Keeping Guard

by Sandra Owens

  He followed behind Dalton to the parking lot, then stood outside until his car disappeared from sight. “Okay then. That was fun.” For real.

  * * *

  “I expect you back to work first thing tomorrow.”

  Peyton would have been overjoyed to hear that, and her father firing Dalton, if she hadn’t gotten the worst news of her life. “You know I’ll be here. But you have to promise not to shut me out of what’s going on with you.”

  “I don’t want you worrying about me.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” How could he possibly think she wouldn’t worry about him? “I mean it, Dad. There’s no way I’m going to let you go through this alone. I want to go with you to your next doctor’s appointment.”

  “Peyton—”

  “Don’t Peyton me. You’ve never let me in, not really. There’s always been a wall between us, and I don’t understand why. But that changes as of today.”

  A smile played on his lips. “Does it now?”

  “Yes, and maybe someday you’ll explain that wall to me.”

  “Maybe I will.” He picked up his phone and pulled up his calendar. “My next doctor’s appointment is Monday at two.”

  “Good, and don’t you dare go without me.” Relief spread through her that she’d won this battle. Now all she had to do was win the battle for his life.

  “Now tell me about this Noah Alba guy. How did you meet him?”

  “At the waterfall.” How to explain Noah? She doubted her father wanted to hear that she wanted to jump Noah’s bones, so she’d leave that part out.

  “You didn’t arrange to meet him there?”

  “No!” That was what he thought of her, that she’d meet another man on her wedding day? “He came down when I was there. I’d never seen him before in my life.”

  “Yet you brought a strange man home with you?”

  That did sound bad, she’d give him that. “He’s been nothing but honorable toward me.” Did tingly kisses count as honorable? She decided they did. “He’s a Navy SEAL, and after Dalton pulled his stupid stunt, I asked Noah if he’d be my bodyguard for a few days. Since I’m sure you’re wondering, he’s staying in my guest room.”

  “Why is a SEAL hanging out in Asheville? Last I heard, there’s not a navy base here.”

  “He’s on medical leave.” Was he? He’d never said exactly what kind of leave he was on, but for her father’s benefit, that would do. “He has a friend here he’s spending time with. Jack was his teammate before he left the navy. Now he trains therapy dogs. You should let me take you out there sometime. It’s pretty awesome what he does.”

  “I’ll take you up on that.” He tapped his fingers on his desk, and she knew that look. He was thinking something through. “Bring your...bodyguard to dinner tonight.”

  “Why?”

  “A man I don’t know is living with my daughter? I think I need to assure myself that he’s what you say he is, an honorable man.”

  Now he wanted to start playing daddy? A part of her resented that he had never taken an interest in her life or friends before now, but the part that had always wanted his attention was okay with it. More than okay.

  “What time?”

  “Six.”

  “We’ll be there.” Hopefully, Noah would agree.

  * * *

  “You okay?”

  Peyton shrugged. “Yeah. No.” They’d stopped by her loft to pick up Lucky and so she could change clothes. Now they were on the way to Jack’s dog place. Noah had let her brood in silence until now, and not up to talking, she appreciated that.

  “I’m sorry about your father, princess. I really thought Dalton was lying.”

  “Me, too. God, I wish he had been.” She buried her face in her hands. She wouldn’t cry, not now. That would happen later tonight when she was alone in her bed.

  He put his hand on her knee and squeezed. “Cancer doesn’t necessarily mean a death sentence. There’s all kinds—”

  “He’s not going to die! Don’t even imply that’s a possibility.” She’d just yelled at him, and all he was trying to do was comfort her. “I’m sorry. You didn’t say anything wrong. It’s just...it’s just...” She didn’t have the words to explain how scared she was.

  “That you’re afraid.”

  “Yes,” she whispered. So afraid. For the first time since she’d been dropped off to her father as if she were nothing more than unwanted baggage, she had hope that she meant more to him than a daughter he’d never wanted. He’d said that maybe he would tell her why he’d built a wall between them, and she really needed to understand the reason.

