Page 35 of Possessive Bodyguard Summer

I held back the sob that threatened to escape, but my voice still cracked. "Yeah." The lie rolling off of my lips sounded obvious. I knew it, and Clay knew it.

His thumb moved gently against my shoulder. "Monroe."

I looked down at my plate. "I’m okay," I tried again, softer this time.

I was relieved when he didn’t call me out on it. He didn’t push. Just stood there, giving me the room to decide if I wanted to say more.

"I’m just..." I swallowed past the lump in my throat. "I’m not used to this."

"Used to what?"

I looked up at him. "Someone caring if I'm okay." I shook my head, trying to stop the tears from even forming. “I know it sounds stupid but I’ve spent so much of my life convincingmyself that if I just kept everyone else happy, if I didn't make problems, if I didn't need anything..." I shrugged helplessly. "Then maybe people wouldn't leave. And look where that got me.”

“Monroe, you don’t have to own your place here.”

“You don’t mean that,” I mumbled.

“I’m serious.” His eyes held mine. "You don't have to constantly do things to somehow earn your keep. You don't have to make yourself smaller. You don't have to apologize every time something hard happens. You're here because you belong here. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.” The last sentence came out in barely a whisper, but it still packed a punch.

Sensing my emotions, Maverick sat his head on my lap and sighed just as Kaleigh came bustling back downstairs in her bathing suit.

“Kaleigh, I thought I told you to get dressed.”

“I am dressed, Daddy. Dress to get in the pool!”

“We’re not…” Clay started.

“I think the pool sounds like a good way to start our day. Why don’t you tidy your room up while I change,” I bartered.

“Okay!”

Right back up the stairs she went. I knew it wouldn’t take her long to clean up because we spent time before bed every night tidying things. Which meant, I had the perfect excuse to avoid any more heavy conversations with Clay, for now.

“Thank you for breakfast,” I said as I stood.

“You barely touched it,” he grunted.

I picked up another piece of bacon off the plate and shoved it in my mouth. “I had plenty. Better to have a few smaller meals than three big ones. Keeps the morning sickness at bay.Sometimes.”

He cleared his throat. “Speaking of…and I know this is really none of my business but I’m going to ask anyway. Have you been getting prenatal care?”

I nodded. “Yes. Absolutely. Sloane actually started my insurance effective day one, which I was really thankful for. So I found an OB and I’ve been going to all of my appointments while Kaleigh is in preschool.”

Relief seemed to flood his face. “Okay. Good.” Clay pulled out his phone. “When’s your next appointment.”

“In two weeks.”

“Got an exact date and time? You’re not going alone.”

I wanted to argue and tell him that I could handle it but then I remembered the black motorcycle from yesterday and the look on Clay’s face as I explained everything to him last night. He wasn’t saying it because he was trying to over step. He wanted to keep me safe.

So, I gave him the date and time, watching as he added it to his phone.

“I’ll be there.”

CHAPTER

THIRTEEN