Free Natural-Born Protector / Saved by the Monarch by Carla Cassidy Page A

he could think about was her offer for a meaningless summer fling.
    “Did you mean what you said last night or was it just nerves talking?” he asked as she rejoined him on the sofa.
    “You mean about being attracted to you? About being open for an uncommitted relationship?” She didn’t meet his gaze, but rather stared down at her hands in her lap, nerves jangling in her stomach.
    He reached for one of her hands, and it was only then that her gaze met his. “It wasn’t nerves,” she said. “And I meant what I said, but I want you to know that I don’t go around offering myself to men like this on a regular basis.” Her cheeks filled with color.
    He loved the fact that she blushed. He found that telltale color in her cheeks charming. “I know that,” hereplied. He released her hand and leaned back, not wanting to rush her, rush anything between them. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had any kind of a relationship with any woman.”
    “How long has your wife been gone?”
    “Two years. She died of breast cancer.” His voice felt strained even to his own ears.
    She was quiet for a moment. “That’s a long time to be alone,” she finally replied.
    “I’m not alone. I have Maddie.”
    She frowned. “Not that it’s any of my business, but she seems to be angry with you.”
    “She is.” His heart constricted as it always did when he thought of his daughter. “She doesn’t want me to take the job with Wild West Protective Services. She’s been angry with me since I sold our ranch and she certainly isn’t shy about telling anyone who will listen.”
    She smiled. “She doesn’t seem to be shy about much of anything. Now I understand a question she asked me the other day.”
    “What question was that?”
    “Which I liked better, cowboys or bodyguards,” she replied.
    Hank winced. “She’s made it clear to me that she prefers cowboys. I just hope she stops being angry with me before she reaches the volatile teen years.”
    Melody laughed, then sobered slightly. “It’s obvious she loves you very much.”
    “She’s my heart,” he replied gruffly, surprised by the wealth of emotion that suddenly rose up in the back of his throat.
    Needing to get his daughter out of his head, he leaned over and touched the band securing her ponytail. “Do you mind? I’ve been thinking about letting your hair down all evening.”
    “I don’t mind,” she said, her voice a little bit breathless.
    Gently he pulled the cloth-covered elastic band from her hair, relishing the feel as the silky strands tumbled down around her shoulders and into his hands. “You have beautiful hair,” he said.
    “I always wanted to be a blonde,” she said as he continued to caress her hair and her shoulders. The bare skin of her shoulders was warm and achingly soft beneath his fingers. “You know, blondes have more fun and all that.” She leaned her head forward as his hands smoothed across the back of her neck. “Although at the moment I can’t imagine a blonde in the world who is having more fun than me.”
    He leaned in and placed his lips against the warm skin of her neck. “And I can’t think of a blonde in the world I want to be with right now,” he murmured.
    He knew they were moving too fast, but he didn’t care and she didn’t seem to care either. He didn’t want consequences in the morning or in the days to come from whatever happened here tonight, but his want of her was greater than his good sense.
    She turned in his arms to face him and he saw that the fire in her eyes matched the heat that burned in his groin. “We really don’t know each other well enough to even be considering this,” she said.
    “You’re right,” he agreed as he dragged his index finger over her lips.
    Her eyes flared darker. “I’m not looking for a relationship,” she said when his finger moved to the soft skin of her cheek. “I have a life to get back to.”
    “I told you last night, I’m not looking for anything