The Bodyguard's Baby (Billionaire Bodyguard Series) (14 page)

“How much was he paying you?” Lindsey asked. “Obviously enough to make you so scared to lose your monthly allowance that you’d resort to threats.”

“None of your business,” she snapped.

“Adele, you
made
it my business when you threatened me and my baby.” She stood, facing the woman toe to toe, and curved her hand around the swell of her abdomen. “Slone deserves to know the truth about all the letters you’ve been sending. Why don’t we go tell him right now?”

“You have no proof they were from me.”

Lindsey stared at the woman. “Do you know what Slone does for a living? He works at a high level in an organization that provides bodyguards to people in danger. He knows how to handle a threat. I’d like to see what he’d do with you once he finds out.”

Adele paled. “Don’t you dare tell him.”

“Then knock it off with the threats. Your male friends might believe your lies, but I know Slone. I’ve looked into his heart and found the man I plan to love for the rest of my life. If you want to save your reputation in this family, I suggest you find some gratitude for all the support he’s given you all these years.” Lindsey didn’t want to tell Slone the truth and ruin the tentative bounds he’d re-forged with his family. “In exchange for my silence, you never contact us again. Unless you’re sending us cards Makayla writes to her Uncle Slone. Are we clear?”

Fuming, Adele opened her mouth to say something, then snapped it shut when the door to the porch opened. Slone appeared. “What are you two doing out here?”

Adele froze. Mute, she shot Lindsey a desperate glance.

“We thought we saw lights coming up the driveway,” Lindsey said casually. “But it was a false alarm. Your parents aren’t home yet.”

“I’ll go in and start putting candles on the cake,” Adele blurted out, before dashing into the house.

In the glow of Christmas lights on the porch, Lindsey noticed Slone’s face looked haggard with grief, his eyes bloodshot. Deep frown lines framed his sensual mouth.

“Come here, baby. I need to hold you.”

They stood in the cold in each other’s arms. She hugged him close to her heart, feeling his intense sorrow. “I’m sorry about your uncle.”

“I’m so glad you convinced me to come home,” he said, his voice muffled by her hair. “I want to do right by you. I want to give you a ring, say our vows, and make this official.”

“We don’t need to rush anything,” she said in a soothing whisper. “You’re in a lot of pain, and—”

“No, now. I want to make it official right now. I love you, Lindsey.”

Her heart swelled with the words she’d longed to hear him say. “I love you, too.”

Bending on one knee before her, he gazed up at her with his heart in his eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed when he swallowed. Blood rushed through her veins and her pulse leaped with pleasure. Really? He wanted to propose here? Now?

“It’s kind of short notice, so I’m improvising.” Then from his pocket he withdrew a ring pop and slid the plastic base onto her left ring finger. “Lindsey, will you marry me?”

She grinned. “A ring and a snack. You’re so practical. What else could I say but yes?”

The intense look in his gray eyes took her breath away. “Yes, you’ll marry me?”

“Yes. With all my heart, yes.”

He shot to his feet and gripped both her hands in his, the giant candy ring bulging against his palm. “You sure? I know I’m not the easiest man to be with, but I’ll always do right by you. Always.”

“You’re perfect for me,” she said. “You are the father of my baby and the love of my life. Of course I’ll marry you.”

“I love you so much, Lindsey.” He scooped her into his arms. “I need you in my life. Permanently.”

They stood heart to heart, surrounded by Native American symbols of hopes and dreams.

To her they were no longer symbols, she thought, as he kissed her with the depth of passion that seemed to come from his very soul, sealing his promise.

She smiled and whispered in his ear, “Hopes and dreams are now our reality.”

Forever after.

Headlights beamed at them from the driveway. Slone broke their kiss. “Busted,” he said, laughing. “By my parents. Go figure.”

“Quick, get inside. We don’t want them to see you yet. This is going to be a surprise they’ll remember for years to come.”

“It’s a day I’ll remember for the rest of my life. The day you said yes to our future. From now on, we’ll be celebrating two big events on this date.”

“It’s Valentine’s Day. The perfect day for love and anniversaries.”

“Every day is perfect, as long as you’re in my life,” he said.

Tears filled her eyes. “You’re not supposed to say sweet things that make me cry.”

“I’ll be there to wipe away all your tears. I promise.”

She gazed at him with tenderness she could barely contain. “I believe in you.”

“Because of you,” he said, cupping her face, “all the dreams I thought weren’t meant for me are finally coming true. You’re all I’ve ever wanted.”

Lost in this beautiful moment of truth and trust, she whispered, “You are all I’ll ever need.”

Epilogue

May 1st, 2:00 pm.

Slone shot to his feet in the middle of a meeting with Adam. “Shit, man, I got someplace to be.”

“Yeah, in a meeting with me.”

