Rogue Beast (The Rourkes #12) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,10

she is whether that’s tough or gentle.”

“True,” I say.

“Absolutely,” Sean chimes in.

Josie gives him a sweet smile before turning back to me. “Anyway, I just want you to understand where she’s coming from. She’s really the sweetest person, but even someone sweet, when they feel threatened, will do whatever they need to do to protect themselves. She needed to not look weak and alone. I’m sure that’s why she blurted she was with you.”

“I’m fine with it.” And I really am. I’m more worried about her safety. “Now I get why she hired a bodyguard. Why don’t you hire a bodyguard?”

She smiles at my brother. “I’ve got Sean. No one’s going to mess with him.”

Sean’s chest puffs out for a moment before he tucks fish and vegetables into a parchment pouch. “The moment I think it’s called for, we’ll hire a guard. So far, Josie hasn’t attracted that kind of attention. I do look out for her in public, and this place is wired for security.” He gives Josie a stern look. “I already told her once we have kids, a guard is nonnegotiable.”

Josie blows him a kiss.

I can’t help but feel bad for Harper. To feel threatened like that, to have her home violated. The stuff of nightmares. It could’ve been so much worse too.

Josie turns to me. “You two should go out for real now.”

I hold up a palm. “She was just saving face.”

Josie presses on. “You guys are both so sweet. I think you should go for it.”

I lean close to get in her face, making sure she gets how serious I am. “Josie, she’s got enough going on. I’d just be adding to her stress after our run-in yesterday, her breakup, and the fallout from the press.” Not to mention feeling threatened by random men. That’s just wrong.

Sean and Josie turn curious eyes on me. “Your run-in?” they say in near unison.

“I thought you just had a nice talk,” Sean says.

I rub my scruffy jaw and fill them in on Harper’s mistaking me for her guard, along with her extreme embarrassment when she realized it. “I don’t want to stress her any more.”

“Oh my God, this is all so adorable!” Josie exclaims. “A case of mistaken identity.”

Sean shakes his head, smiling, and continues assembling parchment packets.

“I doubt Harper thought it was adorable,” I say.

Josie picks up her phone and starts texting.

I stiffen. “You’re texting her, aren’t you?”

She smiles, still texting merrily. “I just told her you’re here for dinner, and you asked me to pass along that you hope she’s okay.”

It sounds like the right note to hit without putting any pressure on her. “I guess that’s alright.”

Josie texts for so long the hair on the back of my neck stands up. She did something, didn’t she? A step too far.

“Are you talking about me?” I ask.

Josie puts her phone down and gives me her wide-eyed innocent look. The woman is never innocent of anything. “No big. Just let her know how awesome you are from my insider point of view, and that if she wants a friendly ear, to get in touch with you anytime to chat.”

I clench my jaw. “I didn’t agree to that last part. She’ll think I asked you to do that and feel pressured.” And it makes me look desperate again. “Come on, Josie. Do ya think I can’t get a woman on my own? You’re making me look bad.”

She turns to my brother. “It was a harmless add-on, right, Sean?”

Sean puts dinner in the oven, saying, “Don’t get me in the middle of your sneaky matchmaking ways.”

Josie turns back to me and lifts her chin. “I’m not sorry. You should be thanking me.”

I bite back a sharp retort.

She flutters her lashes at me. Ridiculous. I’m still mad.

I narrow my eyes at her and take a pull on my beer. My phone vibrates with a text.

Harper: I’m okay, but thanks for the offer to chat.

“It’s her, right? What’d she say?” Josie asks eagerly.

I take a sip of beer, playing it cool, ignoring the sting of rejection. I guess a little hope snuck in there. “She said so long.”

“Oh.” She rubs my arm. “Sorry, Garrett. I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

Whatever. I’m tired of hoping for things that don’t work out. I’ve decided fate will put the right woman in my path. Harper Ellis simply isn’t her.

“How do you feel about an older woman?” Josie chirps. “The woman who plays the matriarch of the family on my show is single. She’s