Mia didn’t like prideful people. She’d spent her life dealing with her Duke of a father and his pompous, elite crowd, but she had never had a man not be interested in her. She didn’t know if it was her family name, her personal success, her looks, the smile she always wore, or her happy zest for life, but men simply liked her and were nice to her. What was wrong with this cheeky bloke?
In his defense, she hadn’t acted like the successful designer and business owner she’d worked so hard to be, converting to a fan girl of the hot military man with her moony looks and stupid line about him being big and tough. Maybe that had been off-putting to him. She’d been overwhelmed by the sheer size and all the muscle on him. She’d been around all manner of sizes of men, but he had to be a foot taller than her, twice as broad, and fit. His face and body were blindingly brilliant.
She’d like to touch some of those muscular bulges and see what they felt like, but Holly had warned her he wasn’t a touchy-feely kind of guy and she’d seen that as they’d been sharing a brilliant handshake and then he’d yanked his hand away and clenched his fist. She wanted to know why he didn’t like touch, and she wanted to help him like her touch. She’d felt a delightful spark and a warmth simply shaking his hand. It had been surprising and made her want to feel it again. It didn’t look like she would get that chance.
When he’d heard about the mangy git hunting her, Captain Zeke Hendrickson had turned into Rambo, instantly in action mode and going to track the dodgy stalker down and tear him apart limb from limb. The man at that point had become human. All man. This American military genius, according to Auntie Holly, made her stomach fill with butterflies and her knees weak. His need to protect her had been … blindingly appealing. This was a man who’d protect his lady. That was for certain. If only she could be his.
Okay. Mia bit at her lip. It was time to keep calm and stop the fan-girling. Mia was a successful fashion designer and businesswoman. Her company was flourishing, although her father the duke had never supported her dreams and would’ve preferred she not work like a “commoner.” She tried to respect her dad, or at least not get cheeky with him every time they spoke, but his theories were not hers. Her mum was as loving yet feisty as her dad was cool and haughty. How her mum adored her dad like she did, Mia had no idea. He was tolerant of Mia when he took time for his family, which was next to never. While she’d caught glimpses of him feeling proud or warm toward her, he’d never acted on any of those feelings. Except when he’d heard about the stalker.
She didn’t have her father’s approval, and she was fine with it. She definitely didn’t need the approval of this hot American captain. More men asked her on dates than she had time to give. They all thought she was fun, beautiful, lively, and some of them probably liked the money and title she would attain someday. She tried to keep that information quiet, but men from England usually knew exactly who she was.
Most of the men she’d dated were ace. She’d just never met a man who captured her interest for longer than a few dates. Her mum either claimed she lacked commitment or she was meeting men who were “fun sponges” and “not equal to Mia’s zest for life” in all the wrong places. The church, the gym, the local café were great places to meet nice and normal men. Not the right ones, in her mum’s opinion.
Captain Zeke Hendrickson wasn’t a boring man. Nope. Nothing boring about him. But would he protect her from the famous stalker who’d lefttheletter on her pillow last night? She’d never forget the horror of that moment. Up to that point, she’d taken the stupid love notes in stride, turned them over to the police, and promised not to ditch the security detail that her father had insisted watch over her since the notes had begun a month prior.
Last night she’d run out of her flat and straight into Commander Blaine Lewis’s arms, the last place she’d ever wanted to return after dating and ditching the pompous stiff as quick as she could. She’d had no other option last night, rambling and terrified and finally willing to take this stalking git seriously.
Blaine had his partner call the bobbies and her dad, and had held her until she’d gathered her wits and pulled away. Thankfully they’d made it to her parents’ estate safely. After an elaborate ploy to throw the stalker off her path, she and her dad had taken one of his jets across the pond, running for her freedom—literally—to her mum’s best college mate for protection. “If the Deltas can’t keep your body safe, nobody can,” her mum had declared. Her dad hadn’t liked it, the trusting of Americans, but he agreed the Brits hadn’t kept those other girls safe and extreme measures were necessary. He’d succumbed to her mum’s request, as he always did. The only time the duke was ever soft was for her mum.
As Mia looked at the captain, she thought this brilliant specimen of a man could keep her safe. But then she remembered he didn’t like her. A hot dose of anger, rare for her, made her want to flay him. As if she could.
