentleman's way, and Lily deserved better.

A laugh barked out from a house's patio to his left, interrupting his stewing.

He glanced over and his pulse sped up as he met the most intriguing pair of dark-brown eyes he had ever glimpsed. The woman smiled at him, and he slowed his pace to a walk.

The depth and sparkle in her deep-brown eyes drew him in like a fish on a line. He instantly knew … This was his other half, the lady he should've been searching for all his life.

He smiled, paused and raised a hand, prepared to say hello, drop a charming line, ask her to please share her number so he could call her as soon as he settled his obligation to Lily. How did he explain that he couldn't ask her out immediately without looking like a darn fool ?

Before he could say or do anything, it slammed into him exactly who those gorgeous eyes belonged to.

Eva Chevron. One of the top actresses in Hollywood currently and named one of the most beautiful women in the world.

He should know. His twin brothers Easton and Walker sent him pictures of her far too often—her volunteering at a children's hospital, stopping to walk with an elderly man across the street, cheering at an L.A. Kings game and wearing a number ninety-nine Wayne Gretzky jersey, Miles's favorite player of all time. His brothers loved to tease him that the famous and talented beauty, originally from a ranch and the neighboring state of Wyoming was his future wife and that he could find her since he lived in sunny California and propose as soon as he officially cut things off with Lily.

It was a hilarious tease, in all their minds, and none of them had ever said that in Lily's presence. Miles was a SEAL, always training or away on an assignment, not part of the Hollywood social scene and attending parties where he could meet the famous actress. He and his family had helped protect his close friend Quaid Raven's famous sisters, Jacqueline and Elizabeth Oliver, but that was very different from meeting the Eva Chevron.

Yet here Eva was … less than forty feet away from him. He could swear a connection surged through the air and their future lit the evening sky.

He would introduce himself, channel some of his brother Easton's charm, tell her he was the man she'd been waiting for.

His stomach flipped over. Eva Chevron didn't need some rando stopping and proclaiming he was her future. She'd think he was insane, and for good reason. He also wasn't the type to profusely proclaim anything.

She didn't say anything, lift a hand, or move toward him. He could take a hint. She was ultra-famous, and he could only imagine how many men pursued her.

Tilting his chin to her, he took off. Every step away from her was painful, as if he were giving up on their future. What was he doing? Instead of slowing down, he ran faster.

He should've spoken to her. Why hadn't he taken a chance? She might've shut him down immediately, but he'd dealt with pain and failure. It wasn't the fear of rejection. If Eva would've called to him or even raised a hand, he might have taken a shot. Her smile and the intensity of her brown gaze had lit up his world, made him believe they had a unique connection.

He was fooling himself. Connection, sparks, soul mate? That was over the top and not like him at all. His brothers at arms and brothers at home would be on the ground laughing if they could hear his thoughts.

It was only because Eva was famous, his celebrity crush. So she'd smiled at him. It was well-known how kind Eva was. He'd heard her called a breath of fresh country air and unable to squash a spider, with a video of her relocating the spider off set as her fellow actors and actresses squealed and ran the other direction. Eva Chevron would've smiled a greeting at Quaid's father, the evil Benjamin Oliver.

Besides, he wasn't a free man. Miles wished more than ever that he had ‘manned up' in Easton's words and officially broken up with Lily six months ago. Then he could've done something about this instant bond he felt with Eva.

He was deluding himself. Even if he had no obligations, he didn't have a chance with Eva Chevron. He only thought he knew her. How unfair was it to her that men the world over watched her movies, followed her on social media, clipped photos of her from magazine articles and deluded themselves into believing they ‘knew' her, that they were meant to be with her.

Luckily, he hadn't stooped to the photo clipping obsession stage of celebrity crushes. His brothers weren't below it though and had redecorated his cabin at home with her pictures when he'd visited six months ago. He smiled. Those two were pranksters. Lily hadn't been happy about the photos. Walker had quietly taken them down when Easton was at a bull-riding event. He suspected Walker had a crush on Lily. Miles needed to break up with his long-time girlfriend, set her free, and see if his little brother caught her. The idea sounded … freeing.

Reaching the end of the peninsula, he realized he could keep going, or he could turn around and see if Eva was still on the patio. Would it be annoying to just say ‘Hey, how are ya?' and see if she responded?

He raced back down the beach, his legs churning up the distance to the out-of-anybody's-league Eva Chevron, when he heard a female scream for help.

His senses prickled and his race became a sprint. He strained to hear the call again. It had come from close to where he'd seen Eva. Was she in danger? He approached her patio and couldn't see her or anyone standing there. Was the call for help one of her neighbors? Should he call 911 or get closer to investigate?

"Help! Help! Help!" He heard the pleas from exactly where he'd seen Eva. She must be on the floor of the patio. The thick wooden enclosure made it impossible to see what was happening or who was calling for help, but he was certain it was her .

