Page 51 of Missile Strike

Had he offended her? He took a closer look.

Nope. Not offended.

Sweet Bella was turned on.

That scene in her book—the one that made his eyes roll back in his head—flashed in his mind.

The devil on his shoulder whispered in his ear. He batted the asshole away.

He’d broken her heart once.

He wouldn’t do it again.

“Look, Bella, I can keep you safe—that part I’m good at.” He dragged a hand through his hair and let it fall. “I default to wise-ass when I’m uncomfortable.”

A rough exhale. “Let me say this, then we never have to bring it up again. I’m sorry I made you think the night we spent together didn’t mean anything to me. And I’m sorry I left and never reached out—I thought keeping my distance was the right thing to do.”

The beat of silence that followed his confession tightened around his throat like a noose. “I was wrong.”

Her gaze dropped. When it lifted, her expression was unreadable. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “But I think it’s best if rule number one still stands.”

Turning away, she headed for the stairs. “The sheets in the guest room are clean. I’ll get you some towels.”

He nodded, although the weight on his chest didn’t ease.

Trip nudged his hand, then flopped onto his back, demanding attention. Danny crouched to scratch his belly.

“Hey buddy. Looks like we’re housemates for a while.”

“Come on, Trip.” Isabella called to her traitorous dog, busy making a big furry fool of himself over Danny.

From the linen closet, she took clean towels and placed them in the guest bathroom.

An idiot—that’s what she was.

No. A masochist.

So much for trying to regain control of her life. She folded like a deck of cards the minute Danny said he was staying.

The truth was, she felt safe with him in the house.

Physically.

Safe because he saw her, not just the threat.

Emotionally? She was walking a tightrope.

The whole “no sex” thing? A necessary boundary so she wouldn’t get her heart broken again.

Who was she kidding?

His apology had rocked her. Despite what she’d told him, she hadn’t gotten past their night together. Not really. She’d waited. Desperate for a call. A text. Anything.

Nothing had come.

Her father’s decision to move the family to North Carolina had been a blessing. An entire country between her and the boy she’d wanted badly enough to give him everything on a cold, sandy beach the night of her best friend’s funeral.

But his apology hadn’t closed the door on their past like she’d hoped. Instead, it had left a pathway to the present where she was very aware of Danny the man.