Protecting a Fortune is hard work.

Falling for one is harder.

Savannah Fortune is off-limits, and bodyguard Chaz Mendoza knows it. The pretty grad student he has been hired to look after is smart, opinionated—and rich. He would lay down his life for her. Still, what would she want with a regular guy like Chaz? Her family has made it clear he has no permanent place in her world. But Chaz refuses to settle for anything less...

After writing more than eighty books for Mills & Boon, STELLA BAGWELL still finds it exciting to create new stories and bring her characters to life. She loves all things Western and has been married to her own real cowboy for forty-four years. Living on the south Texas coast, she also enjoys being outdoors and helping her husband care for the horses, cats and dog that call their small ranch home. The couple has one son, who teaches high school mathematics and is also an athletic director. Stella loves hearing from readers. They can contact her at stellabagwell@gmail.com.

Also by Stella Bagwell

The Lawman’s NoelleDaddy Wore SpursChristmas on the Silver Horn RanchHer Rugged RancherHis Badge, Her Baby…Their Family?The Cowboy’s Christmas Lullaby HerKind of DoctorThe Arizona LawmanHer Man on Three Rivers RanchA Ranger for Christmas

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Guarding His Fortune

Stella Bagwell

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09090-2

GUARDING HIS FORTUNE

© 2019 Harlequin Books S.A.

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Extract

About the Publisher

Chapter One

Savannah Fortune struggled to hide her impatience as she gazed toward the opposite end of the study where her father, Miles, was standing in front of a massive cherrywood desk. Tall and tanned, with short graying brown hair, he made an imposing figure in a gray suit and power-red tie. Next to him in a plush armchair, her mother, Sarah, dressed impeccably in a white dress and pearls, waited for her husband to address the family.

“This is ridiculous.” Savannah’s hushed voice was directed at her younger sister, Belle. “Why has Dad called this urgent meeting in the middle of the day? Couldn’t he have waited until dinner this evening?”

Belle slanted her a droll look. “Urgent means he wants his children to focus on him. Not the boudin kolaches and gumbo we’re having for supper.”

Miles rapped his knuckles on the desktop and everyone in the room turned their attention to the patriarch of the New Orleans Fortunes.

“I’m glad to see everyone is here,” he spoke, his strong voice reverberating around the room. “I’ll try to make this as concise as possible.”

A few steps away, Savannah’s older brother, Austin, held up a hand. “Sorry to interrupt, Dad, but Nolan isn’t here. Shouldn’t he be privy to this family meeting, too?”

“Nolan has already been informed of everything I’m about to relay to all of you.” Turning slightly, Miles picked up a large manila envelope from the desktop and held it up for his family to see. “Earlier this morning I received this detailed report and as much as I hate to alarm all of you, the news is jarring.”

Jarring? Now that Savannah was taking closer notice, her father appeared drawn and pale. What was in that envelope? As far as she knew, Fortune Investments, her father’s massive banking business, was as lucrative as ever.

Leaning closer to Belle, Savannah whispered in her sister’s ear. “Has the stock market crashed or something?”

Belle made a hands-up gesture to say she didn’t have a clue as to what might be going on. Across the room, their older sister, Georgia, was arching a questioning brow at their brother Beau. From the lost expressions on the faces of Savannah’s siblings, it appeared all were a bit mystified by this meeting.

Miles cleared his throat and continued, “The news is conclusive. The Fortune family is being targeted.”

This wasn’t exactly breaking news, Savannah thought. Especially the kind that warranted a family meeting.

Apparently, her brother Draper was thinking along those same lines. He said, “I don’t mean to sound like a snob, but being wealthy has always made us targets, Dad.”

Miles nodded. “You couldn’t be more correct, son. However, this situation is different. Someone is deliberately trying to harm members of the Fortune family. As you all know, there’s already been an arson in Austin that came close to being deadly, a cyber-attack at Robinson Tech and a real-estate sabotage in Houston. We have no way of knowing who or what might be next. We do have reason to believe that Charlotte Robinson is behind all these incidents.”

“Do you know this for certain?” Georgia asked. “It seems strange the woman would want to hurt her own children.”

Miles pecked a finger against the manila envelope. “As you all have learned, my half brother Kenneth Fortunado in Houston has a son, Connor, who’s a highly skilled private investigator. Connor has continued to dig up information about Charlotte and he’s recently discovered the divorce between her and Gerald recently became final.”

Austin quickly countered. “Why should we be concerned about this? We’re not a part of the Austin Fortunes or the Houston Fortunes. Undoubtedly, we’re related to them, but we’ve never even met most of them.”

Austin’s remarks matched the ones going through Savannah’s head. The other Fortunes were strangers. In fact, only a few months had passed since Miles had admitted to his children that he was actually an illegitimate son of Julius Fortune, the man who’d also fathered Gerald Robinson aka Jerome Fortune. At that time, Miles had beseeched his children to keep the secret under wraps. However, it wasn’t long afterward that the long-buried truth had somehow gotten back to the Austin Fortunes and from there it had spread.

Miles placed a protective hand on his wife’s shoulder as he answered Austin’s question. “Gerald and Charlotte were married for thirty-some years. Plenty of baggage and money has accrued over that length of time. The woman is furious that she’s losing out. Not to mention that she’s been humiliated in public by Gerald’s endless philandering. Make no mistake, she’s seeking vengeance on the Fortune family. And I’m very concerned the woman has most likely learned I am a half brother to her ex-husband, Gerald Robinson. And regrettably, that makes all of us an enemy in her eyes.”

Everyone began to talk at once, bouncing questions and opinions back and forth until the room sounded like Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras. Savannah was content to stand to one side and wait for the commotion to die down. After all, she was soon going to be off on her own and away from the family. This Charlotte-threat didn’t apply to her.

Eventually, Miles called for silence. “I’m due back at the office in half an hour, so I need to wrap up this meeting,” he announced. “Are there any last questions before I leave?”

Belle asked a basic one. “So what does this mean for all of us, Dad?”

Miles somber gaze encompassed his whole family as he spoke. “It means all of us need to remain on high alert and be vigilant of people, our surroundings and anything out of the ordinary. Meanwhile, if any new information about Charlotte comes to me, it will be passed on to all of you.”

He assisted Sarah from the chair and as their mother made her way out of the study, everyone followed, including Savannah, who was on the tail end of the group.

She was about to step into the hallway when Miles suddenly called to her. “Savannah, please remain in the study. I’d like a private word with you.”

Smiling to herself, she made an abrupt about-face and walked back to the center of the room. Her father was going to congratulate her on being invited to the University of Texas to join an important study group, she thought. No doubt, he was proud to hear his daughter would be studying with one of the most elite professors in the field of epidemiology.

“Yes, Dad?”

He gestured for her to take a seat in the same chair her mother had occupied.

