Chapter 9

Chapter

Nine

Miles texted his twin brothers to please wake him if Eva left her room and to send him the links for the cameras and sensors. He got a thumbs-up from Walker and all the information poured in, followed quickly by a text from Easton.

Sorry, bro. Clint didn't give me all the details. All I heard was Eva Chevron. Sorry I acted insensitive .

Miles could only imagine the tongue-lashing Easton had gotten from Mama. She doted on her boys but didn't accept ‘ill behavior'.

It's all right. Apparently she has millions of men coming onto her every day. Nothing you did or said bothered her.

It all bothered him. He and Clint being at odds bothered him. That wasn't typical for them. Clint was put out for Lily's sake. It was typical for the sheriff to think he needed to protect everybody, but he seemed overly worried about Lily. Which made him wonder if there was something more to Lily's tears six months ago and maybe Clint knew about it. He had to get to the bottom of that soon.

Eva having ‘lots of practice and being the champion male-rejecter' bothered Miles as well. The words he hoped he'd misconstrued through the closed door made his stomach squirm. ‘… stay by Lily's side for all I care.'

This was sticky. He wanted to get back to the interactions with Eva before he had stupidly stopped a kiss between them and told her he had a girl.

Was that even possible? Maybe he had ruined something great before it even began. He didn't see an alternate path, though. If he had it to do over, he had no idea how he'd change it.

He got ready for bed, said his prayers, and didn't set an alarm. His brothers, dad, and the foreman would monitor the security, and he'd hear a beep if an alert came in.

Sunshine streamed into the room when he awoke. He checked his phone. It was seven-ten. Sleeping in for him, but still pretty early. Especially as they'd arrived after two.

He listened for sounds of movement next door and heard nothing. Rushing to shower and get ready, he went to the closet to open his duffel bag but noticed his mama had moved clothes from his cabin here. He'd dumped his bag in the closet, too tired and stirred up over Eva to notice anything last night.

He smiled—Carhartt and Ariat T-shirts, Wrangler and Ariat jeans, Justin and Tecovas boots, and some of his favorite Stetson hats. He'd brought some of his cowboy wear to base. It made him a bit unique, and it was his personality and identity to a certain extent, but for the most part if he wasn't in his Navy uniform or issued gear, he wore casual T-shirts, joggers, and running shoes like everybody else .

Dressing in his favorite Ariat T-shirt and jeans, he pulled his Tecovas on, grabbed his Stetson hat, and headed out the bedroom door. He paused in the hallway. He'd felt empowered charging out here, but now he had nothing to do but wait. He'd been on plenty of details where he had to be motionless, monitor, and wait for hours or days on end. He didn't love them. He should've used the gym out in the barn before he showered and got ready, but he didn't want to be too far from Eva.

Hat in his hands, he paced the hall outside Eva's door. He thought he heard movement. He paused and … nothing. The scents of bacon and sweet pancakes drifted up, and his stomach growled. Though he doubted he'd ever move back to Coleville, he missed his family and his home. Being here was great. Mama's food was the whipped cream on top of the experience.

Miles resumed his pacing. He could go down and eat and she'd probably still be sleeping, but he wanted to be here, wanted to see her. He pushed a hand through his hair.

Footsteps thudded up the stairs.

Walker. Of course. His most thoughtful brother—well, besides Houston. Houston was the youngest and being thoughtful stopped the brothers from picking on him. It was also most likely a requirement for a doctor to be thoughtful.

"Hey, bro. Mama wondered why you're wearing a hole in the ceiling. I said I'd come check to protect you from her cussin' you." He gave his slow grin.

"Thanks."

"Sure. So …"

Miles shrugged, gesturing to Eva's door. "I want to be here when she wakes up."

"I can understand that. Eva Chevron." He let out a whistle. "Mama gave Easton the what-for. He should calm down now. It's just … Eva Chevron." He lifted his hands and smiled. "How long have we all crushed on her?"

"A long time," Miles admitted, turning his hat in his hands. How to explain it was more than a crush for him? She was brave, kind, and perfect for him. They had a mind-altering, future-changing connection… that he couldn't act on. He hung his head.

"All the pictures all over your cabin." Walker chuckled. "That ticked Lily off." His smile faded. "What are you going to do about her? She deserves to be free."

"I want her to be. I've got to go see her." He shrugged. "See if I can figure it out without hurting her." He wasn't getting into Lily and all his issues right outside Eva's door. She was more than likely still asleep, but … what if?

"I'll try to help you make that happen. Lily's amazing, but any fool can see you two aren't meant to be." Walker pointed at the door and lowered his voice. "Meant to be?"

"I've probably messed it up already."