  “Your dad surprised me,” Noah said. “I was prepared not to like him, then he went and fired your asshole ex. I have to respect that.”

  That had surprised her, too, because Dalton had always been the son she was sure her father wished she’d been. “I don’t know what to think anymore.”

  “Maybe don’t overthink it?” He came to a stop in front of the kennels. “He loves you, princess. I don’t know what the deal is between the two of you, but I do know that much.”

  “He wants us to come to dinner tonight.”

  “No. You need time alone with him, so you go, but I’m not a dinner with a girl’s father kind of man.”

  She wanted to punch him. Or kiss him. Either thing would give her the satisfaction she needed right now. “I told him you’d be there, so you will be there.”

  “You shouldn’t make plans that involve me without talking to me.”

  “Get over yourself, Noah.” She unbuckled her seatbelt. “I know something awful happened to you, and I’m sorry for that, but the world doesn’t revolve around you. We have to be there at six.”

  Not giving him a chance to refuse, she exited the car and headed straight for the puppy nursery. The puppies all yipped, rushing to her as soon as she stepped inside the room. This was what she needed...puppy love. She sat in the middle of the floor, and they bounced around her, begging for her attention.

  She tried to put everything out of her mind except for the puppies, but she couldn’t help thinking that she wasn’t being fair to Noah. All he’d signed up for was the role as her bodyguard. Dinners with her father weren’t in his job description, and she’d been wrong to make plans on his behalf.

  He wasn’t her boyfriend. Not that she wouldn’t like if it he was. She totally would. But other than spine-tingly kisses—and those were only to hush her—he’d shown no interest in her. Sad, that. She needed to apologize and tell him he didn’t have to come with her to dinner.

  Besides, some one-on-one time with her father would be good. For the first time since she’d come to live with him, he’d been almost warm toward her. Now that the door seemed to be open, she wasn’t going to let him slam it shut in her face.

  “Nope, not going to happen.”

  At hearing her voice, the puppies swarmed her, and she fell to her back, letting them cover her with their wiggling bodies. They all tried to lick her face off, making her giggle. For a few minutes, she’d let herself push aside thoughts of her father and Noah, and then she’d go find Noah and apologize.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “I want to test his reaction to noises,” Jack said.

  “Why?” Noah glanced over at the puppy building. He’d been an ass to Peyton, and he needed to tell her he was sorry. She’d just learned her father was sick, and he should have been more understanding. Instead, he’d made it about him.

  He realized Jack had stopped talking. “Sorry, what?”

  “I said we need to know how he’ll react to loud noises, like firecrackers, thunder, sirens, trucks backfiring. Things like that.” Jack crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you even listening to me?”

  “Hold this.” He handed Jack the end of Lucky’s leash. “Be right back.” He headed for the puppy building.
Until he got right with Peyton, he wouldn’t be able to pay attention to whatever Jack was trying to teach him.

  The inside of the building was bright, and dog toys were scattered over the floor. Right in the middle of that floor was Peyton on her back, a wiggling mass of puppies crawling all over her while she hysterically laughed. Her black hair was spread around her head, and sweet Jesus, her T-shirt was pushed up to just below her breasts, exposing the creamy white skin of her stomach. He wanted to put his tongue on that skin, wanted to know how soft she would feel under his fingers.

  Something inside his chest expanded, making it hard to breathe. She was beautiful. Of course, he already knew that, but he hadn’t known it known it. Not like this, where he was struck with a longing he’d never experienced before. Not even with the woman he was once supposed to marry.

  He was in dangerous territory. She deserved so much more than he knew how to give at this time in his life. It was better to leave her mad at him. He’d hang around for a few days, make sure her ex left her alone, and then he’d get out of her life. With that decision made, he turned to leave.

  “Noah?”