She shook her head. “I don’t need to sit.”

Actually, she was impatient to get back to her bedroom, where suitcases and garments were laid across every inch of the king-sized bed. By the end of the day, she wanted to have everything packed and ready for the move.

“Sit down anyway.” He adjusted the knot of his tie, then placed the report about Charlotte Robinson into the leather briefcase he carried to work.

Biting back a sigh, Savannah eased into the chair nearest to her and smoothed the hem of her mint-green skirt over her knees.

“Okay, I’m sitting,” she said cheerfully, then shot him a smug smile. “I assume Mother told you my good news.”

Easing a hip onto the corner of the desk, he said flatly, “She told me. Unfortunately, that’s why we’re having this talk.”

Instead of sounding like a preening father, his voice was crisp and resolute. It was the same unyielding tone she often heard him use on the phone with a business crony.

Frowning, she asked, “Dad, aren’t you happy about the invitation?”

“I’m always proud of my children’s achievements.”

His response was hardly encouraging. “Being invited to join a study group probably doesn’t sound like much to you. But in my world, it’s quite an honor.”

He shook his head. “Savannah, I realize the invitation from the university is a big coup for you. And normally I’d be the first to give you a proud send-off to Austin. But considering all the troubles that have been plaguing the Fortunes, I have to insist that you cancel your trip to Texas.”

Her jaw dropped. “Cancel? You must be joking! You don’t just cancel an invitation to study with a group of brilliant graduate students and a professor who has an impressive reputation as being one of the best in his field. There are hundreds of students who’d kill to be in my position!”

“And there’s one person out there who might literally want to kill you just because your name is Fortune,” he shot back at her. “No, Savannah, I’m very serious about this. Austin is full of Fortunes. It’s where Gerald’s business, Robinson Tech, is located. Living there would place you in the thick of danger.”

“But Nolan lives there,” she argued. “If he can, then so can I.”

Miles muttered something under his breath and Savannah knew better than to ask him to repeat it. Frankly, she’d never seen her father looking so stressed. Not even when the stock market took a wild plunge, or a huge investment had gone bankrupt.

“Nolan is a grown man with a family,” he reasoned.

And being twenty-five and a single woman made her incapable of taking care of herself? She wanted to fling the question at her father. But she was smart enough to know that sparring with him in that manner would only send his blood pressure to the boiling point. Miles Fortune was old-school. Women of the family were to be pampered and protected. Men were expected to show strength and wisdom.

“I’m fully grown, too, Dad. And my career, my education are very important to me.”

“Your life is more important to me,” he retorted.

Frustration caused her head to swing back and forth. “But, Dad, I’ve already rented an apartment in Austin and purchased a plane ticket! I’m in the process of packing!”

“Sorry. Cancel everything. When this ordeal with Charlotte Robinson is over, then you may reschedule your studies.”

Reschedule? By the time Charlotte Robinson was tracked down and punished for her misdeeds, Savannah wouldn’t be able to fetch herself an invitation to a dogfight, much less to the university study!

She leaned toward him, her expression beseeching him to understand the importance of her trip to Austin. “Dad, you’ve been a businessman for the major part of your life. More than anyone, you understand that to get ahead you have to strike while the iron is hot. I have to jump at this study now! I won’t have another chance like this.”

His expression was unrelenting. “I won’t have a daughter of mine running around on her own in Austin! You’d constantly be in the crosshairs! You might as well pin a sign to your back with the name Fortune written in bold letters.”

“Dad, for heaven’s sake, most of my waking hours will be spent at the university. I’m sure the security there will be more than adequate.”

Before he could shoot a negative reply at her, Savannah rose from the chair and started out of the study.

“Savannah, I’m serious about this. You’re not going.”

Glancing over her shoulder, she smiled at him. “This is my life. My career. I am going, Dad. And I hope it will be with your blessings.”

“That isn’t going to happen, young lady!”

Her chin high, Savannah walked through the door, then carefully closed it behind her.

* * *

Living in New Orleans all her life, Savannah was long accustomed to hot, steamy weather, even for the first day of April, so when she stepped through the glass doors of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the oppressive afternoon heat hardly caught her attention. But a man walking straight in her direction had definitely caught her attention. Somewhere near thirty, he was at least six foot three or four with enough muscles to suggest he spent hours in the gym. His tanned complexion and black close-cropped hair coupled with a neatly trimmed goatee and mustache conjured up an image of dark and deliciously dangerous.

And the danger grew even closer as he stopped a few steps in front of her. “Miss Fortune?”

She instinctively glanced around the busy entrance to make sure the dreamy hunk of a man wasn’t addressing someone else. “That’s right,” she finally answered. “How did you guess?”

A faint, almost cocky grin lifted a corner of his masculine lips and for a brief moment, Savannah couldn’t tear her eyes away from the sexy sight of straight white teeth, an unyielding jaw and chocolate-brown eyes fringed with thick black lashes.

“I’m Chaz Mendoza and it’s my job to be a good guesser.” He gestured to a sleek black car parked at the curbside of the sheltered portico. “I’m here to take you to your destination. Are those your bags?”

The question snapped her out of her survey of his chiseled features, and she glanced over her left shoulder to where a valet was pushing a cart loaded with the luggage she’d just collected from the baggage carousel. “Those are all mine.”

Before she could ask him if the university had sent a car to collect her, the man was already directing the baggage attendant to the trunk of the waiting car.

Standing to one side, Savannah allowed her gaze to wander discreetly over the driver. The navy short-sleeved polo shirt and tight jeans he was wearing showed off every hard muscle of his brawny physique. Everything about him exuded authority and strength.

Chaz Mendoza. The name sounded very familiar, but try as she might, she couldn’t recall exactly where she might have heard it. And she knew for certain she’d never met him before. He was the type of man a woman didn’t forget.

Oh, well, she thought, he was hardly any business of hers and she’d not traveled all the way to Austin to have her focus derailed by a man. Even if he was scrumptious eye candy.

He slammed the trunk shut on her baggage and the sound pushed her out of her musings. She quickly opened her handbag and handed several bills to the valet.

The lanky young man thanked her with an appreciative grin, then hurried off with the empty cart.

Savannah looked at the driver. “I was expecting to catch a taxi to my apartment. This is certainly nice of the university to provide me with a ride. Funny, though. I don’t recall giving anyone the arrival time of my flight.”

“It probably just slipped your mind. I think right now, we’d better be on our way. This parking spot is limited to a few minutes.” He cupped a hand beneath her elbow and escorted her around to the passenger side of the car.

After he’d helped her into the plush bucket seat and joined her in the car, Savannah gave him the address of her new apartment.

“If the address isn’t recognizable to you, I have a navigation map on my phone,” she offered as she snapped the seat belt in place.

