Page 58 of The Billionaire Bodyguard Next Door

Beck frowned. “Does that not make the temptation greater?”

“For me, it doesn't. Once I’d made the decision not to drink, it just stuck. Like I no longer needed to even consider it because the possibility has been wiped from the table.”

“Because you needed to feel in control.”

I nodded. “Exactly.”

“And you don't trust anyone to see you out of control.”

I blinked back the tears that threatened to spill. Fuck, if I cried then I'd run the risk of another migraine and that was the last thing I needed.

“Beck?”

“Yes, Marks?”

“I'm tired,” I said through a yawn. It went beyond that. I was exhausted.

He nodded solemnly, taking the cue to leave. Beck leaned forward and placed a kiss on my forehead. The movement was slow and controlled. Not asking or wanting for more.

Beck’s firm grip loosened, and the sudden loss of him felt like a sharp dagger to the chest. He slipped out of the bed and placed another kiss on my head.

“Sweet dreams, gorgeous,” he whispered. Leaving me all alone.

CHAPTER21

Beck

I’d just takena sip from my first coffee of the day when Alice burst through the door. “Daddy!”

She ran into my arms looking like a little princess, her hair intricately braided like she came straight from singing on the streets of Arendelle.

I’d been up half the night replaying Luna’s words in my head, feeling grateful that she’d shared her truth with me while simultaneously seething and wanting to track down this man and single-handedly ruin his life.

And I wasn't foolish enough to think that one conversation would fix what could have been between us. It meant we knew the truth—the full truth, but it didn't mean we were suddenly together. It didn't erase all those hurt feelings from the past eight years.

Now reality had set back in. Real life. Responsibilities.

“Daddy can I have a sleepover every night?” Alice asked wide-eyed, pulling me back to the here and now.

I squeezed her tight. “Sleepovers are great every once in a while, but not every night. They would lose what makes them special.”

“But it's so much fun.” Alice broke into a yawn mid-sentence.

“We also don't live here and maybe Constance and Faith don't want to have a sleepover every night.”

My daughter nodded enthusiastically. “I'm sure they will say yes.”

I grinned, loving Alice’s precocious nature all the while feeling completely inept to navigate the situation, so I fiddled with one of her braids only to have her swat at me. “Not the braids, Daddy!”

My hands flew above my head in capitulation. “I'm standing down.”

Alice threw me a look befitting a teenager.

Luna swept into the kitchen wearing an emerald silk pajama set she’d changed into last night that showed off her long, lean legs and complemented her auburn hair. “Love the braids, Alice.”

My daughter blushed, hand reaching up to touch her hair. “Thanks, Luna.”

“Morning, Beck,” Luna said, shooting me a sly smile as she headed straight to the coffee maker.

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