The Reckless Warrior (Navy SEAL Romance)

by Jennifer Youngblood

  Amusement lit his eyes as he grinned. “Pity,” he murmured, removing his arm. “I thought we fit together quite nicely.”

  She wished he’d stop with the innuendos. It was hard enough to remain unaffected by him as it was. But to know that he also liked her … well, that took the attraction to a whole new level. She traced the outline of his lips, the firm shape of his jaw. Her eyes went to his neck, his prominent Adam’s apple so distinctly masculine. Recollections from her dream flooded her. She’d buried her fingers in his spiky hair, felt the delicious sensation of his lips against hers. The kiss had ignited a spark in her powerful enough to start an inferno. But with the all-consuming attraction came something unexpected—the feeling of belonging, of coming to the end of a long journey … finding the thing she’d searched for her entire life.

  Corbin cleared his throat. She jumped slightly, embarrassment cloaking her like a stifling blanket. She’d been standing there, gaping at him. Meanwhile, Corbin and the store clerk were watching her. She stepped back, putting as much space as possible between her and Corbin.

  The woman extended a hand, a professional smile touching her lips. “Hello, I’m Marissa Harris. Let’s see what we can help you find. I understand you want something completely different from your real hair.”

  “Yes.” Delaney wasn’t sure how much Marissa knew about her situation, but she wasn’t about to divulge additional information.

  Marissa motioned to a stool beside a mirror. “Have a seat. I have a few selections to get us started.”

  Delaney sat down.

  “Here, put your hair in this.” She handed Delaney a hairnet, then reached for a wig. “Let’s try this one first.” The good news is that with your dark eyes, the brown hair will look natural on you. She fitted the short cap of hair over Delaney’s head and adjusted it. Then she stepped back. “What do you think?”

  Delaney’s first thought was that her hair hadn’t been this short since kindergarten. Her second thought was that she looked like she had an animal skin on her head. A laugh bubbled in her throat as she swallowed to stifle it. She looked so ridiculous! Before she could tell Marissa no, Corbin spoke up.

  “Absolutely not. My woman would never wear that.”

  This time, she couldn’t stop a chuckle from escaping. “Your woman?” She removed the wig and placed it on the counter. Yes, she was going to Birchwood Springs under the guise of Corbin’s girlfriend. The tone in his voice sounded so serious, matter-of-fact, that she could almost believe she really was his girlfriend. Would that be such a bad thing? Dang these renegade thoughts. Yes, it would be a bad thing, she answered, squelching any further thoughts on the subject.

  His eyes locked with hers. “Yes, you are my woman.”

  The certainty in his voice struck a chord inside her. His woman. She liked the sound of that. Blood pumped faster through her veins, making a swooshing sound against her temples. She looked at his lips, wondered if they’d feel and taste anything like she’d imagined in her dream. Her voice went higher as she laughed to relieve the tension, her words gushing out. “You sound like the Russian in Man From U.N.C.L.E., where the girl’s trying on clothes to pose as his fiancée, and he keeps telling her that his woman wouldn’t wear that.”

  Corbin shrugged. “I assumed girlfriend would do the trick, but I guess we could elevate our situation. Boost you up to fiancée level.”

  “Girlfriend is good,” she said quickly, her cheeks scorching like a sunburn. She swallowed hard, so glad he couldn’t read her thoughts. Relieved he didn’t know what she’d dreamt about him. Then she caught the mischievous glint in his eyes and realized he was teasing her again, enjoying watching her squirm. And she was rising to the bait. She scooted back in her seat, her chin lifting. All right, buddy. You wanna play games? Fine. I’ll play. “What would your woman wear?” she asked snippily.

  He made a face, his eyes going to the wigs lined up on the counter. “Certainly not those.” He looked at Marissa. “No offense.”

  She waved a hand. “None taken.”

  Corbin looked thoughtful, his eyes scoping the options. He strode across the room and lifted a copper-brown wig off the mannequin head. “This one.”

  Delaney wrinkled her nose. “Seriously? You don’t think it’s too red?”

