Chapter 9
“Hold on.” Dustin leaned toward his window, speaking into his headset. “This isn’t the way to Denver.”
Silver gave what she hoped was a nonchalant shrug. “That’s because we’re not going to Denver.” She spoke to him in her headset over the whirring of the helicopter.
She was relieved they were already halfway to Aspen before he’d realized they weren’t headed to Denver. If he’d figured it out sooner, he probably would have had Ricky turn the helicopter around and keep to the original plans. But now, doing so would be a huge inconvenience.
Dustin sat back in his chair and leveled a stern look at her. “You have dinner plans with your girlfriends at Esquire Lounge.”
“No, I actually changed that too. I have reservations at Mountain View.” The elite restaurant was another one of her favorites—one she went to whenever she stayed in her condo in Aspen.
Dustin shook his head firmly, his eyes narrowing. “You can’t do that, Silver.”
“Do what?” she asked, even though she already knew what he was going to say.
“Change things around without telling us. Isaac rode into Denver today to the Esquire to make sure you’d be safe. And we haven’t had time to do that with this new place.”
“You won’t need to.”
“We always do advances before taking clients out.”
“I booked a private room.” She’d anticipated his concerns and had Beryl reserve a private room that had enormous windows overlooking the mountain range to the west. The ambiance was incredible, the scenery amazing, and the food to die for.
Dustin pursed his lips together as though he might be about to protest again. But then he remained silent, serious, and solemn.
Which was exactly why she’d changed her plans with her girlfriends. She could see them any day or night. But she didn’t have much time with Dustin before he finished the assignment protecting her. That meant she couldn’t delay her mission to show him the life of joy and fun that he was missing.
“It’s offseason in Aspen anyway,” she added, “so it won’t be busy.” Summers were typically slower months for the ski resorts, with fewer vacationers. “In fact, my being there will be safer than in Denver, right?”
He gave a soft snort.
“You know I’m right.”
He peered out the window again.
She shifted to hide her smile and took in the view. With the sun beginning to slant down behind the western range, sunlight glimmered on the thick pine trees below, turning them into gold. The evening light glinted off the river too, changing the spray of rapids into silver.
Everywhere, the beauty of the summer night was on display, from the rocky peaks with only small caps of snow left from winter, to the aspens with their new leaves fluttering in the breeze.
Silver drew in a breath of contentment. This was why she loved living in Colorado and never wanted to move, because where else could she feast on such loveliness and never find an end to it?
“Isn’t it beautiful, Dustin?” she asked, hoping he wouldn’t stay upset with her for too long because of her deception.
He was silent for long heartbeats before answering quietly, “There’s nothing else like this on earth.”
“You’ve traveled a lot over the years, haven’t you?” She wanted to learn more about him. There wasn’t anything wrong with that, was there?
“All over the world.”
“Tell me about the best place you’ve ever gone—besides Colorado, of course.”
He shifted in his seat, as though her request made him uncomfortable. He hesitated, staring out the window.
Was he trying to decide how personal to get with her?
Surely, after her reassurances about how she had no intention of resuming a relationship with him, he wouldn’t think she had aspirations toward him. All she was trying to do was loosen him up a little bit. A night of fun would be good for him.
“I think my favorite place to visit was Greenland,” she said. “Or maybe Norway. I took a cruise there a couple of years ago, and the scenery was spectacular.”
“I haven’t been to either of those places,” he replied. “But I was in Finland for a week last year.”
Thankfully, as she began to share about her travels, he opened up and talked about his, and soon their conversation turned to all the places they’d visited and the places they’d liked the most. He was right that he’d been all over the world—almost every continent for his bodyguard job as well as when he was an Army Ranger.
They were still talking about their world travels when they landed at the private airport where her family kept a Land Rover to use whenever they came to Aspen. Ricky drove them into town and pulled up at a side entrance of Mountain View.
The moment they stepped out of the Rover, Dustin’s demeanor changed from casual and relaxed to professional and hard.
He immediately began to assess the area, taking in every detail of their surroundings—the other businesses nearby, the few pedestrians strolling about, and the couple of cars parallel-parked on the street in front of the restaurant.
As he ushered her inside, he used his bulky body to shield her.
Even when they were in the building, he continued to survey every door, window, and hallway.
When the restaurant owner approached to greet her, Dustin tensed and watched the interaction warily.
Only after they were closed away in the private dining room on the roof did he take his hand off the handle of his gun.
Even then, he circled the perimeter and checked and rechecked the surroundings.
When the serving staff brought in drinks, she sank into the leather sofa facing west in front of a gas fireplace, her glass in hand. “I’m safe, Dustin. You can relax.”
He was peering out one of the windows, probably mapping an escape route if they should need one.
She patted the spot beside her. “Come sit down.”
He crossed to the opposite window, still peering down at the area around the restaurant.
“Please, Dustin? I’ll be fine tonight. I promise.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“No one knows we’re here except Ricky.”
“The restaurant owner and staff know.”
“The owner is a longtime family friend, and he understands I want privacy.”
“Your girlfriends know.”
She nibbled at her lip. “The girls aren’t coming.”
He spun, his dark eyes landing on her and rounding. “Why?”
“I rescheduled the dinner with them too.”
“Are you meeting someone else here?”
“No.”
“Then you’re eating by yourself?”
