Page 4 of Road Trip with Her Bodyguard (Love Along Route 14 #9)

DANE

I couldn’t tell you when I’ve had a better breakfast. I think it’s mainly the company. Once we get chatting about music, movies, and – strangely – the best museum exhibits we’ve ever seen, the conversation simply flows.

Jorie has a unique perspective on many things, and her desire to learn is amazing.

I wondered at first if the fact that she’s twenty-one and I’m thirty-three would be a problem, but she’s very well-read and well-educated.

Grounded. She just happened to be born into an odd family. I know something about that myself.

We start driving west. About twenty minutes later she asks, “How far is Heartstone?”

“If I floored it and didn’t take breaks, just under nine hours. But we’re going to take our time and enjoy the day.”

She’s staring at me like I’m nuts. “Are you seriously okay driving that long?”

I chuckle. “Of course! I’m from a road trip family. We would always just pick somewhere bizarre and make a day of the trip itself. That’s the secret – you’re not driving to reach your destination as quickly as possible. The drive itself is the fun part.”

“Hmm.” She hesitates. “My father always has a driver, a private jet?—”

“A helicopter standing by?”

She laughs. “Well…yeah. He’s ridiculous.” Her face turns serious. “And it’s all for show. I swear, for every three dollars he makes, one is spent just demonstrating to everyone how rich he is.” I glance over as she shudders. “It’s so tacky it gives me the creeps.”

I ease up on the gas, giving a big rig more space to merge smoothly.

“Yeah, I’ve read about your dad. Crazy tech this, companies merging and splitting and share prices that.

Whatever. When it comes down to it, he must be up to something that’s a little off if assholes are threatening his family.

And he’s so focused on his job that he needs to hire someone else to protect his daughter? That…doesn’t feel right.”

Wow . I look over, expecting to see Jorie wide-eyed and horrified. Instead, she’s laughing so hard she’s almost crying.

“I know I’m supposed to defend him,” she sputters, “but he’s beyond useless in the real world. He doesn’t even know how to put simple bookshelves together. His idea of helping was carrying the pieces up the stairs, then bringing me coffee and staying out of my way.”

My hand darts out to squeeze hers. “I like that you’re so practical.”

By the time we reach the state line, it’s official: I’m already falling for this incredible girl. So I would never want to upset her, but it’s also time to get down to business.

“Jorie, I hate to say this, but it’s time to go over the rules, since we’ll be passing through some larger towns.” I turn off the highway, driving toward a small restaurant I’ve been to a dozen times.

“Let me guess.” She smiles softly. “Always let you know where I am, avoid cameras, don’t even think about going into the trunk for my phone, and try to blend in?”

“That’s a great start, yes.” I pull into the restaurant parking lot, turn off the car, then slide off my seatbelt so I can face her.

“I don’t want to say this because it’s going to sound…

asshole-y. But on the one in a million chance something does happen, and I bark a command at you, you need to obey immediately, okay? ”

For the first time, there’s a touch of real fear in her eyes. I hate it. “What kind of command?”

“Like…dive under a table. Lock yourself in a closet. Jump into the back seat and keep your head down.”

I take her hand, threading our fingers together. “Honestly, I think that your father is being overdramatic. I doubt anyone is coming after you with any kind of seriousness or skill. But as your bodyguard, I have to be thorough.”

She stares down at our entwined fingers. “My friend Alyssa was kidnapped last year. Her dad was into some really shady stuff, and crossed the wrong people.”

My heart sinks. “Was she okay?”

Jorie’s bottom lip begins to wobble. I leap out of the car, coming around to her side to pull her out and into my arms. “Tell me what happened,” I murmur into her ear, pressing her entire body against mine. I need her to know I’m solid. Dedicated. A shield between her and any harm.

“Physically, she was all right. Just a couple of bruises on her wrists from the handcuffs they put her in. But she just…” A shiver runs through her. “It was like the light went out of her for a long time.”

“Where did they nab her?”

Her chin lifts, eyes meeting mine. “At college. Her parents told her to stay home that day but she went anyway, because there was a guy she liked and she was positive he was going to ask her out after class.”

“So she was precisely where they expected her to be.” I nod toward the restaurant. Through the huge glass window, I can see various farmers and townspeople. “Do you think any of these people care who you are? Or know who your father is?”

“No. You’re right.”

“Places like this might have a single security camera by the back door. But they don’t have a live feed that goes anywhere.

” The heel of my palm gently rubs up and down her spine slowly.

“You’re always photographed in beautiful hotels and at your friends’ lavish homes.

If anyone is after you, that’s where they’re looking. ”

“Thank you.”

“The only trouble is people taking photos constantly for social media. We just need to avoid anyone like that in case we get in the background. If we do see someone, we have to act like a couple. It’s a basic human instinct to give people privacy if they’re being…”

There’s a flash of realization in her eyes, followed by an adorable smirk. “ Close ?”

“Yes.” My hand continues moving along her back, as the other drifts around to caress her hip gently. “So… If I have to do something like this, will you forgive me?”

She nods, her breath hitching. “If a camera is really nearby, how do we block our faces?”

A flash of heat runs through me. I don’t think she’s being coy.

“Well, the fastest way to block a woman’s face is with your own.” My hand darts up to brush her hair away, my thumb gently skimming along her cheekbone. My voice is a breathy whisper. “Should I show you right now…for practice?”

She’s already nodding, stretching up toward me. As our lips meet, I’m flooded with an overwhelming sense of…lust, of course. Just holding her like this is making me hard as a rock. But there’s something else there that’s deeply wholesome. Like coming home after a long trip.

The kiss deepens, her fingers gripping the shoulders of my t-shirt, her soft lips moving against mine tentatively. A deep shudder runs through me. It’s obvious this is Jorie’s first full body kiss. Which means…

No. I can’t even think about that.

If I’m going to be this gorgeous, sexy woman’s bodyguard, then I need to guard her completely – even from myself.

But how can I possibly resist her?