Page 12 of Road Trip with Her Bodyguard (Love Along Route 14 #9)

DANE

I ’ve known Jim for ages, from working on demolition and construction jobs together over the years. Since he just lives on the other side of town, we run into each other often enough.

He’s not surprised when we appear on his doorstep, asking to use his computer and for a little privacy…

although I do notice that Jim gives Jorie a quizzical look when she tiptoes in with my arm tucked around her.

He sets us up at his dining room table, then goes down to his workroom in the basement.

“If you don’t want to be here for this call, baby, you could take a walk around the back yard,” I suggest.

Jorie shakes her head. “No way. I want to know what’s going on.” She hesitates. “But maybe… Could I just listen, and not say anything?”

“Of course! But I’d like this to be a video call so I can watch his eyes.”

We shift her chair slightly, so she can watch the screen without being seen.

When the call connects, the video bobs and shifts.

“Shit – hold on a sec, Eric,” Gerald mutters.

We see a few flashes of what looks to be a hotel room, then a slice of brilliant blue sky.

He settles onto a deck chair on a balcony, holding the phone low while crouching down a bit.

“I told you not to call me until after a new deal is lined up. We got zero attention from that helicopter stunt. Next time we’ll be more public with?—”

“There’s not going to be a next time with Jorie.” My voice cuts through his distracted ramblings like a thunderbolt.

“ Dane ?” Gerald holds up the phone and stares at me in disbelief. “Dammit, I thought… never mind. The kidnapping alert is over. I need you to send her to Georgia. We’re going to have a family vacation before?—”

“Before the next time you fake a kidnapping threat?” The only thing that’s keeping me from shouting is Jorie’s calm presence beside me. I cannot believe he’s so casual while talking about manipulating his family.

“You had a very simple job to do, for which you were paid handsomely.” He probably thinks his cold glare is intimidating.

It’s not. “You were supposed to go with her on the helicopter, then spend a week at one of our nicest hotels looking like her bodyguard. How could you screw up something so simple?”

“So, I messed up by acting like a real bodyguard and making sure Jorie was actually safe?”

“Yes, you did, as a matter of fact. Because I was depending on the publicity. Instead, my daughter simply dropped off the planet. How was that supposed to do me any good?”

“You created all this drama in a pathetic attempt to capture headlines?” I practically spit at him. “Maybe this is why nobody wants to do business with you. How the hell could you put your own daughter through this?”

He snorts. “Why do you care so much? You’re being paid well enough.”

“I was concerned for her safety. You said there was a kidnapping threat. How the hell was I supposed to take it?”

His eyes roll. “With a grain of fucking salt! Seriously, a guy in your shoes should just be thankful for the work. Keep your head down, do as you’re told, take the money.”

“While you spin tales that scare the hell out of your daughter? What kind of a man is that?”

“A man who has more money than you will ever?—”

“ Stop thinking about money. ” It’s not quite a full-blown yell, but Gerald jumps back in his chair at my furious and thunderous tone. “Any man who would frighten his own daughter like that is an ignorant piece of?—”

I stop myself, reaching out for Jorie’s hand. She squeezes it, and I force myself to take a slow breath.

To my shock, she leans into the frame. “Piece of shit , I believe Dane was about to say. I completely agree. You’re fired as my father.”

Gerald’s eyes are so filled with rage there may as well be flames shooting from them. He opens his mouth to speak, but I disconnect the call. I stand, pulling her into my arms. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

She sighs heavily, snuggling against my chest and breathing me in, trying to calm herself down.

“Well, the kidnapping stuff wasn’t real, so I’m safe.

That part is good.” Her fingers press against my back.

“Plus, honestly, I’ve never liked my father and now I can stop pretending to be polite. So that part’s good, too.”

“Yeah, calling him names like that is not exactly the politest.” I force a chuckle, hoping to break the tension.

“No shit, Sherlock.”

We hold each other for a while. I stroke her hair, and she seems to collect herself. But as we leave Jim’s, there’s another shift. Maybe she’s still processing that exchange with her dad, or she’s just exhausted from the road trip.

Maybe she realizes that she can’t really cut off family just like that.

As much as I need Jorie to stay with me, I realize there’s a chance she might go back to them. Everything between us happened unbelievably fast, and it would be logical for her to go back to the familiar.

No matter how much I love her, and how positive I am that we belong together.