Page 20 of The Forbidden Bodyguard

Stella turns, her eyes bright with interest. “I’ve never been to Australia.”

“We were there doing bilateral training. I’ve seen a bit of the world,” I tell her, glancing down and wondering if she would fit nicely under my arm. I realize there’s an easiness about being with her and I like it, but I also don’t like it. So, I keep our conversation real. “You should go.” I blink. “For your honeymoon.”

Her eyes cloud over, and she looks back across the view.

“Hmm,” Stella hums after a moment. Then turns and walks toward the door. “I’ll let you get moved in and see you in the morning.”

“Seven o’clock.” I watch her as I slide my hands into my pants pockets.

When the door closes behind her, I stare at it for the longest time.

I know it’s none of my business, and I shouldn’t have a point of view about her life, but I’m hoping she has a plan. A plan to get out of this wedding. If not, I need one to disassociate from any perspective about her going through it. Crossing the line during my first assignment with BHS is not going to pave the path to a successful career.

Proving mom right that I made the wrong move leaving the Navy is not going to help her move on. I need both of us to stay the course. A course she’s not really aware we are on.

I just want her to be happy.

Dad died when he was thirty-seven. The year I began BUD/S training to become a SEAL. I nearly left, and Mom was furious with me.

“Declan, don’t you dare. Your father wanted this for you, and you did, too. Don’t let him down.”

“I can’t make decisions for my life based on what a man who is no longer alive thinks.”

“Declan!”

Dad has always been a sensitive topic for me. I lived in his shadow after his death, whether at home or in the Navy.

Commander Sloan this.

Commander Sloan that.

Your father did this.

Your father did that.

No matter what I achieved, my father’s name came up every fucking time. Some days I wish I’d become a Marine instead.

The room comes back into focus, and I wonder for the hundredth time why Stella has agreed to marry Tony Marino.

Does she have a choice?

I know some families arrange marriages, but this one makes no sense. Not now that I have met her.

Then again, I should know there are always secrets in families, and who knows what the real reason is.

I don’t want him to touch me.

Jesus.

Replacing her father’s security tells me she isn’t happy, and I can only hope she has a plan to get out of this. I mean, she was smart enough to get an NDA drawn up, so she’s clearly not stupid.

Either way, I plan to update Ryder in the morning because my gut tells me this isn’t going to be a straightforward job.

Any SEAL will tell you, we’re trained not to ignore our instincts.

CHAPTER SIX

STELLA