Page 49 of Colton Family Bodyguard (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

Eager for attention, the dog jumped up on her, paws on her legs. Evie giggled and collapsed onto her rear. When she crawled on hands and knees into the living room, Callum knew she’d be preoccupied for a while.

“We were surprised you were coming up today,” Owen said. “Such spontaneity isn’t like you. We were glad we’re both off duty today. Is everything all right?”

“There’s a good reason for us showing up on such short notice, and looking like this,” Hazel said. “Evie saw a man get hit on the head with a rock and his body was found.”

Jessica inhaled sharply. “Oh, no. She saw that?” She glanced back at Evie as though wondering if she was okay.

“Evie seems fine,” Hazel said. “She seems unaffected.”

“She’s probably too young to fully understand what happened,” Callum said. “The problem is the police haven’t caught the killer yet, and he knows where we’re staying.”

“He’s tried more than once to get us.”

Owen kept an unreadable but somber face but Jessica’s jaw fell.

“Evie?” Jessica asked, incredulous.

Hazel nodded. “That’s why we’re here.” She looked at her brother. “I need a huge favor.”

“You want us to watch Evie? You don’t even have to ask,” he said. “Of course we’ll do it.”

“And she’ll be safe,” Jessica said. “We’re both armed and have licenses to carry.”

“She’ll be guarded at all times,” Owen said.

Callum saw Hazel’s shoulders slump in relief. “I can’t thank you enough,” she said. “You don’t know how much it means to me to know she’ll be with two cops. I won’t have to worry about her the way I have been.”

“Of course,” Owen said. “We’ll love having her.” He glanced over at Evie and Olive, who were rolling around the living room in play. “And so will Olive, it would seem.”

Hazel laughed and Callum smiled a little at the cute sight of Evie and the dog.

“Do the police have any solid leads?” Jessica asked.

“We’re looking into the murder victim right now. Hopefully that will point us to a suspect,” Callum said.

“Where are you staying?” Owen asked. “Is there security?”

“Callum is a bodyguard.” She explained how they met and how Callum had saved her and Evie. “He’s kindly agreed to protect me until the killer is caught.”

“Bodyguard, huh?” Owen said, checking Callum out. “Do you work for a security service?”

“I work for Executive Protection Services. It’s an international personal protection agency.”

Owen’s brow lifted and he seemed impressed. “Sounds flashy.”

“He’s protected princesses,” Hazel said. “Not your everyday bodyguard.”

The way she looked at him snared his attention. He doubted she meant to reveal her admiration so guilelessly.

“So it would seem,” Owen said.

“We were just about to have lunch,” Jessica said. “Are you hungry?”

Callum wasn’t but Hazel glanced at Evie and said, “Evie hasn’t eaten yet.”

“I hope chili cheese dogs are okay.” Jessica led the way into the open, bright kitchen.

“Yaaay, hot dogs!” Evie bounded into the kitchen and took a seat at the table, Olive right by her side, sitting on the floor beside the chair.

---