He quickly belted himself in and merged the car into the slow moving line of traffic exiting the airport. “Thank you, but my car is equipped with a navigational system. I’m familiar with that particular part of the city anyway.”

“Oh, that’s good,” she told him. “I hope I’ll soon learn my way around. Of course, I need to pick up a car of my own before I start trying to navigate the city streets.”

He glanced in her direction and Savannah found herself looking directly into his brown eyes. The connection rattled her for a brief moment before she purposely turned her attention to the traffic in front of them.

“So you’re not familiar with Austin?” he asked.

His voice was slow, and warm, and just rough enough to cause goose bumps to rise along the back of her arms. Or was that the cold air blowing from the vents on the car dash? Either way, her reaction to the man was making her feel more than foolish.

She took a deep breath and blew it out. “No. I’m from New Orleans.”

From the corner of her eye, she could see a faint smile touch his lips. “So that’s where that lilting drawl of yours comes from.”

“And yours doesn’t exactly sound Texan. Are you a native Austinite?”

“No. My family is originally from Florida, but in the past several years most of them, including me, have migrated here to Texas.”

“I see. So you and your family obviously like it here,” she said.

“Very much.”

Savannah sighed as thoughts of her father once again drifted through her mind. Since the day of the family meeting, she’d expected him to be fighting her tooth and nail over this Austin trip. Instead, he’d avoided her completely. Even this morning, before she left the Fortune mansion to catch her flight, she expected him to give her a few parting words of warning. Instead, her mother had informed her that Miles had skipped breakfast to make an early downtown business meeting. So much for worrying about her safety, she thought glumly, much less wishing her good luck.

“Is anything wrong?” her driver asked.

Was her state of mind so transparent that a stranger could read her troubled thoughts? She darted a glance at him.

“No. Everything is fine,” she said. “I’ll just be glad to get to my apartment. I’ve never really cared for flying. Once I’m back on solid ground, I always feel drained.”

“Have you done much of it? Flying, that is.”

From the corner of her eye, she could see his left hand resting comfortably on the steering wheel. There was no sign of a wedding band and the fact that she was even bothering to look caused a tinge of embarrassment to warm her cheeks.

What are you thinking, Savannah? Take a closer gander at this guy. You think he got those muscles from relaxing in a recliner in front of the TV? This man is as far from married as a man can get.

Clearing her throat, she pulled her straying thoughts back to his question. “I’ve flown across the country many times, and overseas. I see it as a necessary evil to get to where I’m going. What about you? Do you travel much?”

“I used to. But not since I’ve moved to Austin. I guess you could say I’ve already gotten to where I’m going.”

She smiled at him. “Hmm. That must be nice. To know that you’re in the right place and exactly where you belong.”

By now, they were traveling a busy highway that led deeper into the city. If Savannah had taken a taxi as she’d originally planned, she would’ve been taking note of her surroundings and the city skyline ahead of them. But Chaz Mendoza’s huge masculine presence was distracting her from seeing Austin clearly for the first time.

“Is that why you’ve come to Texas? To figure out where you belong?”

It was a rather personal question to be posed by a stranger, she thought. Especially one who’d been hired to simply drive her from the airport to her apartment. But to be fair, she hadn’t exactly been discussing the weather with him.

“Not really. I know my roots are in New Orleans. I’m here because I’ve been invited to partake in a study group at the university for a few weeks.”

“That sounds very impressive.”

At least someone thinks so, Savannah thought. “I feel honored to be included. It’s something I’ve been wanting and working toward for a long time.”

“What are you studying?”

“Epidemiology.”

“Sorry, you’ll have to explain that a bit more. I’m not a science person.”

She wanted to ask what kind of person he was, but quickly decided that would be too obvious. The last thing she wanted this man to think was that she was flirting with him. For heaven’s sake, she didn’t flirt with anyone. It wasn’t her nature. Besides, she didn’t have time for such nonsense.

“Don’t feel badly. Most people aren’t familiar with the word. It’s a study of diseases. Why people get them and what we can do to prevent them—as in finding the biggest risk factors. There are different fields to study in epidemiology. For instance how certain diseases affect society and the workplace and the cost of caring for such illnesses.”

“And what field are you focusing on?”

No doubt, he was asking just to make polite conversation, Savannah decided. Most men around her age were turned off by the subject. He might be truly interested if she were discussing quarterbacks in the NFL, or point guards in the NBA, but not medical science.

“I’m concentrating on the branch that studies why people get diseases and certain illnesses and what we can do to prevent them.”

“An admirable profession, I’d say.”

“I like to think so. My studies—” She broke off as she realized she was about to say her studies consumed her life. For some reason she didn’t want this sexy man to think she was little more than a brain in a white lab coat. “They’re very important to me. So that’s why I’m here in Austin.”

He glanced in her direction and Savannah got the strange impression he was something more than just a driver for the university. The notion shook her, until he smiled and then suddenly everything felt right again.

“Well, welcome to Texas, Miss Fortune. I hope you enjoy your time here.”

“Thanks. I hope I do, too.”

* * *

This was going to be much harder than he’d ever anticipated, Chaz decided, as he braked the car to a stop in front of the luxurious gated apartment building where Miss Savannah Fortune would be living until she finished her stint at the university.

Obviously, her father had told her nothing about hiring a bodyguard to protect her while she was here in Austin. And Chaz had yet to find the right moment to tell her exactly why he’d intercepted her at the airport.

If she’d hadn’t looked so damned beautiful when he spotted her emerging through the doors of the terminal, his brain might have remained focused on his job. And if she hadn’t been so open and warm when he’d introduced himself, he might’ve been able to come right out and inform her that he was working for her father.

But the sight of Savannah had thrown him for a loop. She’d scarcely resembled the foggy pic Miles Fortune had texted him earlier this morning. It was a good thing the man had warned Chaz she’d be dressed in a cream-colored pencil skirt and a pale pink blouse; otherwise, he would’ve missed her entirely.

Damn the man! When Miles Fortune had first contacted Chaz about providing security for his daughter, he’d described Savannah as the studious sort, who rarely took her nose out of a book. According to him, she had a very limited social life and made a point of avoiding men entirely. She’d be easy to keep an eye on, Miles had told him.

Hell, the man was either blind or knew very little about his own child, Chaz thought with a heavy dose of frustration. Keeping his eyes on Savannah Fortune was going to be easy. It was keeping his hands off her for the next few weeks that was going to pose the problem.

Chaz had assumed he was going to be guarding a meek young woman, whose idea of an exciting evening was to watch an educational channel on TV. This young beauty looked as though she’d be very much at home on the dance floor and in the arms of a very attentive man.

