Page 72 of My Broken Bodyguard 3: Catch & Bianca

“Mr. Landry, I can see you’re a wonderful father. I can’t pretend I understand how hard it is to raise a family mainly off one income. Also you own your home in a city where the cost of living is astronomical.”

He smirked. “Thanks, Catch. It means a lot to me that you noticed. All I ever wanted to do was be a good family man.”

“Sir, I’d like to put your house on the market. Once you receive the proceeds from the sale, you can invest some of those funds. I’ll purchase a house for your family in Naperville. I understand your wife loves this city.”

“She does,” he grumbled.

“I’d also like to pay for the boys to attend private school. Kam is very intelligent. They deserve to attend great schools. And you deserve a break, Mr. Landry. Consider taking time off from work.”

He rocked in the chair. “I could use a real break. Maybe take the family on a little vacation.”

Another smile curled my lips. “Yes, enjoy life. We only get one.”

“Catch, very true.”

“Sir, I look forward to being a part of your family,” I stated honestly.

He shook my hand again. “You’re a good man, Catch. We welcome you with open arms.”

Mr. Landry released my hand. “My wife and I would like to meet your family, too.”

I internally cringed. Shit, I’d have to speak to my father more than once.

“I’ll make it happen,” I responded.

CHAPTER TWENTY

MARRIAGE IS OUT OF THE QUESTION

CATCH

My woman sat in silence on the ride back to the warehouse. Her beautiful face was turned to the window, her gaze lingering on the passing cars as we rode down the highway.

“You haven’t said a word since we left your parents’ house.”

“What do you want me to say, Catch?” she pinned me with an icy glare, her expression somewhere between anger and amusement.

“My father said, 'Your boyfriend asked me a very important question concerning you,'” she imitated her father's deep voice and raised a single brow. “That’s when I knew what you did. Asked him for my hand in marriage.”

A grin curled my lips. “Well, we are getting married, Bianca.”

Her smile faltered. “Catch, we aren't. I accepted when you told me...” — she put special emphasis on those words — “...I'd be your forever woman. I'm happy with being your forever woman.”

My brows furrowed together and my teeth grit in anger. “You don’t want my last name?” I could feel the intensity of her gaze, but she quickly shifted her attention away from me and lookedout the passenger window. A sharp pang of hurt coursed through my chest. “I don’t believe you,” I said, leaning toward her ever so slightly as if to challenge her response.

She whipped her head back towards me, her eyes filled with frustration. “Thanks for the home my family’s living in, the electronics for my brothers, and the private school you’ll bankroll.”

The vein on the side of my neck throbbed defiantly. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I growled, feeling a fire burn inside me.

Her voice was strained when she answered. “That I appreciate what you did for my family, Catch,” she huffed before continuing in a gentler tone. “It’s not that I don’t love you.” She reached for my hand and threaded our fingers. “I just don’t want to discuss marriage again.”

My grip tightened around the steering wheel as I chewed on the corner of my lip. I was beating a dead horse. What was I missing? It was clear I royally fucked up. But I wasn’t a man who backed down from a challenge.

I brushed a soft kiss onto her knuckles while keeping my gaze on the road ahead. “Baby, you'll pay for telling me you don’t want to be my wife,” I warned her playfully as I felt her try to pull away from me. She let out an exasperated sigh, acknowledging defeat before turning away from me to stare out the window again.

***P***

The second I pulled into my parking space behind the warehouse, Bianca tapped the unlock button and jumped out of the SUV.

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