Her Christmas Protector by Terri Reed Page A

card in his hand with the man’s name and a New York address. Crumpling the card, he turned toward the house.
    Reva came down the stairs, purse in hand. “Who was that man?”
    Maybe she hadn’t heard their conversation. Luke didn’t have time now to deal with her. “Nobody that concerns you.”
    Her mouth drew into a pout. “Oh.”
    Luke stood fast under her scrutiny and relaxed when she shrugged.
    “I’m off to town for groceries.”
    Unease slithered down his spine. “Why now?”
    “Well, I can’t very well cook a soufflé without butter or eggs,” she chirped and hurried to her sports car.
    “Wait!” he called, not liking the timing.
    She either didn’t hear him or ignored him as she climbed inside. She sped away faster than she should. She’d let the subject go too easily. He should have stopped her just in case she had some idea of going after the P.I. and asking questions.
    He could only pray she minded her own business.
    Because right now, he had to talk to Faith.

     
    “You can relax, he’s gone.” Luke’s voice brought Faith’s head up from where it rested on her knees.
    “He’s gone?” That seemed too easy.
    Luke stepped farther into the room. “I told him you’d mentioned seeing the tundra.”
    Faith’s heart melted to her toes. He’d protected her and without knowing why. “Thank you.”
    He saluted. “U.S. Army, ma’am. Specially trained to rescue damsels in distress or small countries from military aggression.”
    “It sounds like a well-rounded program.”
    “We aim to please.” He moved closer and held out his hand.
    Without hesitation, she placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her to her feet. They stood toe to toe with her hand still encased within his grasp, the heat from the contact spreading over her like sunshine on frozen snow. She looked into his face and for one dizzying moment she thought he might kiss her. Standing so close to him made her ache with yearning. A yearning that overruled her head and tore at her heart.
    “Who are you?” he asked, his eyes holding questions.
    Alarm shot through her, effectively shattering the moment. She withdrew her hand. “No one you need to worry about.”
    He gave her a level look. “What is your last name?”
    Tension, like a hard solid knot, twisted in her soul. “What does it matter?”
    She knew it mattered a great deal.
    He set his jaw in a stubborn line. “It matters, Faith.”
    Unable to meet his eyes, she stared at the scar on his jaw. Luke lifted her chin with the rough pad of his index finger until their gazes locked. “Tell me.”
    Pulling away from him, she walked to the window and stared out at the blue sky. How much should she say? Everything?
    She closed her eyes tight. If she told him everything, he’d tell her to leave. Her fists clenched at her side. Leaving was the last thing she wanted to do.
    She liked living on the ranch, she cared for Dottie a great deal and…her mind skidded away from examining her feelings for Luke. Suffice it to say, leaving would be more painful than anything else she’d had to endure.
    But if the danger had moved on to Alaska, did she have to say anything?
    With Vinnie’s private investigator looking for her in the frozen north, she was safe on the Circle C. Why spoil it with tales of her sordid mistakes from the past?
    “You know—how sometimes—you imagine something and then when you’re faced with the reality of it, it doesn’t live up to the image in your mind?”
    When Luke didn’t respond, she turned to face him. The expression on his face showed his confusion but she also knew she had his attention. “Being here on your ranch, caring for your mother and—” Unready to finish the thought aloud, she dropped her eyes to the buttons on his shirt.
    She took a deep breath and lifted her eyes to meet his gaze. “It has far surpassed anything my feeble mind could conjure up.”
    Luke’s brows creased. “Faith…”
    She held up a hand in a gesture of