Trying not to dwell on that image, he peered across the narrow console to see she was leaning slightly forward, peering through the windshield at the entrance of the apartment. The movement caused a long curtain of smooth brown hair to slip forward and partially hide her face. Chaz wanted to reach over and tuck the silky strands behind her ear. Not because he needed to see her lovely features. No, the image of her face was already burned into his brain. He simply wanted to touch her and discover for himself if she felt as soft and womanly as she actually looked.

“That’s the correct number,” she stated happily. “And the outside certainly looks pretty.”

Chaz pulled his gaze away from her long enough to study the entrance to the redbrick apartment. A dark green door with a brass knocker was shaded by the overhang of a square concrete porch. On one corner, a huge planter spilled over with red and pink geraniums.

The apartment was definitely not typical budget-friendly housing, he decided. It was for the elite class and more like a fancy townhouse than an apartment. But then, he’d not expected anything less from a Fortune.

“I’d say it appears to be exceptionally nice. Did you rent it sight unseen?”

She nodded. “Live Oak Lane is supposed to be one of the best gated communities in Austin and I studied photos on their website before I signed the lease. But sometimes pics can be doctored. I’m hoping that’s not the case when I see the inside of the apartment.” She unlatched her seat belt and pulled the strap of an expensive leather handbag over her shoulder. “If you’ll be kind enough to help me get my bags to the door, I’ll let you be on your way.”

“My pleasure,” he murmured.

After pushing a button to release the trunk, he skirted the hood to help her out of the car. When she placed her little hand in his, Chaz was instantly swamped with all sorts of protective feelings. Most of which had nothing to do with his job.

Once she was standing next to him on the concrete drive, she looked up at him and smiled and though he was cursing at himself to step back and wedge a respectable amount of distance between them, all he could do was hold on to her fingers and stare into her hazel eyes. Green, blue or brown, he wasn’t sure which color was dominant, but he was quite certain he’d never seen anything so sparkly or full of life.

“Thank you, Chaz.”

“You’re entirely welcome, Miss Fortune.”

Clearing his throat, he forced himself to drop her hand and turn to the task of lifting her bags from the trunk. As soon as he had them on the ground, she grabbed up a floral tote and a midsized suitcase with wheels.

“I can manage these two,” she said and headed to the entrance of the apartment.

As Chaz followed with two bags stuffed under each arm, he glanced furtively around the apartment complex. There were five tenants to the right of Savannah’s flat, four to the left and no second floors to any of them. At least that was a plus for security, he thought. But the beautiful landscaping separating the lawns of each apartment could create a nightmare if anyone decided to hide behind the giant blooming oleanders or bushes of Texas sage.

When he reached the door, Savannah was already digging through her handbag for the key.

“Just put them anywhere,” she told him. “I’ll get them inside.”

He set the bags down and took a deep breath. His time had run out, he decided. There was no more delaying the inevitable.

“Uh—Miss Fortune, I think—”

Before he could push the remaining words past his lips, she smiled and offered him her hand in a gesture of farewell.

“I know what you’re going to say. It was nice meeting this way.”

“It couldn’t have been nicer,” he agreed, while thinking he could stand here holding on to her hand for hours and never get tired of looking at her plush lips, or short little nose, or those luminous eyes fringed by the longest lashes he’d ever seen.

“Perhaps I’ll see you around campus sometime,” she said. “But then, I suppose you’re always busy carting people to and fro.”

He tried not to wince at the deduction he’d allowed her to make of him. “Actually, Miss Fortune, you’re going to be seeing quite a bit of me.”

Her eyes suddenly wary, she purposely pulled her hand from his. “Oh? I don’t understand.”

“I’m sorry. I should have explained the moment I introduced myself at the airport. But I...thought it might be nicer if the two of us got to know each other a bit before I sprang the situation on you.”

She was shaking her head now and Chaz saw a look of confusion and something close to fear fill her eyes.

“Situation? What are you talking about?”

“My name is Chaz Mendoza, but the university didn’t send me to collect you at the airport. Your father did.”

She took a step backward. “Excuse me?”

“Your father is Miles Fortune of Fortune Investments in New Orleans, right?”

Although her nod was an affirmative, her eyes were glazed with shock. “Yes, he is my father. But why—”

Before she could question him further, he said, “He’s hired me as your bodyguard, Miss Fortune.”

She gasped with disbelief. “Bodyguard! You must be joking!”

“Hardly. I don’t joke about providing security. From what Mr. Fortune tells me, you could be putting yourself in quite a bit of danger. My job is to see that danger doesn’t get anywhere near you.”

* * *

So this was why her father hadn’t spoken to her before she’d departed New Orleans, she thought. He’d believed he’d taken control of the situation by hiring her a bodyguard.

“This is incredible! I can’t believe my father would go so far as to—” Her gaze swept over him as though she were seeing him for the first time today and then her head began to swing back and forth. “Hire a man to follow me around! It won’t work. It simply won’t work. As of this moment, you can consider yourself relieved of your duties.”

During the brief ride over from the airport, Chaz had made the mistake of thinking she was different from the wealthy people who often visited his family’s businesses, Mendoza Winery and La Viña restaurant. As they’d made conversation, she’d not come across as a spoiled little rich girl. But she was certainly coming across as one now.

“Sorry. You didn’t hire me, Miss Fortune. So you can hardly terminate my services.”

To underscore the fact that he wasn’t going anywhere, Chaz pulled a key from his jeans pocket and unlocked the door.

Her mouth fell open. “Where did you get that key?” she demanded. “And don’t tell me you’re planning on staying here! In my apartment!”

Smiling smugly, he pushed the door open and gestured for her to precede him into the building.

“Don’t worry about how I got a key. And don’t be thinking you can run to the building manager and complain. Your father has already taken care of everything.”

“That’s what he thinks! There’s no way in hell I’m going to share my living space with a man!”

Her plush lips flattened to an angry line as she brushed past him, but Chaz was paying very little attention to her outrage as she marched ahead of him. No, he was much more focused on the sweet flowery scent of her perfume and the evocative sway of her round little bottom.

“Don’t worry, Miss Fortune. You’ll get used to me.”

Looking over her shoulder, she glared at him. “Never!”

Something about her ruffled feathers made her even more attractive than when she’d been making polite conversation and Chaz couldn’t stop himself from smiling at her.

“Never say never, Miss Fortune. It might come back to haunt you.”

She stomped out of the foyer and as Chaz followed after her, he realized his job as a bodyguard had just taken on a new meaning.

Chapter Two

Savannah hardly noticed the plush furnishings of the living room or the beautiful bay window overlooking a landscaped walking path on the opposite side of the street. At the moment, she couldn’t have cared less about her surroundings. She was more than angry. She was in panic mode.

Dropping the bags she’d been carrying onto the hardwood floor, she plucked her cell phone from her handbag and punched in her father’s private number.

As she waited for him to answer, she heard Chaz Mendoza’s footsteps entering the room. A second later, he walked past her and she watched him place her suitcases near a doorway leading out of the spacious living area.

