Page 24 of Bodyguard Daddy

I watch Cory pull out her phone and open up her video conference app where she calls Bjorn.

When the senator’s pudgy face appears, I hate that he’s the one who raised Cory, but I’m grateful the man gave me the job of protecting her.

Before Cory can say anything, Bjorn starts speaking aggressively without a clue that I’m in the room. “Listen to me. I’m rescinding your resignation. You don’t have to pay back the loans for your education, and you can get back on the campaign trail with Lilibet. I spoke to Dick Abrams about the Chad situation. If you give Chad a night to prove he’s the best mate for you, we’re willing to overlook your goon’s mishandling of last night.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Cory snaps, cutting him off. “First off, Chad is lucky he still has legs to walk on after all the vile shit he said to me last night.”

“What did he say?” I blurt out, ready to hunt him down and kill him.

“Who’s that?” Bjorn calls from the phone. Cory spins it so he can see my face.

I point at the camera, “Remember the promise I made you, Bjorn? It sounds like you’re breaking your word to me. I think we should have a face-to-face conversation to make sure all of our issues are resolved.”

“No, no, no,” Bjorn waves his hands emphatically in front of the camera. “Not necessary. I’m done bothering either of you. Cory, uh, I’m sorry. Don’t worry about the campaign stuff. You come back when you’re good and ready.”

Cory shakes her head, “You’re the worst kind of person. I will not be exploited. Leave me alone and lose my number, Bjorn.”

The call ends and there’s a wall of serenity that blankets us as we embrace knowing that our lives are going to go on forever with each other.

“Wait here,” I say as I rush out to grab something I bought a few days before “officially” meeting her for the first time. Between those days I was trailing her, I stopped by a jewelry store and bought a ring. I knew. I knew I was going to have her as my wife.

Standing in front of her, I take her hand and brush my lips along her knuckles. “I love you so much, and I refuse to spend the rest of my life without you by my side, little girl. So, Cory Girard…”

I drop to one knee and open the small velvet box, showing her a platinum ring with a diamond almost as big as her hand. “Will you make me the happiest man on the planet and marry me?”

Tears stream down her face as she smiles and kisses me. “Of course, Daddy. I will.”

EPILOGUE

CORY

One Year Later

Just breathe.

I got this.

Right?

I can do this.

I just have to push and get through this rough part.

The sound of Collin’s heavy steps padding toward me helps soothe the anxiety rippling through my body. The sight in front of me keeps my heart in a chokehold.

The tiniest head of dark brown curls rests against his body. The rest of Cailynne’s teenie body is swaddled in a blanket, with a baby wrap securing her to her father’s body. Collin’s taking the role adorably seriously. While there are a few moments I have to talk him down, he’s adapting well to fatherhood and is a saint when it comes to helping me acclimate to being a mother.

“You look nervous,” Collin says with a slight bounce in his stance. Watching him be a dad just makes me fall for him all over again.

“I am nervous. I haven’t been to any type of campaign stuff in forever.”

“You’re going to be fine, baby girl. Do you want me to come?” he asks, still bouncing in place.

“I think Cailynne prefers it if you stay here with her.” I giggle because there’s no way he can come to this event. For one, it’s a women-only thing, and secondly, I don’t think I’ll be able to focus on speaking.

“What ifheshows up?” he mumbles, but he stops bouncing. Our little bundle of joy squirms and he resumes almost immediately.

“I’ve been assured by the campaign manager that the senator isn’t in town. Still, what if a groupie, no wait, what did that guy call them? A poll cat?”

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