Bodyguard Daddy Read Free Page A

eaten. She wouldn’t expose the children for whom she made the bears to choking hazards. A jewelry designer by trade, Stacy only made the bears for family.
    For her children.
    And for her nephews and nieces. It was hard to make the bears now without thinking of the first one she’d made—for her first nephew. Michael was gone now. Maybe he’d been clutching the bear in those final moments—before the flames had consumed him. Maybe it had given him some comfort.
    Strong arms slid around her, offering her comfort. “I don’t know why you keep putting yourself through this,” a deep voice murmured. Warm breath caressed the side of her face before lips skimmed over it.
    She trembled again—for another reason entirely. Her husband’s touch never failed to excite her. “I always make them for the babies.”
    “Yes, you’ve already made them for all the babies who’ve been born,” Logan said. “You don’t need to make another one.”
    “Garek—”
    His deep laugh interrupted her. “Garek and Candace have just gotten married. And those two aren’t likely to ever have children.”
    “Why not?” she asked. “Nobody thought they were likely to ever get married, either.” But they had. On Christmas. Tears stung her eyes as she remembered how beautiful the wedding had been. At least one of her brothers was happy now.
    “Hey,” he said as he caught the hint of tears she fought. “I’m sure you’re right. You’re always right. I never noticed how those two felt about each other. But you knew.”
    She had known how Garek and Candace felt about each other. How had she not known how Milek had felt about Amber? She’d believed her friend—believed that Milek had broken their engagement because he hadn’t really loved her. When Amber died, Stacy had realized how wrong she’d been—when she’d seen how devastated Milek had been. That devastation had lasted the whole past year. But he was getting better now.
    Or maybe that was just what she wanted to see. He didn’t seem as depressed or angry. He just seemed edgy; something was still bothering him. But she dared not push him. He’d only just begun to talk to her again.
    “What’s wrong?” Logan asked. And he turned her in his arms, holding her closely. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
    She wanted to say nothing. She wanted to be completely happy. But that happiness brought her guilt—that she could be happy when Milek was still miserable—when her best friend was dead. But she was happy. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m not making this bear for Garek and Candace.”
    She wouldn’t dare presume. She and Candace had only recently forged a friendship and Stacy didn’t want to risk losing another friend.
    Logan arched a dark brow over one of his sparkling blue eyes. “Then who...?”
    She let the happiness out then with a smile. “We are.”
    Logan let out a whoop. Lifting her in his arms, he swung her around the workshop he’d converted from a spare bedroom in their house. With another baby on the way, they might need to convert it back or buy a bigger house.
    She wouldn’t worry about that yet. She didn’t even have to worry about coming up with a name. They had already agreed what the name would be for their next child. It had been too soon when their little Penny was born, her grief too fresh. But Stacy was ready now.
    If they had another girl, they would name her Amber. And if the baby was a boy, Michael...
    * * *
    “Mommy, I’m not sick,” Mason protested from the backseat of the minivan that belonged to Heather Ames.
    Stopped at a light, she turned back toward him with a weak smile as she drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. The light needed to turn green. Now. “I know, honey.”
    “Then why did you get me from school so early?”
    He had been in class only a couple of hours when she came for him.
    “Because we need to leave...” she murmured as she turned back to study the long red light.
    “School?”
    The light