She was trying to pull her gaze off his bulging biceps when her father’s voice suddenly sounded in her ear.

“Hello, Savannah. I’m assuming that you’ve landed safely in Austin and have met Mr. Mendoza.”

Savannah wanted to yell at him. But the anger coursing through her was not enough to override the respect she’d always shown her mother and her father.

Shoving out a long pent-up breath, she unconsciously gravitated toward the window. “Yes, I’m safely here in Austin. At my apartment. I’m calling because I want to know what you were thinking, Dad. I can’t have a bodyguard tagging along after me! Not only would it be embarrassing, it’s impractical, illogical and—”

“And very necessary, Savannah.”

Savannah never cursed, but she found herself having to bite down on her tongue to keep from spouting a few choice words into the phone.

“Necessary? I hardly think so, Dad! My time here is going to be very low-key. How—”

“Low-key or not, I want Chaz with you. And no amount of arguing or pleading is going to change my mind, Savannah.”

“But, Dad, I can’t—”

“Look, Savannah, you are the one who went ahead with this trip in spite of my disapproval. You want to be independent? Then act grown up and accept that having protection close by is a smart thing, not an encumbrance.”

For the past four years, ever since Savannah had turned twenty-one, she’d wanted her parents to see her as a self-sufficient adult, a smart woman who could handle the daily problems that life threw at her. Since then, she’d acquired her bachelor degree and moved on to her graduate studies. Yet, in spite of those hard-earned achievements, her father believed she still had a lot to learn.

She drew in a deep breath and blew it out, while from the corner of her right eye she watched Chaz come to stand at the opposite end of the large window. He was either taking in the view or listening in on her conversation, she thought crossly.

“Dad, I want my privacy. It’s essential that my studies not be distracted—”

“I’m positive that you and Mr. Mendoza will work out some type of house rules to suit your needs.”

House rules! She wanted to ask him how he’d like some stranger creeping through the house while he tried to focus on his work. Instead, she said, “Listen, Dad, I’m going to tell Mr. Mendoza that his services aren’t needed. I—”

“I’m the only person who can fire the guy,” Miles bluntly interrupted. “And right now, I have no intentions of doing such a thing. So make the most of your time there, Savannah. It could end sooner than you think.”

She started to ask him what he meant by that remark when the doorbell suddenly rang. Completely exasperated, she said, “There’s someone at the door, Dad. We’ll talk about this again. Soon!”

By the time she ended the call, Chaz had already left his spot at the window to go answer the door. Savannah followed, while trying to imagine who at the university might’ve taken it upon themselves to visit her today.

As she turned the corner leading into the foyer, she could see Chaz pushing the door wide and her brother Nolan stepping over the threshold. Since he was dressed in a business suit, Savannah assumed he’d taken a break from work to see her. But why? He could’ve waited until tonight, or any opportune time to welcome her to Austin.

“Hello, Chaz,” her brother greeted the bodyguard. “Nice to see you again.”

The two men finished shaking hands and from the easy way they greeted each other, it was obvious they’d met before. Which only proved that Nolan had to be in on this whole bodyguard matter.

Just great, she thought angrily. Her family was ganging up on her.

Spotting her, Nolan moved away from Chaz and walked over to where she stood at the end of the foyer. A wide smile creased his handsome face. “Hi, sis.”

“What are you doing here?” she asked bluntly.

“Wow! That has to be one of the nicest greetings I’ve ever received,” he joked. “Especially from my little sister.”

“I’m not exactly feeling nice.” She glanced at Chaz to see he was busy bolting the door behind him. Apparently, security was always on his mind.

“I assume you’re not happy about Dad supplying you with a bodyguard.”

She rolled her eyes. “How would you feel about someone invading your privacy? I was so looking forward to this time here in Austin and now I—”

Nolan held up a hand. “Whoa, sis! Just a minute. I think we need to talk this out calmly and rationally.”

Savannah drew in a deep breath and blew it out. “I am calm! Or at least I will be as soon as you tell Mr. Mendoza his services aren’t needed.”

His expression stoic, Chaz strolled up to them. “I don’t think your sister understands the risk she’d be taking by running around Austin on her own,” he said to Nolan. “Maybe if you explained it to her, she might realize I’m a friend, not a foe.”

“I think you’re right,” Nolan said to him, then wrapping a hand around Savannah’s upper arm, urged her out of the foyer. “Come on, sis, let’s go sit down and talk about this.”

“I don’t want to sit. I don’t want to talk. I want to be alone! Can’t you, or Dad, or—” she turned a glare on Chaz Mendoza “—or you understand that?”

“I do understand. More than you think.” Nolan shook his head. “This isn’t how you pictured your stay here in Austin. But since you received the invitation from UT, our family situation has changed.”

In the living room, Savannah allowed Nolan to lead her over to a beige leather couch. As she took a seat close to her brother’s side, Chaz eased into a matching armchair directly across from them. Obviously, he had no intention of allowing her to have a private conversation with her own brother, she thought crossly.

Doing her best to ignore Chaz’s huge presence, she said to Nolan, “I haven’t noticed anything changing with our family. It’s the other Fortunes who are having problems. We’re not a part of them. We never have been.”

Nolan let out a weary sigh, while Chaz appeared unfazed by her protest. No doubt, both of them thought she was behaving in a childish fashion, Savannah thought. But at the moment, she didn’t care. This was her life. And she had a right to live it her way. Not the way her father wanted or expected.

“Nolan, contrary to what Dad might think of me, I am a grown woman. I know how to take care of myself,” she argued. “It’s not like anyone has been threatening me personally. Or even stalking me. Just because I happen to have Fortune for a last name doesn’t mean I’m in some sort of dire danger.”

As soon as her words died away, Chaz spoke. “Your father seems to think so.”

Nolan quickly supported Chaz’s claim. “That’s right, Savannah. Dad is very concerned. Not only about you, but about the entire family.”

Unconvinced, Savannah looked at her brother. “And what about you, Nolan? Are you concerned that Lizzie and little Stella might be in danger? Have you hired a bodyguard for them, or yourself?”

“Not yet. But I’m seriously thinking about it. Your situation is entirely different, though. My wife and child aren’t alone. They have me.”

And Savannah now had Chaz. So according to Nolan, and her father, that fixed everything. The idea had Savannah groaning out loud.

“To me, this all seems blown out of proportion. Why would a crazy ex-wife of Gerald Robinson have anything against me? She doesn’t even know me. Besides, has anyone really proved that these unfortunate occurrences are connected to her?”

“I’m not sure if there’s enough proof for a prosecutor to convict her in court,” Nolan answered. “At least, not yet. But Connor Fortunado has managed to connect enough dots to tell us that she’s the one behind these criminal incidents. And the mere fact that she’s been digging into our family background should be enough to scare you into wanting a bodyguard.”

