Page 58 of Shadow Redemption

“We’ll make each other happy, starting with me finishing my last three contracts and walking away from a career that has consumed my life for ten years. I’m ready to move on with my life and I want to do it with you. Will you let me?”

“Are you sure, sunshine? If you accept all of me into your life, I won’t be able to let you go. I’m almost in too deep to release you.” Who was he kidding? He was in over his head already. No question about it. He was falling in love with Ruth and the prospect scared the living daylights out of him.

“I’m sure,” she whispered. “I don’t have any doubts.”

Hoping she understood the ramifications of her decision, he lowered his head again until his mouth brushed against hers and prayed they hadn’t made a fatal mistake.

CHAPTER TWENTY

After another a few minutes of indulging his need to hold Ruth, Ben said, “You need to sleep. The photoshoot starts in a few hours.” He walked her inside the suite to the door of her room.

Following another kiss, this one as sweet and gentle as he could make it, Ben nudged her inside the room. “Rest. I’ll be on the couch if you need me. No one will get past me to hurt you.”

“I know.” She took two steps into the room, paused, and looked over her shoulder. “Even though I won’t regret my decision to make this relationship real, you might.”

“Why?”

“I have...issues from my time with Hugo. I’m working on them, but it will take time.”

The tension eased from Ben’s muscles. “I have lingering issues from my time with Silas. I’m not in a hurry, Ruth. You’re mine now. We’ll take the next steps when we’re ready on our timetable, no one else’s. Even when we think we’ve overcome a hurdle, something may trigger a setback for either of us. It’s part of the process. We’ll deal with each setback and move ahead. How we deal with it is no one’s business but our own. Just know that my feelings for you run deep and strong. You gave yourself to me. I’m in this for as long as you’ll allow me in your life.”

When she turned and made a move toward him, Ben stepped back, hands raised to ward her off. “Don’t. My control is gone. If I touch you again, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to stop.”

Although he feared his confession would send her into a panic, the truth of his words made her smile, a look of smug satisfaction in her eyes. “I’ll see you in a few hours, Ben.” With a lingering look, she closed the door to her room.

Ben closed his eyes and mentally dismantled the most complicated bomb he’d ever worked on. By the time the mental process was complete long minutes later, he’d regained control. Man, the chemistry between him and Ruth was a powder keg waiting to explode. Neither one of them was ready for that.

Time to get his mind back on the job of protecting her from his past and the person trying to scare her away from this photoshoot.

He glanced at his watch. Joe would be on duty in three hours. That left Ben time to do research into the backgrounds of Ruth’s photographer and her agent.

Two hours later, he wasn’t any closer to narrowing down the pool of suspects. He was, however, convinced both men wanted more than a professional relationship with the supermodel, even the happily-married agent.

He examined the side-by-side pictures he’d selected and displayed on his computer screen. One was of Ruth with her photographer, the second with her agent. In both pictures, she was smiling for the camera. The men were looking at her. The proprietary look on each of their faces set off Ben’s temper, stoking his already fierce possessiveness.

Was one of these men behind the threats? If she’d been afraid and didn’t have him in her life, would Ruth turn to one of those men for protection and comfort?

Ben’s hands fisted. Never going to happen. After tomorrow, both men would know beyond a doubt that she belonged to him and he protected what was his. She might accuse him of being a Neanderthal, and Ruth wouldn’t be far off the mark.

When he was unable to find more information, Ben set aside his laptop and walked to the French doors to scan the deserted beach. The view was peaceful yet in a few short hours, his woman would be on that beach, vulnerable to long-range attack. The thought made him nearly sick with worry. How could he protect her from a sniper’s bullet?

The only thing that gave him a measure of peace was that no one had threated her with a rifle. A handgun didn’t have the same range and he wouldn’t be far from her during the photo shoot no matter what her agent or photographer wanted. He trusted his teammates. If anyone could spot a long-range shooter, it was Trace and Joe.

He kept vigil at the French doors until Joe and Sam’s bedroom door opened and his teammate stepped out. Joe looked toward the small kitchen. “Do we have coffee?”

“In the carafe. We have enough supplies to make three more pots. If we need more, we can order from room service.”

“Awesome.” Shadow’s spotter poured himself a mug of coffee and joined Ben. He sipped his steaming drink. “Any problems?”

“Not so far.”

“Hope it stays quiet for Ruth’s sake.”

“Me, too.”

They stood in silence for a while until Joe glanced at Ben. “Want to tell me about it?”

“About what?”