her, but he couldn’t contain the hint of excitement in his voice at the hope her claim might prove to be true.
It was the threat, however, that had her clutching on to the vanity counter to steel her nerves. “I won’t let you down.” She ended the call before he could say more, then powered off the phone.
Her heart hammered wildly and with fierce intensity. “What am I doing?” she wondered, eyes on the mirror where steam gradually worked to hide her reflection.
After a few calming breaths, she hid the phone in her bag and peeled off her clothes to go through the motions of showering before changing into clean clothes.
She put on a sheer white bra and panty set beneath her white, loose-fitting V-neck tee paired with pale green shorts. Her hair was still wet, but she hadn’t thought to bring a hair dryer, so she tied it into a side braid, added a little mascara, then went to find A.J.
From the smell of it, A.J. was cooking. Well, maybe burning something.
The man had proven through his words and his actions he was in this until the end, and he was there to protect her. Maybe a part of her did want him in her corner, though she’d be reluctant to admit that to him.
A.J.’s protectiveness didn’t seem to bother her the way Kyle’s had. Then again, Kyle’s protective nature always felt like it stemmed from a place of control. Or maybe she’d just always kept walls between them. Walls he continually worked to demolish—without success. He finally gave up and left her. And honestly, she’d been relieved he’d stopped trying.
A.J. was offering to teach her how to open up instead of demanding that she do it like Kyle had done. And she found herself wanting to accept A.J.’s invitation.
What was different now? Was it him or the fact her world changed four months ago when Porter came to her in Charlotte with a special assignment?
“That doesn’t sound good,” Ana shouted over the shrill blare of a smoke alarm upon entering the kitchen. She waved smoke from her face as A.J. cursed and tossed a sizzling hot pan into the sink and quickly turned on the faucet to douse the . . . blackened chicken? “I thought you knew how to cook.”
Ana couldn’t help but giggle as she watched A.J. plant his hands on his hips and stare at what was supposed to be their dinner. The smoke detector stopped beeping, and he arched his shoulders back before turning to face her. “I do, but it’s been a while. I took a phone call and forgot the stove was on.”
“Ah. That happens.” She smiled and maneuvered around the kitchen island to be nearer to him. “And now aren’t you glad I insisted on buying the frozen pizza?”
“You were right, madam,” he said while preheating the oven.
“Who was on the phone?” Work?
“Jessica. She has an update, but I told her I’d like her to share the news with you as well, so we’ll have a video call with her soon. You know, since I’m trying to be open and honest with ya.” He took off the white apron that read SEALs ARE BETTER in bold crimson letters and tossed it onto the counter.
Ana stifled a laugh. “Let me guess, you got that for your buddy as a housewarming gift?”
“Damn straight.” He’d changed clothes and was now wearing navy blue cargo shorts, a gray V-neck, and black flip-flops. She did a quick and hopefully discreet scan of his lower half since it was the first time she’d seen the man in shorts. He had the perfect amount of drool-worthy muscles on his tan legs. His feet were tan too, strong looking like those of a surfer. And when did I start finding that sexy? “We like to rag on each other.”
“I can see that.” Ana rested a hip against the counter and watched him slowly close the space between them, coming to a stop mere inches from her.
Taken off guard, her breath hitched when he leaned in, braced a hand on the marble countertop off to her side, and sniffed her neck like she was the Alabama state flower. “Mmm, coconut. You tried Patty’s soap, didn’t ya?” he murmured in her ear.
His warm breath caressed her neck, and when she drew in a shaky gasp, their chests lightly touched. Oh geez. She reached her arms back and grabbed the edge of the counter, holding on for dear life. The warm, tingling