Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
“It is,” I admit. “But my job keeps me busy, so it doesn’t happen as often as I’d like.”
She nods, her fingers absentmindedly fiddling with the chain of her necklace. “I can’t imagine what it’s like, having siblings. It’s just me and my dad. He’s always been so protective, which I appreciate, but…” She trails off, her eyes flicking to the floor.
“But sometimes it feels like too much,” I finish for her, and her head snaps up, her eyes wide.
“Exactly,” she says, a small smile tugging at her lips. “It’s like you’re reading my mind.”
I chuckle softly. “Maybe I am.”
The tension in the room shifts, softening into something warmer, something deeper. For the first time, it feels like we’re not just two people thrown together by circumstance but like we’re truly getting to know each other.
And I realize, sitting here with her in this quiet moment, that I don’t want this to end. I don’t want her to leave once the job is done.
I want more moments like this. With her.
Chapter 6
Tory
I head to the bedroom after saying goodnight to Ranger, the soft creak of the floorboards beneath my feet the only sound in the quiet house. My body is exhausted, but my mind feels like it’s running a marathon I can’t keep up with.
The room feels larger and emptier than it did earlier, as though the air itself is holding its breath. I change into a pair of soft sleep shorts and an oversized T-shirt, pulling my hair into a messy ponytail before slipping into bed. The sheets are cool against my skin, but even as I sink into the plush mattress, I know sleep won’t come easily.
Ranger is still here, somewhere down the hall, probably reading or checking the locks like he always does. And for some reason, that knowledge is a comfort. I feel him here, even when I can’t see him—this steady, quiet presence that makes everything seem just a little bit safer, calmer.
Reaching for my phone on the nightstand, I dial my father’s number. It rings three times before he picks up, his voice brisk but not unkind. “Tory. How are you, sweetheart?”
I smile faintly, the sound of his voice familiar and grounding. “I’m okay, Dad. How’s everything going with the Summit?”
“It’s fine. We’re finalizing the agenda for tomorrow.” He sounds tired—he always does when he’s this deep into his work—but there’s an edge of worry in his tone, one I recognize instantly. “Are you staying close to your security detail?”
My heart skips a beat at the word security, a dull ache settling in my chest. I hesitate for a second before answering. “Yes, Dad. Ranger’s… really good at his job.”
“That’s good to hear,” he replies with obvious relief. “I trust him to keep you safe.”
Safe. That’s what this is about. That’s all Ranger is here for—keeping me safe. It shouldn’t bother me, but it does. Because Ranger isn’t just a bodyguard to me anymore. He’s something else. Something I can’t quite define.
“Everything’s fine here,” I assure him, forcing lightness into my tone. “You don’t need to worry about me. Focus on your work.”
“You know I’ll always worry about you, Tory,” he says softly. “Call me tomorrow, all right?”
“I will. Goodnight, Dad.”
“Goodnight.”
The line goes dead, and I set my phone back on the nightstand, staring up at the ceiling as the quiet of the room settles around me like a heavy blanket.
I should feel relieved that my father is okay, that everything is going according to plan. Soon, this will all be over, and I’ll be back with him, back to my normal life of research, routine, and solitude.
But the thought leaves me hollow.
Because that means leaving Ranger behind.
The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. I’ll have to say goodbye to him. To the man who’s made me feel more alive in the short time I’ve known him than I’ve felt in years. To the man who kissed me so thoroughly, so completely, I can still feel the ghost of his lips on mine.
No one has ever kissed me like that before. No one has ever looked at me like he does, like I’m more than just a quiet, overprotected science nerd.
I shift beneath the covers, rolling onto my side and hugging the pillow closer to me. The ache in my chest deepens, spreading to every limb like a slow burn. I miss him, and he’s not even far away. He’s just down the hall, but the distance feels like miles.
I close my eyes, willing myself to sleep, but all I see is him—Ranger leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed, watching me with that quiet intensity that makes my pulse stumble. Ranger kissing me, his mouth warm and demanding, like he couldn’t get enough of me.
I want more of that. I crave it in a way I don’t understand, a way that terrifies me.