Page 24 of Don’t Fall For A Bodyguard

“What?” Payton laughed. “This I’ve got to hear.”

“Lennie kept bugging Mom and Dad for a dog, literally hounding them for months, but like Mom said, with her allergies, it was always a no,” Bella explained. “But Len didn’t give up so easily. When Mom and Dad went away for the weekend for their anniversary, Lennie stole?—”

I coughed into my fist. “Borrowed.”

“—stole our neighbor’s dog,” Belle finished.

“And the neighbor didn’t notice?” Payton asked.

“Not until the next day,” Bella explained. “They didn’t have a fenced yard and the dog would often wander off.”

“That dog wandered into our garden and ate all my tomatoes,” Mom sighed.

Bella shook her head. “Anyway, by Sunday night, when the dog didn’t come back, the neighbor came knocking on our door. Before we answered, I told Lennie to let the dog out via the back door, so the owner wouldn’t suspect anything.”

“I did,” I added. “But the dog didn’t want to leave our house.”

“Not at first,” Bella teased.

Dad leaned forward. “Gulia and I come back from our weekend away, pull into the driveway, and see the neighbor standing at our front door. We step out of the car, Lennie opens the front door, and this seventy-pound golden retriever comes barreling towards us, or more specifically, into Gulia. She’s screaming about hives because the dog is all over her, the neighbor starts yelling, and Lennie is trying to explain the whole thing.”

“And?” Payton turned to me.

“Grounded for three months.”

“Ouch.” Payton reached for my hand. Without hesitation, I interlocked our fingers.

“What about you? Did you get up to any hijinks when you were a kid?” I asked him.

“I was a handful, that’s for sure,” Payton replied.

“Was?”

He pinched my arm with his free hand, and I squeaked. Yes, a bodyguard hurts like everyone else.

“I was,” Payton added. “I had a knack for sassing, so my mama did not have it easy raising me. Then there was the fact that I was fascinated with her clothes and makeup. I wasn’t interested in looking like the other boys in my neighborhood. But she was always supportive of me, never questioning. I didn’t need to have a reason for liking something, or for dressing a certain way, it just was. She loved me, for me. And lord, I sure do miss her.”

I leaned over until my shoulder bumped Payton’s. “She sounds like an amazing mom.”

“She was,” Payton whispered, his hazel eyes filling up. Then he blinked fast. “And she’d be thrilled that I’ve got a career and a life I truly love. We used to watch all the entertainment shows when I was a kid and throw our own award parties. And here I am, working for celebrities and rockstars.”

“Tell me more about that, it sounds so exciting,” Bella urged. “Lennie never shares anything about his work.”

“You should stop by the studio sometime,” Payton offered. “Meet the band. And the entourage of bodyguards. Are you single?”

“Oh yes. Extremely,” Bella replied. “My last boyfriend was over a year ago. After four months of dating, I found out that he was cheating on me.”

“Been there, dated that loser.” Payton nodded. “Oh, you know who’d be perfect for you? Petyr, one of Lennie’s colleagues. He’s got a very dry sense of humor, so smart, not to mention freaking hot, and?—”

“Stop right there,” I interrupted. “You’re not setting up my sister with anyone I work with. Petyr, least of all. And hot?”

“Why not?” Payton raised one eyebrow. “And yes, he is.”

Something like jealousy burned in my gut. Or maybe it was the spicy soup.

“But not nearly as hot as you, darling.” Payton winked.

“The answer’s still no,” I grumbled.

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