Executive Protection(61)

But that’s what made him worth the risk. He might have convinced himself that he could have a relationship with a woman and not marry her in preparation for the inevitable split-up, but he could never have a relationship like that with her. He’d withdraw. She hoped she was wrong but she didn’t think she was. If he couldn’t overcome his flaws, this would be a brief relationship. If he made progress and embraced what he felt for her, they had hope.

The sun was coming up, or sort of. It was overcast today.

“Weather report said there’s a storm moving in.” When other topics were too heavy, there was always the weather.

“Late winter storm.” Easing away from her, he sat up on the bed. “Could be a strong one.”

“Maybe we should just stay in today.”

“We’ll be all right. The storm won’t get here until tonight. We should be home by then.” He got off the bed. “Let’s get ready.”

It was early. They had plenty of time. He needed to escape.

Unable to meet his eyes, she kept her back to him and went to her suitcase for something to wear. Slipping into her robe, she tied it shut as he came up behind her.

“About last night.”

Dreading what his comment brought to light, she turned reluctantly toward him.

“And this morning.” He grinned to be playful but she saw his discomfort. He didn’t like the subject any more than her. Although he had different reasons than her for not liking it, she had to give him credit for having the guts to talk to her.

“It was good,” he said, and then more honestly, “Really good.”

Hearing a but coming, Lucy stepped closer and put her finger over his lips. “Let’s not talk about that today. It’s Sophie’s birthday.” She said it as an excuse. She wasn’t prepared for another diatribe about love.


“Lucy...”

“Not today.”

“We have to talk about it.”

So he could make sure she bought into his antimarriage philosophy? “Not today,” she said with more force.

He studied her and then relented. “All right, not today.”

“I’m going to get ready now.” She needed to be alone.

“Right. Sure.” Awkwardly, he headed for the door. There, he looked back at her and she felt his uncertainty.

He wanted to convince her to have a relationship with him on his terms. What frightened her was she actually wondered if she should.

* * *

After a pizza lunch in Corolla where Lucy endured Thad’s contemplative looks and absorbed herself in Sophie’s excitement, they drove to a sandy parking area not far from Carova. After Thad parked, Lucy bundled Sophie up for their wild horse tour. They were going to return to the beach house for present and cake time. The suspense was killing Sophie. She wanted to skip the horse tour.

Lucy zipped up Sophie’s jacket and looked up at the darkening sky. “Are you sure we have time for this?”

Standing with his hands half-stuffed in his front jean pocket, one leg relaxed and looking like a sexy model in a magazine ad, Thad glanced up. “We might get a little cold, that’s all.” Did he think being here out in the cold was better than nestled in the beach house, alone with Lucy?

“Want to learn about wild horses?” Lucy extended her hand to Sophie.

“Yeah!” She skipped alongside Lucy toward the open-roofed SUV waiting for them. Thad had arranged for a private tour.

Thad followed. He’d been withdrawn all day so far, and she knew he was thinking of last night—a dream. She hadn’t cornered him with questions and now she wondered if she should have. He’d tried to talk to her about it and she’d given him an out, something she suspected he appreciated, although it was hard to tell. He was a man who hid his emotions well once he put his mind to it. And he was definitely doing that today. Sophie was their distraction. After spending most of the day putting up with him, Lucy decided not to anymore.

“Sit with us,” she said. “It will be warmer.”

With no sign that it bothered him, he sat next to her, Sophie beside Lucy. He had his cop face on. She hadn’t noticed he had one until today. Whenever things got to him and he withdrew, this was how he handled it. Kept it all to himself behind a thick shield of armor, a tough exterior for a strong man.

The driver began a narrative about the history of the Spanish mustangs that inhabited this area of the Outer Banks for about five hundred years. They were brought here by explorers. A cold gust of wind diverted her attention. The sky was darker, and out to sea, waves white-capped. The four-wheel-drive vehicle bounced and jerked over the deep sand.

Lucy put her arm around Sophie and looked ahead to catch sight of a good-sized herd of horses.

“I see them!” Sophie leaned toward the window, out of reach of Lucy’s arm. The driver slowed, explaining that they couldn’t get too close, as the animals were protected here.

Lucy shivered as another gust of wind whipped through the open SUV. They were exposed on all sides, except where the windshield rose up.

Thad surprised her by putting his arm around her. Checking to see how pained he was and seeing a slight smile curve up, she snuggled closer, welcoming the warmth. She couldn’t tell if she’d triggered the smile or if the outing had. It didn’t matter—being close to him thrilled her and she didn’t stop the good feeling. He was also more relaxed than she’d seen him all day.