“No.” She paused. Had she taken this too far? Earlier, when she’d been planning the evening, this adventure had seemed like a good idea. Now that she was here with Dustin . . . Maybe she’d made a mistake in thinking she could get him to relax and enjoy the evening.
His eyes narrowed as though he already knew what she was going to say next.
“I’m eating with you.”
With a scowl, he muttered under his breath, then turned back to the window.
His shoulders were rigid, his spine stiff, and his irritation larger than life.
Even so, he was handsome in the suit coat and khaki slacks.
The truth was, he was hot in everything he wore.
There was no getting around the fact that Dustin McQuaid was a ten out of ten, no matter which way he was packaged.
“I told you that you’re too serious and I’d help you loosen up and learn to enjoy life.” She took a sip of her drink. “That’s why we’re here.”
He shook his head. “You know I’m not going to do that. I’m here to keep you safe and that’s all.”
“Not tonight.”
“Yes, tonight.”
“No.” She infused her voice with a firmness she’d had to learn to channel over the years, since she wasn’t naturally a firm person. “I give you permission to be off duty tonight.”
“You’re not my boss.”
“I pay your salary, don’t I?”
“Franklin does.”
“Technically, I do. So that makes me your boss.”
He released a loud sigh. “I’m working right now, and you can’t change that fact.”
She’d anticipated his pushback. “Fine. Then you leave me with no choice but to fire you.”
“Fire me?”
“Yes, you’re fired.” She patted the spot beside her again. “Now come sit down and enjoy the sunset.”
“I’m not fired.”
“I had Beryl send me the termination policy in the agreement you signed to work for me, and yes, I can fire you without having to give you notice or reason.”
He’d shifted now so that he was facing her, and his expression had turned stormy. “I refuse to accept you firing me.”
“You have no choice.” She met his gaze directly and tried not to let the fire and determination in his eyes intimidate her. “But don’t worry, I’ll rehire you as soon as we get back on the helicopter.”
He stared at her another moment before shaking his head, the hint of a smile working at the corners of his mouth. “You’re really something, you know that?”
“I do know it.” She expelled a breath. “Franklin has told me many times what a handful I can be.”
“He’s right.”
“You may as well admit defeat tonight and join me for dinner.”
He hesitated.
“As a friend, Dustin. Nothing more. I meant what I said last night about not looking for a relationship right now.”
Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he peered out the western windows. The sun had dropped behind the mountains, leaving a bright sienna glow over the peaks hemmed in by clouds that gave way to the darkening sky.
It was a breathtaking view. At least, it was to her every time she witnessed it.
His jaw twitched. “I’m not your pet project, Silver.”
“There’s nothing wrong with showing you how to see the sunshine instead of the clouds, is there?”
“I’ll join you for dinner tonight, but you have to promise you won’t pull this kind of stunt again.”
“It’s not a stunt.”
He leveled his dark eyes on her. “No more games.”
“It’s not a game either.”
He crossed his arms and waited without breaking his gaze.
She smiled as demurely as she could. “Fine. I promise I won’t make you go out to dinner with me again.
” But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t make him do other things.
After all, she was spoiled—she could admit it—and she almost always got her way.
She’d get her way when it came to Dustin McQuaid too, whether he liked it or not.
Although his gaze remained wary, as if he didn’t quite believe her—smart man—he left his post by the window and approached the sofa.
He eyed the spot beside her, then glanced at her outstretched legs, which she’d crossed at her ankles.
He frowned, then focused back on the sofa, but not before she glimpsed something heated in his eyes, something that told her he found her legs attractive.
He slowly lowered himself, extended his legs, and rested one arm on the back of the sofa—the arm farthest away from her.
Not that she wanted him to spread out his other arm so that it grazed her shoulders. Not at all. But it was funny how hard he was trying not to let any attraction flare between them. It was almost so funny that she was half tempted to start making contact with him just to get a reaction.
But no, she couldn’t. She didn’t want to risk irritating him when he’d finally begun to relax a little—or at least allowed himself to sit down.
“Let’s play two truths and a lie.” She’d already decided that the direct route to conversation with Dustin probably wouldn’t work. However, if she kept things light, then maybe he would open up a little more.
“I never lie.”
“Never? That’s remarkable.”
He shrugged. “What can I say? I’m an honest guy.”
“Okay, then let’s play two facts and one non-fact.”
He quirked a brow at her.
“You tell me two facts about you and one non-fact. Then I’ll try to guess which is the non-fact.”
“I understand the concept, but changing the name of the game doesn’t change the nature of it.”
She sat forward. “I’ll go first.”
He didn’t protest, which she took as his acquiescence.
“I love shopping at local specialty stores instead of buying online. My idea of a good workout is lifting a gallon of ice cream from the freezer. And . . . I love to cook.”
He was watching her face as she rattled off her two truths and one lie. “You don’t cook.”
“I do cook. I just don’t love it.”
“Same thing.” His voice had a cocky ring to it.
For some reason, his answer made her feel awake and alive in a way she hadn’t in a long time. Why did talking with him send energy humming through her blood?
“Your turn.” She sat forward expectantly, unable to hold back a smile. She was already having a fantastic evening with him, and they’d just started.
Since he would only be in her life for a very short time, she wanted to make the most of every minute she had with him, whether he liked it or not.