Guarding Aurora

by Lynne St. James

  “Please. It’s been two years. Jim wouldn’t have wanted you to end up a blue-haired old lady baking all day and spending all night alone. Not from everything you told me about him.”

  “True. But…”

  “I’m not telling you to jump into bed with him. Just see where it goes.”

  “It’s not going anywhere. Why would Mr. sex god want anything to do with me? Have you looked at me lately? He could have anyone he wanted.”

  “If you’d stop hiding behind the counter, you could too.”

  “I don’t mean to interrupt, but when’s dinner? I’m starving, and Raptor’s stomach was growling as soon as he walked in the door. By the way, Sadie, have you heard from your brother?”

  “Yes, he called earlier, he’s going to stay in Texas a bit longer.”

  If she hadn’t been blushing before, she had to be three shades of red now. When she glanced sideways at Sadie, her friend was laughing. Great.

  “Sorry. It’s ready. Let me just put these into the oven, and we can eat.” After popping the tray of mini apple strudel in the oven, she and Sadie plated up the chicken marsala and red potatoes they’d made while waiting.

  With the food set on the table, they sat down to eat. Rori wasn’t sure she’d be able to swallow a bite with Raptor’s eyes watching her every move. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. “Is there something wrong? You keep staring at me. I’m getting a complex.”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

  “It’s okay.” Why did she feel like she was in high school on a first date? She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this awkward around a man. There was no reason for it. He wasn’t there to date her, only to keep her safe. Even if she didn’t think she needed it.

  “I’m not sure what you call this, but it’s delicious. It’s been ages since I had a homecooked meal.”

  “It’s one of Rori’s recipes. She’s a Cordon Bleu chef. If you’re anything like the rest of the town, you’ll need to work out more just to keep from gaining weight. I couldn’t work there, I’d be enormous.”

  “Sadie’s exaggerating. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I figured most people eat chicken and it was the least I could do after you flew all the way here for no reason.”

  “Rori, we’ve been over this,” Hank cut in before she could go any further.

  “Yeah, I know,” Rori said unable to keep the exasperation out of her voice.

  “If you’re going to cook like this you’re going to have a hard time getting me to leave,” Raptor said and winked. She couldn’t hold back her smile.

  “We’ll see. Maybe I’ll have to start burning things.”

  “No, you won’t,” Sadie said. “You are too much of a perfectionist in the kitchen.”

  Their laughter eased the earlier tension, and the conversation turned to food, and what Raptor liked to eat. She couldn’t believe he’d been living on mostly food in a pouch for the last decade. Gross. She’d fix that. After four years at the Cordon Bleu, Rori was horrified by his description of the MREs. The chefs would have had fits at the mere thought of food in pouches.

  After dinner, Hank took Raptor out to the barn and Rori helped Sadie clean up.

  “What do you think? Will you be comfortable having him as your bodyguard?”

  “Do I have a choice?” Rori thought she’d be more concerned about having a stranger stay with her, but after spending the last couple of hours with Raptor, she didn’t feel awkward about it at all. “I know, I know. I was kind of worried about it, but now not so much. Unless he’s hiding what he’s really like, I think it’ll be fine.”

  “Good. Because there was a Plan B.”

  “Isn’t there always?”

  “Yup, sometimes a Plan C too. Actually, there was always a Plan C.”

  “Out of curiousity, what was Plan B?”

  “We’d have you both stay here.”

  “Yeah, no. That would never work. I start some of the dough at two a.m. Nope. Not happening.”

  “It wouldn’t have been a big deal. Half the time Emma has us up in the middle of the night anyway.”

  “It would be for me. I’d have to get up even earlier to get back into town.”

  “True. But it was better than having you freaked out.”

  “I don’t get freaked out.” At Sadie’s look, she ammended her last statement. “Okay, so maybe I get a little freaked out. But you’re the one who thinks someone is out to get me.”

  “Exactly.”

