“Well, I don’t use it anyway. Your biggest fans should want to pay full price. Discount code,” she muttered, then focused on Zeke again as Mia raised her hands helplessly to Joseph. “She’s ‘Mia Forever’,” Holly continued. “Have you heard of the brand?”
Of course Zeke hadn’t. “Um …” He lifted his hands helplessly. “I just wear what the Navy gives me.”
Joseph chuckled at that and Mia smiled, but Holly didn’t. “Well, let me show you.” She hurried over to the desk Joseph and Zeke had been working at and plucked up the laptop.
She came back and set the laptop between them on the table, sitting back down, clicking on Safari, and typing. Her face lit up. “Oh, Mia, that cashmere sweater is gorgeous. Ooh, I need the pink one.”
“Thank you. The pink would be gorgeous with your coloring.”
“I’m ordering that.” She gave her husband an imperious look. “Don’t you tease me about it.”
“I wouldn’t dare.” He smiled. “I’m sure I’ll love it on you.”
“Well, you dang well better.” She grinned and then turned the computer toward Zeke. “Look. Look at how gorgeous her designs are. Unique but flattering. Comfortable but classy. I’m just in love with everything you design, sweetheart.”
“Thank you,” she said again.
Zeke thought she might be blushing. He knew he was turning red. He tried to look at the pictures of beautiful, too-thin, tall women posing in different dresses, sweaters, clingy pants, and business suits. He was sure the designs were incredible, but he felt idiotic and uncomfortable staring at all these women. He hoped he’d looked for long enough when he raised his eyes to focus on Mia.
“Very nice,” he said.
“Very nice?” Holly repeated. “That’s all you’ve got to say?”
He turned beseeching eyes on Holly. She’d always had his back before this moment. “Incredible, alluring, mind-blowing, outstanding, brilliant,” she whispered out of the side of her mouth.
Mia laughed. “I don’t expect a tough career military man to know or care about women’s clothing design, Holly.” She went back to eating as if it was no big deal.
Zeke looked at Holly and shrugged. Not sure why he even cared that he’d messed that all up. She patted his hand, and he only flinched.
“Sorry, Zeke,” Holly said. “I should know not to push you.”
Zeke wished he wasn’t such an obvious loser right now. How could he be this elite fighter, confident to take out a dictator and his minions, but put him in front of a beautiful, accomplished woman and he flubbed it all up?
He concentrated on his food, wishing he’d taken more to keep him busy longer. He needed to focus on the job, not the woman. That was the only way he’d get through this assignment.
ChapterFour
Zeke shifted uncomfortably in his chair. This was why he shouldn’t have come and he shouldn’t have agreed to be bodyguard to an accomplished and with-it beautiful Brit. He didn’t do well with casual conversation unless it was with his buddies teasing and goading each other. Somehow, he didn’t think he should poke fun at Mia until it broke into a wrestling match. The thought of wrestling her made his body go hot. He’d fought and wrestled his way through life but had always focused on how to best his opponent, even if it was a friend, rather than the fact they were touching each other. With Mia, the touching sounded … stimulating. No, stimulating wasn’t strong enough. Tantalizing.
He rubbed at his neck and plunged another bite of roll in. Luckily, he’d taken three.
“Zeke, what are your men up to during the break?” Joseph asked.
Zeke breathed out. They all finished eating as he gave them the run down. Lieutenant Van Udy, “Chaos,” was teaching some extra piloting courses at a local airport. Petty Officer Kyle Christensen was home with his wife. They’d recently found out they were going to be parents in June; Holly was very happy about that one. Petty Officer Manuel Leandro was with his large family in Texas helping out on the ranch for the month and enjoying Christmas with them.
They carried the dishes over as they finished eating, but Holly wouldn’t let them stay to clean up. “Go.” She hugged Mia and then pushed her toward Zeke. Zeke’s eyes widened, but luckily Mia caught herself before she touched him. “You and Joseph go introduce Zeke to your dad’s security guys, and then you can get settled in. I’m sure you’ll haveloadsto talk about.”
Zeke was sure they would have nothing to talk about. What was he going to say about clothing and what would she care about military tactics? He did need to check her things for any trackers, and he would like to quiz her on the two men she’d dated who were suspects, but could he talk to her without getting awkward or inadvertently revealing how attractive she was to him?
He was second-guessing this job again, mostly because he had no idea what they’d do while they were waiting for the murderer to make a move. He was already trying to think if he dared suggest they lure the guy in and trap him. No. He wouldn’t risk Mia’s safety. Hopefully the British National Crime Agency and the FBI had a lot of evidence to go on from nine other cases. Hopefully they’d find the guy and Zeke could bug out before this got awkward. He didn’t have a lot of hope there, though. Nine almost identical cases, and still the loser was at large.
He thanked Holly for dinner and walked with Joseph and Mia to the laundry room. Mia’s arm brushed against his, and he jolted. She gave him a questioning look. Too late on it not getting awkward. Had Holly told her he struggled with touch? He knew it was abnormal, but it made sense with his parents squeezing his upper arms, abdomen, hand, or the sensitive spot right above the knee to control, hurt, and intimidate him. He also knew his touch aversion made relationships with anyone but his men virtually impossible. Which was good. He was here to protect her, not start some relationship.
Joseph slid into boots and a coat. Mia already had soft-looking brown boots poking out from under that fitted dress. She lifted a dressy, long, off-white coat off a hook and shrugged into it. Zeke was aware any normal man would help her. He could only stare. He did hurry to hold the door and might have temporarily closed his eyes and savored the scent of sweet lemon as she walked past him.
They went through the garage and out into the cold, starry night.
“Where’s your coat?” Mia asked him.