Page 22 of Don’t Fall For A Bodyguard

I’d offered to help, but Nonna told me to‘butt out’ (one of her favorite non-Italian expressions) because she had Payton to help her. But really, I’d volunteered to help Payton. Not that he needed my help, of course. And I shouldn’t have been shocked. Nonna and Payton hit it off right away, since neither of them had any filter. He’d handled my outspoken grandmother with a grace and charm that I found irresistible.

As much as I grumbled about my family’s antics, I loved them more than anything. And anyone who appreciated them as much as I did warmed my heart. Fuck, the things I was feeling right now were damn dangerous. I’d already made a fool of myself over this man—at work and in Vegas—and now I was letting my emotions roll right over the warnings in my head.

I couldn’t take my eyes off Payton as he moved around my kitchen like it was his own. The man lit up a room, and that was no bullshit. His wild hand gestures rivaled Nonna’s, and soon they were arguing one moment and laughing the next. I was only half paying attention to the conversation going on around me,too enamored with the sight of myhusbandmaking my favorite foods with one of my favorite persons.

“…don’t you agree, Len? Lennie?”

My mom’s voice cut through my musings.

“What? Sorry, I didn’t catch what you said.”

“I said, your father and I are taking Nonna home to Verona in late July. You and Payton should fly over and join us.”

“Uh, well, we’ve got the world tour starting soon. I’ll see what the schedule is like. The European portion is pretty hectic, and we don’t have many days off in between countries.”

And Payton wouldn’t be my husband by then, so it wouldn’t matter. Fuck. I took another sip of wine. A big one.

Suddenly, there was the clatter of a wooden spoon banging a pot.

“Mangiare! It’s time to eat!” Nonna declared. “Bella, Gulia.”

My mom and sister got up and headed for the kitchen, helping Payton plate the food.

“What about me?” I yelled out. “Can’t I help?”

“No!” Nonna barked in response.

Alrighty then. I glanced across the table at Dad, and he gave me a knowing look.

“What?” I asked him.

“You don’t have to keep up the pretense, you know. It’s okay.”

“I—” I couldn’t speak.

Dad shook his head. “I know you. And I know you’re only trying to protect your mother, but you don’t have to. She can handle the truth.”

I looked across the room at Payton again, and when his eyes met mine, I felt my face flush. I glanced back at my dad.

“It’s complicated.”

“I can see that.”

“We’d both been drinking,” I confessed. “Payton was feeling down. I couldn’t help trying to cheer him up, and next thing I knew, we were married.”

“So, it was all a mistake?”

“No. I mean, yes,” I blurted out. “I don’t know.”

At first, I thought it was. But now, I wasn’t sure. I was so fucking confused.

“You need to figure it out. And lying to your family isn’t going to help matters.”

I nodded. “I’m sorry. But mom was so upset when I called her, and Payton didn’t want to make things worse.”

Dad reached over and patted my hand. “He’s a good one. It’ll be okay.”

“I’m not sure about that. I think I like Payton.”

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