Page 34 of The Bodyguard and the Bombshell

But he understood her father in a way she didn’t. Her father saw him as a threat. When her dad calmed down and realized he would take care of her, they could have a good relationship. Until then, he would have to push the man. Her mum would be an entirely different story. “It’s also true. You made your choice when you slept with me last night. You thought you could sneak in my bed and slip back out again. Well, that isn’t how it’s going to work.”

Ian groaned, his head hitting his hand. “Fucking Aussies.”

“You listen and you listen good, boyo,” Liam began.

“Liam, what is going on?” The only person in the world whose authority Liam O’Donnell listened to walked in. Avery O’Donnell looked like she’d practically run here. She wore yoga pants and a T-shirt, her hair in a messy bun. “Daisy…” She stared at them for a moment. “Daisy, are you all right? Why are you sitting on Nathan’s lap?”

“Because he’s holding her bloody hostage, that’s why,” Liam declared. “We need to call Brody and Steph because their boy is running wild, and I won’t have him drag our sweet Daisy down.”

Avery’s eyes were wide. “I didn’t even know they talked. What is going on?”

He thought he was going to have to explain when Daisy suddenly draped an arm around his neck and her backside wiggled over his cock as she went all bouncy and bubbly.

His suddenly hard as a bloody rock cock.

“Mom, I went to the masquerade party last night at The Hideout even though Aidan told me I shouldn’t, and I met Nate and we had the best sex. I thought he wouldn’t know it was me, but apparently a small mask isn’t much of a disguise. I will admit by the end of the night, the mask was the only thing I was wearing, and that might have been my mistake. I should have worn a wig or something maybe. Anyway, now he says I’m his sub and I’m super happy, but I think Da is going to be difficult and I don’t understand it because he always says I need a keeper and here he is. Also, Nate thinks Da has scared away all the Doms at The Hideout so I didn’t have anyone to play with, but Da wouldn’t do that to me, right? Also, the cartel person sent someone to kill me but Nate saved me, and then Da pissed off Aunt Erin by saying Devi isn’t a good girl but she is. Devi is the best. I think Da needs some time. Oh, and Nate told Da if he tries to come between us he’ll kidnap me and take me to Australia, and I thought it was the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Avery stood there for a moment as though she needed time to process.

“Do you need some tea?” Erin asked.

“I think she needs some therapy,” Charlotte quipped. “Or some vodka.”

“I am so confused. Perhaps my family should regroup and find a quiet place to have this discussion,” Avery said.

Ian stood. “I’m sorry, Avery. That’s going to have to wait because our friends are here. Derek, thanks for coming. How bad is it?”

Derek Brighton was a handsome man who’d made his way to the high ranks of the Dallas Police Department. “Well, as I walked in MaeBe told me to let you know she found a bounty on Daisy’s head on the Dark Web. She’s running it down now. I think we need to talk about witness protection.”

Daisy went stiff again.

And Liam O’Donnell finally sat down.

Trouble, it seemed, might just be the thing to bring them all together.

Chapter Eight

Uncle Ian stood, closing his laptop with a long sigh. “So we agree we’ll put Daisy up at Sanctum and we’ll keep a guard with her twenty-four seven until we can figure this situation out.”

The DPD and Dallas district attorney’s office representatives had left mere moments before.

It had been a close one, with her father arguing she should go to London and Captain Brighton defending the joys of witness protection. Uncle Ian had managed to work a compromise. She was going to be stuck in Sanctum for the foreseeable future.

So no job. No sweet little house she got to work on. No future.

Nate would see what it meant to be with her now.

It had been easier when she was sitting on Nate’s lap, surrounded by his warmth, but she’d moved to the seat next to him when the serious discussions had begun. When her da had been staring at her like he didn’t know who she was.

He didn’t, but she’d kind of hoped he never had to.

“I think that’s acceptable.” Her mother seemed determined to be the voice of reason. “It’s actually kind of fitting since when Nate was a baby we stashed his mom and dad there.”

Daisy looked to her mom. “Really?”

“I’ve heard the tale many times,” Nate agreed.

Her mother nodded. “Oh, yes. You should tell Daisy the story sometime.”

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