🔥 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 ➱ Hide and Seek (A Titan Protectors Novel, #1) Small Town Military Romance by Cristin Harber

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Title: Hide and Seek (A Titan Protectors Novel, #1)

Author: Cristin Harber

Genre: Military Romance/Small Town Romance

Release Date: February 17, 2026

Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.

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He’s a protector with nothing left to lose. She’s a survivor with everything to fear. Together, they’re a target.

Callum Hale doesn’t do second chances. A former Army Ranger cast out for breaking orders, he’s built his new life protecting clients who can’t protect themselves. But when he’s assigned to Grace Willoughby—a quiet illustrator hiding from the abusive ex-husband who refuses to let her go—Callum’s ironclad control fractures. Protecting her isn’t just a mission. It’s personal.

Grace has rebuilt her life from the ashes, but safety has always been an illusion. The closer she gets to Callum, her older brother's best friend, the more she realizes he’s not just a shield against her past—he’s the first man she dares to trust. And the one man she can’t afford to lose.

When a brutal abduction shatters their fragile peace, Callum races against the clock to track Grace’s captors. Enemies circle closer, secrets inside Titan threaten to explode, and Callum must decide how much of his heart he’s willing to risk. Because falling for Grace may be the one line of duty that costs them both everything.

Perfect for fans of military romance, this pulse-pounding romantic suspense launches Cristin Harber’s brand-new Titan Protectors series—where loyalty is unbreakable, love is dangerous, and trust is the ultimate risk.

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Hide and Seek by Cristin Harber