  So much for sneaking out. “Yeah?”

  “I was coming to talk to you.” She pushed the puppies away, and then came to stand in front of him. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have made plans without talking to you first, and I’m sorry.”

  “‘Sometimes sorry just ain’t good enough.’” At the hurt in her eyes, he wanted to punch himself in the face.

  “Blake Shelton’s ‘I’m Sorry,’ but you’re a jerk, Noah.”

  He caught her hand when she tried to walk away. “You’re right, I am. That slipped out. I have...used to have a song thing. A kind of parlor trick, I guess. I can...could come up with a song for every situation. Ask Jack if you don’t believe me. When you said you were sorry, I guess out of habit that song popped into my head and I spoke without thinking.” And that was entirely too much talking.

  “Oh, okay, but why are you saying you used to? Seems like you can still do it.”

  “Not anymore.” He realized he was still holding her hand, and he reluctantly let go. “I came in here to apologize to you for the way I talked to you in the car. I’ll go with you to dinner tonight.”

  She studied him for a moment, then said, “But you really don’t want to.”

  “You got me there.” He brushed a lock of hair away from her cheek before he realized what he was doing. “Still, I’ll come with you.” A calculating gleam appeared in her eyes, making him nervous.

  “I’ll make you a trade. You don’t have to come if you’ll kiss me whenever I want you to.”

  Huh? What the devil was she up to? Not that he minded kissing her...not at all. “What do you want from me, Peyton?”

  “I don’t expect anything from you except for tingles.”

  “Tingles?”

  “Yeah, I’ve never had them before you kissed me. I want more.” She trailed a finger over his bottom lip. “Lots more. From you.”

  “Never?” No man had ever made this incredible woman tingle? But he had? Something that felt a lot like satisfaction filled him.

  “Until you, no. The first time you kissed me, it was like I finally got it, what the big deal was. So, I want more. And I mean more than just kisses. I think you could do a lot more for me than my vibrator. I don’t expect romance and roses. You won’t tell me why you’re on leave from the navy, but I know you’ll have to go back. I’m not going to fall in love with you or hope for a commitment. Seems like that would be a good arrangement for both of us. You have access to my body in exchange for tingles...and, Noah, I want tingles that make me see stars. I want to know—”

  There was nothing to do but kiss her. Any more words out of her mouth and he’d be lowering her to the floor and giving her those tingles she wanted while a dozen puppies tried to participate in the fun.

  She nestled into him as if she belonged there. He slid his hands down to her hips, pressed his fingers into her skin, and rolled his hips against her, letting her know what she was doing to him.

  “Noah.”

  That whisper of his name against his lips was almost his undoing. He almost didn’t care if they gave the puppies a show, but grasping the thin thread of control he still possessed, he broke the kiss. Before anything more could happen between them, he needed to be sure she meant what she’d said. He could give her those tingles she wanted, could make her body sing, but that was it.

  He cupped her cheek and traced her bottom lip—damp from his kiss—with his thumb. “We’ll talk about this later, princess. Right now, I have to get back to Jack before he comes looking for me.” He brushed his mouth over hers, then forced his feet to take him away from her.

  If he was smart, he wouldn’t even consider agreeing to what she wanted, but he didn’t want to be smart. Not with her, not when she looked at him with those sky-blue eyes shimmering with desire.

  For the next few hours, he’d get his mind on his lessons with Lucky. As soon as Jack said they were done, all bets were off. He had a few lessons of his own for Peyton, but first they’d talk. As long as she could assure him she had no expectations beyond the pleasure they could give each other, he’d show her how it could be between a man and a woman.

  “You’ve taken to wearing lipstick now?” Jack said, smirking.

  “Shut it.” He swiped a hand over his mouth, and when Jack laughed, he hooked his leg behind Jack’s, putting his friend’s ass on the ground. That resulted in a round of wrestling. Thinking it was a new game, Lucky joined the fray. He managed to pin Jack, laughing when Lucky covered Jack’s face with slobbery licks.

