Page 60 of Her Remarkable Protector

I freeze for half a second, unprepared for her presence. Ivy Connor. I know that face—I’ve seen it on TV a lot when she was attorney general. She’s just as stunning in person, and there’s a polished warmth about her that I can’t help but admire. She’s the kind of woman I almost want to be when I grow up a little more—fearless, eloquent, and effortlessly composed.

“Thank you,” I say, my eyes dipping to the bag she hands me. “There’s a lot in here,” I comment, though Chase immediately takes the bag as if it’s his duty.

Ivy waves it off casually. “Oh, use whatever you need. Trust me, with Ethan, Noah, and the twins running the show, Mark and I aren’t planning on adding more little ones to the mix anytime soon. Well…” She pauses, grinning. “Never say never, but not right now.” She leans down to smooth Laramie’s hair.

Huxley is nearby, his hand brushing against Laramie’s cheek. “Be good, little one,” he whispers affectionately. Then he straightens and looks to Chase and me, all business again. “If she’s affected by the altitude, give her a pacifier. Sucking helps equalize the pressure.”

I nod. “Got it. Thanks for the tip.”

We board the plane, and even after an hour in the air, I still have no clue where we’re headed. Chase is being his usual infuriatingly cryptic self.

Finally, the pilot’s voice cuts through the quiet cabin: “Well, ladies and gent, we are approaching MYF.”

It’s cute that the pilot acknowledges Laramie, but, “MYF?” I glance at Chase.

“Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport,” he says with a smirk that makes me suspicious.

“And where might that be?”

“San Diego,” he replies, his grin widening. “Now that’s a place Damon won’t think to look.”

“San Diego?” I repeat, arching a brow. “You’re from California?”

He shakes his head. “Nope. Born and raised in Bozeman. But it’s a special place.”

I narrow my eyes. “Special how? Something to do with your SEAL past?”

Chase laughs, his tone teasing. “Good thinking, my dear.”

My dear.Again. And for some reason, I can’t summon the energy to argue about it.

He adds, casually, “My mother lives there.”

I blink. “Your mother?”

“Oh, don’t look at me like that. I’m not a mama’s boy or anything.” His grin shifts into something playful.

I can’t help but laugh, though it does feel a bit like I’ve wandered into a meet-the-parents scenario. “Does she know we’re coming?”

“She does.”

“And your dad?”

His smile falters slightly. “My dad was from San Diego. He met my mom there—she was on vacation. He fell hard enough to follow her back to Bozeman. They stayed there for love—and Dad’s business actually thrived in that city.”

The sweetness of the story makes my heart ache a little.

Chase continues, “Now that Dad’s gone, my mom moved back to San Diego. I think it’s for love too—she misses him. He had an estate there, and she didn’t want to see it fall apart.”

I tilt my head, curiosity piqued. “The estate—is it called Santa Sophia?”

He chuckles, and there’s that mysterious glint in his eye again. “Not exactly. But you’ll see.”

He leans back, clearly done giving away secrets, and I don’t push him further. There’s something in the way he looks out the window, his thoughts miles away, that tells me whatever this getaway is, it’s about more than just hiding from Damon.

* * *

The landing is smooth.By the time we disembark, a sleek Lexus SUV is already waiting for us on the tarmac. I feel like a hundred percent VIP—like I’ve accidentally stumbled into a world I have no business being in.

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