He had no idea what to say to that. “You don’t think I’m . . . ugly?”
Skylar’s face softened even more and she briefly touched the scar that puckered his face. “I don’t find you ugly at all, Swanny. In fact I find you very handsome.”
The door opened and Eden stood there, a startled look on her face. Then crimson flooded her cheeks as she stared at Swanny and Skylar, Skylar’s hand still cupped over Swanny’s cheek.
“Uh, sorry to interrupt,” she mumbled.
She hastily slammed the door back and Swanny swore viciously. “I can’t do anything right with her, it would seem. Now she’s going to think you and I are involved. Jesus, but when I fuck up, I fuck up big.”
“Let me go in and talk to her,” Skylar said. “It’s a woman thing. I’ll explain better than you. Men aren’t so good when it comes to words. Give me half an hour. Go wait in the room with Edge. I’ll be back in a bit.”
CHAPTER 11
EDEN was mentally kicking herself in the head when a soft knock sounded at her door.
“Eden? It’s me, Skylar. Can I come in?”
Eden let out a silent groan. The very last thing she wanted was a confrontation with the woman who was apparently involved with the man she’d just thrown herself at.
With a resigned sigh, she opened the door and gestured for Skylar to come in. Before Skylar could say anything, Eden took a deep breath.
“Look, I’m really sorry. I had no idea about you and Swanny. I know I way overstepped my boundaries. It won’t happen again. I promise.”
Skylar smiled, her eyes warming as she took in Eden’s dismay. Then they softened in sympathy, which made Eden cringe all the more.
“Maybe we should go into the living room to talk,” Skylar suggested. “I kicked Swanny out and he’s hanging with Edge until we’re done here.”
Eden trudged into the living room on Skylar’s heels, her embarrassment growing with every step. Of course Swanny would be attracted to someone like Skylar. She was confident and capable of holding her own in a sea of testosterone. She was kick-ass and beautiful. What man could resist that combination?
“You completely misunderstood what you saw between Swanny and me,” Skylar said gently. “He was kicking himself in the ass for hurting you, and I was attempting to offer encouragement. Swanny isn’t the most confident when it comes to his appearance. Now, in every other aspect, he’s like whoa. He’s damn good at his job and he is not to be fucked with. But the scars bother him more than he lets on. The memories of how he got those scars are even harder for him to deal with.”
“So you aren’t involved?” Eden asked hopefully.
Skylar shook her head. “Nope. We’re friends. Good friends and teammates. We have a bond, but it isn’t romantic.”
“Does it make me a total slut that I’m relieved?” Eden muttered.
Skylar’s eyes sparkled. “I think you would be very good for Swanny. But he’s also worried about you breaking his heart. Swanny isn’t most guys. He doesn’t fuck around for the sake of fucking around. And you wouldn’t be a notch on his bedpost. I mean, it wouldn’t go on his scorecard that he made it with the world’s most beautiful woman like it likely would be for some guys.”
“Ouch,” Eden winced. “Talk about a shot to my ego.”
Skylar smiled. “Just saying it like it is. I’m sure you have your fill of guys who’d love to get into your pants for no other reason than to say they’ve done it. But Swanny isn’t like that. I don’t want him hurt, Eden.”
Her expression became more serious as she studied Eden.
“But somehow I don’t think I need to worry about you breaking his heart. You don’t seem like the type to fuck around.”
“Thanks for that, at least,” Eden muttered.
“Look, just cut him some slack. I think he’s still in shock that you’re remotely attracted to him. And he’s probably arguing with himself because you’re a job and our job is to protect you, and if he gets emotionally involved, that will fuck with the mission. But hey, most everyone in our outfit met their significant other while on a mission, so it’s not like it hasn’t happened.”
“Do I have a shot with him?” Eden asked in a low voice. “He told me a little about what happened. But I’m not at all sure what I’m dealing with here.”
Skylar’s expression softened. “If he told you anything at all, then that’s a good sign because he doesn’t talk about it to anyone. He still has nightmares. We’ve all witnessed them but we don’t mention it because it makes him self-conscious. And yeah, I’d say you have a shot with him. You’re just going to have to be patient as he wars with himself over whether he can juggle the job and a relationship with you too.”