Twelve
Clover
Turning my back to Thor, I slip into bed as tension envelops my chest. I wish I could rewind the last few days and return to my peaceful, quiet life where crazed stalkers weren’t hunting me down. Am I being overdramatic? Maybe a little. But my mind keeps wandering to what-ifs.
What if I’d been home when Angie brought the flowers?
What if she actually means me harm?
What if Mom and Daddy are right, and I should go back to California for a while?
Tucking the blanket up to my chin, I try to push away all the fears, but the sound of Thor’s quiet breathing among the eerie stillness of the night only adds to my mounting unease.
Why did I allow him to bring me here—to the middle of nowhere Colorado—to begin with?
Oh, that’s right. He didn’t tell me that he was bringing me to a one-room cabin in the middle of the woods because he knew I would never agree to spend the night in the small space with him.
Alone .
My skin prickles and my heart skips a beat. When is the last time I’ve been alone with a man?
Never. That’s when.
One: Because I’ve never really dated.
Two: Because Mom and Daddy always warned me to never give the paparazzi anything they could twist into a story—as if they won’t do that simply catching you walking to the car.
Three: Because men make me nervous.
Okay, most people make me nervous, but men especially. Growing up in Hollywood tainted my view of men. Not everyone is as good and honest as Daddy. It doesn’t help that the few times I was interested in a guy, he wasn’t interested in a relationship with me, but with the fame I’m attached to because of my parents.
Against my will, a sigh escapes my lips.
“Having trouble sleeping?”
“If I wasn’t before, I am now,” I grumble, fluffing my pillow and burrowing deeper into the bed, irritated that it smells faintly of rum and cinnamon.
Thor chuckles and though I can’t see him, I can picture his wide grin behind his red beard. When I catch myself smiling at the image, I pinch my lips together, my brow furrowing. Ugh. It’s the stress. That’s all it is. There’s no way that I’m savoring the Viking’s company or his smiles.
Even if we spent the day in mostly companionable silence. Even if he makes the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had the privilege of drinking. Even if the sorrow lacing his voice and shadowing his eyes when he talked about his dad’s passing tugged at something deep within me.
Even if he’d revealed so much of himself in that conversation and not so subtlety hinted that he’s the perfect age for me.
Not that I care about the age difference. Many of my parents’ friends have spouses that are a decade or more older than they are.
Besides, I’m not thinking of the Viking in that way. And I am most definitely not enjoying being around him. Not at all.
“I’ll be up most of the night if you feel like unburdening yourself some.”
I snort. “Unburdening myself? Do you think this is like a slumber party where we do facials, paint each other’s nails, and share our deepest, darkest secrets?”
“If you want it to be.”
“You are the strangest bodyguard I’ve ever met.”
“And the best.”
“Certainly have the ego of all the bodyguards I’ve met.”
“Ouch, Love. I’m offended.”
“Doubtful.”
It’s quiet for a moment before Thor says quietly, “You know what I think?”
“No, but I’m sure you’re going to enlighten me.”
“I don’t think you’re as grumpy as you let on.”
My back stiffens, and my fist clutches the blanket tighter under my chin. “You’d be the first,” I mutter under my breath. “What makes you think that?” Why am I even asking? I should ignore his statement, but the darkness loosens my lips more than I intended .
“I’ve been around you long enough to see how caring you are. How deeply you feel.”
I scoff. “I think you’re just trying to flatter me.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it. And you’re trying to change the subject.” I can hear the smile in his voice and for some weird reason, it soothes my frayed nerves.
“Worth a shot.”
“I’m not letting it drop that easily.”
“Figures. So, Mr. Wise Bodyguard, what is it that you’ve learned about me in less than a week to conclude that I’m not a snarky grump who hates everyone who breathes?” Bitterness tinges my voice, but I can’t stop it from leaking out. When I was seventeen, a tabloid decided to feature me on their cover with the headline, “Glamour or Grouch? Who is Clover Mason?” I hate to admit how badly that stupid magazine affected my self-esteem.
Thor’s voice is soft when he speaks again. “I think you’re hiding a heart that’s been hurt one too many times behind a wall of sarcastic quips and sharp glares.”
“Don’t forget the T-shirts,” I add.
A soft chuckle rumbles from where he sits and despite myself, I bask in the sound. “Those too.”
I sigh. “Everyone’s been hurt before.”
“True. But most people let others in.”
“I’m not most people.”
“You most certainly aren’t,” he whispers so quietly I struggle to hear. Then, a little louder, he replies, “Maybe you should try. ”
“Try what?” I ask hesitantly, though my heart gives a strange leap of hope.
“To let people in.”
“You’re acting like I want to deal with constant anxiety. It’s not that easy to open up to people. Especially people who only want you for your connections.”
“It can be. With the right person. Someone who doesn’t care about who your parents are but cares about you. Someone who understands your fears. Your insecurities. Someone who can be patient, offer a listening ear, and help you work through it.”
My chest constricts. It sounds glorious, but I’ve never met anyone like that and doubt I ever will. “I suppose the next thing you’re going to say is that person is you?”
“I’d like to try. If you’ll give me a chance.”
Tears well up behind my eyes. “I’m sure your company has some kind of rule against dating clients. So are you going to break protocol?”
Thor laughs, a hearty and rich sound that soaks into the deepest crevices of my heart, warming me from head to toe. If only I could capture his laugh, I’d store it away so when this is all over I’d have something to remind me of these quiet moments. “You know, for someone who acts like she hates me, you seem to be thinking an awful lot about a relationship with me.”
