Chapter 6

Chapter

Six

Eva stared at Miles. What was she supposed to say? She'd never been more interested in a man, and he had a girlfriend. Why did he want to protect her, take her to his family's secure ranch, take leave from his unit to be there for her? Simply because she was famous, or he was just that honorable of a man? It didn't add up in her head that he had a girlfriend or ‘girl back home', whatever that meant. Had that been an excuse so he wouldn't have to kiss Eva?

She was going insane worrying about Miles's girlfriend and his intentions toward her, and she should be worried about Ryken, Jorge, and the sadistic people who were offering all this money on the dark web to kidnap her.

But she did trust Miles. He'd rescued her tonight and proven he could keep her safe. She knew he was a good guy, an impressive warrior, and he would be there for her. She was simply annoyed about this faceless girl and wondering how she'd keep a distance from Miles when he felt like the man she'd longed for all her life. Being around him made her question why she'd ever dated a pompous snake like Lake. Miles was the complete and ideal man for her. His touch was like a fairy tale.

And he had a girl back home. The plan was to go to his home. What would that mean? Maybe his intentions were all focused on that girl. Aiden would get him leave and Miles could go see his lady. Ugh.

"Are you comfortable with this arrangement, Eva?" Aiden asked.

"Yes," she said before she could chicken out. She didn't have a better option. She doubted there was a better option out there. Aiden Porter's talented team would track down and take out the bad guys and she'd get to stay close to the handsome Navy SEAL lieutenant who made her feel safe. Now to keep her head ‘screwed on straight' as her dad would say and not make the moves on Miles.

"You won't regret it. Miles is over-qualified, and he'll keep you safe. Paul, my pilot, and Autumn, one of my top operatives, will be there soon. Paul will escort you to Montana and then return to California and focus on this job. Autumn will get ahold of your friends and family, Eva, and spread the word you have a vicious flu bug and they shouldn't visit. She'll hunker down at your beach home. She's very good at impersonation."

"Won't that put her in danger?" Eva asked.

"She loves danger." Aiden chuckled, and Miles smiled. "We'll see who we can flush out. See who comes to visit and risks getting sick. Autumn will bring some extra clothes and toiletries for you to take with you. I'm sure Mama Millie will have plenty waiting for you as well. Prepare to be smothered, I mean nurtured, by the best in the industry." Aiden chuckled .

Miles laughed too, rubbing at his chin. "My mama's incredible."

"I bet you'll be happy to get home," she said.

"For sure. It's been too long."

"For the family?" She arched an eyebrow.

Miles's gaze was probing, just like her words. She shouldn't be so transparent.

"All right, you two," Aiden said. "I need to sign off. Be in touch soon."

He was gone.

Miles pocketed his phone and glanced at her. "Are you all right?"

She hugged herself. "My life's being uprooted and I'm in demand on the dark web. All right is a bit of a stretch."

He smiled, taking no offense. "Adds up. Are you all right with me being your bodyguard?"

"Shouldn't I be?" She studied him. What was he trying to say?

He looked away for a moment. "I am qualified."

Eva couldn't get over how humble he was. Qualified? He was over-qualified; Aiden had said as much. Even going further and saying earlier that he'd trust his wife Chalisa to Miles's care and Miles was the only reason she'd survive the night.

"You didn't have much of a choice," Miles pointed out.

"I don't have much choice in any of this, but I appreciate you being willing to watch out for me. I'm sure your men will be missing you."

"Nah. They'll be relieved to not have me barking at them." He smiled at that, and she returned it.

One of the garage door motors sounded. Eva jumped and hurried behind Miles .

"It's all right," he assured her, putting one hand on her arm and pulling his gun out with the other. "It'll be Paul and Autumn."

"If it's all right, why are you grabbing your gun?"

"Because you can never be too careful." He ushered her back behind the wide kitchen counter, placing himself directly in front of her. He smelled like an alluring mix of bergamot and pineapple. It distracted her from her fears.

"Duck if I say duck," he told her, blocking her view of whoever might be coming in from the garage entrance.

Eva's heart beat high and fast. The Tylenol had calmed her headache, but the fear ratcheted up the throbbing in her skull again.

The door into the laundry room opened and closed. Heels clicked on the tile and a sultry female voice said, "Well hello there, Lieutenant Coleville. You do know how to greet a lady."

"Autumn." Miles visibly relaxed and lowered his gun. He turned and brought Eva level with him. "It's all right," he told her. "This is the woman Aiden told you about."

