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“Did you trust them?” She folded her arms across her chest. “Your Ranger unit?”
“Eventually. It took time. Luckily, I’m skilled enough that I never let anybody down or failed at an assignment.”
“Did you tick off any of your fellow Rangers?”
“For sure.” He scrubbed at his beard. “But I did learn to trust them.” He reached for her hand. Luckily, she released her clasped arms and gave him her hand. “Myra. I’ll need time to learn to fight side by side.”
She studied him, probing for holes, and then said, “I don’t know if you can learn. What you did? It was all instinct.”
She was right once again. He swallowed and admitted, “I can’t lose you. I lost my mom and Sadie. I have to protect you.”
Stepping back, she pulled her hand free. “Ike. I’m not Sadie.”
His eyes widened. “I know.”
“Maybe you need someone like Sadie and your mom, someone sweet and nurturing. Someone waiting at home, not trying to fight by your side. Maybe I’m not the right fit for you.”
Ike’s stomach clenched. Was she right? She could be.
No. He’d fallen for Myra. She was the most perfect fit for him. He never would’ve taken another chance on love if it hadn’t been for their connection and the brave, fun, and impressive woman she was.
“I think we’re the right fit,” he said. He cringed at the ‘think’ and tried to press on. “I’ve never felt anything so right as our connection, as being with you—laughing, teasing, touching, kissing.” He tried to smile at her and prayed she felt that connection still.
Please, I’m messing this all up.
“But are you ever going to trust that I can take care of myself? Not step in and protect me?”
“No,” he heard himself admit. Myra wasn’t a fellow Ranger. She was the woman he loved. The woman he didn’t want to live without. “I have to keep you safe.” He tried to explain, even knowing she’d hate it. “Myra, I’ve been learning, fighting, and perfecting my skills since I was seven. You have no clue how highly trained I am. I will keep you safe.”
She shook her head and backed up another step. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. I’ve been doing the same thing since I was ten. I know you’re quicker, more highly trained, and have more battle experience than me, but I’m still top notch and can keep myself and my clients safe.”
She paused. He should acknowledge that was true, but his tongue felt thick in his mouth.
“You knew this about yourself,” she said quietly. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Ike took a breath. Honesty was not his friend right now, but he had to tell her the truth. “I hoped we’d never be in a battle situation,” he admitted.
Her breath rushed out like he’d punched her. “And here I was hoping we could fight side by side.”
Ike wished he could make her vision come true, but the only reason he’d want to fight side by side was to ensure she was safe. She’d hate that even more, so he finally kept his mouth shut.
“I am not some sweet, loving girl who’s going to let you save the day and then be waiting with an apple pie and a big kiss for my hero,” she flung at him, anger making her eyes darken.
“I’m not asking that.”
“What are you asking?”
He honestly didn’t know. He loved what and who Myra was, but if she thought he could chance someone hurting her while he was right there to protect her … he could never do that. Maybe the solution was they could never be assigned together. He instinctively wanted to be with her on every assignment. To ensure she was safe.
“You don’t trust me or my skills,” she said. “You proved that tonight.”
He blew out a heavy breath.
A few beats of silence passed. He focused down the hall. He was a warrior; he decisively won the battle. He had no idea how to win Myra.
“It’s fine, Ike. We tried something and it didn’t work.” Her dark eyes were somber, full of sadness.
It wasn’t fine. Nothing about this was fine. He wanted to love her, but he also wanted to protect her. It was built into him, drilled into him. It was who he was.
