Page 47 of Daddy's Bodyguard

We make it through dinner with actual conversation, and Sofia seems to forget about her makeup until we’re about to leave. Daisy reminds me that she can help with physical therapy if I need it, and I roll my eyes.

“Think about it,” she says as we get into the rental. “And stop being a hard you-know-what!”

I ignore her, giving my attention to Ellie who’s waving us goodbye. “Bye, Uncle Jazz! Bye,Aunt Kat!”[A2]

Sofia tenses, but then she smiles and waves, then gets extra busy searching for a napkin. She starts wiping at her face until I reach over to help her. She laughs, then falls quiet as I wipe over her lips.

“You’re putting a lot of trust in me to not make this worse,” I say.

“I do trust you, Jasper,” she whispers. “Even if I don’t show it sometimes.”

To say I’m shocked would be putting it lightly. I would have dreamed of Sofia saying these words to me. “You never show it, Sofia. That’s the problem.”

“Well, I’m sorry you feel that way. But I do. I trust you with my life. Literally.”

For the first time, I’m speechless. I just concentrate on wiping the makeup from her face.

“Thanks for today,” she says.

The napkin falls from my hand. The makeup is softer, not terrible at all. And she’s so beautiful with that smile softening her face, warming her eyes, making her approachable, and … I swallow hard. No. I’ve already built a wall around my heart to protect it from my feelings for her. I can’t afford to fall again.

“I mean it. It was fun.” She sits back, then dabs at her lips with another napkin. “Maybe a life like that wouldn’t be terrible.”

“Doesn’t actually work with a skyscraper ambition, though,” I remind her.

“True, but it’s nicer than coming home to an empty house.”

“Messy is better than empty?”

She thinks on that, then wrinkles her nose. “Maybe a little cleaner.”

“Carissa said you don’t date. Why?”

She rolls her eyes, and immediately that smile falls. “I don’t like talking about it.”

“Come on. You owe me after that stunt.”

“You put me on your lap!”

“That doesn’t mean I needed a lap dance.”

“You didn’t see your face.”

“Sofia.” I sigh while starting the car.

She bites her lip and is quiet for half the drive before she finally says anything. “My ex nearly derailed my career. He wanted a shadow, but I wanted to be the light. I couldn’t settle for being the second-class citizen he wanted me to be, so I left him. He retaliated by trying to ruin my career.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you.” I reach over to pat her hand, careful to return it quickly to my lap.

“It’s fine. His antics all failed. He’s no longer around to put hurdles before my efforts to help the less fortunate. All’s well that ends well.”

“I’m glad. But is that dipshit the only reason you don’t date? Aren’t you giving him more power than he deserves?”

She shakes her head. “That’s only part of it. I don’t date because it’s a distraction I don’t need right now. The last thing I want is to get caught up in a relationship, and before I know it, I’m getting married and having kids and putting my dreams on the back burner.”

“You don’t want to be your mom.”

She looks at me, surprise filling her face. “You remembered.”

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