“So you were thinking ahead. You kept it to yourself to protect us?”
“I did. A strange way to go about it, but the only way that seemed to make sense at the time.”
“You are incredible,” I say.
“You’re incredible.”
“So we made a baby just from that first time?”
“We both felt it, right? It was meant to be.”
“And having a family together is meant to be. But wait…how do you know it’s going to be a boy?”
“Boy or girl, it doesn’t matter. We’ll get them out there learning about cars.”
“And if he or she isn’t interested?”
“Well you know we’re going to be making a lot more,” I say.
“Making or having?” I ask.
“You’re an artist so I went with making,” she winks.
“And speaking of making, how about another love making session?”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“Maybe we’ll have twins,” I say. “Axel and Gage!”
“Maybe you should leave the naming to me,” I joke.
“You don’t like those names?”
She pauses for a second. “You know what…actually I do. They’re a perfect fit for you and for us.”
“Only my perfect woman would let me name my children with car related names.”
“And if it’s a girl we can go with Mercedes?”
“Definitely better than G-Wagon,” I joke.
“And my dad’s never going to see a G-Wagon…granddaughter or the real thing.”
I laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“Well, I had a surprise yesterday. You had one today. I’ve got another one when we get back.”
“Oh?”
“Your father is going to get that G-Wagon he’s always wanted. And I’m going to give it a custom job just for him. I’ve been paying attention to the things he likes and I have the perfect hot idea to make a one of a kind one for him.”
“Just like you,” she says. “One of a kind.”
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Statham
Ten years later
“How’s it coming along, buddy?”
My oldest son doesn’t even hear me. He’s too engulfed in his work.
“Jack? Earth to Jack?”
“Oh hi, dad. Sorry, I was—“
“Repairing that carburetor. I checked the Maserati. Nice work!”
“Thanks. Do you think they’ll know a ten-year-old did it?”
“That’s the best part. You know our clients don’t judge. They just want top quality work, and you are definitely delivering that.”
I give my oldest son a fist bump and walk out of the garage and into the house.
A lot has changed over the last ten years. We moved the shop and put the house on the same property. We keep it detached so we can separate family life and business life.
“What’s cookin’, good lookin’,” I ask, as I wrap my pregnant wife up from behind and give her a big kiss on the back of her head.
“Grilled fish tacos. Your favorite.”
“Even better than fish and chips,” I say. “You sure know what to make just when I’m thinking about it.”
“Tu stomach es me stomach,” she says.
“We need to work on our Spanish,” I say.
“Together,” she says.
“Is there any other way?”
“Never.”
“Speaking of Spanish, let me see how Julia’s doing.”
I walk up the stairs.
“Knock. Knock,” I say.
“Hi dad. Come in.”
“How’s the school work coming along?”
“Todo bien,” she says.
“Your mom and I might need you to tutor us if you have time.”
“I always have time for you and mom, dad,” she says.
She gets up out of her chair and runs to give me a hug, but I’m too quick.
I scoop her up and lift her off the ground, putting a big smile on her face.
“Woooo,” she says, as I swing her around her room.
“Ruff!” our retriever Goldie barks.
“Ruff is right,” I say.
I set Julia down and we both give her a hug.
“Julia, did you know if it wasn’t for Goldie’s mother you wouldn’t have a mother?”
“Huh?” she says.
“It’s true,” I say. “Her mom stole your mom’s glove and that’s how it all started.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Want me to tell you the story?”
“Yes!” she says jumping up and down clapping.
“Once upon a time long, long ago there was this beautiful princess named your mom.”
Julia laughs. “That’s not her name.”
“It is for you,” I wink.
And I don’t even go by Statham anymore. All I hear is dad, and it’s the best name a man could ever be called.
But I wouldn’t have learned it without her. Without Julia’s mom, Isla.
The woman who taught me to trust, to love, and to live the life I never even knew was possible.
And that’s the biggest lesson I ever learned. Anything is possible with her.
My love. My life. My everything.
BODYGUARD
When I win the contract to protect an unknown VIP, I’m expecting a quick pile of cash for what amounts to making sure some pampered celebrity doesn’t get sunburnt or eat too much lobster during one of their multi-million dollar weekends of excess.
Then she shows up.
Nobody told me it was going to be the President’s daughter…the secret one he doesn’t want anyone to know about.
And nobody told him I’m the one in charge of protecting her. Remember me, Mister President? I’m the guy you personally kicked off your Secret Service security detail for an infraction that I didn’t commit.
If I decline the job now I’ll never be able to work again.
But if I agree, I have to protect her...the girl who fell hard for me four years ago. I thought of her as a bratty little sister back then. She thought of me as her personal protector who she could cuddle up to whenever she wanted...no matter how inappropriate.
But she’s not an eighteen-year-old kid anymore. She’s twenty-two now, and she’s grown up in more ways than one. I’m only supposed to keep an eye on her, but I can’t stop staring. She’s beyond beautiful and this bodyguard’s got it bad for her.
I’m supposed to be protecting her, but who’s going to protect me...from myself?
And when the bad guys do come a-knockin’, I have to make the biggest choice of all. Do I follow my sworn oath to the country and protect the President of the United States, or the daughter he doesn’t even want…but I do more than anything else in the world?
I’m dangerously close to losing my job, my reputation, and even my life. But a life without her is no life at all. I’ll lay it all on the line to show the woman of my dreams that I’m a man who knows what he wants and that’s only one thing…her.
*Bodyguard is an insta-everything standalone romance with an HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger.
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Statham_An Older Man Younger Woman, Mechanic Romance Page 6