Page 123 of Trust My Bodyguard

He jumps out of his chair and rounds the table, pulling me into his arms. He kisses my face and then my lips.

“I’m guessing this means you’re happy,” I manage to say between the possessive glides of his mouth against mine.

“More than you know, Ivy. I want you here. I’m happy to have you here.” He cups my face, staring at me with watery eyes. Then, something else sneaks in, making his gaze go wary.

“What? What is it?”

“What about Iris?” Before I can make sense of what he’s asking, he explains. “She needs your help to get used to being a regular adult, Ivy. I don’t want you split in two places because of me.”

I’ll always trust Brody because of how much he cares about Iris. Sometimes even more than I do. “Iris is fine. She even insisted on it when I told her about the idea. She’s happy for us and she has Callum. It may even be too much for her to have the two of us looking out for her.”

“You sure?”

“Very.” I grab his trailing hand and kiss his fingers. “I’m here to stay, Brody. You’re not getting rid of me easily.”

“I don’t plan to.” He kisses my neck.

A thrill courses through me. But the reality of the task ahead clouds my mind. “I have to make a list. There’s a lot to do before I can move. I have to do the interview and get the job. Then I need to find a place to stay…” The look on Brody’s face cuts me short. “What’s that look?”

“What look?”

“That look.” I try to imitate his smirk and fail. Or so I think because he laughs and tweaks my cheek.

“Don’t worry your pretty head, love. Everything’s taken care of.”

EPILOGUE

Brody

Two months later

Ivy comes in, carrying a box twice her size.

“I’ll take that, thank you.” She hands it over without protest and I reward her with a kiss on the cheek. “I told you. You don’t have to do anything. That’s what the worker bees are for.”

I nod to Nick and Zane carrying a three-seater couch between themselves. Nick eyeballs me and Zane looks surly.

I give them a one-fingered salute. When they offered to help me and Ivy set up our new place, I wondered what they thought they’d be doing. Sitting around and drinking beers? Not around here, they’re not. We have one afternoon to make the house livable and I’m not stopping until it’s done.

“So, what do you think?” I head over to the kitchen with the box labeled utensils.

Ivy drifts to the window and looks out over the towering hills. Winter has carried with it the persistent snow and left lush green trees and shrubs. “It’s unreal.” Her voice trembles with awe. “Magical.”

My heart fists. “I think so too.” I evade the stacked boxes and reach her. Her heady fragrance swirls around me. I get to be close to her every day. I wrap my arms around her middle and drag in a breath of her.So sweet.

Her hands cover mine, stroking gently. “I still can’t believe we get to live together.”

“Best believe it, love.” I kiss her temple. “We’re roommates now.”

She’s about respond when Nick’s voice has us spinning around.

“Hey, lovebirds, we need your opinion.” He waves us to follow him.

In the living room, the big couch sits at a weird angle.

“How do you want it?” Zane asks. “Here or there?” He points to the spot facing the blank wall where we’ll mount the TV. The other faces the large window that shows off the breathtaking outdoors.

I glance between both men. Based on their tense faces, the position of the couch was hotly debated. I pull Ivy forward.“Choose, babe. Where do you want the couch?” If she chooses, they won’t argue with her. Unlike me.

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