"Oh. It's nice to meet you." Eva stared at the exquisitely beautiful brunette. Her heels made her a few inches taller than Eva in her bare feet. There was something captivating about her—a mix of the confidence that she could kick anyone's behind, the defined muscles in her arms and legs that backed up her kicking their behind, and the golden eyes that appeared deceptively sweet. Eva had never seen golden eyes before. Were they real?

"You as well, Eva Chevron." Autumn's face softened in a genuine smile. "I am a huge fan. When you played Charli in Protecting the Heiress and took down the hunky Fitz … ahh, ha ppy sigh. You made women warriors the world over cheer. Forgive me. I'm gushing, and I never gush."

"No. I … Thank you." Eva never knew quite how to respond to a gushing fan. How to be appreciative and humble? "I believe that you're not a gusher."

Autumn winked. "Come now. Paul is waiting in the garage for us."

"Let me grab my bag from the basement," Miles said.

"Hurry," Autumn urged.

"I will." Miles smiled and shook his head. He put the gun in the back of his waistband and pumped down the stairs.

"Whew. That man is a fine one." Autumn gave an exaggerated grimace. "You did not hear that from me. Professional conduct is encouraged in my industry." She winked and grinned as if she took nothing seriously.

"My lips are sealed." Eva liked this warrior woman. She had friends in Hollywood, but it was rare to meet someone who said whatever they thought and felt so genuine. "How did you become a woman warrior? That is fabulous."

"Very long story." Autumn suddenly looked closed off. "But you and Miles?"

"No." Eva shook her head. "He rescued me tonight. I'd never met him until an hour ago."

Autumn lifted her eyebrows. "Hmm. There is a load of chemistry between you. Sizzling."

"Professional conduct is encouraged?" Eva teased. "Do you get in trouble for being too blunt?"

Autumn laughed loudly at that. "I do not. In our flipped every direction world, which of my tough, honorable male counterparts would dare call out a female bodyguard? Even if they realize I'm all tease and I would never take advantage of my power. I can make the toughest guy out there blush and stammer. I've got them all exactly where I want them. Drooling over me, sometimes rising to my bait and teasing with me, but never daring to do a darn thing about it. Ah, there's our favorite humble, gorgeous, and accomplished lieutenant." Autumn clapped her hands together. "Chop chop."

Miles appeared at the top of the stairs an instant after Autumn clapped. Eva wasn't certain how Autumn had even heard him coming. Sixth sense? Miles's gaze zoned in on Eva and her stomach hopped. Every descriptor Autumn had thrown out there was true as well as the chemistry between them. But she wasn't about to do anything about it. ‘Never daring to do a darn thing about it' in Autumn's words. He had a girl back home, and they were going to his home, apparently.

Autumn dropped her voice and whispered to Eva, "Sizzling." Her golden eyes sparkled, and it was obvious she saw straight through Eva. She turned and strode back out the garage entrance.

"What was that all about?" Miles asked as he reached Eva, a duffel bag in one hand. They walked much more slowly to the garage.

"She's a whirlwind," Eva said. "I like her."

"From what I understand, everyone does, but she keeps them on their toes."

"It sounds like it," Eva agreed.

They walked through the laundry room. Miles held the door for her, and they entered the darkened garage. Lights lit up the interior of a silver Lexus SUV. A handsome dark-haired man waited in the driver's seat, and Autumn had settled in the front passenger seat. Miles opened the rear door for Eva. She slid in. He shut it and came around to the other side, stowing his bag behind him in the third row before climbing in.

"Eva Chevron, meet retired Air Force Reconnaissance Pilot Lieutenant Paul Braven," Autumn said.

"I'm honored, Miss Chevron," Paul said, pushing a button to open the garage door again.

"Nice to meet you. Please call me Eva. That is quite the title, Lieutenant Braven."

"Well, Paul is quite the man," Autumn said, giving him an appreciative look. "Please call him Paul. This pilot is a stud every girl on earth is gone over."

Miles chuckled even as Paul's neck darkened. He shook his head and focused on backing out of the garage and turning the car around. As he waited for the front gate to slide open, he said, "Autumn's life quest is to keep all the male operatives on their toes and second-guessing every word they say. Especially if she can make us feel awkward around the likes of Eva Chevron."

"I think you've got the awkwardness around Eva down pat all by yourself." Autumn grinned and patted his arm to add insult to injury.

Eva wanted to protest and ease Paul's discomfort, but Autumn continued, "But I do thrive on teasing you. And when I find a man who can dish it back and beat me in a sparring match, I will look up at him from the flat of my back and proclaim my love, finished with my life's quest and ready to settle down and make beautiful babies."

