Page 14 of The Fixer

He held her gaze before standing and looking away, his jaw tightening. “Take it easy, Lyndsey. We’ll get through this.”

As he turned back to the stove, Lyndsey exhaled shakily, her thoughts a jumble of fear, determination, and the growing awareness that Jake Sands might be the only person who could keep her safe—in more ways than one.

She opened her mouth to argue, then closed it again, realizing she didn’t have a real response. Instead, she leanedagainst the counter, watching as he picked up a skillet and began plating something that smelled... amazing.

“What’s that?” she asked, tilting her head.

“A version of Shakshuka,” Jake said, his tone lightening slightly. He slid a plate across the counter to her. “Eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce. I add diced potatoes. It’s one of my favorites.”

She blinked, momentarily taken aback. “You cooked breakfast?”

“Even bodyguards have to eat,” he said with a grin

Lyndsey stared at the plate, the vibrant reds and yellows of the dish bright against the white ceramic. “It looks... incredible.”

“Try it,” Jake said, sitting down across from her with his own plate.

She picked up a fork and took a tentative bite, her eyes widening as the flavors hit her tongue. “Wow. This is... really good.”

“Told you,” Jake said, his tone smug but not unkind.

Lyndsey took another bite, the warmth of the dish cutting through some of the strain that had built up over the morning. “So, what’s the story behind this?”

“Learned it from a friend overseas,” Jake said, leaning back in his chair. “It’s simple but satisfying. Kind of like me.”

She snorted, unable to suppress a laugh. “You’re impossible.”

“Maybe,” he said, his gaze softening as he watched her. “But I’m good at what I do.”

The sincerity in his voice struck a chord, and Lyndsey felt her defenses weaken just a little more. As much as she hated to admit it, she was starting to feel like she could rely on him—not just as a protector, but as someone who genuinely cared about her safety.

“I mean it,” Jake added, his voice quieter now. “You can trust me.”

She met his gaze, the air between them charged with unspoken tension. “I know.”

For a moment, the danger inside the cabin seemed to fade, replaced by something equally intense but far less frightening.

“Eat up,” he said, his tone returning to its usual gruffness. “You’ll need your strength.”

“For what?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“For surviving,” Jake replied, glancing at her over his shoulder. “And for finishing whatever you’ve started.”

The gravity of his words settled over her, but instead of fear, Lyndsey felt a spark of stubbornness. She wasn’t done yet—not with her work, and certainly not with Jake Sands.

CHAPTER SIX

LYNDSEY

Lyndsey sat at the edge of the dock, her legs dangling over the water as the sun began to dip towards the horizon, painting the lake in hues of gold and pink. The stillness of the evening was deceptive—an illusion of peace that did little to calm the turmoil inside her. She was too aware of Jake behind her, his presence like a shadow that refused to be ignored. He wasn’t happy with her, but Lyndsey couldn’t spend all of her time indoors. She had agreed not to venture out of eyeline from the cabin and Jake would keep watch. He was armed but Lyndsey was beginning to feel that Jake’s Glock was simply an extension of the man himself.

“You’ve been quiet,” Jake said, his deep voice cutting through the calm. He stood at the end of the dock, his eyes never stopped moving, scanning the area. His eyes darted back and fixed on her. “Not like you.”

Lyndsey glanced over her shoulder, offering a weak smile. “Just thinking.”

“About Marcus?” Jake asked, his tone casual but probing.

Her stomach tightened. “Why do you ask?”