“No.” He raked his hands through his hair. “It’s Lindsey’s ultrasound. In thirty minutes. Today I get to find out if my wife and I are having a girl or a boy.”

“Okay, that trumps anything I have to offer. If it’s a boy, will you name him Adam?”

Slone snorted. “Not likely.”

“Hey, a man’s gotta dream.”

Chuckling, Slone shook his head. “Yeah, dream on.”

Adam digressed into an air-guitar version of Aerosmith’s
Dream On.
He sang the lyrics sounding like a transvestite with strep throat.

“Dude, do us all a favor. Never sing karaoke.”

“What? I’m the bomb. You can’t beat what I’ve got. I’m shocked you’re leaving my debut moment to find out the sex of your kid.”

“Check in later.”

“Don’t bother.”

“Probably won’t.”

“I know.”

Smiling, Slone left Adam’s office and raced down all six flights of stairs toward the lobby. While he appreciated the guy’s work ethic and persistence, no matter how hard he tried Adam would never shoehorn himself into a slot on American Idol, even with Bon Jovi’s six-string, even if he could play the guitar like nobody’s business. He still couldn’t sing for shit.

The second he leaped into his truck, all thoughts of work disappeared. He had an appointment to make in thirty minutes. Despite traffic, he’d make it in time.

God, he loved his wife. He’d never forget watching her walk down the aisle, wearing an adorable white dress, her sister Kylie and fiancé Cade, and his sister Maggie and her husband Phillip, as witnesses in their pared-down audience. He’d made good on his promise of a real ring, a gorgeous diamond that had glittered on her finger as he’d slid the gold band down to meet it, and said his vows to her before the judge. That was all they’d needed, because he hadn’t been able to wait through a drawn-out affair to make her his. She belonged to him. He belonged to her. No reason to mess with perfection.

Swinging his truck into a parking space outside the OB/GYN’s office, he raced toward the building, almost forgetting to lock his truck. He punched the button, heard the signatory bleep, and dashed inside.

He met Lindsey in a secluded office, where she lay on the table, tucked away into a darkened room. He rushed in and grasped her hand.

“Okay, Mom and Dad, are you ready to find out what you’re having?” the technician asked.

“Doesn’t matter,” he said, threading his fingers through hers. “Healthy is all I ask for.”

The female technician gave a cooing noise. “What a great guy.”

“I know,” Lindsey said, gazing up at him with more love than he deserved in a lifetime. Their gazes locked and held, neither of them breaking the trance, even to see whether they’d bring a boy or a girl into this world. “Whatever it is, I’m happy,” she whispered.

His eyes misted a little. “Me, too.”

“So do either of you actually care?” the tech asked, sounding bored.

As one, their eyes shifted to the screen.
Oh, yeah. That was a
boy.

No doubt about it.

“It’s a boy!” the tech exclaimed enthusiastically.

“Got that,” Slone said, gazing down at Lindsey again. Her eyes held all his secrets, all his hopes, all his dreams, reflected back at him. He could barely look at her long enough to share the joy, before he gathered her into a huge hug.

Lindsey hugged him just as tightly. “His name will be James,” she said.
“Middle name Patrick, after my father.”

“James Patrick Rowan,” Slone repeated, tested the words on his tongue, finding perfection. “I like it. No one will doubt his Irish heritage with that name.”

The technician and her instrument and the goo she glided through on Lindsey’s cute bump disappeared into the background. All that mattered was her. Him.
Them.

Finally, he had the family he’d always wanted.

No guilt. No fear. No remorse.

Just his perfect trifecta, like the pendant dangling from her neck. A gift he’d given her that she’d given back tri-fold. He couldn’t describe his gratitude in words. Except, “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Lindsey whispered.

And everything became right inside his irredeemable heart.

She’d saved him.

Thank you, God.

A Barnes & Noble Nook best-selling author, Kristi Avalon is passionate about writing romance novels. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing love triumph over adversity, as characters change and grow into better people because of each other. And, of course, happily ever after!

Kristi holds a master's degree in English from John Carroll University. When she's not escaping into fiction, she works as a technical writer, and loves having great conversations with friends over coffee. She lives in Northeast Ohio where she loves to walk her enthusiastic Australian Shepherd amidst the ancient trees of the Metroparks. She loves hearing from readers! Contact her at
www.facebook.com/kristiavalon
or
[email protected]
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Billionaire Bodyguard Series

Billionaire Bodyguard
– A novel featuring Logan & Allison

The Billionaire’s Possession: Defended & Desired
– A novel featuring Trey & Devon

Bedded by her Bodyguard
– A novella featuring Isaac & Mindy

The Billionaire’s Prize: Taken & Tempted
– A novel
featuring Cade & Kylie

The Bodyguard’s Baby
– A novella featuring Slone & Lindsey

Coming soon!

The Billionaire’s Dare: Saved & Seduced
– A novel featuring Adam & Marissa