Eva barked out a laugh, and they all smiled at her.

"I like you, Eva Chevron," Autumn proclaimed.

"The feeling is mutual," Eva said.

"I love your laugh," Miles said.

The oxygen popped audibly from Eva's lungs. How was she supposed to respond to that? He couldn't go loving her laugh. He had a girl.

He turned forward. "We should introduce Autumn to Easton," he said to Paul.

"Oh, definitely," Paul said. "Just another reason why we love the Coleville family."

"Remind me," Autumn said.

"The Coleville cowboys have not signed an employment contract with Aiden that specifies at the top of the first page, right after swearing to devote our lives to protecting the innocent and eradicating evil … ‘Under no circumstances are male operatives allowed to dish it back to Autumn or beat her at sparring and knock her onto her back.'"

"Ah, very funny. You've never let me win."

"I signed the contract, now didn't I?"

Eva smiled at their banter, feeling much more relaxed. "Who is Easton?"

"Yes, who is this specimen of a man who can keep up with my wit and fighting skills?"

"My brother," Miles said. "A famous bull rider and ultra-tough and charming cowboy who puts your flirtations to shame, Autumn."

"You had me at your brother." Autumn grinned even as Eva's gut tightened. Why did the woman claim Eva and Miles had sparks between them, and then flirt with him nonstop? "Does he look like you, Lieutenant Coleville?"

"Remarkably. The two years younger and much more handsome and charming version," Miles said. He glanced over at Eva. She wanted to tell him no one was more handsome or charming than him, but he had a girl back home. Why had she agreed to go to his ranch? Would she meet this lucky woman? It was exhilarating and at the same time difficult to be around him, knowing she could never be with him.

"Sign me up," Autumn said. "Though truth be told, I'd take the original." She gave Miles a wink and Eva a sly smile. "If the two of you didn't have sparks crackling between you."

Eva froze. An awkward tension filled the backseat—no sparks crackling like Autumn had said.

"Ah, now I've gone and made it awkward, haven't I?" Autumn tsked and looked to Paul. "Get us to the airport quick so I can send you all on your awkward way. Unfortunately, I must stay here and pretend to be Eva, sick in bed. I don't have to smell like vomit or cold-induced sweats to complete the picture, do I? I certainly hope some idiot who dared put a dark web bounty on my friend Eva's head comes to visit." She lifted her phone. "If not, I'll have plenty to keep me busy, Googling my future boyfriend's bull riding videos."

"Easton is going to devour this attention," Miles said. "Forget I said anything."

"Ah, no. Too late now. You've made my week. Fresh blood." She held up a video of a bull rider flying around like a cowboy rag doll on a huge bull's back.

Eva sucked in a breath. She'd watched bull riding at rodeos growing up, but it had been a while. She'd forgotten how vicious the event was.

"Don't worry." Miles put his hand over hers where it rested on the seat. The warm pressure of his hand lit a fire within her.

"Look at that," Autumn exclaimed.

Eva yanked her hand back, face flaring red, but Autumn wasn't looking at or exclaiming over them touching hands.

"He rode out the full eight seconds with style. What a man."

Eva could see the cowboy, Easton Coleville apparently, leap clear of the bull, who immediately spun and zeroed in on him. The bullfighters distracted the massive brute animal, and a horse with a cowboy on his back flew to Easton's side. Easton swung up behind the horseman and waved to the cheering crowd.

"Future boyfriend for certain," Autumn said. "Put in a good word for me, Miles."

Miles chuckled. "Don't worry, I will."

"Tell Easton not to hold his breath," Paul teased. "Autumn will never let her guard down for any man."

"Ah, now." Autumn patted his hand on the steering wheel. "I am proud of you for taking your shot. Really, I am. It's not you, it's me." She fluttered her lashes.

Eva felt bad for Paul, but he laughed as loud as she'd heard him laugh. "Ah, Autumn. If any of us thought we had a shot, we might take it. And it is definitely you not me. I'm one of the few people in our industry who doesn't have relationship issues."

Autumn joined him in his laughter. "That's why you're thirty-five and still single."

"Just waiting for you."

"Patience is such a sweet characteristic, but it will never win this lady's heart." She put a hand dramatically over her heart and one over her eyes.

Eva and Miles joined in their laughter as they kept bantering. She was grateful they'd moved on from the tension of Autumn teasing her and Miles about sparks, but she wished she hadn't pulled her hand away. She could be enjoying the show in the front seat with Miles's hand cupping hers.