Page 17 of Don’t Fall For A Bodyguard

“Right. Of course.” The driver unloaded our suitcases, so I grabbed them and started up the driveway. Then I realized I hadn’t done the formal introduction to the rest of my family. “Oh, sorry. This is my dad, David, and my sister, Isabella.”

“A pleasure.” Payton offered his hand to my dad. “And now I see where Len gets those beautiful blue eyes of his.”

My dad was a quiet man, a calm balance to my mother’s fiery nature, and kind of shy. He flushed at Payton’s comment and waved him off.

“Well, you two must be exhausted,” Dad replied. “We should leave you to?—”

My mom and sister gave my dad the stink eye, and he stopped talking.

“Isabella,” Payton announced, breaking the tension. “Such a pretty name. Can I call you Bella?”

“Of course,” my sister replied as she leaned forward and kissed Payton’s cheek. “We’re family now.”

Oh, Jesus.

“So, Payton, how long have you been dating my son?” Mom demanded.

“Ma,” I warned.

“What? Don’t I have a right to know?”

I ignored her comment, walking up the front steps and into the foyer of my townhouse.

“Oh, this is lovely,” Payton announced as he looked around. “There’s so much light in this space.”

Then Payton peered around the corner to the living room. “And a corner sofa, my favorite.”

My mom looked at Payton. “You’ve never been here? How long have you two been seeing each other?”

Shit.

“About that—” I started.

“Why don’t we sit down in the living room and talk?” Payton suggested. “Darling, how about getting your family drinks first? Something strong.”

Hell yes to that. I nodded, taking Payton’s cue, leaving our cases in the foyer. I headed down the hallway to the kitchen and went straight to the cupboard beside the fridge. Never mind coffee, this news called for bourbon.

And then I heard it.

The booming sound of my mom’s laughter. I had no idea what Payton said to her, but the fact he got her laughing after being with her for exactly two and a half minutes told me a lot. Was there anyone he couldn’t charm?

I grabbed a tray, several lowball glasses, poured a good two-ounce drink in each, and headed back out to see what was so damn funny.

Payton and my family were at home on my couch, everyone chuckling. Mom was laughing so hard that tears were running down her face. I placed the tray on the coffee table and handed out the glasses.

“Oh, Lennie,” she snorted. “Payton was telling us about the first time he met you. He walked in on you changing in one of the dressing rooms and you…you covered yourself with a pillow?”

I looked at Payton, wondering why the hell he would’ve used that particular detail of our morning together to craft this story. When he raised one eyebrow, I finally clued in. Turns out, I wasn’t the only one good at diversion. And that tactic was useful. Like right fucking now.

“What else was I supposed to do?” I replied. “He was a stranger.”

Not a stranger. We were colleagues. Casual friends. Nothing more.

Sure, that’s why you told him he was sexy and called him ‘angel.’

“Not for long.” Payton winked at me. “He was adorably shy, and I was immediately charmed. Not to mention, he was standing in front of a mirror, so the pillow didn’t help with the back view. I could see every?—”

“Okay, they get it,” I interrupted, shaking my head. “Look, I—we—appreciate the visit, but we’ve had a busy weekend?—”

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