Passing His Guard

“You about ready?”

They both spun around. Rya

“Aiden, there you are. I was starting to get worried.”

Was it possible this woman completely missed the fact that this guy was hitting on her? There was zero guilt or embarrassment in her eyes, and that beautiful smile she’d given the officer beamed impossibly brighter for him. Holy hell, looking at her was like a sucker punch to the solar plexus.

Pure male instinct sent his feet moving forward. He approached Rya

“It looks like we’ll be spending one more night here, sweetheart.” Then to the officer, Aiden said, “Hey, man, you know of any nice places in town I can take my girl to eat?”

The cop took a measured step back—message delivered loud and clear, but if he was attempting to disguise his disappointment, he was doing a piss-poor job of it. After getting the name of a place to eat, Aiden ushered a contemplatively silent Rya

“What the hell was that?”

“What do you mean?” he asked i

“You kiss me in front of that cop and call me ‘your girl.’ And by the way, I’m holding you to that fancy di

Aiden bit the inside of his cheek to hold back his amused grin. She was so damn cute when she was all in a tiff. “I thought you were supposed to be my girlfriend,” he said, taking care to keep his expression guileless. “At least that’s what you told everyone last night. I’m just playing the part, sweetheart. Wouldn’t want them to think you were lying.”

“And I suppose none of that had anything to do with the officer talking to me at the vending machine.”

“Why would it?”

“Don’t give me that lawyer talk, Aiden Kruze. You were jealous. Admit it!”

“I’m not jealous.” He was jealous. “I’m just sayin’ it doesn’t look good when we’re supposed to be together and some other guy is panting all over you.”

She let out an unladylike snort that somehow managed to sound cute as hell and rolled her eyes. “Please . . . he gave me trail mix.”

“That wasn’t all he wanted to give you.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” she chided.

“And you’re being naïve if you think that guy didn’t want to fuck your brains out.”

She laughed. She actually laughed at him. “You’re right, Aiden. Nothing says ‘I want to fuck your brains out’ like a bag of trail mix.”

Oh, for crissake, when she said it like that, he did sound like a jealous jackass.

“Just admit it, Aiden. You were jealous.”

He had no intention of admitting any such thing. But he didn’t have to. She gave him a triumphant grin and said, “Well, at least now you know how it feels.”

She turned to walk away, but Aiden caught her arm before she could take two steps. “How it feels? What in the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the night of the after party. Do you think I enjoyed sitting at the bar watching you Disco it up?”

“ ‘Disco it up’? What does that even mean?” He wasn’t sure whether he was more amused or more a

She sighed. “It means have you ever even had a real relationship?”

Whoa, wait, where the hell did that come from? He didn’t know, but he sure as hell was going to find out. “Rya

“It means that our relationship is complicated enough as it is, and I don’t think it’d be a good idea to make it worse by getting emotions involved.”

“Emotions like lust? Because I think that ship’s already sailed for you, sweetheart.”

Too far . . . ? His mocking comment earned him a scalding glare. She looked like she wanted nothing more right now than to introduce her knee to his balls. If he wasn’t careful, they were going to get into a full-blown domestic right here in the parking lot of the Portage Police Department. But goddammit, her rejection stung more than he wanted to admit.

What the hell happened to that frightened, vulnerable woman who clung to him so desperately back in there, begging for his help? She shot him one last look before jerking her arm from his grasp and turning away. Oh, she was still in there, he realized, catching a glimpse of hurt reflecting in those emerald eyes as she stomped away. But she was fighting like hell to keep that woman buried. Why? Then the answer came to him like an epiphany. Perhaps it was easier to pick a fight than tell him the truth. The truth she knew full well he was going to demand as soon as they got back to their motel. It was a defense mechanism he’d effectively played many times himself. Oh, this girl was good . . .

“I know what you’re doing, and it’s not going to work.”

Oh, she very much doubted that he did. Aiden fired up the Escape and when a hurricane of cold air blasted Rya

“Rya

She didn’t want to look at him. She feared if she did, he’d see the truth. The truth of how much that kiss in there affected her. How having him pull her against him and call her his girl melted one more layer of ice she’d been working so hard to build around her heart. Watching him stake his claim as he grappled for control, when she knew he wanted to hit that guy for flirting with her, made Rya

If she wasn’t careful, she was going to lose her heart to this man. Especially after the kindness and concern he’d shown for her in the station. She no longer had any doubt he would help her. Aiden had his chance to leave her, and he hadn’t taken it. Gratitude fractured her last vestiges of control, and the willpower she’d been clinging to in an attempt to keep them from crossing the line she’d redrawn this morning was all but shredded.

So no, he didn’t know what she was doing. He had no idea how hard it was for her not to leap across this center console and throw herself at him right now. And to think he might actually have been jealous! The idea warmed her to her very core, because she knew men like Aiden did not get jealous. So if he was, even a little bit, did that mean just maybe he felt something for her, too? The hope that blossomed in her chest had swiftly scared the shit out of her, which in turn had spurred her to lash out in a failed attempt at self-preservation.

“Rya

When his second request got the same result, he reached over and gently but firmly took her chin, turning her head to face him. Damn, he was too gorgeous for words . . .

“You’re going to have to talk about it, you know. Fighting with me and pushing me away isn’t doing either one of us any favors. You’ve gotta help me help you, Rya