  Marissa tilted her head. “Try it on. It could work. I like the style.”

  Delaney placed it on her head and pursed her lips, studying her reflection in the mirror. The bangs were wispy, the sides tapering around her face. The length came to her shoulders. Surprisingly, it looked pretty good. She looked like a different woman, yet still attractive. This was good. No one would recognize her with this on.

  Marissa stepped up behind her and began fluffing the top. “You can add as much volume as you wish.”

  “You like it.” Corbin quirked a satisfied grin. “I can see it on your face. Admit it.”

  “You don’t know what I’m thinking,” she shot back, but couldn’t help but smile. “Okay, I do like it.” She rolled her eyes. “Who would’ve guessed … Captain America’s a fashion guru at heart.” It was cute how color seeped into his face.

  “Is this one a go?” Marissa asked.

  Delaney looked at Corbin, a thrill shot through her. She liked this energy between them. She’d never been as aware of a man before. “Would your woman wear this?”

  His eyes caressed hers. “You’re wearing it, aren’t you?”

  Her breath caught and all she could think about was that his eyes looked more gold than green today. She looked at Marissa who smiled as if to say, The two of you are great together.

  “Of course, nothing looks as good as the blonde,” Corbin continued in a low, throaty tone, “but this will do for now.”

  Another inference to her being his woman. And he liked her blonde hair. A swarm of butterflies took flight in Delaney’s stomach. She looked down to break the connection. Sheesh. She was trying to remain aloof around him, dodge the landmines, but she kept tromping right on top of them. These landmines wouldn’t destroy her limbs but her heart instead.

  “I’ll get the care instructions and a special comb,” Marissa said, walking into the back.

  The attraction was strong even with Marissa in the room. Now that she’d left, it was nearly unbearable. Her fingers itched to pull Corbin close, press her lips to his. She rubbed her hands on her jeans, fighting the temptation.

  Corbin leaned back against the counter and folded his arms over his chest. “I guess my fashion sense comes from having a sister.”

  How was it possible for a guy to look so good in a t-shirt and jeans? She could see the outline of his sculpted abs underneath his shirt. Focus on what he’s saying, she commanded herself. She fumbled to think of a sensible question. “What’s her name?”

  “Addie.”

  “Is she younger or older?” Delaney had always wished for a sister.

  “Younger, by two years.”

  “Do you have any other siblings?”

  “Nope, just Addie.” He chuckled. “But trust me, she’s enough. A fireball. You’ll see when you meet her.”

  She could hear the affection in his voice. It made her a little jealous that she had no one. Then she felt guilty. It wasn’t Corbin’s fault that her mother had died. Heck, even when her mother was alive, Delaney had been alone. At least now her mother wasn’t suffering, and she was free from Hugh’s clutches. “Tell me about the rest of your family.”

  She touched the hair of the wig, fluffing it a little on top. It felt stuffy and constricting on her head, making her skin itch. She wondered if she’d ever get used to it.

  “I was raised by my grandparents, Wallace and Lou Ella.”

  She turned her full attention to him. “What happened to your parents?” A shadow crossed his features, his jaw tightening. She eyed him, waiting for a response. Normally, she didn’t make a habit of pushing her way into people’s personal space, but Corbin had asked her plenty of uncomfortable questions. Turnabout is fair play. Also, she was
curious to know more about him.

  “My parents died.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said automatically. Then it occurred to her that she was using those same trite words she hated people saying to her. “How?”

  His lips drew into a tight line, and she could feel him withdrawing. The two of them really weren’t that different. Corbin held his cards close too. She looked him in the eye, a tiny smile curving her lips. “You know about the skeletons in my closet. It should go both ways, right?”

  Something shifted in his eyes, and she saw the hint of a smile. “Right.” His shoulders relaxed in acceptance. “My parents were on vacation in Mexico and were mugged outside their hotel. Shot and left in the street over a few measly dollars.” His eyes went hard, and she saw reflected in them the same sadness that plagued her.

  She touched his arm. “I know it sounds hollow, but I really am sorry.”