HIDE AND SEEK Titan Protectors Series, Book #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Cristin Harber Prologue Twelve Years Ago Two men whom Grace Willoughby had known her entire life watched her and her boyfriend with undisguised scrutiny. Of course they did. Her brother, Hayden, and his best friend, Callum, had never treated her like anything other than a kid. Now that she lived on her own and had returned home with a boyfriend for her family to meet, both were making this family dinner more awkward than it already was. Her boyfriend, Dominic Marino, sat at the outdoor table on her parents’ back deck. Despite the fact that Dominic had insisted on meeting her parents, it was clear he didn’t want to be there. If she were honest, their relationship was too new. It’d only been weeks since he’d swept her off her feet. Far too soon for family introductions, but Dominic always got his way. She tried to ignore the small stirrings of doubt and found herself staring at Callum. She quickly jerked her gaze away. Callum Hale. Broad shoulders. Powerful long legs. He wasn’t family, though he acted like it and probably believed it to be true as he sat next to Hayden and shot the shit with her dad. She hadn’t seen Callum since he and Hayden had graduated from Army Ranger School. His stormy eyes melted her insides, and when he turned his bourbon-brown gaze on her, she wanted to drag him to bed. So she did what she did best: ran her mouth and rolled her eyes and tried her damnedest to treat Callum like Hayden. It might have worked to the outside world but didn’t change the stupid-level of arousal that coursed through her veins when he smiled. Her backup plan was to ignore him. Ignoring him was a talent she’d mastered over the years, because there was only so much world-class sass she could spew before her sarcastic well was depleted. If she wasn’t able to shield herself from Callum, her insides turned into a gooey, upside-down tornado. That would have been a terrible problem to have while standing next to her actual boyfriend. And her actual boyfriend was a verifiable catch. Handsome: Check. Wealthy: Double check. Polite—erm, well, half-check. He gave excellent interviews, had topped more than his fair share of famous people lists of the likes of Forbes, Inc., and Bloomberg, and once had paparazzi in speedboats follow his yacht while he partied with nepo babies and Los Angeles royalty. How could she compare Dominic to Callum, who literally never noticed that she had grown up from the kid next door to a woman with a figure that wasn’t all that bad? Nice curves and a pretty smile, if she said so herself. But nope. Not even so much as a second glance. That was probably good, because if he had given her a fraction of a thought, he would have noticed that she’d pined after him from the moment she’d noticed boys. Irony of all ironies, he noticed her now. Or rather, he was noticing her sitting on a two-person bench with Dominic. His steely eyes had tracked Dominic since the moment Callum eased into his chair, longneck beer sweating in hand, frowning in a way that said he clearly didn’t trust her boyfriend. That was fine. Callum didn’t have to trust Dominic. Dominic didn’t seem to notice Callum. He wasn’t fazed by the uncomfortable small talk or broiling summer heat. In expensive khaki pants and a polo shirt, she wondered how he could look so cool and detached. Hayden and Callum wore boardshorts and T-shirts and looked like they might walk to the neighborhood pool after burgers and beers. She ignored them and focused on her boyfriend. “Do you want something cold to drink?” Dominic’s flashy smile was one more layer of his put-together persona. Dark hair. Dark eyes. Killer smile. “I’m fine, darling.” Darling. Was she a darling? It wasn’t the first time she’d asked herself that question. Darling always sounded like he was speaking to someone else. Just as “Mrs. Willoughby” would always be her stepmother, “darling” would be someone else. Someone more blue-blooded or pretentious. Someone who wore pearls and sweater sets. Someone who looked like they should be on Dominic Marino’s arm. The nickname would take getting used to. All new things had a breaking-in period. Her dad returned to the deck with a tray of burgers for the grill. “These shouldn’t take long. Hope everyone is hungry.” She was starving. Between the time zone change and flying into a private airport, she hadn’t grabbed a meal all day. The flights were supposed to have been catered, but as best she could tell, that meant champagne, liquor, and charcuterie boards. After more than a few olives and fancy deli slices, she agreed with Dominic that she’d eaten several days’ worth of calories. She had still been hungry, but the flight attendant cleared the tray at Dominic’s request. She wanted to disagree, but her boyfriend had a weird way of finagling her agreement. Manipulating? No, that didn’t sound right, but Grace could never pinpoint how it happened. “Hayden says you work in finance,” Callum said. “I do.” Dominic’s lips curved into that effortless smile he used in board meetings and when schmoozing clients. “Crypto. Bitcoin. I specialize in blockchain technology.” “That’s, like, pretend money, right?” Distrust tightened in the corners of Callum’s eyes. He tilted his head toward her brother. “Everything in Las Vegas is fake.” Hayden’s gaze narrowed as well. “Think so.” Dominic didn’t spend all his time in Las Vegas. She wished she hadn’t told Hayden and Callum that they were flying in from there. It raised too many questions about where Dominic lived. Las Vegas. New York. Miami. Washington, DC. Dominic chuckled good-naturedly, as if Hayden and Callum weren’t acting like overprotective buffoons. “The business opportunities in Las Vegas are as real as the money in my bank account.” Hayden snorted, Callum rolled his eyes, and Grace blushed. Talking about money like that was crass. Then again, it was his money that had been whirling