Page 114 of Unguarded

I nod. “I’m building us our very own ranch house righthere. I thought a little distance from everyone else was what you would want. We can still go down for dinner, bonfires, to work the cattle, or walk with the girls. But this will be a place for us to come and stay when the spotlight is too bright, the crowds get too loud, and?—”

She cuts me off, throwing her arms around my neck. “You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met, Cash Redford. You’re building us a house? A house with a view, close to your family, but not too close? I don’t even know what to say.” Her voice is choked up, emotion overtaking her.

I grin, pulling back to look at her. Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are bright as her lips spread into a grin.

“Say you’ll spend the night with me here before they start construction. Next time we’re here, it’ll be framed up, and the plumbing and electric will be going in.”

She nods, laughing as tears stream down her cheeks. “Of course I’ll stay here with you. I’d love nothing more. Can we have sex in the tent? Can I be loud?”

Blood rushes down between my thighs in anticipation. “Baby, you can be as loud as you fucking want out here. Although the coyotes might try to join in with a howl.”

She laughs again, tossing her head back. “I love you so damn much.”

“I love you too.” I lean in, pressing my forehead against hers and inhaling deeply. “This whole time, I had no idea you were exactly what was missing from my life.”

She hums, sighing as her body relaxes against me. “My entire life, I’ve been traveling around this big world, and you were just right here the whole time.” She giggles, reaching her hand to cup the side of my face. “Lucky me.”

“Hmm, lucky me.”

“That’s actually a great title for my new song.”

“You ever gonna play it for me?”

“I need a guitar.”

I point over to the tent. “There’s one inside.”

She looks over. “Did you think of everything?”

I lean down, nibbling her lip. “I did forget one thing, I just realized.”

“What’s that?”

“Condoms.”

She gasps. “No! Are you serious?”

I nod, swallowing. “By the way, I’ve never asked you this, but what’s your stance on kids? In the future.”

“For. I want them … way,wayin the future. You?”

I exhale in relief. “Same. In the future. With you. I actually didn’t think I ever wanted them, but now that I’ve met you, I … I want little Monroe Blues running barefoot around this house.”

She laughs, the melodious sound of her voice floating around us. I lean in and kiss her deeply, breathing her in and feeling more contentment in my life than I ever thought possible.

And this is only the beginning.

EPILOGUE

TEN MONTHS LATER

CASH

“Can we get the room?” I ask the stylist team and the other bodyguard, Mike. They all file out of the dressing room, shutting the door behind them to leave me alone with Monroe. I go up and lock it, knowing she prefers a few minutes to prepare herself mentally before going out in front of the cameras.

As her new head of security working alongside Griffin’s company, I travel with her when needed and most of the time because we don’t like being apart. I get special treatment since I’m the only bodyguard on the team that gets to sleep in her room. The other half of the year we live at Redford Ranch together.

She’s all done up, her hair and makeup styled to perfection. Her blonde curls are styled in old Hollywood waves around her face, with extensions added to make them cascade down her back. She’s wearing a red corset dress witha high slit on the thigh and stilettos. I haven’t been able to take my eyes off of her since…well, since we met.

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