Page 44 of Possessive Bodyguard Summer

With my clothes back on, I followed him downstairs.

He glanced toward the living room. "Maverick."

The dog’s ears perked up instantly and padded over, stopping in front of Clay while he waited for his next command.

Clay crouched, rubbing a hand over the top of his head. "I need you to stay."

Maverick tilted his head.

"Guard."

Without hesitation, Maverick stood, walked directly to my side, and pressed against my leg.

Clay smiled. “Good boy.”

I looked down at the giant dog leaning against me before looking back at Clay.

"You're really leaving him?"

"I've trusted that dog with my life." His eyes met mine. "Now, I'm trusting him with yours now."

Emotion lodged itself somewhere between my heart and my throat.

Clay stepped closer, his hand finding mine for just a second. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"I know."

He squeezed my fingers once. Then, before either of us could overthink it, he brushed one quick kiss across my forehead. "Lock the door behind me."

I watched him disappear into the garage.

A moment later, the garage door rumbled open and his truck started. Then the garage door rumbled closed and he was gone.

Maverick let out a soft huff and leaned a little more of his weight against my leg.

I rested a hand on his head. “He’ll be back soon.” I said out loud. More for my benefit than Maverick’s.

CHAPTER

FIFTEEN

MONROE

"Monwoah?" Kaleigh’s tiny voice called from upstairs.

By the time I reached her room, she was sitting on the edge of her bed, hair sticking up in every direction from her nap and a sad little frown on her face.

“What’s wrong sweetie?”

“I had an accident,” she cried. “My bed is all wet.”

“It’s okay. Let’s get you cleaned up first, then I can clean up your bed. Okay?”

Kaleigh nodded, but her little bottom lip still trembled. “I didn’t mean to.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” I knelt in front of her and brushed her messy hair away from her face. “You don’t have to apologize for that. Accidents happen.”

“Okay.”