I sit up in bed, spinning toward him. He’s barely a silhouette sitting on the couch, but I can sense his eyes on me. “I do not,” I protest. “I told you I panicked back at my house. That was an accident. ”
“And just now?”
I toss my hands up in the air. “I was only putting to words what you were hinting at.”
“Except, I was talking about being your friend.”
My mouth drops open. Should I feel offended or relieved? Relieved. Definitely relieved. “A friend?”
“Yes, Clover Mason. I would like to be your friend. Let me be there for you.”
Words escape me as I stare at the silhouette of this very large, very odd bodyguard. He wants to be my friend? No strings attached?
I shake my head. Yeah, I highly doubt that. There are always strings attached. There’s always an angle. “Why? What’s in it for you?”
“Maybe I need a friend too.”
I’m not sure what to say to that, so I take the coward's way out. Turning back around, I bury myself under the covers again. “Goodnight, Thor.”
“Goodnight, friend.”
Loud screaming pierces the night, jerking me awake. I lunge out of bed, the blankets tangling in my feet, as my heart attempts to burst out of my chest. “What was that?” I ask, trying to stand on my shaky legs.
Thor is beside me in an instant, pulling me to my feet. His warm hands on my bare arms have a calming effect until I hear the woman’s scream again and tuck closer to him. For safety reasons, of course.
“Is it Angie?” I ask, giving voice to my fears.
“No, Love. It’s only a mountain lion.” He runs his hands up and down my arms in soothing patterns.
“Are you sure? How can you be sure? Shouldn’t you be doing your job and investigating?”
His hands pause, and he stares down at me with eyes highlighted by the moonlight. My breath catches in my throat as I realize how close we are and how I’m clinging tightly to the front of his shirt and allowing him to touch me.
A soft smile tugs at his lips, and he runs his hands slowly down my arms one last time before dropping them and stepping back. “Come here.”
I follow him across the small space to where his laptop is open on the coffee table. Thor sits down, lifting the computer into his lap and patting the seat beside him. “Sit down.”
I hesitate only a moment before I join him on the couch. He points to the screen, and I have to scoot a little closer to him to see what he’s looking at. It’s a night camera of the woods around the cabin, and sure enough, there in the corner is a mountain lion.
Gulping, I tuck a curl behind my ear. “It can’t get in? ”
“Nah. It’s only hunting. It’ll probably wander off in a bit. Nothing to worry about.”
“How far away is it? It sounded close.”
“Yeah, it’s out back. It’ll probably be gone before we need to leave.” As if that should comfort me.
I groan and stand, but he grasps my wrist gently. Glancing down, I meet his steady gaze. “My offer from earlier still stands,” he says, loosening his hold and letting his hand fall back to his lap.
“To do each other’s nails? Nah. I think I’m good.”
“That’s disappointing. I was hoping you’d paint them to match my hair.”
My eyes drift over his tattooed arms, broad shoulders, and up to his red-bearded face. “Somehow I get the feeling that you aren’t the nail polish type of guy.”
Crossing his arms across his massive chest, he holds my gaze. “And what kind of guy am I, Miss Mason?”
I gulp and will myself not to squirm under his scrutiny. My eyes latch on to his Semper Fi tattoo. “You’re a Marine.”
He quirks a brow. “And a Marine can’t have painted nails?”
Huffing, I cross my arms. “I’m going to bed.” Before the words are fully out of my mouth, another piercing scream rips through the night air, and I jump.
“I have something that might help.” Thor sets his computer down and rummages through his bag. “Aha.” He pulls out a pair of headphones and brings them to me. “Noise cancellation headphones.”
I stare at the offering in his hands. “You need those often? ”
“They’re for my brother. Sometimes the noise gets too much for him, so I like to keep a pair in case.” He pauses, sucks in a breath, and whispers, “He has Down syndrome.”
A few things begin to click into place. “That’s why you had to take him to the doctor.”
Thor nods. “He’s pretty independent, but he doesn’t drive, and Mom or I have to be with him when he goes for appointments.”
I roll my bottom lip between my teeth, absorbing this new information. I’m aware of what he’s doing. Sharing something personal with me so I’ll share something personal with him. He’s manipulating me. At least, that’s what I want to believe. What I have to believe in order to keep my walls up and my heart protected. We already shared enough earlier today. But even that was surface level.
“Is that why you left the Marines? After your dad died?” I ask, despite needing to shut this conversation down.
Thor sighs, turning his head away. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. “Yeah. After Dad had his heart attack, they needed me more than the Corps.”
“Oh.” And there goes my heart softening. Stupid, traitorous heart. “I’m sorry. That must have been a hard time.”
“Yeah, it was.” He sniffs and clears his throat. “So, anyway. It’s just Mom, Gunner, and me.”
“I always wanted a sibling. You sound like you’re really close with him.”
“We do everything together. He’s kind of my hero. ”
My throat closes up and tears fill my eyes at the reverence in his voice. I’ve not known him long, but there’s much more to the Viking than I first gave him credit for.
I accept the headphones from his hand, my fingers brushing his skin for the briefest moment, sending tingles up my arm. I’m sure it’s because I’m still on edge from the events of the day and the screaming mountain lion behind the cabin. That’s all.
“Thank you.” My voice is quiet, and I spin away quickly before I get completely lost in his gaze.
“Sleep sweet, friend,” he whispers.
“You mean sweetly? Sleep sweetly.”
Thor chuckles, the sound filling every corner of the small cabin and wrapping around my chest in a warm embrace. “I like my way better.”
“Your way is grammatically incorrect.”
“Good thing I’m stuck here with an editor, then.”
I simply hum in response as I slip the headphones on, and then I fall asleep in perfect silence with a small smile on my face.