Page 15 of Road Trip with Her Bodyguard (Love Along Route 14 #9)

JORIE

W e went to bed in such a chaotic whirlwind of lust and confessions of love that neither of us thought to check that the curtains were closed.

Oops.

A slim beam of light filtering through the trees flutters across my pillow, waking me up slowly. After a few moments, I realize where I am: in Dane’s cabin. In his arms.

Completely, utterly, in love.

Even though the threats my father lied about weren’t real, Dane still did a fantastic job of keeping me safe and calm throughout this entire ordeal. The least I can do is make him breakfast.

By the time I’m wearing Dane’s t-shirt and some old sweatpants I found in his drawer, with my hair tied up in a sloppy bun, I feel like an entirely new person. A free version of my true self.

Soon I’m chopping peppers and onions while the coffee pot does its thing. There’s an old radio on the counter, which I turn to a classic jazz station.

I hear a door open and shut, but don’t turn around since I’m slicing the very end of an onion.

“Shoot, I was going to serve you, but grab yourself a mug. I’m–”

Something prickles down the back of my neck. I spin, the knife still in my hand as I see an older man with thick gray hair and creased sun lines around his eyes.

Then there’s nothing but tanned, naked skin as Dane steps in front of me. “Dad, you need to knock before you come in here.”

“The hell are you talking about? It’s my cabin, isn’t it?”

Dane turns to face me, setting the knife gently on the counter, then putting an arm around me. “I’m so sorry if he scared you, baby. It’s just my father, Ron. It’s fine. You’re safe.”

Nodding slowly, I take a breath, then look up at him. “I’m okay. I didn’t even have time to get really scared, and then you were here.”

He gently kisses my forehead. “I’ll always be here. No matter what.”

On the other side of Dane’s solid body, I hear his father snort as he grabs a mug from the cupboard. He pours himself a coffee, then shuffles to the dining room table. “For Chrissake, put on a shirt, son. And let the poor girl breathe. It’s way too early for canoodling.”

In the time it takes Dane to zip to the bedroom and return while pulling on a navy t-shirt, his father has examined my entire soul simply by peering intently at me. Then he lets out a dark chuckle. “Hold up. You’re Jorie. Gerald’s girl.”

“Yes. It’s nice to meet you.”

He begins laughing hard, pitching forward as his hand slams on the table repeatedly. “I don’t know what’s better – that the two of you look like a couple of lovestruck kittens, or that Gerald is going to shit himself when he finds out.”

“He already knows,” Dane says. “We don’t care what he thinks.”

“He knows what, though? That you two are having a little…whatever? Or that you’re ass over applecart in love with the girl?” His thick wiry eyebrows go up significantly. “Don’t you think for a second that I can’t tell. You know how I can read people.”

Dane’s arm squeezes me snugly. “We’re not sure how much he knows. I don’t think we’ll exactly be on speaking terms for a while. That business about kidnappers being after Jorie was completely made up to create publicity for Gerald’s business.”

“I’m sorry that your-friend-slash-my-dad is a pile of crap,” I add softly.

Ron’s hand thumps the table again. “That smug bastard. Thinks he’s so high and mighty. Serves him right, now he’ll be attached to one of us lowly townsfolk forever. That’s going to stick in his craw until the end of time.”

Dane looks at me, his eyes tight with concern. I just grin up at him, then say, “Ron, you’re staying for breakfast, right? I’m making scrambled eggs with veggies.”

“Sounds good.”

He drums his fingers on the table for a moment as Dane pours himself a coffee and I busy myself with the food. A few minutes later, Ron turns to Dane. “I don’t suppose you’d happen to have you got one of those…what do you call ’em…temporary phones around here, would you?”

Dane blinks in shock. “A burner cell phone? Yeah, I’ve got one in the trunk. Why?”

“I need it.”

Dane throws on his boots and runs out to get it without another word, though he tosses his father an incredulous look.

Ron pins me with a glance. “Tell me, Jorie. Are you going back to Los Altos Hills and your life with those cockamamie parents of yours?”

“No. I’m going to look up massage and physiotherapy courses around Colorado.” Dane comes back inside as I continue. “Your son invited me to move in with him.”

Ron takes the phone from Dane’s hand while nodding at me. “You actually want to work for a living?”

“Of course. I want to help people. Do something positive.”

“Good. Then I’m gonna do something positive too, right now.”

“Who are you calling?” Dane asks.

“Gerald’s home office voicemail,” Ron snorts, taking the phone out to the back porch while griping about how small the buttons are.

Dane shakes his head. “Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him use a cell phone. Ever.”

For the next few minutes, we are treated to a lengthy rant through the window. In between some colorful curses I’ve never heard before, I manage to make out a few fragments.

“Nice girl like that, and you scare her to pieces? I don’t know what happened that made you so wrong in the head…”

“…she’s now under the protection of me and my son. You or any of your idiot minions come within a hundred miles of us and I’ll kick your ass so far up…”

“…I know about all the skeletons in your closet, buddy. So when it comes time for these two to get hitched, if Jorie invites you, you are going to be on your best behavior and I will be watching you like a hawk.”

Dane sets the table while I cook. Ron’s tirade finally finishes, then there’s nothing but silence. Just as I’m bringing the plates over, he comes back inside, quietly handing the phone to Dane.

All the bluster has vanished as Ron rests a hand gently on my shoulder. “Welcome to the family, Jorie. That man will not be using you or bossing you around ever again.”

“Thank you. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.”

“Me too. Thanks, Dad.” We all sink into our seats, and Dane chuckles. “Not quite the bodyguard job I was expecting, but this has been one helluva ride.”

He holds out his hand to me, and I clasp his on the table.

Ron rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I’m leaving as soon as I fuel up, don’t worry. You crazy kids can have the place all to yourselves for about two weeks, then I’m coming back to fish for a few days.”

“That’s fine.” Dane’s thumb moves gently across my hand. “We’ll be moving Jorie into my place by then.”

“Good. Let me know what I can do to help.”

“Thanks,” Dane nods. “I can ask the demo team for extra hands if we need them, too.”

“I really don’t have that much stuff,” I stammer.

“Yeah, but we’ll need a dresser for you, some nicer furniture… Mine is getting a little tired-looking, and it’s mostly boring gray. It’ll be fun to make the place nicer.”

Every time I think my heart can’t grow any fuller, it expands a bit more.

Just last month, I was turning down diamond jewelry that Mom told me to wear and a new car that Dad wanted me to drive around, especially to his office.

Yet right this second is the first time I’ve ever felt truly rich.

Rich with a real home. Rich with a wonderful man. And rich with love, safety, and endless possibilities.