Page 91 of Vengeful Guard

Declan grins, and his wife tugs at his arm. “Patrick’s here.”

He nods, and we all trail to the dinner table.

I stand around with the rest of the security guards, looking out for who might be coming in and out of the building.

“Paige is really growing up, isn’t she?” a voice from beside me says, and I blink, turning toward him.

It’s one of Patrick’s men, an older man named John, and I almost wrinkle my nose. He’s way too old to be thinking of Paige in that way.

“Don't know what you're talking about.” I grit my teeth, but he grunts and keeps staring at Paige’s legs.

I want to hit him, but I don’t think the Burkes would want me to start a brawl in the middle of dinner, so I decide to ignore him.

I focus on the table instead. And I know I shouldn’t be listening in, but I can’t seem to help myself as they chatter.

“Have you been seeing anyone new, Lara?”

Lara shakes her head. “Same old, same old,” she drawls, and Paige laughs out loud.

I smile.

Patrick is looking over at Paige like she hung the moon, and I suspect he misses his baby girl.

God, the things I did to Patrick Burke’s baby girl... He’d take my head off if he had any idea how often I think about it in the shower.

Lara turns to her brother. “What about you, Gray? Anyone special?”

His face shadows for a second before he grins. “Plenty of newbies, but nobody special.”

What was that about?

Paige scoffs. “You never have someone special. Haven’t brought anyone home in?—”

Lara cuts her off. “Well, none of us have found love. Except Declan.”

“And even then, it was thrust upon him.” Gray chuckles while Bree glares at him.

Declan puts an arm around his wife, and she smiles up at him with love in her eyes so strong that it makes me look away. It feels like an intimate moment between them.

I’ve never really thought that love like that existed, but being around Declan and Bree, I’m starting to believe.

Not that I’d ever feel that way. I don’t let anyone get close enough.

Paige is getting close.

I shake myself out of that minefield.

We’re not that close. I’m just keeping an eye on her, that’s all.

Aiden, one of Declan’s usual bodyguards, nudges me with his shoulder as we stand over at the bar. “You’re sure guarding Paige pretty closely.”

I shrug, sipping my soda water with lime. I want to keep my head clear. “That’s my job, isn’t it?”

Even I can hear the edge of irritation to my voice.

I don’t really get along with the other bodyguards. I don’t really get along with anyone but Declan and Gray and Patrick.

He snorts. “You think you’re such hot shit, getting the job watching the baby girl.”

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