Page 43 of Her Remarkable Protector
I sit up, letting the morning light seep into my thoughts. My gaze falls on the mirror across the room, and for a moment, I hesitate. I can’t remember the last time I looked at myself properly. My reflection stares back, worn but still mine. My hair’s a mess, and there are faint smudges under my eyes.
And then, uninvited, the thought creeps in. How do I look to him? The idea tugs at a part of me I’d rather ignore. I hate that I care—hate the tiny spark of self-consciousness that flares when Chase is around. But there it is, undeniable.
I push back the covers, my feet hitting the cool floor as I stand. A bath sounds good. Lavender. That bottle I spotted last night might be worth a try, even though I practically rolled my eyes out of my head when Chase mentioned it yesterday. Honestly, I’ve never been one for the whole essential oil sorcery. If lavender is supposed to soothe the soul, mine’s about to stage a rebellion just to prove a point.
No bath today. Instead, I need to take stock of what’s actually happening. What box should I put Chase in now? Protector who just happens to be attractive?Gah!No. I’m not taking accountability for this. I’ll blame hormones. Hormones don’t care about boxes, don’t care about the past, and definitely don’t care about my sanity.
I decide to keep it simple—comb my hair, slap on some moisturizer, and call it a win. I sniff my shirt. Baby powder. That’ll do. Lavender can wait for another day. Maybe forever.
A soft knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts.
“Breakfast’s ready, if you’re up for it.”
Is he kidding? My stomach growls so loudly it could’ve answered for me. Turns out, daydreaming about Chase doesn’t count as a balanced meal.
I glance at the mirror, smoothing my hair into something that looks slightly less like I’ve been wrestling with a pillow. Taking a deep breath, I try to steady myself. I’m not exactly thrilled about the idea of being close to Chase. In a normal situation, I’d label him as ‘complicated.’ But he’s so much more than that—he’s someone I’ve sworn to take revenge on. Getting close to him is a disaster waiting to happen, no matter how this plays out.
But then the smell of breakfast hits me again. And just like that, I open the door and step into the hallway, bracing myself for whatever comes next.
I find Chase standing by the stove, flipping something in a skillet with a casual ease that seems at odds with the man I’ve come to know. He looks up when I enter, offering a small smile that’s almost disarming.
“Sit,” he says, gesturing to the table. “It’s just eggs and toast. Nothing fancy.”
I slide into a chair, careful not to let my guard down too much. “You cook?”
“Occasionally,” he replies, plating the food and setting it in front of me. “Survival skill. Can’t live off takeout forever.”
He sits across from me with his own plate, and for a few moments, it’s just the sound of silverware and the hum of the coffee machine. It’s almost... normal.
We talk about the usual things—weather, how we slept. I tell him the truth, minus the part where I almost caved to the lavender bath.
“Your house is pretty modern,” I comment, letting my gaze wander. “Not exactly the Montana vibe.”
“What can I say? It’s one of a kind,” he replies, looking pleased. “Built it last year.”
My eyes linger on the sleek lines and spotless surfaces. “Very… clean. Not cozy like a country house, but not entirely uncharming either.”
He smirks. “Not entirely uncharming? High praise.”
“I’m just a guest, Chase. My opinion doesn’t count.”
“It’s the safest house in Bozeman. Trust me,” he says with a wink.
I arch a brow. “Should I be worried? Are you hiding from someone?”
“Nope. I just take security seriously.”
“Work-related?” I ask, pretending not to pry.
“Yeah.” His head bobs a couple of time.
“So, you’ve been doing this rescue and protect thing like… forever?” I continue.
“Not full-time,” he says with a small shrug. “I bounced between contracts. Mostly behind the scenes.”
“How did you end up with Red Mark?”
He leans back slightly, his fork resting in his hand. “Before the HQ here in Bozeman, I was a contractor for Red Mark out of Helena. The Bozeman office is pretty new, so I only went full-time with them recently.”
