Page 27 of Jealous Bodyguard
“Approaching.”
I crimp my mouth tighter over the sound of the radio crackling, but I can’t not say anything. “This is ridiculous, Steven!” I hiss in a whisper so as not to wake the babies in the back.
Steve holds the CB radio in his hand, steering with the other. His eyes scanning the street and beyond, but they shift to mine before glancing in the rearview at our babies.
I feel the truck slowing, but it’s only a little. Just enough so he can say his piece.
“It’s ridiculous how madly in love with you I am,” he croons, already winning. Keeping his eyes peeled, they shift and move quickly as he turns the truck right. “But it’s not ridiculous, the lengths I’d go to making sure you and our kids are always safe, Stacey.”
He uses his serious but I-love-you tone. The one, apart from when he’s promising to make me come a river tone, that actually melts my heart. Because I can see how much we mean to him.
I forget sometimes and he has to remind me. There’s people in the world who want to hurt people like us. Because of daddy’s business, as successful as it’s made him, it’s earned him just as many enemies as friends.
Like that Sean Castor guy who arranged my kidnapping. Total whacko.
I wonder whatever happened to him?
It’s all the real-world things I never had to worry about before, and it only hits me when I want to go someplace or do something out of the ordinary that the life I have with our family is kept that way by Steve being so...Steve.
“Just don’t be mean to Dr. Peters again, okay?” I plead with him. “He’s old y’know. And-”
“Stacey, I’ll be on my best behavior. I promise,” he assures me, stopping the truck and taking my hand in his.
“I know I’m a pain in the ass, but I’ve got four of the best reasons in the world to be right this way, here in this truck. Things I could never replace, things I love so hard it actually hurts. So yeah, I’m gonna do everything I can to protect that. Whatever it takes.”
Man, this guy sure knows how to get out of an argument...
It’s the sweetest thing he’s said since about a half hour ago, and I feel more than just a little bratty by the time I apologize, kissing his cheek.
“I- I know you do. I just forget sometimes. But do we need a whole platoon of security every time?” I ask, wondering if I’ll ever get used to it.
“It’s called a detail, honey. And yes. Yes, we do.” He starts moving again, radioing in his ETA to reach the next checkpoint.
Craning my neck to the back seat, all of our babies lined up in their carrier seats.
Safe.
Everything Steve never had to promise is already done because he gives everything a hundred and ten percent of the time. Including being over the top about loads of things aside from his lovemaking. But for once, I think I agree with him.
Looking deliberately thoughtful, a little smile plays on my lips as he puts the truck back onto gear, moving again.
“If we always have to fight about it...” I start to say until he clicks his tongue, just like I knew he would.
“...Then we get to have makeup sex, right?” I ask. Figuring I may as well put an extra spit and polish of positive on things, knowing how much it rides on Steve’s mind. Him keeping us safe as well as happy twenty-four-seven.
Keeping his eyes front, his grin sends a ripple of excitement across my belly. Resting my hand on his thigh, I glance back, making sure the kids don’t hear what I rasp in his ear.
Telling him exactly what I want him to do with me once he gets me home. Y’know, by way of a proper apology.
“I kidnapped the right girl, didn’t I?” He smiles, hooking his arm around me. Pulling me close.
Both of us already counting the seconds before we’re home again.
Together. Like I always knew we would be.
The End.
