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The car pulled up to the most charming home she’d ever seen in real life.

The exterior was light wood with a steeply pitched roof, numerous large windows boasted wooden window boxes overflowing with petunias, and gleaming windows overlooked the green valley.

The view of the teal-colored lake and the towering mountains outside those windows would be glorious.

The house was three stories with a delightful wraparound porch.

Lizzy yanked on her door handle as soon as the vehicle stopped. It didn’t open, and panic made her chest tight. “Please … can you open my door?”

“Please sit tight for just a few more moments,” Peter said. “Tony and Elijah need to perform a scan of the property’s interior and exterior while Joshua sets up cameras. I will stay in the vehicle with you until we’ve determined it’s safe.”

“I’m not some movie star.” She doubted Grady Worthen had the resources to follow her here.

“You’re more important,” Peter said.

She didn’t know how to respond to that. “Thank you,” she managed. She was grateful they were taking her security so seriously.

“Of course, ma’am.”

Three of the men exited the SUV. Lizzy waited with hands clasped in her lap.

It was instinct to pull out her phone and check texts, emails, or social media, but she studied the lush greenery around her instead.

She wanted to disconnect from her phone and the world and savor this beauty for the next two weeks.

If only she could run through the green fields singing, ‘The hills are alive with the sound of music’.

She would settle for walking and singing instead.

Madelyne had explained in her emails that she had adventures and tours set up for Lizzy and her companion throughout the next two weeks. Lizzy would be safe, have a grand adventure in the Austrian Alps, and be gifted a hundred thousand dollars for The Safe Spot.

It was all a dream come true. If only she could get her heart rate to slow down.

What would this friend of Brandon and Rockwell’s be like, and how close did Lizzy have to get to him over the two weeks?

She hated that she instantly put up a shield in front of any tough man, but she’d learned the behavior throughout her life, and Darren and then Grady’s attacks had taken her fears to night terrors.

Another Mercedes-Benz silver SUV pulled into the driveway.

Lizzy’s chest tightened as her heart raced even faster.

A single man climbed out of the driver’s seat.

She thought she’d had her mouth gaping and eyes wide as she’d surveyed the scenery, but taking in this man’s appearance and stature felt far too similar.

He was a well-built man.

Despite her programmed fears, she found herself mesmerized by him. It was an unsettling mix, similar to when she’d met Darren, and that put her on edge.

The muscles in the man’s arms, chest, and shoulders were all too evident, even through the material of his short-sleeve button-down shirt.

His jeans fit nicely over appealing thigh muscles.

He had closely cropped sandy-blond hair, eyes as blue as the lake behind him, an attractive and manly face, and an engaging and easy smile.

He wasn’t model-handsome like Darren, but he held his own in the looks department.

“Just one more moment, ma’am,” the driver said to her, obviously noticing she was itching to get out of this car.

“Of course.” She tried to recline into the seat, but she was too keyed up.

Was she excited to greet the man she’d spend fourteen days with, or was she fearful and anxious?

With muscles like his, and knowing he was her cohort for two weeks, she should be terrified.

But this man was also a hero, a retired Army Ranger and now a policeman, and Brandon, Madelyne, and Rockwell had vouched for him.

She’d told Rockwell she’d trust this one man. What had she been thinking?

Prayer. She’d prayed then and had felt settled.

She prayed now, but she was lacking faith.

The driver nodded as two of his men came back out of the house and onto the wide front porch and one gave him a signal of some sort. He pushed open his door and stepped back to open hers.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

Time to face the music.

She said one more prayer for protection, discernment, and bravery. Her hands trembled as she climbed out and her legs felt gooier than Jell-O.

The blue-eyed man’s gaze zeroed in on her. The warm welcome in those eyes made her heart race faster, but for a different reason than her fear.

She wobbled and leaned into the door, putting a hand over her knife wound.

Peter turned to her with concern. “Ma’am?”

Lizzy forced a smile. “I’m fine, Peter. Thank you. Just too many hours sitting on my rear in an airplane and in a car.” She wasn’t about to tell him about the weakness in her legs. All of them would notice sooner or later.

“I hear you.” He gave her a genuine smile. They both turned at footsteps approaching.

Lizzy stared as the blue-eyed man approached her. She didn’t have the strength to straighten away from the car door just yet. The confidence and kindness this man radiated had her knees weak and her hands trembling.

Peter stepped forward, blocking her view of the handsome blond man and shaking his hand.

They conferred in low voices. She couldn’t hear what they were saying.

Finally, Peter drew back and gestured to her.

