His Lover to Protect - Katee Robert Page 0,27

Preikestolen. His mouth, her body, hours lost. She shouldn’t be so distracted by a man she barely knew, but if he was here through coincidence—and, really, what other logical reason would have put him at the top of that cliff at the same time as her?—the universe couldn’t be more clear than if it’d put up a big sign over his head that read Pay attention to him!

The problem was, she was still having a hell of a time believing that it was a coincidence. He could be a killer who’s stalking me. Even as the thought crossed her mind, she discarded it. If he were going to murder her and wear her skin as a birthday suit, he had more than enough opportunity in Cork when she was in his room, sleeping and vulnerable. And that cliff they’d just scaled—yeah, he could’ve pushed her right off it.

Alexis had her plan when she hopped that white-knuckled flight out of Philadelphia, but she hadn’t shared it with anyone. She’d picked a few places that had been important, either to her or to her mother. To anyone on the outside looking in, they’d be completely random and impossible to anticipate.

She’d only told…

She shot a look at him, slouched and glaring out the windshield. The only person she’d told was Avery. Surely her sister wouldn’t have… Alexis nearly cursed aloud. Of course Avery would. And even if she wouldn’t, Drew most certainly would. “Do you know Drew Flannery or Avery Yeung?” Even as she asked, part of her whispered please, please, please don’t be true.

Luke yawned. “Who?” Not even so much of a twitch at their names. If he had been sent here to babysit her, surely he would have given himself away?

She didn’t know. There was no way to tell for sure, but the possibility seemed less and less likely the more she thought about it. Where the hell would they have found this man, after all? She might not be as close to Drew as her sister was, but he wouldn’t have just contracted some random guy. He was far too overprotective for that, and no way would Avery have stood for it. Still… “What branch of the military did you say you were part of?”

Another yawn. “Marines.”

Well, that was that. Drew’s brother, Ryan, was Air Force. It didn’t mean he didn’t have contact with Marines, but anyone he trusted enough to send after her would be someone he’d worked with—someone he trusted with his own life, let alone hers. Which obviously wasn’t Luke. Honestly, she couldn’t see this angry man and nice guy Ryan having a single conversation, let alone spending enough time together to create a friendship.

Thank God.

It truly was just a coincidence that he’d ended up here the same time she had. Alexis nodded to herself and turned into the parking lot of the lodge. Good. And if I’m going in for a penny, I might as well go in for a pound. She shut off the car and looked at him. “Don’t bother booking a room. You’ll be with me tonight.”

Chapter Nine

After that damning proclamation, Luke should have told her to go to hell. As much as he’d wanted to strip her down up on Pulpit Rock, now he was so tired, he’d be lucky if he didn’t pass out right here in the passenger seat of this tiny-ass car. But the lure of a bed and a hot shower got him moving when Alexis climbed out of the driver’s seat. “Sorry, princess, I’m not really in the mood anymore.”

“That’s cute, but I wasn’t talking about sex. I’m afraid if I leave you alone, you’re going to end up unconscious and suffering from that hypothermia you were so worried about.”

Right. She wasn’t concerned with getting him naked—she just wanted to make sure his weak ass didn’t hurt himself. “In the immortal words of Princess Alexis—I can take care of myself.”

She glanced over her shoulder long enough to glare at him. “Could you tone down on the caveman charm for a few minutes? You’re going to scare the villagers, and then we’ll be dealing with torches and pitchforks.”

Like they’d gone after Frankenstein. “You have no idea how accurate that description is.” Most days he felt like he’d been pieced together, his body no longer his own. There wasn’t a mad doctor waiting in the wings, laughing maniacally, though. It was just him, a prisoner crippled by his boatload of issues.

They walked through the lobby, and she led the