Maybe. But the thought of being in close proximity with Chaz on a daily basis was just as scary. She was a cerebral person and that was the sort of man she’d always been attracted to—the sort that would be compatible with her life. Even so, just looking at Chaz set her nerves on edge and pushed her pulse to an unhealthy rate. Her reaction to the man was silly and there was no way she could admit such a thing to her brother. She didn’t even want to admit it to herself.

“When an evil person is out for revenge, he or she will usually start with the easiest, most vulnerable target. And I’d put you in that category, Miss Fortune,” Chaz said.

“Chaz is one hundred percent right,” Nolan agreed. “And surely you’ve not forgotten what happened here in Austin earlier this year, Savannah. We were attending Schuyler Fortunado’s family reunion party when the fire broke out at Gerald Robinson’s estate. Ben was seriously injured.”

How could Savannah have forgotten the reunion? In spite of their parents choosing to stay behind in New Orleans, she and her six siblings had decided to attend. All seven of them had traveled to Austin, believing they’d be meeting many of the Fortune family, particularly Gerald Robinson’s children, who were theoretically cousins to Savannah and her siblings. Yet, none of that branch of the family had shown at the party that night. Not until Olivia had come bursting in with the shocking news that a fire had broken out at the Robinson estate.

“No. I’ve not forgotten. After the fire, we all went over and helped as much as we could with the cleanup.” The memory of that chilling incident caused some of the anger to drain out of her. “Everyone feared that Ben was going to die from the injuries he’d sustained in the fire.”

“It’s a miracle he didn’t,” Nolan replied.

As the details of that night replayed in Savannah’s mind, another thought suddenly struck her. One that should have registered with her the moment Chaz had introduced himself at the airport.

She turned a curious look on Chaz. “If I remember correctly, Schuyler married a man by the name of Mendoza. Carlo Mendoza, I think. The reunion was held at a winery by the same name and some of his family were in attendance that night. Are those your relations?”

He inclined his dark head. “That’s right. Carlo is my brother. My family owns and operates the Mendoza Winery.”

“And the La Viña restaurant. Which, by the way, serves delicious food,” Nolan spoke up. “Maybe you can talk Chaz into taking you there some evening. Trust me, sis, it would be a treat.”

A treat? Savannah stared at her brother, while wondering what he could possibly be thinking to suggest such a thing. In the first place, Savannah rarely went out on dates. Period. And even if she did decide to have dinner with a man, it certainly wouldn’t be with Chaz Mendoza. He was a bodyguard! A big hunk of muscles with a dazzling smile. He wasn’t her type at all!

Rising to her feet, Savannah began to move restlessly around the room. Learning that Chaz was her cousin Schuyler’s brother-in-law made things even more awkward. Had her father been aware that Chaz had a connection to the Fortune family? Was that why he’d hired him to be her bodyguard?

“There’s a troubled frown on your face, Savannah,” Nolan remarked after a moment. “And it doesn’t look good on you.”

She paused to glance at her brother. “Exactly why are you here? Dad send you to bolster his case?”

Nolan grimaced, then made a palms up gesture with both hands. “Dad figured you were probably going to give Chaz a few problems. And he wanted me to be here to point out the reasons you need to have a bodyguard around.”

Her father had definitely figured right, Savannah thought. For a number of reasons, many of which she didn’t want to examine, she wanted to usher Chaz right out the door and out of her life.

“Okay, so there was a fire and Ben was injured,” she said. “I’ll concede that much. But—”

“And there was cyber hacking at Robinson Tech, along with the sabotage on the Fortunado Real Estate business,” Nolan interrupted. “That should remind you that an evil mind is out to destroy the Fortune family. And with Charlotte reportedly digging into our family in New Orleans that could only mean one thing. We’re next on her radar.”

As Savannah’s gaze vacillated between the two grim-faced men, she realized there was no way she could win this argument. At least, not on this first day in the city. But that didn’t mean she was going to cave-in completely. After she was here a few days, safely going about her business, she could surely make her father and Chaz see that having a bodyguard was overkill.

Releasing a long, weary breath, she returned to the couch and sank down next to her brother. “Okay. I’m not happy about this situation,” she said grudgingly. “But to keep Dad happy I suppose I can go along with it—for a while.”

Her concession put a look of immense relief on her brother’s face. “I assured Dad that you were far too intelligent to put up much of a fuss. Thanks for proving me right.”

Intelligent? Not hardly. At this very moment, she could hardly dare herself to glance in Chaz’s direction. She didn’t like the way the sight of him caused her breath to catch in her throat. But hopefully she’d get used to him and his big masculine presence and he’d be no more of a distraction than a sleeping cat.

Sure, she thought wryly. Like she’d pay no attention at all to a sleeping tiger.

Nolan pushed back the cuff of his white shirt to glance at his watch. “Now that we have that settled I can spare a few more minutes. Why don’t we all have a cup of coffee or something?”

“Sorry. I’d be glad to offer you and Mr. Mendoza something to drink, but I’m afraid I’ve not had time to stock the apartment with food. Or anything else for that matter.”

Nolan’s expression was incredulous. “Savannah! I realize you’ve never lived away from home before—other than extended vacations. And we both know that you’ve never dealt with household or kitchen duties. But you should’ve already hired someone to furnish the apartment with everything. Groceries, linens—all the necessities. Are you expecting maid service to come in and do everything for you?”

Damn it! He was making her sound like some sort of pampered princess who didn’t have enough sense to get out of the rain, Savannah thought. Wondering what Chaz could possibly be thinking about her, she glanced at him.

As her gaze clashed with his, he didn’t hold back in expressing his thoughts on the subject.

He said, “If you’re planning on hiring help, then I’ll have to do a thorough background check before the person arrives. And the maid service will need to supply several legitimate references. I can’t take a chance that someone with ill intent might try to gain access to your apartment by posing as a maid or house servant.”

“Oh, for goodness’ sakes, you two are making this whole thing sound like a scene from a spy movie!” she exclaimed. “And anyway, you’re both wasting your breath. I’m not hiring maid service. I’ll be doing everything for myself. And that includes going shopping for everything I need.”

Nolan let out a scoffing laugh. “My little sister in a grocery store? That’ll be a first!”

Savannah glared at him. “What would you know about it? You’ve not lived at home in ages. You have no idea if I go into food markets or discount stores.”

He smothered a laugh behind his hand. “Sure, Savannah. That skirt and blouse look like you grabbed them straight off a discount rack. And those heels—I’ll bet you found those in a clearance bin.”

She wasn’t sure if it was anger at her brother or being embarrassed in front of Chaz that was causing a wave of heat to sweep across her face. One way or the other, she didn’t have to look in a mirror to know her cheeks were pink. And why? Being wealthy or privileged wasn’t a crime, or anything to feel ashamed about.