her around the country, gifting her with over-the-top bouquets of flowers, dining her with unbelievable meals. She literally couldn’t catch her breath under the weight of his attention. Who was she to judge when Dominic was lavishing her with attention in a way she hadn’t known was possible? Her stepmother shot a warning glance at Hayden and Callum. “That sounds exciting. Don’t mind them.” Dominic hooted as though they were all in on a funny conversation. The hint of his thinly veiled condescension echoed with his laughter. If she heard it, Hayden and Callum did as well. Her stepmom, who always saw the best in people, probably didn’t. “No, it’s fine,” Dominic said. “Digital assets are a complex market. Hard to understand. Takes a lot of understanding. Not for everyone.” Her stomach churned. Dominic’s snarky side comments wouldn’t help everyone get along. Wasn’t that what she had wanted? For everyone to get along? For her family to be swept off their feet by Dominic as she had? Yes? Yes. That was why they were here. She should have known it had been too early for him to meet her parents. Much less Hayden and Callum. She’d never brought a guy home before, and the timing of Hayden and Callum’s leave from base was unfortunate. Wait—what? She never wanted to miss a chance to see her brother and Callum, and nearly exploded from excitement that Callum—that both of them—would be home. Callum is only a family friend, she reminded herself. She’d let go of her dreams of him years ago, and Dominic had treated her like a precious possession since the moment he’d swooped into her life. She’d never had to fight for Dominic’s attention. Never second-guessed what his intentions were. Dominic cared about her, wanted a future with her. Why shouldn’t they all meet? “The thing you have to understand is,” Dominic continued, “the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward.” He wrapped his arm over her shoulder and secured her close with a possessive hold. “It will definitely provide for a great life.” The churning in her stomach intensified. Her family never shied away from public displays of affection. Dad and Mari snuggled, held hands, and did everything in their power to be near one another when lounging around the house. Theirs was a comfortable love. Terrific role models. Dominic’s hold on her now wasn’t comfortable. His arm around her shoulder was more a message to her brother and Callum than anything indicative of their relationship. She wanted to inch away. She needed breathing room. But Dominic didn’t do breathing room. He’d barely let her catch her breath since they first met. Las Vegas and New York City. Fancy dinners and shopping. A declaration of love on their third date. Her boyfriend drove fast cars, owned a private plane, and lived life to its fullest. Now she was, too. Callum’s face tightened. The muscles in his jaw twitched. He glared at Dominic’s hold. “How long did you say you’ve been dating?” “A few weeks,” she managed. “That’s pretty fast.” He took a pull from his longneck without taking his eyes off of her. “Why waste time when it’s the right woman?” Dominic asked. She blushed again and couldn’t hide her smile. This gorgeous man adored her. He’d offered her the world. Everything had been so right, so absolutely overwhelmingly amazing, that she couldn’t see how it could go wrong. Hayden grunted his skepticism. “Come on, boys, give the kids a break.” Dad flipped burgers on the grill. “We’re glad the timing worked so that everyone was here at once.” Kids. Dominic was the same age as Grace. With a three-year age gap from Hayden and Callum, she would always be the youngest in her family. Three years might well have been a decade. Dominic’s important job and flashy lifestyle wouldn’t change that. Her stepmom stepped outside with a bowl of potato salad. “Hayden, grab the watermelon from the counter.” Callum took the bowl from her and set it on the table. “What else do you need help with?” Flames licked from the grill as Dad shoveled the burgers onto buns. “Gracie, hold out the tray.” She pulled away from Dominic and stepped next to her father. Heat radiated from the grill. Still, it was nice not to be pressed against someone in the summer swelter. Everyone helped set the table except for Dominic. He was a guest, though, and new to their dynamic. Not that they were waiting on him, but more that he didn’t know how to lend a hand. Callum and Hayden sat in their usual seats. Her stepmom topped off drinks and then joined them. Grace returned to her place next to Dominic. Her dad circled the table, dishing out burgers. “Which one do you want, Gracie?” Mouth watering, she eyed the one with extra cheese melting out the side. “That little one looks good,” Dominic suggested. “Oh, that little guy is the one we make for Sprout.” Dad gestured to the old dog sleeping under the table. “That’s not even half—” “It’s fine, Dad. That’s good for me. There’s more than enough for you to halve a burger for Sprout when we’re done.” Dad frowned. His spatula-wielding hand hovered. “Well, uh…” He scooped up the comically small burger with the bun tipped off the side. “Sure. You can always have seconds.” She didn’t have to look up to see Callum and Hayden scrutinizing her burger selection. Dinner went downhill from there. Finally, the night wrapped. When they were alone, she’d explain to Dominic how he made her and her family uncomfortable. She’d point out a few things that would make their next family get-together run more smoothly. Grace offered awkward goodbyes to her dad and stepmom, ignored Hayden and Callum, and, hand in hand, let Dominic escort her to his BMW. His firm grip was the slightest bit too tight, and he shut her inside the fancy car with a hint of too much force. All she had to do was ask him to relax. Maybe her unflappable boyfriend had felt ganged up on. Hayden and Callum certainly hadn’t made dinner a relaxing time. Then again, Dominic had been combative with subtle