He detoured toward her lit patio. As he approached, he could see over the barrier. A large man lay on top of a much smaller body, a pillow shoved over her face, the long, dark hair splayed out on the gray concrete.

Miles didn't stop to think or question as he leaped over the railing and drilled his shoulder straight into the man's chest with the force of a wrecking ball.

The man was launched off of Eva and slammed into the couch behind him. He recovered quickly, cursed, and came back swinging.

Miles loved a good fight as much as anyone, but he had to make sure Eva was alive, not waste time brawling. He grabbed the offered fist and flipped the guy onto the concrete in a good imitation of a Judo throw. Giving his opponent no chance to react or recover, Miles landed a fist to the man's temple and followed it up with another fist, then an elbow. The huge attacker went limp and didn't respond.

Turning to Eva, he scurried to her side. She was splayed on her back, not moving. He threw the pillow to the side, felt for a pulse, and was rewarded with a strong beat.

"Thank you," he breathed to heaven above.

He bent low to check for breathing. Her warm breath on his cheek reassured him. Unconscious but breathing, and she had a strong pulse.

Before he could pull back, her eyes blinked open.

Those deep-brown eyes. They reached into his very soul, healed, strengthened, and lifted him.

Crush? No way. This was a full-blown connection at first glance and love at second glance. He smiled. If any of his brothers could hear his thoughts, he'd never live it down. But they weren't staring into Eva Chevron's long-lashed, chocolate-brown, soul-capturing eyes.

"What … You …" She blinked at him as if she felt then draw but then fear filled her gaze and she squeaked out, "Please. Can you help me?"

"It's okay." He eased back onto his haunches and pointed at the unconscious man. "He's out cold. We'll get the police on their way."

She looked from the man to him and back. "Thank you," she whispered, closing her eyes as if her head were exploding. It probably was. Waking up after being knocked unconscious wasn't a great feeling. He'd been there.

Eva sat up, holding her head and staring at him. "Who are you?"

"I'm Miles."

"The runner," she said, recognition filling her eyes.

"Yes, ma'am. I turned around to head back and heard you yell for help."

"Thank you again. You saved my life." Her voice was breathless. Did that have anything to do with him and the intense draw he imagined they had between them or almost being killed?

"It's nothing." He smiled at her, and she tentatively returned it. Saving her life wasn't nothing, but he'd never be the guy to brag about being her hero. Even if he wanted to be.

The man groaned and stirred. Miles coolly pivoted toward him, rolled him onto his stomach, and pinned him down, yanking his arm behind his back. The man cursed and flailed. By simply sliding the man's wrist a couple inches higher toward his neck, Miles got him into a state of tense, though unmoving, compliance .

"You wouldn't happen to have some rope?" Miles asked.

"Of course I do." She sprang to her feet but swayed.

"Take it slow," Miles cautioned. "He's not going anywhere."

She grinned at him. Grinned. Miles almost lost his grip on the improbable yoga stretch the perp was maintaining. "You are some kind of superhero, aren't you, military man?"

Miles couldn't resist grinning back, ignoring the curses and threats the perp was uttering. How did she know he was military? "No, ma'am. Just a cowboy doing a good turn."

"A cowboy and a soldier?" She whistled and looked him over. "Now that is quite the appealing combination."

Was Eva Chevron flirting with him? His chest expanded and his cheeks heated up. Miles had never been so tempted to share that he was a Navy SEAL Lieutenant. His papa had taught them not to brag or puff themselves up, even though Mama bragged about her sons to anyone who would listen. He held his tongue.

"Thank you."

The man bucked underneath him. Miles applied more pressure with his knee and yanked the wrist hard, millimeters away from breaking it. The man yelped and cursed more foul than ever in response. "This isn't worth it. Ryken can go to?—"

Miles put his free hand on the man's head and leaned on it, instantly silencing him. "There now. No need to go cussing around the lady."

Eva barked out a laugh, then held her head with a groan. He loved her barking laugh. It was as genuine as she was. He'd heard that laugh on a couple of interviews and one of the movies she'd been in.

"The rope," she said. "I shall return, brave soldier."

Miles laughed at that, more drawn to her than ever. She was the brave one. There were scratches on her arms and a future bruise on her face and she was complimenting him and running to get a rope like she was one of his men, working together like teammates, not a famous actress.

She hurried through the patio and into the rear door of the house.

Miles was left alone with the brute. He released the man's head. "Can you control that flapping jaw or do you want me to break your arm?"

"I'll be good," he croaked.

"Good. Now, who is Ryken?" he asked. The police could query the man, but Miles would love to get some inside information that could help the innocent and beautiful actress stay safe. Maybe she would need Aiden Porter's assistance. Miles could take her back to the house, get to know her, help out for the next four days until he had to get back to base on Tuesday.

