Page 14 of Protective Assignment (Warrior Peak Sanctuary #1)

Glancing around to make sure her bedroom door was firmly shut, River knelt beside her bed and pulled out the shoebox she’d found in the supply closet.

Inside, she had been stashing any small supplies she’d managed to take from the main lodge.

It wasn’t much, but it was something—something she could focus on, something she could use to plan for the time when she had to move on, even if it made her feel guilty just thinking about it.

She tucked another spool of thread into the box, doing her best to push the guilt aside.

She knew she couldn’t stay forever; this was a temporary stop to rest and regroup before she moved on to find her family.

She was really starting to settle in and enjoying her new day-to-day.

It was going to be hard for her to leave when the time came.

Slipping the box back into place, she sighed and sat on the edge of her bed.

It was strange to even think about leaving, after everything she had been through to bring her here.

Living on the road had come so naturally to her before, but now that she had found this little corner of safety and security, leaving again seemed downright impossible.

How was she supposed to just walk away from this place, especially when everyone had been so kind to her?

At first she didn’t give it much thought, assuming the others had ulterior motives for letting her stay.

But the longer she’d been here, she realized differently.

They were friendly and helpful to everyone; after all, that was what this place was about, helping and healing.

That was what she had to keep reminding herself.

Not everything or everyone was out to harm her or cause her trouble.

Just because she had been so used to it in her old life and always had to stay on guard didn’t mean anyone here was looking to do the same thing.

No matter how easy it would have been to believe it, she had to give them the benefit of the doubt until they gave her reason to think otherwise.

Hannah had been so sweet to her, and Xavier had given her a job.

And Cade…well, Cade had been going around and around her head in a way she didn’t know if she could deny any longer.

Being near him, which she was a lot these days with them living together, made it feel like everything was going to be okay.

Instead of the usual chaos in her mind, she felt like she could take a step back and relax.

She knew it was dangerous to let her guard down in any way, especially around him.

There seemed to be some invisible force that pulled them together when they were around each other, especially alone.

It would be a bad thing for her to get any more involved with him than she was already.

He hardly knew anything about her but he seemed to care about her, even without all the specifics about her past and where she’d come from.

Maybe that would all change when he found out the truth, if she ever told him everything. All the more reason to keep it from him, she decided.

Outside her door, she heard Cade arrive, and she quickly checked to make sure the box was hidden out of view under her bed.

Even though she had given him no reason to doubt her, she was always paranoid he would catch her doing something out of the normal and ask her questions she didn’t want to answer.

The last thing she needed was for him to figure out she was stealing supplies from the lodge and turn her in.

They would definitely ask her to leave or, worse, notify the cops and have her taken away.

Taking a deep breath to settle her nerves, she stepped out of her room, and Cade raised his eyebrows when he saw her.

“I thought you were up at the lodge still,” he remarked.

She shook her head. “Sorry, I’m here.”

“No need to apologize,” he replied, as he dropped his bag on the floor next to the couch.

“How was your day?” she asked, biting her lip as she watched him pull off his jacket. When he moved, the muscles beneath his shirt bulged slightly, and she felt a little tingle in her stomach.

“It was good,” he replied, grinning. “I helped do a little gardening out near the edge of the forest. It’s pretty out here this time of year. I also ran into Aaron, the handyman. We chatted a little and checked out the horses.”

She returned his smile. “It really is nice. I heard the horses the other day when I was exploring a little. I actually meant to ask you or Hannah about them.”

“We could walk over and see them sometime and maybe check out one of the trails while we’re at it,” he suggested.

“They do seem pretty quiet this time of year. I think I’d like them.”

“Have you been hiking?” he asked. “Before you came out here, I mean?”

She shook her head. “Not as much as I’d like.”

“So there’s still plenty for you to explore,” he agreed.

She nodded, her teeth resting on her bottom lip as she watched him. She couldn’t help looking at his arms again. They were big, strong. The way they filled out his shirt, she wondered what they’d feel like wrapped around her.

She drew her gaze away from him, cursing herself for making it so obvious. She suddenly felt like a schoolgirl with a crush on a cute boy. She needed to get herself together. She couldn’t just keep hanging around him like this, obsessing over every little moment they had together.

