Page 13 of The Bodyguard's Fall

The voice came from Tom, the head of the Walker clan, who stood up from the table, wearing a flannel shirt, jeans, and a smile.

He shook Will’s hand first, a playful expression on his face.

“Before you come any closer, you’re not planning to streak around the yard this morning, right? I’ll have to give everyone a warning first.”

Will grinned. “That’s only if Tate does more pushups than me. That’s not likely to happen.”

Tom’s eyes crinkled in the most pleasant way when he laughed. His hair, once a thick brown, had turned white, though much of the stubble that lined his face was still dark. He had a natural easiness about him, similar to his wife, though Tom, by nature, was loud and robust in contrast to Ann’s quiet presence.

Tom turned to me, taking me in, his eyes warm and kind. “I can see why this one has men causing trouble just to get to her.” He pulled me into a side hug. I wasn’t sure what he saw besides an oversized sweatshirt and messy blonde hair hiding under a hat because it desperately needed a wash, but I squeezed him back.

“It’s not for her personality, that’s for sure,” Will quipped.

I scowled at him, causing Ann and Tom to chuckle.

“Thank you for having me. I’m so sorry he’s put you all up to this.” I pointed at Will, happily throwing him under the bus while he strode over to the table to greet Jaxon and Luke.

“Glad to have you.” Tom smiled and folded his arms. “The only problem is, I’ve got too many unmarried boys sniffing in and out of here all day long. It might not be much safer for you here.”

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’m off the market,” came a male voice from behind.

I turned to find Jaxon Walker making his way over to me, the same charming grin on his face as Tom’s. He had grown up in the years since I’d seen him last. He had always been a bit of a wanderlust, but now, his eyes seemed settled. Happy. And I was sure that had everything to do with his beautiful fiancée, Landrie. He gave me a hug while I inhaled what I assumed a GQ model would smell like.

“Hey, Jax.” I smiled up at my old friend. “You smell more expensive than you used to.”

He sighed. “Landrie’s got me on a tight leash. She buys me cologne, makes me shower all the time⁠—”

“Makes out with you a lot,” came the wry reply from the youngest Walker, Luke, still sitting at the table. He grinned over at me.

“The making out does help,” Jaxon said before he cleared his throat and folded his arms. “Alright. What’s this guy’s name and social security number? Maybe we can take care of this today. There are some things we can do that cops just can’t.” He lifted his eyebrows and turned to Will expectantly.

“If we knew that, we wouldn’t be here,” Will replied. “I’m hoping we’ll get him this week.”

“How are the wedding plans coming along?” I asked Jaxon, not wanting thoughts of Leroy to burst our happy reunion.

His fiancée, Landrie Langford, was my good friend Ari’s little sister. She was younger than me but one of those types that everyone in town knew. She had been a beauty queen, multi-talented, always volunteering…the type of girl you wanted to hate but couldn’t because she was just so genuinely nice, with a wide, sunshine smile to boot. Together, she and Jaxon were certified Autumn Ridge gold.

“It’s going great. But I was happy to go to work today, so I wouldn’t have to pick out bouquets or whatever it was on her list.”

I laughed while he nodded toward Tom. “So now my dad can use me as free labor.” He said the last few words aloud while his dad nodded along enthusiastically.

“Do you remember Luke?” Ann asked, motioning toward her youngest son sitting at the table.

Luke had been too young for me to know well. But there was something cheeky about him that I’d always liked. He sported his dad’s mischievous smile and his mom’s soft brown eyes. His hair was lighter up top than his brothers, with a few curls that gave him just the right amount of rascal in his overall appearance.

“It’s been a while, but I remember hearing plenty of stories about him,” I said, giving him a friendly wave.

His eyes shot upward, and with an impish smile, he said, “Hopefully not all of them.”

Ann rolled her eyes heavenward. “I promise, Liv, they are good, hard-working boys, but when the workday’s over…I can’t keep track of them anymore. They’ve got too much of their dad in them.”

“What?! They’re not even close to as good-looking as me,” Tom laughed and pulled his wife in close by the shoulders.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Will check his watch.

“Where’s…” he trailed off when I looked at him.

“Ben?” Tom asked. “He lives in town, but he usually sneaks over for some breakfast.”