  “Is this a new type of training?”

  Noah looked up to see Nichole staring down at them. “As soon as your boyfriend cries uncle, I’ll give him back to you.”

  She bent over, putting her face near Jack’s. “Need some help, babe?”

  He grinned at her. “Watch and learn.” With that, he flipped over, scissored his legs around Noah’s, and pinned Noah.

  Noah glanced at Nichole. “I let him do that so he would appear manly in front of you.”

  She slapped a hand over her chest. “So manly I’m going to swoon on the spot. When you boys are done playing, I brought lunch.”

  “You’re the best,” Jack said.

  Her eyes softened as she smiled at him. “For you, always.”

  “I’m going to get sugar overload from the two of you.” Noah rolled away from Jack and then stood. “Peyton’s here. Is there enough for her, too?”

  Nichole nodded. “Yep. Jack told me she was here when he called earlier.”

  “Great. I’ll go get her.”

  “We’ll be over there.” She pointed at a picnic table under the shade of a tree.

  “Be right back.” Lucky followed him. “You could have stayed with Jack.” When he reached the building, he stopped. “You can’t come in here.” Lucky stuck his nose to the crack in the door and wagged his tail. “You smell the puppies, huh? Sit.” Damn if the dog didn’t sit. “Good boy. Stay.”

  He slipped into the building, closing the door before Lucky could follow him in. Peyton must have worn the puppies out. They were all conked out, some next to her and three on her lap. She glanced up at him and smiled. There was that weird feeling in his chest again.

  “Hey. Nichole’s here, and she brought lunch.”

  “How nice.” Peyton eased the puppies in her lap onto the floor, then pushed up. All she’d been able to think about after Noah had kissed her earlier was that he’d agreed to talk about...well, having a fling she supposed. She’d never had a fling before, and the idea excited her. Mostly because it would be with him, but a part of it was also because it was outside the norm of her behavior, and she was ready for a little fun.

  Lunch with Noah’s friends was entertaining, and she was able to push aside worry for her f
ather for a while. Noah and Jack seemed to enjoy going at each other, their digs and insults making her and Nichole laugh.

  “Are they always like this?” she asked.

  Nichole chuckled. “You should see them when the whole team’s together. It’s like being in the locker room of fifteen-year-old boys.”

  “Hey,” Jack said. “I resemble that remark.”

  Noah threw a pickle at him. “She nailed it. Fifteen is about your maturity level. Since you left the team, I haven’t had to check my bed for snakes.”

  “You didn’t,” Nichole said, her wide eyes on her boyfriend.

  “It was just a little green snake.” Jack smirked. “He screamed like a girl.”

  “I willingly admit to that. The damn thing crawled up my leg,” Noah said. “I got him back, though.”

  “What did you do?” Peyton was fascinated by this new side of Noah. His voice wasn’t laced with sorrow and there was laughter in his eyes.

  “I put itching powder in his underwear.”

  “My balls will never forgive you,” Jack said.

  Peyton lost it, laughing so hard she got hiccups.

  “You okay?” Noah patted her back. “Don’t pass out on me, princess.” He put his mouth close to her ear. “We got plans later.”

  * * *

  “Before we go home, I need to take Joseph dinner,” Peyton said after Noah parked his car in the garage. Home. She really liked saying that to him.

  But she couldn’t let herself think of him being a part of her life. She’d told him she had no expectations beyond a physical relationship, and she’d keep her word. He’d said they needed to talk, but maybe he’d made a decision and by plans, he meant he was agreeable.

  The only thing tempering her excitement was her worry for her father. He hadn’t said what stage his cancer was, and she hadn’t thought to ask. It had to be in the early stages since he had annual physicals. She also wanted to know what treatment was planned for him, and she’d find that out at dinner. It really would be best if Noah didn’t come with her so she could have a serious talk with her dad.