“I’m going to take a shower,” she suddenly announced. She hurried into her room to grab her stuff, slipped into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

She leaned back against the door and breathed deeply, trying to pull herself together.

What was she doing? She needed to snap out of it.

She couldn’t let herself get attached to him.

Even if he was the first guy to treat her kindly, maybe ever.

She knew how much trouble she would be in if she allowed herself to get tied down, when what she needed was to keep her feet moving, keep herself heading toward her end goal.

Undressing, she flicked on the shower to let it warm up. The hot water could be seriously temperamental here, so she never took it for granted. She stepped underneath the rush of water, closing her eyes and tipping her head back, letting all her stress fade away.

See? She could do this. She was fine. She was still planning for what she was going to do next.

A few weeks here to get her feet under her again, to get some decent food and rest. Save up some supplies.

Then she could set out and look for her family once more.

It might not have been easy, doing it like this, but it was easier than being out on the road with no idea where her next meal was coming from or—

“Ahhhhh!” she exclaimed, shrieking at the top of her lungs as the water suddenly turned from comfortably warm to freezing cold in an instant. She tried to jump back from the water, but bumped into the shower curtain behind her, bringing it crashing down around her.

“River?” Cade called out in a worried voice. She was too shocked and cold to speak. She grabbed the towel off the floor to try and warm herself up so she could tell him what had happened. But before she could answer him, the door flew open.

He looked panicked, his eyes darting around the bathroom and searching every corner before landing on her.

“Are you okay? What happened?” he demanded, catching her by the shoulders and looking into her eyes. “I heard you scream.”

“I… I’m…” she began, but the sight of him like that made it hard for her to speak.

He looked as though he was ready to fight whoever or whatever dared to cause her harm, ready to take on the unseen enemy on her behalf.

She’d never in her life had someone step forward to defend her in such a way.

She was stunned, grateful, excited…too many emotions to sort through in the short span of time.

Now, as they stood opposite each other in that tiny bathroom, with Cade’s strong hands gripping her arms, all she could do was stare at him.

He was breathing hard, his eyes swirling with emotion as they bore into hers, and she suddenly found herself unable to resist.

Before she could stop herself, she leaned forward and kissed him.

His hands were still on her shoulders, but they dropped to her waist as soon as their lips touched, and he drew her in close.

Their bodies pressed together, her arms went around his neck as his tongue slid into her mouth.

The moment his tongue touched hers, they both moaned and Cade pulled her tighter into his embrace.

It felt like time stopped and the only thing that mattered was the two of them, in that moment.

Every worry, every doubt vanished instantly.

She suddenly couldn’t remember why it was such a bad idea to start something with him.

She felt her heart slamming against her ribs, but this time, it wasn’t fear that had caused it—no, it was want, desire, a need for him she had been doing her best to deny all this time.

The towel was the only thing between them, and she thought about tossing it aside.

He groaned against her mouth as she tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled him impossibly closer.

She sank deeper into him, their bodies pressed together from chest to hips and she still wanted to be closer.

It was as though this was what they had both been waiting for since the moment they first laid eyes on one another.

And then, all at once, he pulled back. He was breathing hard, his lips slightly parted, his hands still gripping her waist and his eyes fixed on her, dark with desire.

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and taking a step back. It felt like there was suddenly an ocean of space between them.

“I’m sorry.” His voice sounded rough, and he forced his gaze from hers.

She furrowed her brow and shook her head. “No, Cade, I—”

“I shouldn’t have come in here like that,” he interrupted her, turning toward the door. “I’m sorry. I’ll let you finish your shower in peace.”

He quickly stepped out of the bathroom and pulled the door shut behind him, leaving her standing there wondering what had just happened.

She reached up to skim her fingers across her mouth, trying to hold on to the memory of his lips on hers.

She could still taste him, the sweetness of his kiss, his desire for her and hers for him.

She now had a longing inside her, a craving she didn’t know how to sate.

She sank down on the edge of the toilet and took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She had no idea what had just happened, but she got the feeling it was going to change everything between them, whether she wanted it to or not.

She looked around the tiny space, at the shower curtain that now lay in a heap in the tub and the rod askew against the wall, and sighed. She’d have to forgo the rest of her shower and ask Cade to reset the curtain.

First, she needed to get herself under control and dressed, then she’d address Cade and hope their kiss didn’t make things more awkward than they already were.