Page 23 of Don’t Fall For A Bodyguard

“Well, you married him,” Dad chuckled.

“I’m serious. I mean,morethan like him,” I confessed.

Dad slowly smiled at me. “Then maybe you should tell him that.”

I nodded, biting my lip. “Maybe.”

“Judging by the way he looks at you, I’d say he feels the same.”

Payton was suddenly standing beside me, a steaming bowl of soup in his hands. He placed the bowl in front of me, gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze, and headed back to the island.

Had he overheard what my dad and I were talking about? I started to sweat and pulled at my shirt.

Once everyone had their starter, we gathered around the table, Payton by my side.

Nonna raised her glass. “To Lennie and Payton and many happy years together. Salute!”

Payton clinked my glass, and I could only stop and stare at him as he took the first sip of wine. When he licked his lips, I sowanted to lean over and taste them. When I finally glanced up at his eyes, that spark of electricity snapped between us.

Both of us took another long sip of our drink.

“So, Payton. When are you moving in?” Dad asked.

Payton choked on his wine, sputtering and coughing. I gently patted his back.

“Sorry,” Payton finally whispered. “Um, I guess, uh, later this week? I’ve got to pick up Finnigan first. Right now, he’s staying with my friend Jaclyn.”

“Finnigan?” Bella asked.

“My cat. He’s a Russian blue. A beautiful boy, but he requires a lot of attention. And who knows how he’s going to take to Lennie. He tends to swipe at strangers.”

I scoffed. “If I can handle your claws, I can handle your cat’s.”

Payton’s glare had me reaching for my soup spoon.

Eat, don’t talk.

“You have pictures of him?” Mom asked.

Payton reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He tapped it once and then passed it around the table. Payton was right. Finnigan was a pretty cat, and he looked content in Payton’s arms. Lucky beast.

“So adorable,” Bella gushed.

Nonna glanced at the phone, but her expression told me she wasn’t impressed.

“I don’t like cats in my kitchen,” Nonna stated emphatically.

“Lucky for you, Finnigan will live here,” Mom replied and rolled her eyes at me.

“We didn’t have any pets when I was growing up,” I explained, turning to Payton. “We weren’t allowed.”

“I have allergies,” Mom added.

“Had,” I countered. “You take medication now.”

Mom shrugged.

“Remember the time when you were twelve and stole the neighbor’s dog for the weekend?” Bella chuckled.

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