Page 22 of Jealous Bodyguard

Stacey and her mom stare up at me. Her mother’s eyes studying me again, reaching any conclusions she’s told herself she has to, and then nods to herself with a little smile.

“If it’s alright with Stacey,” she says to her husband, her eyes fixed on mine. “Although… If we’re to be away, then who’s going to mind Stacey? She was just kidnapped after all, Solomon.”

Hearing her call him by his full name, Shulton flushes. The needful look I have for his daughter flashing in his when he looks at his wife.

He clears his throat, “Well… Uhhh… Slade’s here. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind adding a few more zeros to his fee?”

But my head’s already nodding. Stacey stifling a squeal she manages to disguise, pretending to cough.

The sound of a car pulling up out front doesn’t distract her mom either while Shulton tells me it’s settled, making past me and heading for the front door.

Alone for a moment with her mom, just Stacey and me, she lets us both know plenty without giving anything away or giving us up. Not yet anyway.

My plan to ask for her daughter’s hand put on hold, but not for long. Just long enough to let the dust settle.

“Sol and I just need a few days, Mr. Slade. But in the meantime, can I count on you to watch over my daughter?”

“Yes ma’am,” I answer instantly. Knowing full well what she’s talking about before she shoots me a knowing wink.

With all the grace and charm of a woman in her position, she kisses her daughter, welcoming her home again before moving to join her husband.

She pauses in the doorway, murmuring to me with a smile, “If I was you, I’d get that check from Sol Shulton right now… He might not be so ready to see how you’ve already claimed yourotherreward.”

She glides out, closing the door behind her. The sound of her voice mixing with Shulton’s, along with one I didn’t expect to hear so soon.

Melinda.

I hear all I need to before crossing the room to Stacey. Gripping her close and kissing her hard.

“Rest easy, Mr. and Mrs. Shulton. You won’t be hearing from Sean Castor ever again… No, don’t worry about the money. I have to go. My son’s in the car…”

The sound of Melinda driving away, her own son the reward from all this safe back where he belongs, mixes with the shriek of Sol Shulton scooping his wife off her feet and carrying her upstairs to pack.

Kissing Stacey until I lift her off her feet myself, I can’t help feeling like the richer man. Her dad’s felt what it’s like to lose what you love and have it returned.

But I have no plans on ever losing Stacey, not even for a minute.

A sudden and insistent scratching at the door breaks our moment, Stacey rolling her eyes apologetically before I set her down.

“C’mon then, Angel,” she sighs, easing the door open after unhooking herself from me. My original assignment staring up at me with big brown eyes before trotting over. Sniffing my jeans and cocking a leg.

“Looks like Angel is more anAngelounder all that fur,” I observe dryly. Feeling the wetness of his pee soaking through the hem of my denims.

But I’ve already got other things on my mind. Even wetter things than a mutt’s tiny puddle.

“Once your folks are gone, I’m gonna have to have a bit of a poke around,” I caution Stacey who’s swift to catch my real meaning.

“Down here?” she asks with mock innocence, scanning the library we’re standing in.

I shake my head.

“I thought we could start in your bedroom… if you wouldn’t mind?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” Stacey replies. Hurling herself back to the only place she belongs from now on.

In my arms.

14

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