Page 8 of Possessive Bodyguard Summer

“You’re covering the first six months of her salary. Consider it my sign-on bonus.”

“If it means your ass will be here bright and early Monday morning, it’s worth it.” Sloane clapped Clay on the back.

“Would it be alright if I met Kaleigh first? And maybe checked out the house?” I spoke up, my mind still getting the best of me.

Clay immediately nodded. “Of course.”

“And if it doesn’t feel right, or Kaleigh hates me?”

“She’s not going to hate you,” Sloane chimed in.

“If it doesn’t feel right…” Clay shoved Sloane. “We’ll tell this guy, and you’ll take over the original position you applied for. Right, Sloane?”

He nodded. “Yes. Right. I can hold the position open for you for a couple of weeks, let you get your footing under you at Clay’s and make sure it’s the right fit.”

I wasnotgoing to cry.

Nope. Not going to do it.

Instead I bit the inside of my cheek and nodded. “Then let’s go meet this little angel. Shall we?”

“You taking your car or want to ride with me this time?” Clay asked when we got outside to the parking lot.

I looked at Maverick who stood between us. “That depends, can he sit up front with us?”

“He rides in the back seat,” he told me matter of factly.

But when he opened the passenger side door for me, Maverick jumped right in and sat in the middle like he belonged there.

“Maverick,” Clay warned.

I laughed when the dog didn’t budge.

“Guess he’s riding up front today,” he muttered.

Clay helped me climb up into his truck and I tried to ignore how strong, and safe, the touch of his hand felt in mine.

While I put my seatbelt on, Clay rounded the truck and climbed in the driver’s seat. The minute I was buckled, Maverick stretched out and laid his head on my lap.

"I've trusted that dog with my life." Clay started the truck. "Apparently I rank second now."

He watched Maverick for another second before putting the truck in gear. "I've never seen him take to someone that fast."

I scratched behind Maverick's ears. "I think he just feels sorry for me."

Clay snorted. "No." His eyes met mine for the briefest second before he pulled out of the parking spot. "I think he already decided you belong with us."

My chest tightened.

I came to Sunbreak Harbor to disappear. To build something new from the wreckage I'd left behind. I hadn't expected a stranger to make it sound so...possible.

I didn't know Clay Wilder.

He didn't know me.

And yet—for the first time in a very long time—I felt like I wasn't walking into another mistake.

Clay cleared his throat. “So…”