Page 27 of Bodyguard Daddy

“Thanks, Dad!” Cailynne beams and practically inhales her breakfast before grabbing her baseball bag and cleats to jet out the door.

The twins come downstairs, pushing and shoving each other playfully. What was supposed to be a sibling to play with our oldest daughter turned into a two-for-one special.

“Dad!” Caleb shouts as he pushes his brother, Cole, out of his way to sit on the stool their sister just left.

Two 8-year-old boys keep our house in constant commotion, but I know how to keep them in order. “Fellas, calm down before you wake your mother up.”

“Mom’s already up,” Cole shouts.

“Where are your indoor voices? If Mom’s already up, then that’s even more reason for you two to hush up and eat your breakfast. Who’s doing what today?” I ask them.

They both shrug, but the light of my life waddles down the stairs with a very pregnant belly. Cory grips the wall as she takes a few short steps into the kitchen. She immediately begins cleaning up after me and I have to stop her.

“Caleb, don’t forget your tights for dance, and Jake, your violin is already in the car,” Cory rattles off reminders for them before she continues, “Make sure those rooms are picked up and every piece of dirty clothing isinsidethe hamper. Not on the floor around it, in front of it, or hanging off its side. Can you take it to the basement for me, Daddy?”

I lean down and kiss her, “Of course, baby.”

“Eww, Dad. Don’t put another baby in her right here in front of us,” Caleb jokes and his brother giggles.

“If you think that’s how babies are made, we need to have that talk again, young man.”

“No!” both shout simultaneously.

Cole speaks up between mouthfuls of food. “We know enough and promise not to have any babies until we find the right person as adults.”

I turn to Cory. “I’m going to drop them off and then I’ll be back to help you with the house stuff. I have a self-defense class later this afternoon at the office if you want to get out of the house with me. I’ll treat you to that ice cream shop you love.”

“How did I get so lucky to marry you?” She leans forward for another kiss.

“As much as we, um, dislike him, Bjorn’s the cause of this.”

Just as I’m finishing the statement, the doorbell rings. I head to answer the door while Cory puts my drone to work following Cailynne to baseball practice. It’s down the street in one of the safest neighborhoods, but the safety of my family is paramount. Cailynne’s lucky we don’t have her chipped.

When I open the door, the face in front of me is one I never expect.

“Speak of the devil. Good morning, Bjorn. What do you want?” I ask, looking behind him to see a stretch black limousine in front of the house. The boys come running out behind me to see it.

“Don’t break anything, guys,” I call out after them.

“It’s fine,” Bjorn nods with that devious grin plastered on his face. “Let my grandsons horseplay, right?”

“Oh, so you’re acknowledging you’re not a bachelor and actually have a daughter and grandchildren?” I nod. “Interesting.”

“May I come in?” He gestures toward the door and I hold up a finger for him to wait while I go inside the kitchen where Cory’s watching drone footage intensely.

“Bjorn’s here. I announce.”

She sighs, and pinches the bridge of her nose, “Oh yuck, for what?”

“I don’t know. He wants to come inside and discuss something I guess. He called the boys his grandsons.”

That gets her attention as she looks up from the screen. “No, he didn’t.”

“Would Daddy ever lie to you, little girl?”

She shakes her head, “No. Cai’s at practice anyway. Let me bring the drone back and I’ll throw something on. He can come inside I guess, but the minute I want him out of here-”

I cut her off, “It’ll be my foot to his ass out the door.”

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