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“Yes, but she rarely smiles. Not real ones. When she’s around you, she really smiles. And you do, too.”
“I don’t. I’m very stoic and manly.”
She let out a belly laugh. “You are so fucking funny sometimes. Just, I would take a chance if I were you. You buzz when you’re together. That’s rare in our line of work. It’s hard to trust someone and I have a feeling that you both trust each other.”
“You trying to play matchmaker?”
She shrugged. “I just like seeing people happy. You two seem to understand each other.”
“I don’t understand her at all.” The confession was out before he could control his tongue.
“Naw, you do. When Autumn was tweaking out the other day, you got her out of TFH and to a breakfast place.”
“I went along with her.”
“And let her talk. People always think she’s so funny, but there’s a loneliness beneath those sarcastic statements. I think you respond to it. You’re good for each other.”
“Oh, yeah, and what does she give me?”
“Someone to take care of. You’re a caregiver, boss. Just think about it.”
Then she left him, walking over to talk to Drew. He should think this through and step back, but then he heard Autumn laugh. It wasn’t that fake one she usually had, the one she used to distance herself from people. This was genuine. Sitting on the deck next to Maya, she talked to one of Del’s kids. He found himself smiling as the two seemed to be in a deep discussion about something—probably a particular blue Australian dog because he knew they both loved the show.
Oh, damn. He wasn’t falling for her. Hehadfallen headfirst for a woman he barely knew, who was keeping secrets from everyone.
ten
As Autumn pulled into Seth’s driveway, she mentally started making excuses for not going into his house. Yes, she had insisted on him offering her food, but that was just a joke. She had things to do, like check back in with her hacker friend about a few things and check on Freddy.
“Don’t even think about it.”
She glanced at Seth. Even in the dim light from the streetlight, he mesmerized her. There had always been something that drew her to him. He was gorgeous, even pretty for a man. Those eyelashes—they should be illegal. But there was something beneath the surface, something that was good and true.
And she was broken.
“Think about what, SEAL?”
His mouth twitched. “You want food, and I promised. Come on. Bring your container of food.”
“I’m not sharing my leftovers with you.”
He chuckled. “No, but you also don’t want the bugs to get them.”
True. Autumn slipped out of the car and followed him, carrying her container. Once in the house, he turned off hisalarm as she slipped off her sandals. The wood floor was cool beneath her feet.
He led her down the hall to an open area with a nice-sized living area and a decent kitchen.
“Nice. Also, I’m trying to figure out how I ended up here.”
It was true. It was like he was the pied piper or something. She would try to avoid him, and he just marched on, dragging her behind him.
“I’m used to commanding people,” he said, taking her food container and putting it in his fridge. “I’ll make sure you don’t forget it.”
A thousand butterflies exploded in her belly. This man.
“I don’t need to be taken care of.”
He crowded her against the kitchen counter, caging her in by putting a hand on either side of her hips.