  He nodded. “Addie and I were raised by our grandparents.”

  “I’m excited to meet them.” Something flashed in his eyes, giving her the impression she’d said something wrong. “What?”

  He rubbed his neck. “My grandmother has Alzheimer’s. It’s bad. She no longer recognizes anyone.”

  She caught the slight hitch in his voice. Saw a glimpse of Corbin she’d not seen before—the damaged part of him that spoke to her heart. No wonder she was so drawn to him. He looked at her, an understanding that defied words flowing between them. Like her, he knew what it was like to have his world turned upside down from violence—losing his parents the way he had. And now, he was losing his grandmother too. Her eyes misted as the words rushed out. “No matter how much it hurts, you’ll get through it. Just keep moving forward. That’s what she’d want you to do.”

  Tears formed in Corbin’s eyes as he nodded and looked away.

  “Okay, here we are,” Marissa said cheerily, then halted in her tracks, looking back and forth between them. “Oops, am I interrupting something?”

  “No,” Corbin said, clearing his throat.

  Marissa held out a bag. “You’re all set. I gave you some special shampoo and an instruction sheet. But let me go over the process with you as well. Make sure you don’t have any questions.”

  Delaney nodded, her mind still on Corbin. Suddenly it hit her that despite the circumstance, she was looking forward to going to Birchwood Springs and getting to know Corbin’s grandfather and sister. The more time she spent around Corbin the more intrigued with him she became. Yeah, it wasn’t smart to fall for her bodyguard—to fall for anyone, especially with Hugh on her heels. Aside from the danger, her judgement was skewed when it came to men. She didn’t want to open herself up to get hurt again. The sensible thing to do would be to forget Corbin and focus on her career. That was her only sure path to safety. But yet, she couldn’t seem to help herself. She was so drawn to this man … had been from the moment she laid eyes on him.

  “You ready?” Corbin asked when Marissa finished her spiel.

  “Yep.”

  He motioned with his head. “Let’s get on the road.”

  She sighed. Thirteen hours alone with Corbin Spencer. How in the heck was she supposed to keep her head straight? When they got to the door, he put an arm around her, gathering her into the protection of his muscular body. At his touch, her cells swirled into action, sending heat racing up her neck.

  When they stepped outside, an instant change came over him. His jaw went rock hard, his eyes intense as he scoped the area surrounding them. Thrilling didn’t even begin to describe this man. He was the type people made movies about … a rebel, maverick, and Captain America all rolled into one.

  His eyes caught hers for one brief moment and he gave her a reassuring smile. Her heart melted as she smiled back. No amount of self-talk would be enough to protect her from Corbin. She was a lost cause for sure.

  11

  Little by little, Delaney was warming up to him. Corbin prided himself on reading people, paid close attention to those little nuances that gave more information than verbal language ever could. Delaney was attracted to him, just as he was to her. But she was fighting against it hard. Corbin couldn’t blame her. He’d be paranoid too if he’d been through what she had. Maybe after more time, Delaney would relax around him, realize that he was nothing like Tuck Allen. He tightened his jaw. It rankled his gut to think of Tuck abusing Delaney. And then there was Hugh, the cutthroat killer out for revenge. Corbin would do everything in his power to keep Delaney safe, even if it meant he had to die trying. He couldn’t explain it, but Delaney was his responsibility. And now that he’d met her, he’d never be able to let her go. He laughed inwardly realizing how ridiculous that sounded. His grandfather, Wallace, swore that the first time he laid eyes on Lou Ella, he knew they’d be together. Corbin always thought that was wishful thinking, Pops rewriting history to fit with the present. But now, he was starting to wonder if there was something to the story.

  Corbin glanced sideways at Delaney. Even with the wig, she was stunning. He was glad they had so much road time so he could get to know her better. And the best part, she couldn’t retreat. “So,” he began, “if the two of us have any hope of pulling off this boyfriend/girlfriend charade, we need to know details about each other.”

  The color seeping into her cheeks indicated how uncomfortable she felt about the situation. “What do you want to know?”

  “Favorite food.”

