Page 129 of The Bodyguard's Fall

I felt his smile next to me. The energy between us hummed.

“You were cutting it kind of close back there,” I said, motioning toward the smoking straw maze.

He nodded. “There were two kids terrified by the flames. I couldn’t get them to climb the ladder. I heard you shouting something, but I couldn’t get to you. Then I made it to the top of the haystack just in time to watch you land that punch.” He looked over at me proudly. “And I’ve got to say, that was a heck of a right hook.”

A laugh bubbled out of me, but neither of us moved.

“You’re a lot of trouble, you know that?” Tate said, his arm nudging mine gently.

A small smile made its way across my face. “I think I’ll be a lot less trouble now.”

He turned to me, his tired eyes brimming with amusement. “I don’t believe that for one second.”

My eyes narrowed playfully.

“I think this whole bodyguard thing…” Tate began as his hand found the belt loops of my jeans and pulled me gently against him, “might need to be a permanent position.”

His voice was low and soft enough to curl my toes. I bit my lip, but my smile was impossible to contain.

“I thought you barely tolerated me.” My hands wound their way around his neck, enjoying the feel of his body against mine.

He wrinkled his nose playfully. “It’s even worse than that.”

“What could be worse?”

He brought his face close to mine and whispered, “I’m in love with you.”

I beamed up at him, full of light and relief and happiness all at once.

“That sounds like a good problem to have.”

“I kind of like it.”

“Will’s going to kill you,” I said, smiling.

Tate didn’t look worried at all. “I can take him.”

“Well, good, because I love you back,” I whispered.

A grin overtook his face. “That was pretty obvious. You were all over me.”

“I was not!” I pinched his side, causing him to pull me close again. “You just want me around so I can teach you some of my new surprise moves in the field,” I said, my breath hitching as his lips grazed their way along my jawline toward my ear.

“Actually, I’ve got a few more moves I’d like to teach you.”

And then he kissed the smile right off my face.

Plot Twist: Sighing in a swoon is a very real thing.

Will: So it was all real for you?

Tate: Yeah.

Will: How soon after you were married did you know you loved her?

Tate: About ten seconds.

Will: I knew you’d be good for her.