"How so?" Walker leaned against the wall, not in any hurry. He had a way of studying you and making you feel like whatever you were saying was the most important thing in the world to him.

"Will she ever believe that she's special and not just because she's famous? I made the mistake of saying something about Lily. I've never been a mess like this." He realized he wasn't making a lot of sense.

"You've got some time to be around Eva. If it's right, it'll work out. Besides, I've never known a woman who wasn't into you. The Navy SEAL thing is the clincher." He grinned.

"The championship roper and cowboy grin isn't working for you?" Miles teased .

"It works just fine. I have plenty of women chasing me, just not … the one I can't get out of my head." He rubbed at his jaw. "Do you think you'll finally … close that chapter of your life?" There was a hopeful light in his eyes. Was Miles right in assuming Walker had a crush on Lily? Was she the one Walker couldn't get out of his head?

"I have to be a lot firmer about it than last time."

"You do that."

"Any vested interest in me doing that?"

Walker raised his eyebrows but didn't comment.

"Even if I do end things, it might be too late to make a play for Eva."

"I don't know. I saw how she looked at you, how she leaned into you." Walker splayed his hands. "See you downstairs in a bit."

"Thanks, Walker."

Walker tilted his chin and strode off. A few minutes later, soft footsteps sounded in Eva's room. He perked up and wondered if he should lean against the wall and put the cowboy hat on, try to imitate Clint's patented John Wayne look. He shook his head at himself. He didn't posture, and Walker was right. Women were drawn to him. He'd always kept his distance because of Lily. Now he had to somehow walk a line because of Lily. How soon could he go meet with her and end the relationship? How horrible was that of him? He wouldn't have stepped up if he hadn't met Eva. He kept justifying that it was better for Lily.

The door behind him creaked open.

Miles turned and his mouth gaped open wider than the door. He reminded himself to flap it closed as he clung tightly to his hat. She was in a simple, soft-looking knee-length T-shirt dress. It wasn't clingy or revealing or anything. Eva didn't need to show off. She was more appealing than any woman he'd ever seen, and it had nothing to do with her fame or her acting ability. He didn't even think it had much to do with her gorgeous face. It was how real she was, how they connected, her bravery, the sparks and draw he felt between them, the light that shone from her face, the kindness that was instinctively hers but he imagined she'd worked throughout her life to cultivate.

"Morning," he managed. He had a moment of terror when she didn't respond. Had she overheard his conversation with Walker? Did she hate him and think he was two-timing his ‘girl back home'?

Her gaze traveled over him, and she looked as breathless as he felt. "Good morning," she said. Then she grinned, and the floor shifted under his feet. He spread his stance. It helped. A bit. That grin restored his faith that he had a chance with her. Walker would help him; he would watch diligently over Eva while Miles found Lily and broke things off. Would Easton flirt with Eva and try to get her to fall for him while Miles was gone? No, he would try that regardless of where Miles was. Hopefully Clint would be busy with sheriff duties and not get in on the competition.

"Bacon and real pancakes." She gave an exaggerated inhale and then a sigh. "Do you know how long it's been since I've had real pancakes?" She pinned him with a threatening look. "Do not tell my trainer."

"You got it." He offered an elbow. "Breakfast?"

"Oh no." She tugged at the hem of the T-shirt, nightgown, whatever she was wearing. "I've got to clean up. Get dressed. If the paparazzi catch you un-pretty and without makeup on, dressed in something comfortable you can actually sleep in …" Sh e made a choking sound low in her throat, grasping at her pretty neck.

Miles chuckled and could not resist stepping up close to her. "Eva, I've got some news for you."

She tilted her head back and her lips parted. She moistened them, and every system in his body revved into overdrive. How was he supposed to resist this perfect-for-him-woman?

Throughout the past twelve years on his visits home, he had spent time with Lily and wasn't tempted to touch her, hadn't even thought about it. They'd sit shoulder to shoulder watching a movie, then he'd give her a perfunctory hug or kiss at the end of the night and feel the comfort of being close to a long-time friend.

With Eva, he couldn't stand to be a foot away. His good friend Quaid Raven had told him when he met Anna he had every reason to fight the draw to her, most of all Anna's safety from his demented mother, and still he'd been unable to resist her at times. That's how he felt with Eva after less than a day of knowing her. She was irresistible to him.

"What news is that?" she asked.

"Well, first of all, you aren't going to be seeing any paparazzi for a bit."

"Yes!" She punched both fists in the air and almost knocked him in the chin.

He chuckled, set his hat on a decorated side table, and wrapped both hands around her small, clenched fists. He tucked her hands against his chest. Every touch with her was natural, incredible, thrilling.

