this…arrangement…close to our chests. When Carla jumped to the conclusion we were back together, it was natural to say we were. Everyone else will follow our lead. If I remember correctly, Carla was one of the biggest gossips back in high school. I bet by the time we get back to the White Oak Ranch, everyone in Eagle Rock will know you and I are back together.”
Sadie chewed on her lip. “But we’re not. That was the agreement.”
“You and I know that, but the rest of Montana won’t.”
She stared at her hands on the handle of the cart. “I don’t know…”
“Just go along with it. The sooner we discover the culprit behind the shooting, the sooner we can reveal the truth to everyone.” He touched her arm. “Besides, if I moved in as your bodyguard, the rest of Eagle Rock would either come to the same conclusion, or tip off the shooter that you know it wasn’t just an inexperienced hunter with more bullets than brains.”
Sadie looked around, as if not happy about the turn of events and searching for a way to escape.
Guilt rose in Hank’s chest. At the same time, he knew he had to be with her in order to protect her. “I can’t protect you from Bear Creek Ranch. Either you come with me, or I go with you. I have to be with you, twenty-four-seven. This is the best way to do that, and to keep it under wraps. Our past will make it easy and believable.” He held up his hands. “Unless you’ve changed your mind, and want to hire someone else.”
“No. I haven’t changed my mind.” Sadie chewed on her fingernail, something she used to do when she was nervous.
Out of a long-forgotten habit, Hank grabbed her hand, pulling it away from her mouth and pressed a kiss to the tip of her finger. “It’s going to be all right,” he said, his tone low, the way he used to talk to her when she was down or upset.
“You’re right. Everything will be okay.” She snorted softly. “And to think, I came here for rest and relaxation.” She shook her head, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. “I’m beginning to think it’s safer for me in LA with its gang violence and insane traffic.”
“Or you need a full time bodyguard no matter where you go.”
She looked up at him. “If you ever stop being a SEAL, you have a career for yourself in personal security.” Sadie glanced around the small store. “Especially here in Montana. Do you know how many rich people purchase huge ranches in this state, just to get away from it all?”
Now she was babbling, her nervous energy going from biting her fingernail to talking. Hank nearly smiled. If being near him made her nervous, he hoped it was because she felt the electric currents he was feeling. Standing in the store, between the canned goods and the breakfast cereal, made the spark no less potent.
“Come on. We have shopping to do. And then we need to make a quick stop at the sheriff’s office for a status on your shooter and to warn him about your paparazzi-stalker dude.” He took over the cart from her and pushed it toward the processed meat section. Loading up on the only lunchmeat the small store carried, Hank moved on to find the fresh vegetables and fruit.
Sadie followed. When he purposely reached for overripe bananas, she stepped in—as he guessed she would.
After they checked out, he helped her load the groceries into his rental and followed her to the sheriff’s office.
When they entered, the sheriff straightened from behind a desk. “Miss McClain. I’m glad you stopped by.”
Hank stared at the sheriff a moment before he recognized the man in uniform. “Joe? Joe Barron?” He stuck out a hand. “Remember me? Hank Patterson.”
“Remember you?” Joe’s face stretched into a huge grin. “How could I forget the best running back in the history of Eagle Rock?”
Hank shook the man’s hand.
Joe wasn’t satisfied with just a handshake. He pulled Hank into a bear hug. “About time you came back to Eagle Rock. Are you staying, or
Sadie chewed on her lip. “But we’re not. That was the agreement.”
“You and I know that, but the rest of Montana won’t.”
She stared at her hands on the handle of the cart. “I don’t know…”
“Just go along with it. The sooner we discover the culprit behind the shooting, the sooner we can reveal the truth to everyone.” He touched her arm. “Besides, if I moved in as your bodyguard, the rest of Eagle Rock would either come to the same conclusion, or tip off the shooter that you know it wasn’t just an inexperienced hunter with more bullets than brains.”
Sadie looked around, as if not happy about the turn of events and searching for a way to escape.
Guilt rose in Hank’s chest. At the same time, he knew he had to be with her in order to protect her. “I can’t protect you from Bear Creek Ranch. Either you come with me, or I go with you. I have to be with you, twenty-four-seven. This is the best way to do that, and to keep it under wraps. Our past will make it easy and believable.” He held up his hands. “Unless you’ve changed your mind, and want to hire someone else.”
“No. I haven’t changed my mind.” Sadie chewed on her fingernail, something she used to do when she was nervous.
Out of a long-forgotten habit, Hank grabbed her hand, pulling it away from her mouth and pressed a kiss to the tip of her finger. “It’s going to be all right,” he said, his tone low, the way he used to talk to her when she was down or upset.
“You’re right. Everything will be okay.” She snorted softly. “And to think, I came here for rest and relaxation.” She shook her head, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. “I’m beginning to think it’s safer for me in LA with its gang violence and insane traffic.”
“Or you need a full time bodyguard no matter where you go.”
She looked up at him. “If you ever stop being a SEAL, you have a career for yourself in personal security.” Sadie glanced around the small store. “Especially here in Montana. Do you know how many rich people purchase huge ranches in this state, just to get away from it all?”
Now she was babbling, her nervous energy going from biting her fingernail to talking. Hank nearly smiled. If being near him made her nervous, he hoped it was because she felt the electric currents he was feeling. Standing in the store, between the canned goods and the breakfast cereal, made the spark no less potent.
“Come on. We have shopping to do. And then we need to make a quick stop at the sheriff’s office for a status on your shooter and to warn him about your paparazzi-stalker dude.” He took over the cart from her and pushed it toward the processed meat section. Loading up on the only lunchmeat the small store carried, Hank moved on to find the fresh vegetables and fruit.
Sadie followed. When he purposely reached for overripe bananas, she stepped in—as he guessed she would.
After they checked out, he helped her load the groceries into his rental and followed her to the sheriff’s office.
When they entered, the sheriff straightened from behind a desk. “Miss McClain. I’m glad you stopped by.”
Hank stared at the sheriff a moment before he recognized the man in uniform. “Joe? Joe Barron?” He stuck out a hand. “Remember me? Hank Patterson.”
“Remember you?” Joe’s face stretched into a huge grin. “How could I forget the best running back in the history of Eagle Rock?”
Hank shook the man’s hand.
Joe wasn’t satisfied with just a handshake. He pulled Hank into a bear hug. “About time you came back to Eagle Rock. Are you staying, or
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