"Nobody," the man spit back.

"All right. The arm broken then?" Miles increased the pressure. He wouldn't really do it, but this guy didn't know that.

"You can't," the man squealed. "I got rights."

"I'm not a cop. Just a friendly neighbor who doesn't mind using your fragile little bones to find out the information I need to protect this nice lady."

Eva hurried back out the patio door with a coiled rope.

"Ryken is who paid me," the man screamed.

"Ryken?" Eva repeated. "Not Jorge?"

"Who's Jorge?" the perp asked. Miles wondered the same thing. Did she have a stalker?

Miles released some of the intense pressure on the guy's arm. "What did he pay you to do?"

"Just scare her. "

"You are a liar and a brute," Eva said, handing the rope to Miles. "You tried to suffocate me."

"I would've stopped when you passed out."

Miles glanced up at Eva. Her face said she didn't believe the guy. He didn't know if he did either. Just scare her? That was risky, and dumb. Eva would have cameras and a security system. He wasn't wearing a mask or gloves. He'd definitely be apprehended and prosecuted for attacking her.

"We'll chat more in a second," Miles said.

Then he went to work, roping the guy like he would a five-hundred-pound steer. The man squealed and protested and squirmed, but he was no match for Miles. He'd never roped professionally like Walker, but he could hold his own.

Finished, he stood and turned to Eva. Her eyes were wide. She looked from him down to her attacker and back up. "You trussed him up like roping a steer," she said, her admiration evident. "Faster than Cole Patterson."

It was a conscious effort not to puff out his chest. Cole Patterson was a legend. "I did the rodeo circuit in high school."

"Where are you from?" she asked.

"Montana."

"Back up the bus! I'm from Wyoming."

"I know." He smiled at her. If anyone would've told him he'd be having a normal conversation with Eva Chevron after rescuing her from an attacker, he would've told them to ‘back up the bus'.

"You know who I am?" Her face pinched, and she clung to the back of a patio chair. Was she feeling dizzy?

"Are you all right?" He stepped closer.

"Fine." She held up a hand. "Please answer the question."

"I might be a military man, but they do allow us Wi-Fi." He grinned. "I'd have to live under a rock to not know who Eva Chevron is."

She didn't answer but focused on the man glaring up at them from the concrete.

"Apologies," Miles murmured. Their connection was suddenly spiraling into the atmosphere. Was she as humble as she was brave? "Did you not want me to know who you were?"

"It's fine. It's just …" She licked her lips. "I imagined when you were running and smiled at me that you were interested in me … not my famous status."

"Eva," Miles started to protest, but then the words died on his lips. Everything he saw or read about her was incredible, but he didn't know the real her. How could he? They'd just met. He could completely understand why she didn't want someone interested in her because of her fame. "It's not like that," he began, but he didn't know what to say. What was it like? He was just another admirer. They didn't have some special connection like he'd imagined from the first and second looks and smiles, and, an annoying voice reminded him, he had a responsibility to break up with Lily before he could go hitting on any woman.

"It's fine," she rushed out. She turned and picked up her phone. "I'll call the police." She pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed. "Actually, I'm supposed to call my FBI agent first." Instead of dialing, she kept staring at the phone. "Agent Ryken Henderson."

Miles straightened and an uneasy quiver turned his stomach. "Pardon me?"

She met his gaze. "Do you think that's a coincidence?"

"Unusual name," he muttered, glancing down at the perp, then around at the night shadows. "What's Ryken's last name?" he asked the tied-up man .

"How should I know?" the guy muttered. "He left money and instructions for me, is all. I got no last name, number, or anything. I shouldn't even know his name, but I'm smart and I scouted out the meeting spot early. I overheard his buddy calling him Ryken. I was early today too, took out the patio camera and sneaked up on her." He was proud of himself, obviously. "I don't trust Ryken not to double-cross me and try to get me arrested or something."

Was that why Ryken wasn't here yet? Miles didn't trust this guy's bragging. "What did Ryken look like?" He pressed.

"It was dark. I never got a clear look at his face. Dark hair, black suit."

Miles looked to Eva. She shivered. "Ryken has dark hair."

Of course he'd wear a suit if he was an agent. The urgency to get Eva far from here increased. A couple more quick questions.

"Did you come from the beach or the front of the house?" Miles asked.

"Through the house. I had the code to disable the alarms."

Eva startled and backed up a step. "How did you get my code?"

"The note from Ryken," he said.

Miles's gut churned. "Who knows your code?"

"My parents. My FBI agent, Ryken Henderson. He helped the security people install the best system."

Bile climbed his throat. None of this was sitting well.