“You’re being obnoxious. You know for a fact that I’ve never wanted or expected to be pampered. I’ve worked hard to—”

Holding up both hands to halt her tirade, Nolan said, “Hold on, sis. I was only teasing you. Geez, you need to lighten up a bit.”

A long sigh slipped out of her. “Sorry, Nolan, but this has not been an easy day.”

He must have recognized just how stressed she’d been because he wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. “No, I’m the one who should be sorry, Savannah. This was supposed to be a happy, special day for you. Instead, you’re faced with learning you now have to share your life with a bodyguard. I understand it’s not easy. But I’m sure Chaz is going to be as discreet as possible.”

No matter if the man never said a word to her. No matter if he always did his best to keep a measurable distance between them. She would feel his presence. She would know he was nearby watching her with those dark brown eyes. The very thought made her inwardly shiver.

Forcing herself to look at him, she said, “I’m sorry, Chaz. I don’t have anything against you personally. How could I? I don’t even know you. I’m just more than a little aggravated at my father for springing this on me. It was an underhanded thing to do to me and to you.”

“Me?” he asked, a puzzled frown marring his forehead.

“Yes. For putting you in such an awkward situation.”

One of his big shoulders shrugged in a nonchalant way. “Don’t worry about me, Miss Fortune. In my line of work, I can’t worry about my feelings being hurt. And I don’t need my ego stroked. The fact that you don’t want a bodyguard is insignificant to me. Miles Fortune is the person who hired me. I’m working to please him. Not you.”

Well, he’d made that plain enough. And though his feelings toward her shouldn’t matter, she felt downright deflated.

Nolan awkwardly cleared his throat. “Okay, I can see my presence is no longer needed so I think it’s time I head on back to work.”

Her brother’s announcement sent a rush of panic through Savannah. She quickly jumped to her feet and snatched a hold on his arm.

“I’ll show you to the door,” she said.

Without glancing in Chaz’s direction, she practically jerked Nolan out of the living room and down the foyer to the front door.

“Savannah, you hardly need to play the hostess with me,” Nolan said as she continued to cling to his arm.

“I’m not being a hostess. I’m being a sister,” she said in a hushed tone, then motioned her head toward the living room. “I want you to tell me how I’m supposed to deal with this? With him?”

To her disbelief, Nolan grinned at her. “Savannah, you’re an attractive young woman. Surely you know how to deal with a man.”

Deal with a man like Chaz? The men she’d spent any kind of company with had all possessed mushroom complexions from spending all their time indoors. Their muscles were softer than hers, and the gleam in their eye was usually caused by a glare of light on their glasses.

“I can see you’re not going to be any help at all.”

Chuckling, he gently patted her cheek. “You’re worrying way too much, Savannah. Just relax and enjoy having a strong man around to take care of you. You might actually like it. In the meantime, call me or Lizzie if you need us.”

Nolan was making light of the whole situation and Savannah supposed she should, too. Otherwise, she was going to wind up looking like a frantic little mouse who should’ve never left home.

Doing her best to smile, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “You’re right. I don’t have a thing to worry about. Except making a good impression at the university.”

“And I have no doubt you’ll do just that,” he said as he opened the door and stepped onto the porch. “See you later, sis.”

With a little wave, he strode off down the driveway. Savannah watched him slide behind the wheel of his car and drive away before she finally shut the door and engaged the dead bolt. The last thing she needed right now was to get a lecture from Chaz about leaving the apartment unlocked, she thought.

When she returned to the living room, Chaz was gone, so she walked straight to the kitchen. To her delight, the room was equipped with beautiful oak cabinets with glass doors. A work island with an inlaid cutting board, along with a large indoor grill, was located in the middle of the room. The appliances were stainless steel and very up to date. Above the deep double-sink, a wide window overlooked a small backyard with a brick patio, where a group of red motel furniture was shaded by a massive live oak.

At least if she started feeling too suffocated by Chaz’s presence, she could escape to the patio.

“Your brother is gone?”

The sound of Chaz’s voice had her turning away from the window. “Yes. I think he’d had all of me he could take for one day.”

He moved into the room and Savannah noticed he moved quietly, with the grace of an athlete. “It’s obvious he’s very fond of you. Have you two always been close?”

Telling herself to relax, she walked over to the island and ran her hand lightly over the cutting board. “I’m close to all my siblings. I’m not sure what my father has told you about our family, but there are seven of us children. I have four brothers and two sisters.”

“And they all live in New Orleans, except for you and Nolan?”

She nodded. “That’s right. He and his wife, Lizzie, married last March. They have a baby girl, Stella. Lizzie is from Austin and since Nolan is a jazz musician, he loves it here. And me—well, you already know why I’m here.”

“Yes. To study.”

He made it sound as though she were causing a great deal of problems over something she could be doing safely back in New Orleans. Or was she being overly defensive? Since she’d only met Chaz a little more than an hour ago, she couldn’t assume what was going on in his head. He might not be thinking anything of the sort. After all, during their ride from the airport, he’d called her studies admirable. She’d felt certain his compliment was sincere. Now she wasn’t sure about that or anything else.

Oh, God, she had to get a grip, she thought. Her mind was jumping in all sorts of directions and the last thing she wanted was for this man to think she was scatterbrained and unable to take care of herself.

“Well,” she said with the most positive tone she could muster. “I’m going to deal with my bags and have a look at the rest of the apartment.”

“Um, I think you should know that I’ve already put my things in the smaller bedroom. But if you prefer it over the larger one, I can easily move everything.”

He’d already moved in? Before she’d even had a chance to see her own apartment? Oh, her father was definitely going to hear about this, she promised herself. But to keep the peace for now, she was going to do her best to get along with Chaz Mendoza.

“I appreciate your offer, but I’m sure the room will suit me.”

One of his black brows arched as though he were surprised she was being agreeable, for once.

“Fine. I’ll help you carry your bags,” he said.

“Thank you. I’d appreciate that.”

They started out of the kitchen and Chaz said, “The apartment is actually large for one person. Are you planning on entertaining friends while you’re here?”

Did he mean friends in general, or men? Did she look like a party girl to him? She supposed it didn’t matter, but the question left her a bit uncomfortable.

“Don’t worry,” she replied. “I have no plans to do any entertaining. Other than Nolan and his family, I don’t know anyone here in Austin. If I invite anyone over, it will be them.”

They entered the living room and Savannah paused to take a closer survey of the space. Besides the leather sofa and matching armchair, there was a platform rocker and footstool done in a knobby burgundy fabric. At the far end of the room, a large flat-screen TV sat atop an oak entertainment center. A remote for it was lying on the end of a long glass-topped coffee table.

She rarely watched television and had no plans to change her habits, but perhaps Chaz might enjoy the diversion, she thought.

