Page 17 of Lion’s Den

“Why not? Do I have some competition for your attention?”

She laughed. “I have dated no one since the day you hit town. Cam, why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought you knew, so any discomfort or pain you felt is on me. I’m sorry I wasn’t man enough to tell you how I felt.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Easy. Say yes.”

“Yes to what?”

“Dating a retired Delta Force soldier who is now a cop.” And maybe something more if Fortress Security’s Brent Maddox had his way about it. Time would tell if Maddox’s soft inquiry led anywhere.

He had barely finished speaking when Sedona broke in with a fast, “Yes.”

“We’re exclusive, right?”

“What? Of course. Did you think I would run off at the first chance to date someone behind your back?”

“Sorry. I’m a guy. We say stupid things.” Cam dropped a quick kiss on her mouth, stepped back, and closed the passenger door. A moment later, he slid behind the steering wheel and turned to face Sedona. “You won’t regret trusting me with your heart. I’ll take good care of you.”

“Let’s make a bargain. You take care of me, and I’ll take care of you. That’s what happens when you care about each other.”

He more than cared, so that promise wasn’t a hardship. Cam beamed at her. “Exactly. So, we’ll give a relationship a go?”

“We’ll try.”

He stopped. “We do it or we don’t. It’s your choice. If you don’t trust me, we’ll wait until you do.”

“No. I’m sure, Cam.” Her cheeks turned red. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted more time to be sure.”

He slid his palm over her nape, leaned over the console, and took her mouth with his. Not sure? He was nuts about Sedona Hart and had been for months.

Cam finally eased back. “What does that tell you?”

“Our chemistry is off the scale. Holy cow, Cam. How did I not know this about you?”

He chuckled. “I could ask you the same question. You were hiding some serious kissing skills.” Cam drove from the parking lot and headed for Sedona’s home. He glanced at her. “I was serious about going to the zoo with you and your class.”

She yawned. “I’m more concerned with my energy level than your fashion sense. Trust me, no one will care what you wear.” She paused. “Except you’re not supposed to carry weapons into the zoo, and I have parents who oppose any weapons near their children.”

“I understand.” Didn’t mean that he would comply. “I’m a cop, Sedona. I go nowhere without a weapon. I can, however, conceal the weapon so the kids won’t know that I’m armed. Will that work?”

She nodded.

“Thanks.” He settled back in his seat and checked each mirror. Although he saw nothing suspicious, Cam’s trouble-meter was dinging loud and clear. Something was coming, but from where? “Still have your seatbelt on?”

Sedona’s head whipped toward his. “What is it?”

“Just a feeling.”

“Caleb Montgomery always tells me to trust my instincts. Are your instincts telling you that we’re in danger?”

“They are.” His lips curled. “My famous trouble-meter is dinging like mad, but it’s not helpful enough to tell me where it’s coming from.”

A split-second later, a gunshot came from his left, hitting his side window and shattering the safety glass. “Get down, Sedona!” He followed that order by unlatching her seatbelt, cupping the back of her neck, and urging her to curl up on the floorboard in front of her seat. “Don’t get up until I tell you it’s safe.”

“What about you? You don’t have a window to protect you.”