Page 43 of Daddy's Bodyguard

We end up on the patio, playing Go Fish. It’s oddly intense for a friendly game. Probably because Jasper decided to involve poker chips. But, as promised, Ellie cleans house. I don’t know if it’s because Jasper’s helping her cheat, or what, but that little girl has a radar for who’s got what.

Jasper tries to bullshit her. I don’t even see his tell, but she holds his gaze, looking deeper and deeper, then puts her hand out. Jasper groans, then hands over two threes. Ellie happily bounces and puts them down with the card in her hand.

“How did you know he was lying, Ellie?” I ask.

“His face.” She shrugs, then grins at me. “Any fours?”

I shake my head, and she sighs before drawing a card. The game continues with Ellie coming out as the winner and me taking a close second. She leans towards me and whispers in my ear. “Mommy lets me win and thinks I don’t notice.”

“Oh yeah?” I whisper back.

“I caught her.” She nods with the conviction of someone who’s been betrayed before.

I laugh softly, and we put the cards back together. Ellie goes to play, and Jasper chases her around the backyard. Whenever he catches her, he tips her upside down and asks her for her lunch money as she squeals and giggles.

Daisy shakes her head. “I wish he would be more careful sometimes.”

“With Ellie?” I ask with a frown. “It seems like he’s handling her fine. Plus, she looks like she’s enjoying it.”

“It’s not that. Yeah, Jasper’s my strong older brother, but I keep worrying about him since his leg got blasted. He’s not the same. It’s like he’s trying to compensate for the injury or something, the way he keeps pushing himself harder than he should. I wish he would take care of himself. Hell, he would have stopped going to physical therapy altogether if I didn’t treat him here.”

I blink at her, unable to process anything she said beyond the first two lines. He what? He blastedwhat? I look over at Jasper again. I notice he has a little bit more trouble getting up once he goes down. He avoids getting on his knees, and there’s the slightest limp there. How come I hadn’t noticed that before?

Daisy nudges me. “You didn’t know, did you?”

“No.” I shake my head. “He never told me.” But it does explain why he’s always wearing pants. When he got shot, he refused to let me take them off. He made me stand outside the bedroom door while he handled it himself. I thought he was being modest, but knowing Jasper like I do, I should have realized something was off.

“Well, then don’t mention it. He gets bothered about it. Like —” She shakes her head, taking a step forward, her focus on the two playing on the lawn. “Ellie! Be careful!”

Ellie looks over from where she’s climbing just before Jasper grabs her and tosses her in the air. He shouldn’t be doing that, considering he was in the hospital less than a week ago. I sigh. “I hope to God he doesn’t open that wound.”

“So do I,” Daisy says, leaning towards me as I take another drink. “Now that he’s out of earshot, tell me the real stuff. Is there something going on between you two?”

A thin spray of beer flies from my mouth. “Wha— no! No. He’s just doing his job. That’s all.”

Daisy looks me over, and her wicked smile reaches her eyes. “Sure,Baby-doll.”

I groan, remembering Jasper’s term of endearment he used for me earlier. Of course, his sister would read into it. Anyone would. But I need to set the record straight, so she doesn’t get any ideas. “I’m Jasper’s client, that’s it. There’s nothing going on between us and there never will.”

Daisy gives me an if-you-say-so smile. “Will you guys stay for dinner? I want to check the wound and make sure he’s good. A little outside my area of expertise, but it’s better than nothing, right?”

It’s hard to say no to her, so I give her a nod. She takes Ellie inside to get her cleaned up, and Jasper sits down next to me. He blows out a breath and puts a hand to his chest. “Damn. They need to bottle the energy kids have and sell it.”

“Well, this is the life you want, isn’t it? A lovely home with big backyard for your kids.”

His eyes flick to me, and he takes a long drink of water before nodding, suddenly serious. “I know it’s not much to a future congresswoman, but it’s comfortable, real, and very far away from battle.”

“It could be worse. Your goal could be world domination.”

“Everyone should be happy it isn’t. I think I could rope you into that future.” He gives me a slight smile. “You’d make it happen too.”

“Your confidence in me is astounding.”

“I learn pretty fast.” He taps his head. “There’s more than stuffing up here.”

“But there is stuffing. Is that what I’m hearing?” I shift in the seat, so I’m facing him. “So that’s why you and Carissa are ‘just having fun’ and not dating?”

He takes another drink before replying. “You’re very worried about me and Carissa. Is there a reason why?”

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