condescension and a few straightforward jabs. Dominic rounded the hood. His brooding dark eyes and set jaw made her nerves bubble. Grace looked toward the childhood home that always made her feel happy and carefree. Until tonight. Callum watched from the porch. His thick arms were crossed, and his scrutinizing glare followed Dominic. Then his gaze dropped to hers. Her stomach plummeted. Every concern that she tried to ignore was lit up on his face like a billboard in Las Vegas. His angry frown pulled down so far that she worried he would come down to the BMW. But he didn’t. Besides, she didn’t need him to. She was more than capable of having a private conversation with her boyfriend. Dominic needed to ease up. She had a voice, and she’d never been scared to use it before. Dominic closed the door and turned on the engine. Warm air blasted over her, and the music kicked on. His irritation flooded the car. He slapped at the controls, as if changing the settings would immediately blast cool air on a ninety-degree day. Grace squirmed in her seat as the air conditioning barely cooled the car. Sweat prickled on the back of her neck. Callum still watched from the porch. “I just thought today would be…” “Would be what?” Dominic snapped. She inched away and leaned against the door. “Different.” Her tongue pressed to the roof of her mouth as she combed through the most important issues to bring up. “I can pick my cheeseburger out.” “You didn’t go back for seconds, so it must have been the right burger to fill you up.” She hadn’t because Dominic, Callum, Hayden, and her dad—probably her stepmom too—were watching what Grace ate. She’d wanted another burger but had loaded up on sides instead. “That doesn’t matter. Don’t pick out my food for me.” He let out a long breath and pinched the bridge of his nose, and after another long breath, he turned and took her hand. This time, his handhold was gentler than any time he’d touched her all day. “I’m sorry, darling. I was overheated. I just want you to be happy and healthy and to take care of yourself.” She was happy and healthy and tried to understand what he meant. So…he was looking after her? Sort of. But choosing her burger wasn’t her only issue with the day, and she didn’t understand how this perfect gentleman, this well-spoken business executive, had been so rude and arrogant. “Grace, I’m sorry.” He released the tender hold on her hand and reached into the center console. “I got you a little something. I planned to give it to you later tonight, but I can’t stand to see you upset.” She eyed the small blue box that she now recognized as being from his favorite jewelry store in New York City and wanted to say she wouldn’t need a present now if he’d been kinder to everyone. Actually, she didn’t need presents. At all. Period. Warmth radiated from his eyes and into his smile. This was the Dominic she knew and loved. Still, she hesitated. “Open it, Grace.” She lifted the top. A keychain wasn’t what she expected. Not that she expected anything. “What is this?” “What does it look like?” Grace lifted it from the box. The metal keychain was heavier than any she’d had before, and if she had to guess, it was real silver or white gold. Her eyebrows lifted. “I know it’s a keychain, but—” Dominic held out a key. “For you.” An empty feeling pitted at the bottom of her stomach. She swallowed hard and looked from the key to him. His smile was almost nervous, almost shy, but it was the excitement in his eyes that won her over. Dominic, her macho boyfriend who commanded boardrooms and made million-dollar deals, was insecure and hopeful. Okay, that was sweet. “You’re giving me a key to your condo?” “I’d like to call it our condo.” She had hardly set foot in her apartment since the day they’d met. Everything was happening so fast. She blinked, trying to get a handle on the way he’d acted earlier. They’d been dating for weeks. That was all. Not to mention, she liked her own place. It was nowhere near as nice as his polished properties, but it was her own space. Grace gnawed on her bottom lip. Was he asking her to move in with him? Or was it just a key? It had to be just a key. Still, she hesitated. “I don’t know.” “Grace, I’m sorry tonight didn’t go the way you imagined.” He brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “But I wanted to meet your parents before I gave you this.” She met his dark eyes. They twinkled as if this was something he needed. Almost like a challenge—no, that didn’t make sense. Almost like he was scared she’d say no. The corners of his lips lifted. Dominic clasped his key in her palm and closed her fingers around it, then brought her hand to his mouth, pressing it with the softest kiss. “I love you, Grace.” Her apprehension melted away. How could she doubt a man who saw their future together? He was stable, secure, and he would treat her like she was precious. “I love you too.” “My lawyers will handle your lease. We’ll have movers bring over whatever you want to keep. Simple.” Wait. He was asking her to move in with him. Alarm bells sounded. “You’re the love of my life.” He glanced over her shoulder. Callum was probably still standing there, watching. “Tell me you know that.” “I know that.” “That you’ll never break my heart.” “Of course I won’t.” They were moving in together. A luxury condo. Maid service. Rooftop pool and gym. Concierge and doorman. It was safer than her apartment. It was the next step. Grace forced herself to ignore Callum Hale as Dominic drove them toward her unexpected future.

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ABOUT CRISTIN:

New York Times bestselling author Cristin Harber packs her military romance, romantic suspense, and new adult romance novels with steam, sizzle, and action of all types. Whether you want fireworks in the bedroom or a hunky ex-military team that saves the day, her bestselling romance novels will make you swoon and smile.

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