My Reluctant Valentine (Hope Peak Valentine’s Day)

CHAPTER ONE

Cole

The last thing I needed today was another entitled client who couldn’t handle mountain driving.

I stood in the small Hope Peak Regional Airport, scanning the arrivals area, already regretting taking this month-long contract. Elite Mountain Transport handled serious security—corporate executives, witness protection, high-risk medical transport. Not playing chauffeur for visiting doctors.

And truthfully, I avoided taking extended contracts during the month of February.

Why? Because I fucking hated February in Hope Peak.

The entire month meant more tourists, Valentine’s decorations, and enough pink hearts to make a grown man nauseated. During this time every year, the town looked like Cupid got drunk and vomited pink hearts everywhere. Red and white streamers twisted around every lamppost, heart-shaped wreaths hung on shop doors, and the local coffee shop’s window advertised love potion lattes in swooping cursive letters.

I was not the Valentine kind of guy.

But when your former commander calls in a favor, you don’t say no. Not to the man who had dragged your bleeding ass through enemy territory. Not to the guy whose search and rescue team in neighboring town of Middleton called you in for their tougher cases.

“Just need someone I trust to drive Ella around,” he’d said over the phone last week. “My little sister’s filling in for a doc. She doesn’t drive in the mountains anymore. Not since the accident.”

He hadn’t elaborated about the accident, and I hadn’t asked. In our line of work, some stories weren’t meant to be shared unless offered.

If he was worried about his sister, there was a reason. Something in his voice had made me agree. Even if it meant playing chauffeur during the worst month possible.

I checked the board, confirming her flight had been on time. I adjusted my stance, boots planted firmly on the salt-stained concrete. The cold bit through my clothing, but I barely noticed it. Running Elite Mountain Transport had taught me to focus on the job, not the discomfort. My hand automatically checked the concealed carry holster at my hip—a habit from too many years in combat zones.

A group of women passengers exited the sliding doors, giggling over something on their phones. One woman gave me an appreciative once-over, but I kept my expression neutral. I knew what they saw—six-foot-three of muscle, dark hair military-short, and a face that had seen too much combat. The scar through my left eyebrow and the one along my jaw usually discouraged civilian interest.

Usually.

“Mr. Sutton?”

I turned at the woman’s voice but the words die in my throat.

Mine.

The thought slammed into me with the force of a bullet. Every muscle in my body went rigid as I took in the woman standing before me. And I did mean every muscle. My body sprang to attention, swift and hard, as though saluting a four-star general.

Dark hair escaped from under her knitted hat, framing a heart-shaped face with wide brown eyes and full lips that parted slightly in surprise when she saw me. A thick cream sweater dress hugged curves that should have been painted on a museum wall. Full breasts strained against the soft material, while hips made for gripping gave her body that delightful hour-glass shape with just a little more meat on it. And her ass… my hands itched to grab a handful of that beautiful ass. I wanted to back her against the nearest wall and order her to wrap those thick thighs around my waist as I plunged deep inside her.

This couldn’t be Jake’s little sister. The man had never mentioned she was gorgeous. Or curvy. Or exactly my type.

Fuck .

She took a hesitant step forward, and my body moved instinctively, closing the distance. Her eyes widened further when she had to tilt her head back to look up at me, exposing the delicate line of her throat. Something primitive in me wanted to put my mouth there, mark her pale skin for all to see.

Shit. I needed to get my head on straight and my body back under control.

“Dr. Ella Hawkins?” I couldn’t help the dark tone of my words. I almost sounded angry. And maybe I was. What the hell had Jake been thinking? That I lived like a monk?

He wanted me to keep her safe. Who the fuck was going to keep her safe from me?

A blush spread across her cheeks and I had to adjust my stance for a totally different reason. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Jake said you’d be...” She waved a hand vaguely at me, then seemed to realize what she was doing and dropped it quickly.

I hooked my hands on the sides of the tactical vest I’d worn. It was either do that, or drag her against me to try and assuage some of the ache she’d caused. “Tall?’

Her lips twitched. “Yeah, that’s what he said about you. That you’d be tall.”

Everything about her screamed innocence—the way she’d blushed, how she couldn’t quite meet my eyes, the nervous way she tucked her hair behind her ear. Jake was going to fucking murder me for the thoughts I was having about his baby sister.

