Page 89 of Duty Unbound

I crossed to the windows, drawn by the incredible landscape. “It’s beautiful. What state are we in?”

“Colorado. San Luis Valley. This is the Flying C Ranch—where I was born and raised.”

That got my attention. I turned to face him, leaning against the windowsill. “This is where you grew up?”

“Sure is,” he confirmed, flipping the bacon. “Why do you look so surprised?”

“I don’t know. I guess I pictured you being conceived in atest tube at some military facility somewhere. Born fully formed with tactical gear already strapped on.”

He laughed, the sound rich and relaxed in a way I rarely heard at work. “Sorry to disappoint. I’m just a regular ranch kid who liked climbing trees and riding horses a little too fast.”

I couldn’t quite reconcile the image of little Ethan racing horses with the commanding security expert who controlled rooms with his presence. But something about it made him even more appealing.

“Coffee?” he asked, interrupting my thoughts.

“Please.”

He poured from a steaming pot, adding a spoonful of sugar before sliding the mug across the counter to me. No cream—exactly how I liked it.

“You remembered,” I said, wrapping my hands around the warm ceramic.

“I notice things.” The simple statement contained multitudes. Of course he did. Noticing things was what made him exceptional at his job. But the fact that he’d applied that same careful attention to how I took my coffee made my chest feel strangely tight.

I watched him move around the kitchen, efficient and at ease as he managed eggs and bacon and what looked like homemade biscuits in the oven. The domesticity of it struck me—this dangerous man in worn jeans and a Henley, making breakfast as morning sun streamed through the windows.

I caught a glimpse inside the fridge as he opened it. “This place seems pretty well stocked for somewhere you don’t live full time. Did you have groceries delivered?”

A hint of color touched his cheeks. “My mom did it, probably. I called my parents yesterday to let them know I was coming and asked them to leave a car at the airport for us. She likely stocked up the place while she was at it.”

“Your parents live here too?”

“In the main house, a couple miles that way.” He nodded toward the east. “They sold off a chunk of the property about ten years ago. The money from that lets them live comfortably, but they still keep some animals around. Horses, sheep, a few cows. Plus, about a dozen cats and dogs at the barn.”

“I’d like to see it,” I said, surprised by how much I meant it.

“After breakfast.” He transferred perfectly cooked eggs to two plates. “We’ll take the truck over.”

We ate at a small table positioned to maximize the view. Ethan ate with the focused efficiency I recognized from quick meals during security shifts, but there was a relaxed set to his shoulders I rarely saw.

“Thank you,” I said when we’d finished. “For breakfast. For bringing me here. For…everything.”

He reached across the table, taking my hand in his. “You needed a break.”

“We both did.” I squeezed his fingers. “Though I’m guessing your team has strict instructions to call if anything happens.”

“Of course,” he admitted with a crooked smile. “But Logan can handle things. His specialty is keeping Nova safe. Mine is keeping you sane.”

“Is that in your job description now? Manager management?”

He traced circles on my palm with his thumb, sending shivers up my arm. “Definitely not in any job description. This is strictly personal.”

The heat in his eyes made me duck my head, suddenly shy despite everything we’d already shared.

“Come on,” he said, releasing my hand. “Let’s go see those animals you’re so curious about.”

Ethan’s “truck” turned out to be a battered blue Ford that had clearly seen better decades. He caught my skeptical look and laughed.

“She’s reliable,” he promised, patting the hood affectionately. “Just because she’s old doesn’t mean she doesn’t have value.”