  Rori shook her head in frustration as she plated the strudel for dessert. Since she’d come back to Eagle Rock, she and Sadie had gotten closer than they’d ever been in high school. But when they were always hovering over her, it drove her a bit crazy. She’d been on her own too long, and it made her feel claustrophobic.

  “After dessert, I need to get home. I’m exhausted, and I still have to get Raptor settled.” She hadn’t heard Raptor and Hank come into the kitchen, and Raptor’s voice over her shoulder startled her. If it hadn’t been for his quick reflexes the plate of studel would have landed on the floor.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “It’s okay. I should be used to it because of Hank and the rest of his guys. They’re always sneaking up on me.”

  “No, we’re not. It’s just ingrained in us.”

  “Yeah, I know. Like I said, I should be used to it.”

  Raptor took the plate of pastries and placed them on the island. “How about we take a couple of these for the road.”

  “It’s okay, we can have coffee then leave.”

  “I didn’t realize how early you started until Hank filled me in. You need your rest.”

  “You don’t mind?”

  “Of course not. It’s my job remember? To keep you safe that is.” Rori’s yawn was the icing on the cake, and there was no changing his mind.

  “Okay, you win.”

  “Here you go,” Sadie said as she handed Raptor a silver foil wrapped package filled with strudel.

  “I hope you kept some for you guys?”

  “Are you kidding? No way would she give them all away,” Hank said with a chuckle. “My wife won’t pass up anything that Rori makes.”

  After saying their goodbyes, they loaded Raptor’s gear into the van Rori used for deliveries.

  “I’ll stop by tomorrow to see how things are going,” Hank said to her while staring at Raptor. What was going on? Some guy thing by the look of it.

  “C’mon, bodyguard, let’s get a move on. I have to get up in four hours.”

  “Yes, boss,” Raptor answered with a big grin. He needed to stop looking at her like that, she was going to melt like a buttercream if he kept it up. “I can drive.”

  “It’ll be faster for me to do it than have to give you directions.”

  “They sound like a married couple already.” Sadie giggled. Married? Sadie must have been sipping the marsala wine behind her back. The woman had clearly lost her mind.

  “Keep it up, and all the eclairs will be going to Hank.”

  “Yikes.” Sadie hugged her and whispered, “just give it a chance.”

  Rori was too tired to argue that this was just a job for Raptor, they’d only met a few hours earlier, and she wasn’t on the market anyway. They’d had this conversation or a derivation of it several times over the last six months.

  Chapter Four

  “Are you sure you’re not too tired to drive?”

  “Thanks, but I’m fine really. I don’t sleep all that well anyway.” He bet she didn’t. She was probably suffering from PTSD and didn’t realize it.

  “Just doing my job or trying. I have a feeling you’re not going to make this easy, are you?”

  “Why do you say that?” She never turned in his direction, just kept her eyes on the road.

  “Just a feeling. I’ve survived many missions by trusting my gut.”

  “Until the last one? The scar on your cheek doesn’t look very old, and you’re limping.”<
br />
  He was impressed, he barely limped, but she’d still managed to pick up on it. The scar was an easy guess. It would take another year before it faded enough to not look angry. If she thought that looked fresh, it was good she couldn’t see his leg.

  “My last mission went to hell before our team realized it. But bad intel is part of the job.”

  “Do you miss it? Ten years is a long time.”

  “Yes and no. I miss my team and feeling like I am accomplishing something. But it was time to move on. Besides my injury, my heart wasn’t in it anymore.”

  “Oh.” He’d spent a lot of time reading people, it’s part of what had made him good at his job. He knew without a doubt she wanted to ask him why, but she didn’t. It was a relief, he wouldn’t have known what to tell her. In the last few minutes, he’d already shared more with her than he had with anyone else, even his team. He was going to have to watch himself. Focus. It’s what he had to do. Then maybe after he knew she was safe he could see if there was a future for him in Montana.

  They arrived at the bakery without incident, but his senses were on high alert. He’d learned to trust them long ago.