She moved forward pulling a red suitcase with a large black bag on top. The bag slipped, and I caught it before it could hit the ground. Our fingers brushed, and the touch shot straight to my groin. Her hand was small, delicate compared to mine, and soft in a way that made me want to feel it everywhere.

And I did mean everywhere.

She jerked back, losing her balance on the icy concrete. I reacted instinctively, wrapping my free hand around her waist to steady her. She felt perfect. Right.

Down, soldier , I warned myself.

“I’ve got you.” I couldn’t stop the growl of possession even though she was Jake’s sister. My client. Something about her made every protective instinct I possessed roar to life.

“I don’t usually fall into strange men’s arms within thirty seconds of meeting them,” she squeaked, then clapped a hand over her mouth, mortified. “Though statistically speaking, airports do see a higher incidence of slip-and-fall accidents due to rushed travelers and—” The blush that hadn’t left her face since seeing me deepened. “I mean... that came out wrong. Very wrong. Can we pretend I said something professional instead?”

A laugh escaped before I could stop it. She was adorable when she was flustered. “Strange men, huh? Your brother vouched for me, didn’t he?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Is that supposed to reassure me? He thought it was hilarious when he put green dye in my shampoo before my med school graduation. His judgment is questionable.”

My shoulders relaxed slightly at her sass. Good. I could handle sass better than the way my body was reacting to her proximity. I released her waist, immediately missing the contact, and took both her bags.

“And yet here you are, trusting his judgment about me driving you around Hope Peak.” I noted how she tensed at the mention of driving. “Jake mentioned an accident.”

“Did he tell you everything?” Her voice was small now, vulnerable. She stopped, wrapping her arms around herself.

“No. He just said you needed a driver while you’re here.” I gentled my voice. “The car’s this way.”

She fell into step beside me, her shorter legs working to match my stride. I slowed down, matching her smaller steps. The top of her head barely reached my shoulder. Something primitive in me loved that, wanted to curl around her protectively. Possess her completely. Mark her as mine so every other man knew to back off.

She’s not yours, Sutton. She’s a job. A client. Jake’s sister.

“I really do appreciate you doing this,” she said quietly as we approached my SUV. “I know driving doctors around probably isn’t your usual security work.”

“You’d be surprised. Elite handles all kinds of transport contracts.” The SUV was specially equipped for mountain conditions and security situations. Her eyes widened at the obvious armoring and professional setup. “Your safety is my priority, Dr. Hawkins.”

“Ella,” she corrected automatically, then bit her lower lip. The gesture drew my attention to her mouth, and heat coiled in my gut. I wanted to capture that lip between my teeth, soothing the sting with my tongue until she moaned. “And I know this is just a job for you, but... it means a lot. Being able to trust someone else behind the wheel.”

The vulnerability in her voice made my chest ache and now I wished I’d demanded more information about her accident. Looking at her now, I could see the shadow of trauma in her eyes.

I secured her bags in the back, then opened her door. She moved to step up, but her boot slipped on another patch of ice. I caught her again, this time with both hands on her waist. She gasped, hands flying to brace against my chest. Through the layers of winter clothing, I could feel her heart racing. Her breasts pressed against me and it took every ounce of military discipline not to back her against the car and show her exactly what she was doing to me.

“Careful, little doctor.” My voice was pure gravel now. “I’ve got you.”

Her fingers curled slightly against my vest. “You keep having to catch me.”

“Maybe I like catching you.”

Shit. That was definitely not professional. But when she looked up at me through her lashes, those wide eyes full of desire even if she didn’t know it, my iron control started to slip. She licked her lips nervously, and I had to bite back a groan.

“I...” She swallowed hard and I watched the delicate movement of her throat. “I should probably get in the car before I fall again.”

“Probably,” I agreed roughly, but neither of us moved. The air between us felt charged, like right before a lightning strike. Everything in me screamed to pull her closer, to taste those soft lips, to—

A car horn blared nearby, making her jump and the moment was shattered. I helped her safely inside, closing her door firmly before walking around to the driver’s side. My hands were shaking slightly as I gripped the steering wheel and I had to take a deep breath, to get my body under control.

One look. It had taken one look at Ella Hawkins to completely destroy my carefully ordered world. One touch to make me want to break every professional rule I had.

Jake was so going to fucking kill me.