Page 20 of Trust My Bodyguard

“They’re both alright.” I hurry the conversation along before she can ask more about him. “We didn’t come back to Pine Peaks just for a visit.”

This piques her interest because she leans in closely, forehead knitted. “Oh?”

“We planned to start a security firm.”

Her eyes pop open. “You what?”

“I started a firm with the guys. It’s called Hawke, Everett, and Yates, HEY. ” I pause, Ivy’s face flashing in my head. “I didn’t want to tell you until I was certain it was going to work and just today we got our first client.”

“Oh, my goodness, honey,” she beams. “I’m so proud of you.”

“That’s not all. Since HEY is headquartered here, I’ll be moving back permanently.”

She gasps. The image becomes distorted.

I think she dropped her phone. “Mom, are you okay?”

She comes back on a moment later. Her eyes are teary and she covers her mouth with a trembling hand. “I’m so happy you’re back home, Brody. I’ve missed you so much. You have no idea how worried I used to get when you were away in the army. Wondering every day I don’t hear from you if it means something bad has happened.” She presses a hand to her chest and sighs. “But now you’re here and I can see you and make sure you’re fine.”

A knot of emotion lodges in my throat. Leaving my mom wasn’t easy, even though I knew it was necessary. Coming back after serving in the army feels like I’ve earned the peace of having her close to me.

“Well, my current gig isn’t the safest either. I have to put myself in harm’s way to protect our clients.” A frown starts to mar herfeatures so I hurry along. “You don’t have to worry, Mom. I can always take care of myself.”

“Hmm...” She gives me a look. “Remember when you had that injury and you came all the way home with your boo-boo?”

I slap a palm over my face. I was fifteen and skiing when I shouldn’t’ve been. I crashed into a tree and injured my arm. The blood against the snow frightened me so I came home to my mom. It was only when she rinsed it off that we saw it was just a flesh wound. Not even deeper than a scratch.

“I was a kid then.” I roll my eyes. I’d never hear the end of that story.

“And what do you think you are now? You’ll always be my little boy.”

I smile even though I can take care of myself just fine now. I’ll be the one to take care of her if the need ever arises for the both of us.

“Thank you for telling me this, Brody. You have made me very happy.” She blows me kisses. “Go to bed, okay? So you’ll wake up refreshed and ready to do your dangerous job that you’re a pro at.”

I scoff a laugh. “Hey, Mom.”

“Yes, son?”

“Can you not tell Bethany and Amanda about this? I don’t know if Nick and Zane have broken the news yet and they’d like to do it themselves.”

“Of course.”

“Thanks, Mom. Goodnight.”

I put the phone away and turn down the lights. I lay back on the pillows with my eyes closed.

Sleep doesn’t come easily. Instead, Ivy’s face keeps popping up behind my closed eyelids. It isn’t annoyance I feel. Unfortunately.

Her dark green gaze paired with those full lips tweaked something in my brain. That’s the only explanation for why my thoughts circle around the idea of taking control of both.

I try to remember why that’s not even remotely possible. Outside the fact that I’m protecting her and her sister and can’t compromise our professional relationship, she made me lose my cool this morning with nothing but her defiant attitude and smart mouth.

I wonder what else that mouth can do.

I exhale and indulge in the thoughts for just a bit. My limbs tense as I picture her slender form lying atop me. Her lips on mine. Bet they’re soft. My hands on her hips. My cock twitches in my briefs. Maybe I’ll press her down, grind her on it. Listen to her moan.

She’s the type to want to wrestle control, I’m sure. Or the opposite because it’s all an act to come across as tougher than she really is. It doesn’t matter either way because she’d beg for it when I’m deep inside.

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