“Miss Eliza Birmingham, allow me to introduce your adventure companion for the next two weeks, retired Army Ranger Lieutenant Chase Tenley.”

Peter didn’t appear to know fanfare. Lizzy could’ve made that introduction much more dazzling. She hid a smile and forced herself to step forward, grateful her legs supported her.

Chase had his hand out. She placed hers in it.

He grasped her hand in a firm but somehow gentle way.

His smile was welcoming, blinding really.

He wouldn’t be considered classically handsome, but he appealed to her with his well-honed muscles, blue eyes, even facial features, and incredible smile.

He had to be over six feet tall, as he had her five-eight by at least half a foot.

“A pleasure, Miss Birmingham.” His deep, lyrical voice interrupted her worries. “With a name like that, you must be from the South.”

There was a twang in his voice that said he was from the South, but his voice was smooth like a jazz singer.

“Lizzy, please, and sadly, no,” she said. “I’m from a small town in Kansas nobody’s ever heard of.”

“Try me.” Chase’s smile was glorious, and he hadn’t released her hand yet.

Instead, he softened his grip and held on as if he really enjoyed the feel of his palm against hers.

Warm tingles radiated from his fingertips brushing gently against the back of her hand.

The attraction caused a dual reaction. She wanted to keep holding his hand and run away at the same time.

“Eudora,” she said, realizing her legs felt strengthened as he held her hand and they exchanged smiles.

“Okay, you got me,” Chase said. “Is it close to anything?”

“No, sir.”

“Ah … yes, ma’am . You sound like you’re from the South.”

She laughed at that, and he joined her.

“I like you,” she declared, forcing herself to be open to being friends. Her natural impetuousness overpowered her lingering concerns. “Can we be friends?”

His grin became irresistible, and she almost forgot all her reservations. “Absolutely,” he said, his thumb trailing enticingly over her hand.

Warmth filled her from the simple touch, his gaze, and his words.

“Thank you for being so welcoming and gracious,” he continued. “I appreciate ya.”

Had he been nervous to meet her? His words and the relief in his eyes said he had.

She relaxed even more. “I appreciate y’all.”

He laughed, and she startled.

“What was funny about that? Did I do the accent wrong?”

“No,” he assured her, his smile enticing. “I loved your accent but y’all generally refers to more than one person.”

His voice was sensual. She was drawn to it.

“Well … maybe I was including Peter.”

Their head guard had stoically stood to the side as they greeted each other. Lizzy had almost dismissed their need for guards, the danger she’d been in, her fears, and even the epic scenery as she met and flirted with Chase.

Did she need to be more cautious, not proclaim she wanted to be friends within moments of meeting him? Most likely. Even with her past experiences and fears, it was difficult to bury her inclinations to be verbose, happy, and open.

“Forgive me. Of course you were including Peter.” His smile and the twinkle in his blue eyes said he knew she wasn’t.

“Which part of the South are you from?”

“Marietta Georgia, just north of Atlanta.”

“And are you wealthy and a womanizer like your friend Brandon Richards?”

Maybe she shouldn’t have asked that.

Chase’s eyes widened. He released her hand and folded his thick arms across his chest. She felt the loss of his touch clear through.

Her legs went weak again, and she wanted something to lean into.

She stood, tightening her muscles as best she could.

For most of her life, she’d been granted strength and conditioning coaches and a free gym that helped her manage her cerebral palsy.

Today, her muscles were weary, and she feared she’d walk with her knees bowed in like she hated to do.

“No, ma’am,” Chase answered her. “I’m as humble as Brandon is wealthy, and I rarely date.”

Could she believe him? She looked him over, trying to ascertain if she could trust his words. She couldn’t contain the hope growing inside of her or her smile. “I love it! If you’re telling the truth, I think we can be great friends.”

He chuckled at that, not seeming offended by her comment. “I make it a habit to tell the truth, and I hope we can be great friends, seeing as we’re stuck together for the next two weeks.”

She gestured around. “I’m sorry you’re stuck with me, but the scenery is incredible.”

He didn’t look away from her face. “I agree about the scenery, and I don’t mind being stuck with you. Not at all.”

Lizzy’s face flared with warmth. He was flirting with her. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy, and he was definitely attractive.

These two weeks might be incredible.

But then again, all of her former boyfriends had been charming and kind when they first met.

You fall for the wrong guy every single time, her inner voice cried out.

Lizzy took a step back and broke eye contact. She’d be wise to take this slow. No matter what hidden agenda Brandon and Madelyne had for the two of them being paired these two weeks together, she had to be smart and aware.

She could enjoy this adventure, but she had to guard her heart.