Page 31 of The Bodyguard's Fall

She sighed again, her only line of defense on a phone call.

“Good. And remember, no murder, no bodies. This is sweet, fluffy romance.”

Ah…yes.

If she wanted to leave me feeling inspired, she really took a dark turn there at the end.

Plot Twist:

Overbearing, unsympathetic big-city bosses are a real thing.

When I walked into the kitchen a few minutes later, both Tate and Tom were hovering over the kitchen sink, wolfing down what looked like hunks of steaming pumpkin bread. Ann was standing by the oven, wearing an apron and checking another loaf she’d just taken out.

Both men looked up when I entered, but it was Tom who motioned me closer.

“You gotta try this stuff, Liv. Nobody makes pumpkin bread like Ann. But she’s got me on all sorts of diets, so I can only have it once a year.”

Ann turned around from her spot at the oven, hands on her hips. “I don’t either. I just made some two weeks ago.”

He tore off another piece and stuck it in his mouth, eyes twinkling as he protested, “You gave half of it away to the neighbors.”

Ann looked at me in solidarity as she handed me a small plate holding a thick slice of warm pumpkin bread stuffed full of gooey chocolate chips sprinkled throughout.

“Since you’re probably the only civilized person in this house, you get a slice on a plate.”

Tom’s mouth dropped open as he eyed my baked goods. “Wait. You gave the new girl the one with the chocolate?”

“I gave your son a piece too.”

Tom whipped around to look at Tate’s piece while Ann laughed and pushed him toward the door.

“You hush! She’s going to think you’re serious. Go outside and watch your cholesterol.”

I laughed and took a bite, well aware of three Walkers staring at me as I did so. The second the warm spices hit my mouth, I melted into a gooey pile of mush. By the time the soft chocolate hit my tongue, I was done for.

Tom’s eyes twinkled as he looked at me. “Told ya.”

“This is amazing,” I told Ann, the one thing I could get out before I shoved another bite into my mouth.

I found myself jealous of this family once more. Of the life Tate had lived. He had two parents clearly in love and a mom who baked bread that smelled like cinnamon and filled the entire house with such a feeling of comfort that it almost ached. How was it possible that people like Leroy existed while living in a home like this?

Tom didn’t leave right away. Instead, he brushed off his crumbs and paused at the door to kiss his wife.

“Well, I’ve got good news and bad news for you both,” Tom began.

We both looked at him warily.

“The good news is, I’ve got lots of errands that need running today. The bad news is, Luke was supposed to do it, but he took off in your swather instead.”

“Why?” Tate asked, his arms folded.

“In his own words”—Tom lifted his hands in air quotes—“he wanted to give the two lovebirds some time in town to practice their dating skills.”

At our startled faces, he only grinned. “Might not be a bad idea.” He chuckled as he turned to go. “I left you a list of places I need you to go and what I need picked up. It’s on the counter. Have fun, you two.”

Will: What are you up to today?

Tate: Taking your sister out on a hot date.