Page 53 of The Bodyguard and the Bombshell

She forced herself to look up at him. “Do you want to stay with me at all?”

Nate had been with Ian and Alex most of the day, or helping his mother get comfortable. They hadn’t talked much after he’d held her while she cried. She’d wanted some time alone. Was reality hitting him hard?

He frowned. “Why wouldn’t I? Is this about the mess with your father? Love, I never once thought you were some saint. Or a virgin who’d saved herself for her one true love. Though you should know I do intend to be your one true love, and I’ll keep you so satisfied you won’t look at another man.”

She wanted to believe him. “Nate, I wasn’t lying to my father. Not this morning. I got into a lot of trouble as a kid. Or rather I didn’t. I was good at covering my tracks. I drank and I had sex probably way before I was truly ready. And I can’t blame them because they were great parents.”

“There’s no blame, Dais. You were a kid and you experimented. I was sixteen.” He sat across from her. “I shouldn’t have done it in the billabong. There was probably bacteria and stuff, but she was seventeen and I was willing to risk a lot.”

Daisy couldn’t help but smile. And realize there was zero jealousy because this was his past and she wanted his future. “I was nineteen. Though I’d done a lot of sexy stuff before that, it was my first penetrative sex. It wasn’t great, but I knew I was just missing something. I’ve read a lot of romance novels. I know I should say I never had decent sex until I met the man of my dreams.”

There was a dimple in his chin when he smirked that made her heart beat faster. “Well, you met me practically at birth.”

She was so crazy about this guy, but she had to give him every out. “I’m trying to be honest with you.”

“No, you’re letting guilt seep in, and it could ruin everything. There’s no reason to feel guilty about having good sex. I had some good sex, and I hope it was good for the women I was with. Now I’m only going to have sex with you, and it’s going to be the best,” he said. “I love your past because it made you who you are.”

She sniffled and stood up, moving into his arms. “Thank you, Nate. I wish my father felt the same.”

She moved back and looked down at what he’d brought her. A tea setup with a couple of mini sandwiches and some cookies. She poured the tea into one of the cups.

“He’ll come around. I assure you my father’s working on him,” Nate said, standing over her. “What do you think your father meant about saving you?”

She was sure her da was doing something ruthless. Her father was incredibly smart, and he could handle things when the going got rough. She’d been thinking about this all afternoon. “He’ll probably figure out a way to start a war between cartels so the guy who wants me dead gets killed in prison. It’s what I’d do.”

Nate huffed, but he leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Now I understand what your mum meant. You think a lot like him.”

Daisy pointed to the second cup. “Do you want me to pour you one?”

He shook his head. “Can’t. I’m hopping on a call with my boss. I’m supposed to report in. It shouldn’t take too long. Then I’ll check on Mum and come back and hang out with you. Besides, you have other company.” He nodded as her mother stepped outside. “Avery, you should try the lemonade. The tea is… Well, it’s for my proper Irish girl.”

“Oh, then I’ll definitely have some of that. It’s been a day.” Her mother sank down on the sofa opposite her. “Thanks for this, Nathan.”

Nate tipped his head and strode for the door. “Anything for the O’Donnell ladies. I’ll see you in a little while, love. Listen to your mum.”

So this was going to be a lecture. She took a sip of the “tea” that was really whiskey. And then another. “This is so much better than what Da used to keep.”

Her mother smiled wryly. “Well, your uncle has far more elevated tastes than your father.” She poured herself a cup and took a sip. “I’m afraid in so many ways your father is still the poor Irish kid who had to find a way to put food in his brother’s mouth when his mum was off doing her important work.”

“You mean trying to drive the English out of Belfast?” She knew her family history.

“That’s what I mean.” Her mother took one of the sandwiches. “Your father had a rough life. Unlike me. Or you. I need for you to think about that while he’s gone and think about forgiving him for acting like an ass. He loves you.”

Daisy wasn’t sure. “He loves the idea of me.”

Her mother’s head shook. “No. He loves you. He loves the Daisy O’Donnell who’s always been a walking ball of chaos. And who’s also always been kind and loyal to her friends. Who’s been a good daughter, despite the experiments with teenaged drinking.”

“Aidan always covered for me,” Daisy admitted. “And he would mostly be there. He and Tris would hang out with us, but we knew what they were really doing. Supervising.”

“Yes, and he never said a word to me or your da. So you should think about forgiving him, too.”

“I already did, though it was mean. He came very close to ruining my positive self-image. I thought maybe I was losing my mojo or I wasn’t attractive to Doms, which was sad because I like a top.”

Her mother took a long swig. “See, I think this is what your father has been avoiding.”

“Knowing I like sex?”

“Knowing how much like him you are,” her mother pointed out.

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