Eva focused the power of those dark eyes on him. She looked vulnerable and uncertain. He was a natural protector of women and children. It had been taught to him from toddlerhood on up. His experiences in far-flung countries with the military, where often women and children had no rights, had reinforced those instincts. Looking at Eva right now, every protective instinct in his body fired. He would protect her from this Ryken and any other idiot who tried to hurt or scare her.

He almost stepped to her and enfolded her in his arms, but he didn't know how she'd receive that, and they didn't have time for reassurances or the bond he longed to forge with her.

"I'm sure it's not the same person." Eva worried her lip. "But …"

"If there's a chance, you shouldn't call that agent," he finished for her.

What if the guy had set this all up for some sick reason? To be the hero? To get a ransom? Who knew? This Ryken might be on his way. He might be here already.

"Eva." He swallowed hard. He didn't want to scare her, but if Ryken was here or coming, they needed some distance. "Let's walk out on the beach a bit."

She didn't look like she wanted to leave her house, but she nodded and strode off the patio.

"I wouldn't go screaming for help if I were you," he said to the attacker. "I imagine you've got a long rap sheet and if you scream and the police come running, they aren't going to go easy on the man that tried to kill Eva Chevron." Miles needed some time to figure this out and the guy was going nowhere tied like he was.

The man's mouth went slack. "I didn't try to kill her."

Miles ignored him and followed Eva. They walked out to the water and then turned back to face her house. The house and others around it were lit up. With the sun gone, the beach and ocean were dark. He half-expected ‘Ryken' to come prowling after them.

"I know you don't know me from Adam," he said to Eva, "but …" He hated name dropping and bragging, but he needed he r to trust him so he could protect her. "I'm friends with Captain Aiden Porter and Lieutenant Quaid Raven. I served with Quaid. Do you know them?"

Her brows lifted. "I know their reputations. Aiden Porter has a house a couple miles up the beach."

"That's where I ran from. I'm staying there."

"Impressive friends. Are you trying to brag?"

His neck felt hot. He rubbed at it. "You're Eva Chevron. My friends wouldn't impress you."

She folded her arms across her chest and shrugged. Since he'd told her he knew her, she hadn't been as warm or flirtatious.

"Why did you name drop then?" she asked.

"This feels really off to me. If this Ryken is your agent and he paid this guy to attack you …" He shook his head. "I don't know. I'm wondering if he orchestrated it all and is going to show up and play the hero, or maybe he was planning to kidnap you for ransom or trafficking."

She shivered and stepped closer to him. "But he couldn't have orchestrated all the messages from Jorge Augilar from prison and being personally assigned to my case."

Something about Jorge Augilar tickled at his mind, but if the man was in prison, he wasn't the most immediate issue. "Does Agent Henderson hit on you?"

She gave him a look as if trying to decide how to answer such an obtuse question.

"Okay, sorry. I'm sure every man hits on you. Have you turned him down for a date?"

She nodded.

Miles didn't like any of this. They had to get out of here, get Eva to a safe place, and figure out where to go from there .

"Would you be opposed to walking down the beach with me to Aiden's house? We can call Aiden as we walk, get some inside information on Agent Ryken Henderson. If he's clean, Aiden's people will verify it. Maybe Jorge knows Ryken is your agent and is trying to make you not trust him by hiring some guy to attack you. You think Jorge would have those kinds of connections from prison?"

"Yes." But she didn't sound convinced that was the answer. "Should I just leave everything?"

"Yes. If Ryken isn't a threat, you'll be back."

They turned and walked together. He appreciated that she trusted him enough to listen and come with him. He wouldn't have left her here alone if she'd refused to come with him, but getting entangled with a dirty FBI agent couldn't end well.

Eva glanced back. "Isn't it a crime to leave a crime scene?"

He smiled. "We'll be okay. If everything checks out, we'll be back soon."

"Thank you." She glanced up at him. Even in the semi-dark, her face was more beautiful than anything he'd ever seen, and he'd seen Montana sunsets. "You don't even know me and you're helping me. Well, I guess you think you know me."

Miles had no idea how to respond to that. Hollywood relationships must be a nightmare, cutting through the public persona and finding the real person underneath. Not his issue right now. His attraction to Eva had to be thrown to the rear seat of the bus as well.

He pulled out his phone to call Aiden when suddenly a voice called from behind them and to their right, "Eva?" A beat, then louder, "Eva!"

Eva stiffened and backed away from the man calling from her patio. Miles pocketed his phone, almost reaching for his gun. Together they eased farther down the beach, watching him. The man searched the dark night but didn't seem to see them.

When they had about a hundred feet of distance and were shrouded by the dark night, Miles saw the man bend down to the attacker.

He took Eva's hand, and they raced together away from her home and whoever that guy was.

The fact that she clung to his hand and ran as fast as he could told him the man looking for her wasn't a friend.