“You don’t even ruddy know me,” she spat at him.
He gestured her down with his hands. It had the effect of making all those lovely muscles in his shoulders and arms flex through his fitted, long-sleeved black shirt.
“That’s right, ma’am. I don’t know you. So please don’t take offense that I can’t help you. I’m sure you’ll be very safe with the Delta family and your bodyguards, and I’ll just be on my way.” He turned to go.
“Zeke.” Holly’s voice was sharp. “Sit down.”
Zeke looked properly cowed. It was comical, actually. His gaze swung to the entryway and then back to Auntie.
“Sit,” she instructed, and Mia thought even Auntie’s wild nephews would obey that command. She’d only been around Auntie Holly and Uncle Joseph and their family for a few holidays throughout the years, but she sure fancied them. They were the kind of people one instantly felt comfortable around and welcomed into their fold. Maddie was Mia’s age and a hilarious friend who she’d adored as ankle biters on up to adulthood.
Zeke very slowly strutted to the couch. The man obviously didn’t know how to simply walk. He sat on the edge of the cushion as if he wasn’t staying long.
Joseph and Holly walked to the couch opposite where Zeke sat and gestured her to sit next to him. Oh, he would go bonkers over that. The air in the room was tense as she stepped close to him and then gingerly sat on the next couch cushion. The muscles from his neck to his thighs visibly tensed.
Sheesh. She must be barmy off-putting to him. Had her anti-perspirant or lemon body splash worn off? She should stop drooling over the handsome, fit stud. She had no need or desire to push herself on a man who was repelled by her. That hadn’t happened to her before, and she had found it very … disappointing. If she was honest with herself, she was gutted over his rejection. She wished she could believe it was because she hadn’t felt rejection before, but she feared it was because this man was unique and intriguing and the kind of man who could capture and hold her attention like no other had succeeded to do.
“If this git doesn’t want the job,” she said, clenching her teeth, “I see no benefit in strong-arming him into it.”
“Mia.” Auntie gave herthe look.She and Maddie had found it hilarious that their mums weren’t blood related but they had that same intimidating mama look down pat. “Now, Zeke. Mia’s mum was my college roommate and has been my best friend for life. I would do anything for her and her family. Anything.”
Mia felt her bottom lip quiver. She knew Holly would, and Joseph as well. “Thank you, Auntie,” she managed to get out without becoming emotional. Mia didn’t think she was overly emotional as a rule, but being targeted by the elusive “Sneaky Stalker” was terrifying. She’d think his barmy nickname was laughable, but there was nothing humorous about nine accomplished, well-known, and successful women from Britain over the past three years receiving the same note and disappearing days later. They were all still missing to this day. It hadn’t mattered if the police had provided protection, or if they or their families had hired outside security. The bobbies were going insane, and Mia wasn’t far behind them.
She’d prefer death over being sold and enslaved as they assumed the women had been because of several sightings with famous, ultra-wealthy crime lords. Unfortunately, even with those sightings, the women had disappeared before any retrieval attempt was successful.
Death over imprisonment. That was a cheery thought. Merry Christmas with no peace for Mia right now. The only thing that felt like Christmas was Auntie’s beautiful home and this picturesque valley. She prayed inside for faith and strength and for this blinding man to please, please protect her.
“Have you heard of the Sneaky Stalker?” Joseph asked Zeke. Both men were probably chafing with the sap of Mia and Holly’s emotions.
Mia chanced a glance at Zeke and saw his eyes widen slightly as he bobbed his head. “The sicko has targeted and kidnapped successful women in Great Britain.” His gaze met hers, and suddenly he wasn’t the too-tough military chap who wanted to leave her as quick as he could march on. His bluish-gray eyes got darker and there was a fierceness in them that made her stomach do a little flip-flop. This man would protect her and good luck to the stalker attempting to get through him.
She felt Rambo’s declaration of loyalty to her safety all the way through her body. A pleasant shiver traced down her spine, and she was happier than she’d been since finding the note. Anyone who dared try to hurt her had better be prepared to get annihilated. Captain Zeke Hendrickson would keep her safe. Nothing had ever sounded so soothing and stimulating at the same time.
“Yes!” She jumped up and threw her hands in the air.
The captain looked up at her, obviously confused. “Yes?”