Hero By Night (Independence Falls 3)

“Lena, I’m ready to move past vanilla whenever you are. With you, I’m up for anything.”

LENA FOLLOWED CHAD to his truck, forcing a calm she didn’t feel. Hero clung to her side, his body pressed against her leg as they walked. Children and stoned men who believed in ninjas—­those things didn’t send normal ­people diving headfirst into a panic attack.

She stopped by the passenger side door and rested her forehead against the window, closing her eyes. “Shit,” she murmured. “Shit. I just wanted to eat a pizza with my pretend boyfriend.”

“Hey now,” Chad said. “I’m not complaining.”

She opened her eyes and turned her head, spotting Chad leaning against the rear of his truck. He wouldn’t approach her with her eyes closed, she realized.

“You have good ears,” she said.

He headed toward her, walking around to open her door. “I grew up with two brothers and a sister. I think they would tell you I have selective hearing. Before we finalized the sale with Moore Timber, I would run the other way when I heard the word ‘paperwork.’ Hop in, Lena.”

She climbed into the truck, buckling her belt as Hero claimed the space between them. Chad pulled out of the lot, waving to the growing crowd at the picnic tables.

“So you’re continuing the job search tomorrow?” he asked as they turned onto the two-­lane country road leading to the Summers family home.

“Yes.” She needed to find something soon or she’d be forced to turn to either her ex or her parents for money. Neither option appealed to her. She didn’t want to give them one more reason to look at her and see failure. “Is there an Internet café in town? I need to find a computer.”

“Come by the house in the morning,” Chad said. “Katie has a desktop in the study that you can use.”

“I don’t want to be in the way.” Or face an inquisition, she thought.

“You won’t be.” Chad steered the truck down the bumpy driveway. “You can help yourself to the fridge. There will be coffee. Brody makes a pot every morning. And Hero’s welcome.”

“You had me at coffee,” she said. “Thank you.”

He parked the truck by the barn, but kept the engine running as he turned to her. Flashing his panty-­melting smile. “You’re my girl, now.”

“It’s not real, Chad,” she murmured. The parts of her body that would have ignored that smile twenty-­four hours ago sparked with interest. Now that she knew his smiles weren’t empty promises.

“Lena, we made it real tonight. After what happened—­”

“I’m sorry,” she said. The words felt like a reflex.

“No, Lena. Don’t apologize.” His smile faded. “Word will get back to Eric that we went out for pizza, and I just about murdered one of his guys for sitting down next to you.”

“Eric knows I struggle with strangers approaching me,” she said softly.

“Yeah, and he knows I’m not the guy who stands up and plays hero. That’s not me, Lena.”

No, it wasn’t. Chad charmed everyone, men and women, with his looks and his words. He wasn’t the big, bad alpha man rushing in to save the day. No one felt threatened by him. Until tonight. The way he’d stared down the man who honest-­to-­God thought she was a ninja—­pure alpha male. And she had a feeling it wasn’t an act.

“Sometimes we surprise ourselves,” she said. And prove we’re not who we thought we were.

Hope blossomed. Maybe she had it in her too. Maybe she’d prove to the ­people who’d written her off as broken that she could glue the pieces back together.

“Yeah, I guess we do.” His brown eyes studied her, brooding and intense. His jaw tightened, his gaze dropping to her lips. His fingers gripped the steering wheel as if he had to hold on to something to keep from reaching for her.

Desire—­spurred by the knowledge that this man didn’t expect any more than she could give—­took over. She opened the passenger side door, but didn’t move to get out. As soon as Hero jumped down, she closed it and turned back to Chad.

She focused on his lips, unable to look away. If she kissed him, that empty feeling might return. Right now, she felt a rush of emotions when she was with Chad. He put her at ease and made her laugh.

“Lena?”

She raised one hand, pressing a finger to his lips. Moving her hand to his cheek, she leaned forward until her mouth hovered close to his. She wanted this kiss even if tomorrow she freaked out at the thought of touching her lips to his. Even if it left her wishing she could run and hide, or that horrible numb feeling she’d endured for so many months returned and she shunned everyone again, she wanted to take the leap.

Closing her eyes, she brushed her lips over his—­a soft touch, nothing more. But this kiss—­it didn’t feel meaningless. Her heart raced, but it wasn’t headed for panic central. The blood flowing through her didn’t freeze. Just the opposite. Every part of her burned with desire for more.