  “Why are we here? I thought you didn’t have to be at work until two a.m.?”

  “I don’t. I live upstairs. I bought the building when I decided to open the patisserie. I figured why live outside of town when I could live upstairs. It gives me an extra hour of sleep every night.”

  “I didn’t realize you lived upstairs.”

  “Don’t worry, it’s not as small as it looks. It’s got three bedrooms even, so you have your own space. I know it’s kind of awkward but…”

  “Hey, don’t worry about me. I’m used to sleeping wherever I happened to be—jungle, desert, cave, so no big deal.”

  Rori pulled the car into the spot marked “Reserved for Prince’s Patisserie” and turned off the engine.

  “I want to check it out first. Stay here and keep the doors locked.” When she didn’t answer, he added, “Okay?” This wasn’t going to go well if she was going to fight him every step of the way. How was he supposed to keep her safe?

  “Okay. This is the key to the upstairs apartment.” She handed him her key ring with one key separated out. “It’s the door next to the back door of the bakery.”

  “Got it. Be right back.”

  Raptor would have preferred to have done this the first time in daylight, but surveilling in darkness was no problem. He’d left his pack in the van but had the Glock he’d borrowed from Hank’s stash at the ranch. Armed and ready, he looked around then approached the door. One key, one lock, no deadbolt. It would be changed tomorrow as soon as whatever passed for a hardware store opened. He could have pushed his way in without any effort at all.

  A glance toward the van verified that she was still inside. Stepping through the doorway he shouldn’t have been surprised it was pitch-black, but he was. He’d expected some light in the hallway. Seriously? She was just asking for trouble. He pulled out the small flashlight he was never without and found the switch, which did jack shit when he flipped it on. Of course. Rolling his eyes for the second time in less than five minutes, he wondered what he’d find at the top of the stairs.

  Another door with no deadbolt that would need to be changed as soon as possible, and he was in the apartment. At least she’d left a light on when she’d left for the ranch. It smelled like sugar and cinnamon, and he wondered if it was from the bakery downstairs. Nothing was out of place as he went from room to room, opening all the doors until he was satisfied it was all clear.

  He’d just walked back into the front room when she appeared at the door.

  “Is it safe?”

  “I thought I told you to stay in the van until I came back.”

  “You did, but I got tired of waiting. I knew it would be fine.”

  “Listen, angel, I know you’re not thrilled to have a bodyguard, but you have one. That means you’ll listen to me so I can make sure you’re safe. Got it?”

  Their eyes met, and in a silent battle he stared her down. She blinked first, and he knew he’d won that point. But damn if she hadn’t brought his pack in with her.

  “Fine. But if I think it’s stupid, then I’m going to tell you.”

  “Alright, I agree to that. But we’ll discuss it, and if I have a good reason, you’ll follow orders?”

  “Orders? I think not.” He winced, poor choice of words.

  “How about direction?”

  “That works. Now that we got that out of the way let me show you which room is yours. I really am beat and need to get some sleep.” He was surprised when she didn’t say something about him calling her angel, but maybe she was just too tired to realize.

  “Did you lock the downstairs door already?”

  “Yes, do you think I’m stupid?”

  “No, but again, it’s my job.”

  Shaking her head, she started down the hallway off the living room. It led to three bedrooms and one bathroom. He’d realized that when he was doing his recon. He hadn’t shared a bathroom with a woman since he’d left home. But other than that, the apartment was nice sized, and they wouldn’t trip over each other.

  “Here’s your room. The bathroom is down the hall next to mine. There are towels on the dresser, and I made up the bed fresh this morning. Is there anything else you need? If you’re hungry help yourself to anything in the kitchen.”

  “It’s great, thank you. I’m not trying to give you a hard time, just keep you safe.”

  “I know, but that’s the problem. I don’t think I need protection. I guess time will tell.”

  “Yes, it will.”