Her breath shortened and her hands softened within his grasp. He rubbed his thumbs across the back of her hands and lost his train of thought. He feared she'd pull away, but she seemed interested in him, not leery as she'd been at times last night.

"So what you're saying is I can wear this comfy nightshirt around, with my hair in tangles and no makeup on, pull faces at Easton, eat real pancakes with homemade syrup, and nobody is going to snap a picture and go viral on the internet or splay it on the rag tags at the grocery store checkout line?"

"Yes, ma'am. That is what I'm saying." He kept rubbing his thumbs along the backs of her hands, mesmerized by her dark eyes and how perfectly her hands fit in his.

"And what was the second thing?" Her dark eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"Second thing?"

"You said first of all," she reminded him. "That generally intones there's a second of all."

He chuckled.

"I'd like to hear more. Since you're giving me fabulous news that is counteracting the fact that I'm hunted by faceless and menacing gnomes who reside in the dark web."

He laughed even harder. "Has anyone ever told you that you're delightful?"

"Oh, all the time." She winked. "But I've never heard that word from the lips of a Navy SEAL cowboy hero. I like the new look, by the way."

"Thank you. It's actually the old look. Personally, I'm a fan of the comfy nightshirt look."

"Are you now? You can thank Autumn later."

"I will make that a priority." Miles was in so much trouble. He had two choices currently—kiss Eva, or run to find Lily and break it off and then return and kiss Eva. He had to go with option number two. He had to. His body rebelled against him, edging closer. Stay strong , he begged himself. By tonight he could be a free man. If he had his way, he'd be a committed to Eva man, and he'd be thrilled to end his freedom moments after he proclaimed it. Captured by Eva sounded like the best state a man could be in.

"So, number two?" She smiled as if him constantly losing his train of thought around her was a normal and natural thing. It was, but he wasn't used to it. He was the lieutenant; he was in charge. His words were obeyed. He didn't have the luxury of losing his train of thought. This crazy situation they'd been thrown into was a break for him in a way, too. Aiden, Autumn, Paul and Aiden's tech team were doing the hard work while he relaxed and focused on Eva.

"Number two." He drew in a breath and knew he should hold these thoughts until he was officially broken up with Lily. He'd been described as the most ‘pathetically-loyal long-distance boyfriend' in history by many of his buddies in the military and his brothers. He'd been proud of his loyalty, worn it like a badge until it started poking him in the chest, the guilty thoughts constantly nagging at him that Lily needed to be free and move on, even if she didn't realize it.

Right now he wanted to switch those loyalties to Eva. Would she believe him when he explained it all, or would it upset her? She'd been upset at Aiden's when he didn't kiss her and admitted he had a girl back home. Right now, she wasn't upset. Her eyes sparkled, her lips were soft, and she was close enough he could smell her sweet coconut scent.

"Number two," he repeated, and let his gaze sweep over her face. "You couldn't look ‘un-pretty' if you tried. Your beauty is natural and shines from the inside out because of your kindness and genuineness and the light of Christ that radiates from you."

Eva studied him and then her lower lip trembled. Miles wanted to kiss that lip desperately. "That might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me."

Miles almost scoffed at that. She was heralded for her beauty and talent by media and talk show hosts around the world. She was desired by every man he knew, except his dad and his married friends. She was the most beautiful woman the world over. He held his tongue because he knew she was sincere in her response, and he would never scoff at her.

"Eva …" His voice was gravelly. "I would love to say much nicer things to you, morning, noon, and night."

She smiled at him. It lit up the already-bright morning.

Without warning, her smile dropped. "There's a but …" She jerked her hands free and backed into the bedroom. "I'm so sorry. I got caught up in the moment and you and ..." She rubbed at her forehead. "I forgot about your girl. Lily. She's here. In Coleville. Right? I'm so sorry. And …" Her face tightened and her eyes filled with frustration. "You should be more sorry." She slammed the door in his face.

Miles studied the door. She was right. He should be more sorry. He was the one with a long-time commitment he hadn't been able to rescind. He lost his mind around Eva, and he'd never acted like that before. It wasn't fair to her or Lily.

He scrubbed at his chin. He was making a mess of all of this. It wasn't like they taught relationship classes in BUD/S, so how was he supposed to navigate this type of troubled water? Somehow, today, he had to find Lily and end the relationship once and for all. It would hurt, but it would be for the best in the long run .

As soon as it was finished, and he helped Lily however he could, Miles would storm up to Eva and proclaim his freedom and his intentions toward her. He would cup her face, kiss her for a very long time, and talk everything out.

Miles groaned and leaned against the wall. In a perfect world, that was what would happen. In his world, he feared the ending would be more doors slammed in his face.