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“Thanks.”
Miles took her hand and escorted her off the plane. She wanted to take exception to that as he wasn’t a free man and holding hands meant you were a couple in her mind, but she was too tired and confused to know where to start right now, what to think. She savored the feel of his large hand surrounding hers. He was her bodyguard and an honorable cowboy and Navy SEAL, not her future. She needed to repeat that a few hundred times.
They walked out into a cool summer night. She hadn’t felt the fresh touch of a mountain summer’s night since Wyoming. Ah. The dry air. The scent of sagebrush and pine. The sparkling stars filling the sky beyond the small airport’s lights. It was familiar and beautiful, and maybe Montana was almost as good as Wyoming.
Miles walked her to a white four-door truck where a tall, fit cowboy waited. She could easily see the family resemblance in the strong jaw and blue eyes. Miles’s brother wore boots, jeans, and a T-shirt. The outfit showcased his well-built frame without even trying to. He had a cowboy hat on even though it was nighttime and leaned casually against his truck with one boot crossed over the other as he talked to Paul. He wasn’t posturing like most men in her world would. She doubted this guy knew what the word ‘preen’ meant. He was simply John Wayne reincarnated. This man fit the image of every cowgirl’s dreams.
Not hers, though. She glanced up at Miles, then quickly away. She’d met the man of her dreams earlier tonight, and he was taken.
Miles’s brother focused on her, straightened to full height, and tilted the tip of his cowboy hat down. “Ma’am.”
Eva couldn’t help but smile, especially when she noticed Miles’s hand tightening around hers. “Hello.” Her voice was shy, almost awe-struck. There was something about this guy. He engendered respect and wasn’t someone you messed with. She doubted even Autumn would tease him. Well, Autumn probably would.
“Sheriff Clint Coleville. Pleased to meet you.” He stuck out his hand. She tugged her hand free of Miles’s to shake. Clint’s handshake was firm, his hands calloused. He was a good-old boy to a T. She felt none of the sparks she felt from a simple brush of Miles’s skin against hers.
Not that she’d admit to that.
“This is Eva Chevron,” Miles said.
“I might be a hick sheriff from Montana, but I actually know who Eva Chevron is, little brother,” Clint drawled. “Though she’s even more beautiful in real life.”
“Well, thank you. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been in the presence of a real-life cowboy sheriff. Not just an actor pretending to be one.”
“Happy to oblige.” He grinned and tipped his hat again.
There was no denying he was a handsome one with an appeal all his own. Sadly, he wasn’t Miles. Sadly for her, nobody was, and Miles wasn’t free.
“Good to see you, Clint.” Miles and Clint clapped each other on the back. As they pulled back, Miles slugged his brother in the shoulder. Really hard.
“Not so little as you remember, maybe, big brother.” Miles gave him a heartfelt smile as Clint shook his arm out. Eva hoped they wouldn’t duke it out.
Paul chuckled.
“We’ll see.” Clint looked Miles over but thankfully didn’t slug him back. The sheriff tilted his head to Eva. “We’d better get you home to Mama. She’s been cooking, baking, and cleaning since we got the call from Aiden.”
“She should be sleeping,” Eva burst out.
“Try telling her that,” Clint said, and he and Miles both laughed. It seemed to ease some of the tension.
“Thank you, Paul.” Miles shook Paul’s hand.
“Are you leaving?” Eva asked.
“Yes. Aiden’s given me a break from flying all over the world to follow leads on your case and give Autumn a hard time.” Paul grinned. “Very nice to have met you, Eva.”
“Thank you.”
Clint waved and walked around, opening the passenger side door. “Eva.”
Miles grunted. He put a hand on her lower back and walked her around. Eva was instantly too warm. How would she stay impervious to him when her heart had fallen the instant he gave her that first smile when he ran the beach, and then been sealed his when he gallantly rescued her and she realized this humble yet gallant man’s touch was magical to her?
Miles lifted her up into the large truck. His large hands encompassed her waist, and she was out of breath and everything but him forgotten.
He smiled at her. Instead of leaning in to kiss her, he released her and pressed the door to close it, but before it latched …
“Navy SEAL bully,” she heard Clint grunt at him, before he slugged him in the shoulder.
“Stop hitting on Eva,” came a low growl.
