Page 12 of The Bodyguard's Fall

“After what happened at your wedding, I don’t want to face him again.”

Will’s head reared back. “Why?”

I rubbed at my temples. “Tate wanted to tell Leroy off, and I wouldn’t let him. And now, I have to be babysat by his family because I didn’t listen to him the first time. I don’t want to deal with that. He already thinks he had to rescue me all the time growing up.”

“He did rescue you a lot.”

When I glared at him, he held up his hands in a you know it’s true kind of way. “You’re both past all that now. Tate knows that. This is something else. And it’s absolutely not your fault.”

It was useless to argue, so I clamped my mouth shut and looked out the window. I couldn’t control what Leroy did. Many online therapists had told me this. But wondering if this whole thing could have been avoided if I’d unleashed Tate on him that night was part of the reason I had a hard time sleeping.

The road to the Walker family property began near the end of Main Street. Their farmhouse was located three miles outside of town. Along the way, both sides of the road were flanked by fields of hay and wheat. As a friend to Jaxon Walker, I’d spent a bit of time there in high school, but many years had passed since I’d been a regular. And now I’d be moving in. Dread filled my gut.

“What if I put them in danger?” I asked.

Mail and voicemails were one thing, but if Leroy got more unhinged and hurt somebody…I wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“They know the risk. They’re fine with it. Hopefully, your guy won’t even know you’re here. And you’ll have someone I trust watching you twenty-four seven, so maybe we’ll both get some sleep for the next while.”

Guilt burned inside of me. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” He gave me an exasperated glance as he turned off the road and drove down a long driveway leading past a small stream to a charming butter-yellow two-story farmhouse.

For a moment, I was taken in by the homey feel of the place. As much as I didn’t want to need this right now, something inside my heart lightened at being back here. Even the blue sky scattered with white clouds seemed like just the kind of cheery pickup my heart needed.

“Wait. How will they watch me twenty-four seven?” I asked.

“Someone will be with you at all times. Their room will be right next to yours. You’re not to go anywhere without him,” Will said as he parked the car in front of the house.

“Him?” I asked as Will got out of the car. He slammed his door before he could answer. I scrambled out after him.

“I’m not allowed to go anywhere without who?” I asked again, meeting him at the trunk as he threw my bags over his shoulder. “Jaxon? Luke?”

He slammed the trunk closed and finally met my eyes, and my suspicions were officially on alert. The skittish and almost sympathetic way he smiled and glanced away immediately wasn’t just him being his usual annoying self. It was…deeply troubling.

“What’s going on⁠—”

“Hey, you two! Long time, no see!”

We both turned to see Ann Walker standing in the doorway, wearing jeans, a sleeveless red blouse, and a big welcoming smile. Will threw me an obnoxious eyebrow raise and trotted over to greet her, giving her a big hug. Good manners had me not far behind him, but now with an uncomfortable feeling that Will had something else afoot.

But soon, I was on the top step of the wraparound porch and being enveloped in the slender arms of Ann Walker. I’d had lots of hugs before, but I couldn’t recall just how long it had been since I’d been held like this. Like a mother would hold a child. A lot had happened in my life since my mom had married and moved halfway across the country. A phone call wasn’t the same. I missed her being here.

I pulled back and found compassionate brown eyes trained on me.

“You poor thing. I’m so sorry this is happening to you.” Ann pulled me in for another quick hug. She was probably in her late fifties, with earthy brown hair lightened with streaks of gray.

I sucked in a deep breath through my nose, determined to put on a good face. Starting this whole thing off by bawling in Ann Walker’s arms wouldn’t do anybody any favors.

“It’s probably not as bad as what he told you,” I said, nodding toward Will. “I feel horrible to intrude like this.”

“Nonsense. We’re glad to help. Come on in.” She opened the door and led us into a cozy living room. Immediately, the place felt familiar to me, with the soft browns and inviting couches. The walls were full of picture frames of the Walker boys fishing or flexing their muscles out by a tractor. I wanted to linger and take in every buck tooth and broken arm in a cast, but I followed Ann as she led us past the living room and through a swinging doorway into the kitchen.

“Everyone is just finishing up breakfast,” she said.

The scent of coffee and bacon wafted through the air as we stepped through the doorway, the sounds of clinking glasses and low male voices greeting us. Sunlight streaked cheerily through the large windows surrounding the breakfast nook where three of the six Walkers were lounging at the table.

“Hey, Will! Liv! You finally made it!”