To Love Someone (Baytown Boys #14) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,40

sofa, and he forced his gaze not to settle on her but to continue taking in the space. On the opposite side were more overhead cabinets, a counter with a tiny sink, microwave, two-burner stovetop, and a mini-fridge.

A cabinet with a small flatscreen TV faced the sofa, and directly in the back, he spied the bed and minuscule closet. A door was closed, but he’d been in enough campers in his travels to know the shower, toilet, and sink were there. The entire area was neat and yet with touches of color creating warmth.

Now, he dropped his gaze to her and wished he could wipe away the frustrated expression on her face. A small shelf over the TV caught his attention, and he stepped forward to inspect the small statuettes. Gandolf. Gimli the Dwarf. Legolas the Elf. Frodo and Samwise the Hobbits. Frodo and Sam. Fuck me.

Feeling the heat of her glare on his neck, he turned. His heart squeezed as he watched the myriad of emotions cross her open face. The tinge of embarrassed blush. The indignant fire in her eyes. The defense in her crossed-arm posture.

“You’re the first person who’s been in here. Thanks for reminding me why I don’t invite others.”

Her words were snapped, but he recognized the loneliness in her tone. “I’ve stayed in a lot of campers.” His statement had the desired effect as she sat erect, curiosity now in her eyes. “This is a nice one.”

She hesitated, then said, “If you’re making fun of—”

“Not at all.” He shook his head for emphasis. “I’m serious. I’ve traveled around a lot. Didn’t always want to stay in a hotel, so I’d look for campgrounds that had campers to rent for a few nights, a few weeks, even occasionally, a few months.” He reluctantly shifted his gaze from her face to scan the room again. “Stayed in some decent ones and a few that were downright shitty. This one is real nice.”

“So, why did you act the way you did when you found I live here?”

“Seriously, Samantha?”

She jumped to her feet, her hands spread out to the side. “Yes, Joseph. I don’t know you well enough to read your mind, so I have no idea what you’re thinking.”

Frodo, reacting to the tone in Samantha’s voice, lifted his head, a warning growl rumbling from his chest. Samantha looked over and sighed. “Frodo. I’m fine.” With that, the large dog laid his head back down on his paws but kept his eyes on the couple.

Joseph only had to take one step forward and was directly in her space, looking down once more, seeing how she’d tuck perfectly underneath his chin. She tilted her head back to hold his gaze. “You’re a woman. Alone. Living way out here with no neighbors around. Your camper’s nice, but it wouldn’t take much for someone to bust in.”

“I know how to take care of myself. I was in the Army, remember? And yes… I have a gun in here.”

Now it was his turn to sigh, but before he had a chance to speak, she jumped in.

“I’m not stupid… I know that someone my size would have a hard time with an intruder, but between Frodo and the locked doors and windows, I would have the upper hand before anyone made it in here. Plus, I’m out here where no one knows this place. The only one who knows is the old farmer who sold me this land and my staff.”

He nodded but watched her carefully. Her body was strung tight, her lips pinched. The odds of him convincing her she was unsafe were minimal right now. And he really didn’t want to get kicked out. “Okay.”

Her eyes were still narrowed as though she was trying to figure him out. He almost chuckled. Many had tried but few succeeded. But her… yeah, she just might do it.

Shoving his hand through his hair, he thought over his words carefully. “I admit I was surprised but didn’t expect you to live in a mansion. I’m sorry, though. I didn’t mean to make you feel self-conscious. Hell, I’ve had enough people look at my life and wonder what the fuck I was doing. I should know better than to do that to someone else.”

His apology or his explanation must have hit the target because the tension in her shoulders left and her lips curved slightly. She stepped around him and grabbed the beer she’d placed on the counter. Handing it to him, she said, “With everything else,