Bastard.
“Oh, no. That’s not necessary,” she said, shaking her head. “No need to go through the trouble.”
A sinking suspicion settled over his chest and the reason he was volunteered became clear when Dex spoke.
“It won’t be any trouble at all because Sinjin lives across the street too.”
Her eyes widened and another rush of color flooded her cheeks. “You do?”
“Yeah,” Carter answered for him. “Meet your new neighbor.”
Aw, hell.
This one was definitely going to be more disturbing than the party dude.
Chapter Two
Ever since she was a little girl, Isla Watts had lived a life of adventure. Actually, life had always been adventurous, and she’d just caught a ride. But early on, she’d discovered the benefits of going with the flow, and learned many lessons along the way.
Today was no different.
These well-intentioned men were not about to take no for an answer, and she was too tired to argue. So even though she didn’t know the men personally, she did know of them, thanks to her cousin who happened to be married to the local sheriff.
She could trust them, not because the men were military heroes who worked at a security company that helped people, but because her gut told her they were good. Isla always listened to her gut. It hadn’t steered her wrong in the twenty-nine years of her life. Too bad she hadn’t listened to it ten years ago…
Her spine automatically straightened and she blew out a breath to dispel the unwanted memories stirring in her mind.
The past was best left in the past.
“Neighbors?” She directed a smile at Sinjin. “It’s a small world, isn’t it?”
At first, she didn’t think the guy was going to respond. He was the least talkative of the group, and the only one not wearing an ESI shirt, but man, he sure was striking. Dark eyes, long, black hair, and mahogany skin all bespoke of his Native heritage.
She found him beautiful but knew instinctively he would not appreciate that adjective.
“Yes, it is,” he finally said.
For some reason, she was hit with the sudden urge to let him off the hook. He wore uneasiness like an invisible cloak.
“It’s also fine to let me walk home by myself,” she told him. “There’s no need to go along.”
He rose to his feet, and his gaze softened. “It’s no trouble. I’m going that way anyway.”
She wasn’t sure what surprised her more, his response or the uptick in her pulse.
“Yeah, so don’t sweat it, Isla. Technically, you could be walking Sinjin home,” Carter teased, his grin too contagious to ignore.
She laughed. “I suppose you’re right.”
And she kept that thought foremost in her mind as she exited the bar and grill and walked across the parking lot with her new neighbor by her side.
Her very hot, very quiet new neighbor.
Once again, she was hit with the need to set his mind at ease. “Sorry, Sinjin.”
His head jerked back slightly, and he frowned at her in the fading sunlight. “What about?”
“Your friends practically forcing you to walk me home.”