He walked over to the window and peered out at the small front lawn. Savannah got the feeling he was studying more than the perfectly manicured St. Augustine grass and blooming oleanders. Did he really believe that Charlotte Robinson or her paid cronies would actually try to cause her harm? The idea seemed fantastic.

He said, “I’m sure you’ll be making new friends at the university. If you do decide to have company, or a dinner party, be sure and tell me about it beforehand. I’ll have to—”

“Do background checks on my guests?” she interrupted.

He walked over to where she was standing. “Maybe. Maybe not. I just need to be prepared. It’s a part of my job—to keep you safe.”

“Yes. By all means, I’ll tell you every move I intend to make.”

His gaze slipped over her face and for a moment Savannah was totally disarmed by his chocolate-brown eyes. As a bodyguard, she would’ve expected his gaze to be razor sharp. Instead, his eyes were soft and alluring. And it suddenly dawned on Savannah that if she weren’t careful, she might easily get lost in those deep, dark pools.

“I’m sorry you’re so displeased about this,” he said. “But one day you might be very thankful your father was so concerned about you.”

She couldn’t imagine herself being thankful for having her stay in Austin invaded by this man. But she didn’t want to appear like an ungrateful brat, too spoiled to deal with reality.

“I understand my father has worries about my safety. It’s just that—well, I’ve not had time to get used to all of this. Especially when I thought—”

“You thought what?”

She shrugged, while telling herself to step aside until there was three or four feet of distance separating them. That might be enough space to get her breathing back to an even keel. But looking into those dreamy eyes had done something to her feet. Both of them seemed stuck to the floor.

A nervous flutter suddenly attacked the back of her throat, forcing her to swallow before she could answer. “I thought—well, you see, like Nolan pointed out, this is my first real venture at living away from home. I was looking forward to it. Being just me—taking care of myself, doing things for myself. Now, all my plans have been turned upside down.”

Before she could guess his intentions, he stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. It felt big and warm, and the mere fact that he was touching her sent electrical currents shooting through her entire body.

“I promise, Savannah, this isn’t going to be as bad as you’re thinking. I will stay out of your way as much as possible. Okay?”

His voice was low, and husky, and just as seductive as the touch of his hand. “Okay,” she murmured. “And I’ll do my best not to cause you any major headaches.”

One corner of his lips cocked upward. “Let’s not worry about future problems. Certainly not for the rest of today.”

His hand eased off her shoulder and Savannah decided it was high time to step away from him.

“I’m all for that.” She walked over to the bags she’d dropped earlier and collected them from the floor. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll take these to the bedroom.”

Inside the master bedroom, Savannah placed her luggage on the end of a queen-sized bed with an ornate head-and footboard made of brass. A green and navy comforter, along with pillows in matching shams, covered the mattress. However, a quick peek beneath the comforter revealed there were no sheets. She made a mental note to put them on her shopping list.

The sound of Chaz’s footsteps had her turning away from the bed to see him entering the room with her remaining bags.

“Where would you like these?” he asked.

“Anywhere will be fine. Thanks,” she told him.

He put the suitcases on the floor at the foot of the bed, then promptly returned to the open doorway.

Pausing there, he asked, “Are you okay with this room?”

“The room is fine. But I realize I’m going to need more things than I anticipated. Does your bed have linen?”

“No. But I don’t need a set of sheets to be able to sleep.”

Not knowing how to respond to that, she simply said, “Oh.”

Her one word reply put an amused look on his face. “I was in the army,” he explained. “Fluffy beds with nice linens aren’t always available to a soldier.”

Intrigued, Savannah took a few steps toward him. “You were in the military?”

“For eight years.”

She stared at him, while trying to picture him in a uniform, following the rigors of the army. “Eight years! Really?”

A faint smile touched his face. “I can see that surprises you.”

“Very much. I thought—” She broke off as she realized that up until now, she’d not been thinking about Chaz’s background. She’d been too preoccupied with the present and how to control her unsettling reaction to him.

“Thought what?” he prodded. “That I spent my younger years being a bouncer in some sleazy nightclub?”

Embarrassed heat swept over her face. “No! Not exactly. My father would never hire anyone without excellent credentials. I just assumed you had probably worked for a security firm or in law enforcement.”

He shook his head. “After having army buddies around me for so many years, I wondered what it might be like to go solo. Turns out I like it.”

He was talking about his work, but Savannah was thinking more along the lines of his love life. Did he also like living alone? That was definitely a question she was going to keep to herself. It was none of her business if Chaz shared an apartment with a woman, or dated a bevy of them.

“That’s good. I mean—that you like working solo.” Flustered by her straying thoughts and the way his lazy gaze continued to meander over her face, she purposely moved back to the bed and picked up one of the pillows. “There are so many things I need for the apartment. I’m going to put off unpacking and make a trip to the nearest shopping center.”

“I’ll have to go with you,” he said. “So we’ll take my car.”

Frowning, she turned to look at him. “Are you planning on driving me everywhere I need to go? Because I’ve already booked a rental car. In fact, I’m supposed to pick it up this afternoon.”

He stroked a thumb and forefinger over his black goatee as he contemplated her question. “We’ll pick up the car after you finish your shopping. There might be occasions while you’re at the university that I’ll have to be elsewhere. But that doesn’t mean I want you driving around town or to and from campus without me in the vehicle with you or following directly behind you.”

She struggled to keep from rolling her eyes toward the ceiling. This had to be the most ridiculous waste she’d ever heard of, but she knew from experience it would be fruitless to argue the point with her father.

“Fine. At least, I’ll have a car of my own,” she said, then walked over to the door. “Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to change clothes before we leave.”

His dark gaze swept over her and Savannah got the feeling he’d already undressed her. The notion shot a plume of heat from her toes to her head.

“I’ll be waiting in the living room.”

He turned away and Savannah couldn’t shut the door between them fast enough. After turning the lock, she slumped against the wooden panel and waited for her heart to quit pounding and her breaths to become more than shallow sups.

Dear Lord, what was the man doing to her? At this rate, she was going to end up fainting at his feet! A fate that would be worse than humiliating.

No, she thought, as she marched over to the bed and began to shed her blouse and skirt. Before she made a complete fool of herself, she was going to convince herself that she disliked everything about the sexy Latino. And that included his tall muscular body, those dark dreamy eyes and husky voice. She would trick her brain into believing she didn’t find anything attractive in the way his black hair waved gently away from his face or the way his trimmed mustache bracketed a pair of very kissable lips.

Kissable?

Damn! What did she know about kissing a man? Not just a young college boy, but a mature, masculine hunk of man like Chaz Mendoza? Very little. And while she was here in Austin, she didn’t plan on learning.

She was here to study diseases. Not to fall prey to a chronic heart condition.

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