  “I’m sorry to be rude and leave you on your own, but work starts early.”

  “That’s what I’ve been hearing. Sleep well, Rori. See you at two.”

  “Night.

  ***

  Rori closed the door to her bedroom and leaned against it. Wow. Can you say muffin man? Or maybe that should be stud muffin man? It was all she could do while she was driving not to lean over and give him a lick. He smelled like outdoors and citrus…something. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she wanted a taste. And there was something familiar about him, but she couldn’t figure that out yet either. Maybe she was just too tired. The last few days had worn on her.

  First the flat tires on the van, that she hadn’t told Sadie about, then the plate glass window, and now a new bodyguard who was the best thing since freshly baked bread. But he wasn’t here for a relationship, and she wasn’t looking for one. Was she even over Jim’s death yet? Not that she’d even tried to date in the last two years.

  Since coming back to Eagle Rock, it had been all about the bakery and closing her parent’s house. She still needed to figure out what she was going to do with it. It was just too hard to stay there without them. It made sense to put it on the market, didn’t it? There, think about that, Rori, instead of dwelling on the gingerbread man down the hall.

  She changed into her PJs. It was way past her bedtime, and her bed was calling to her. No wonder her mind was scrambled, usually asleep by eight, it was almost eleven now. Tomorrow was going to be like pulling taffy.

  Throwing her robe on just in case she ran into Raptor on the way to brush her teeth, she was thankful two minutes later when she opened the door and walked in on him.

  “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I should have knocked.” Her face burned as she backed up and slammed the door shut.

  “It’s okay, I’m just brushing my teeth. C’mon in.” Should she? It didn’t seem like such a great idea, but then he opened the door, and she got a good look at him. With her cheeks already burning and probably beet red, she stared at his bare feet. Her gaze traveled up his jean-clad legs, to the open button at his waist, and continued to travel up to his naked, oh my God, chest, and then to his face where their eyes met. He was smiling around his toothbrush, and that made her face heat even more.

  “I’m sorry. I’m not used to having anyone else here.
It won’t happen again.”

  He spat toothpaste into the sink and rinsed his mouth. “It’s okay. We’re going to have to get used to each other, it’s not a big deal. If I was worried, I’d have locked the door.”

  Good point. It wasn’t locked, she’d need to remember to do that herself, especially when she was showering. It would be horrible if he walked in when she was naked. Wouldn’t it? Damn, girl, brush your teeth and go to bed, you’re totally losing it.

  “Okay.”

  “I’m sorry I’m upsetting your routine. I’ll leave you to it. Night, Rori.”

  “Night.” She waited until she heard his door close and then brushed her teeth and put on her moisturizer.

  Back in her bedroom, she debated on whether to lock the door. From the size of his muscles, if he wanted in no lock was going to keep him out, so no on the locked door. She finally climbed into bed, and turned out the light and drifted off to sleep with visions of Raptor dancing in her head.

  The alarm went off at one fifteen, and if she’d had a gun, she would have shot it. With so little sleep, it would be a rough day. Add to that her new houseguest/bodyguard, she was going to need a lot of coffee.

  Opening her door, she peered down the hallway and listened to see if Raptor was up yet. When she didn’t hear anything, she rushed into the bathroom and locked the door. The hot shower helped to get her blood flowing, but now she needed coffee to complete her morning process. A quadruple espresso sounded about right. She’d forgotten to ask if Raptor drank coffee last night, but she couldn’t imagine anyone not drinking copious amounts of liquid energy in the morning.

  Rori was dressed and in the kitchen grinding espresso beans when Raptor appeared by her side freshly showered and smelling delicious. Distracted by his presence, she over ground the beans and had to start over.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, just tired and I mutilated the coffee beans.”

  “I can see that. I was worried you were hoping they were me.”

  “Uh, no. But that’s a thought,” she said and turned her face so he could see her smile. “Do you drink coffee? Espresso?”

  “If it’s caffeinated I’ll drink it.”