  “Sausage gravy and biscuits,” she said without hesitation.

  He laughed. “Really? I’ve never been that crazy about biscuits. They’re kind of dry and hard.”

  She grunted. “That’s probably because you’ve never had a good biscuit. Where did you eat the biscuit that was dry?”

  “I dunno, a restaurant.”

  “Out West?”

  “Well, yeah.”

  “That’s the problem. You’ve never had a Southern biscuit. They’re light and flaky, melt in your mouth. I guarantee you that if you have a biscuit made by someone who knows what they’re doing, you’ll change your mind.”

  It was fun to see this side of Delaney. Sassy and more carefree. “Do you know how to make biscuits?”

  “Of course. I’m Southern, aren’t I?”

  He chuckled. “Yes, you are.” He kept his voice casual, non-threatening. “Maybe you could make me some when we’re at the cabin … see if you can change my mind.”

  She hesitated for a moment, long enough for him to fear that she’d refuse. “Okay, you’re on.”

  Another win … little by little. He’d love to have Delaney cook him a meal. Heck, he’d even volunteer to help. Anything to keep her by his side.

  “How about you? What type of food do you like?”

  “Pasta.”

  “That’s kind of broad. What type of pasta?”

  “All types.”

  “Red sauce or white?”

  “Yes.”

  She laughed. “Okay. What are your hobbies?”

  Hobbies? He hadn’t thought about that in a long time, not since way before he became a SEAL. “I like target shooting, camping, hiking, snow skiing.”

  “An outdoor man. I kind of figured that about you.”

  He could feel her eyes on him. He glanced at her as they shared a smile.

  “I always wanted to learn to snow ski.” She chuckled. “But in Alabama, the closest thing you get to snow are a few ice storms.”

  “We’ll have to go while we’re in Birchwood Springs. There’s a resort right next to my grandfather’s cabins. My sister works there.”

  “Really? We could go? Would it be safe? Considering the circumstance …” Her voice faded into a thick silence.

  Corbin wanted this whole ordeal to be over. It cut to hear the dismay in Delaney’s tone, to know how terrified she was. He couldn’t help it. He reached over and placed a hand over hers. Electricity spiked through him when their skin connected. She had to have felt it too. Yes, he could tell she did … he knew from the way she went rigid. He thought Delaney mig
ht jerk her hand away and was relieved when she didn’t. “I think we can manage a trip to the ski resort.”

  “I’d like that,” she said, giving him a wan smile. Carefully, she removed her hand from his. “Sorry, but considering our situation, I’d like to keep things between us professional.”

  Disappointment pummeled through him as he nodded, putting his hand back on the steering wheel. One step forward … two steps back. He was getting used to Delaney’s routine, but he didn’t like it.

  “How did we first meet? That’s the number one question people will ask.”

  Her comment helped ease some of the tension as he relaxed in his seat, keeping his eyes on the road. “At a party.”

  “Okay, sounds good to me. What type of party?”

  “A fancy shindig on Coronado Island, hosted by a billionaire philanthropist.” He saw the surprise on her face. She’d just now figured out the direction he was taking. “I walked into the mansion wearing my new, shiny white tux and felt this gorgeous babe checking me out.”

  “I was not checking you out,” she blustered.

  A smile tugged at his lips. “Yes, you were.” He cut his eyes at her to let her know she wasn’t getting off the hook. She could sit there all day and pretend there wasn’t anything between them, but she couldn’t deny that she’d noticed him first. “You know it’s true.”

  She made a face. “Fine. I admit it. I was checking you out,” she muttered. “What do you want? A confession in blood?”

  “I just wanted to hear you say it out loud.”

  She shoved his arm with a laugh. “You’re such a cocky moron. I can’t believe you got me to admit that,” she uttered.

  He glanced at her, not surprised to see her lips turned down in a petulant frown. She was so darn cute that he wanted to pull the SUV over and kiss her right this minute. He chuckled inwardly. Not a good idea. She’d freak out. Never speak to him again. “And then when I went over to talk to you at the bar, you sicked Anton on me.”