Guardian For Hire: A For Hire Novel

by Christine Bell

  “Maddy thought you’d like green, but we can change it no problem,” Gavin murmured from the far corner of the room, the apprehension in his voice making her already-weak knees even weaker.

  “Green is beautiful. Perfect,” she whispered, meeting his gaze and blinking back the tears. She made her way across the room and threw herself into his strong, waiting arms. “Is this all for me?” she asked, trying to keep the tremor from her voice. The idea that he’d gone to this much trouble to make sure she had a space that felt like her own made everything feel so much more real…so much more permanent and solid. She hadn’t realized how much she’d needed that until she walked through the door.

  He circled her waist and squeezed her tight, then lifted her until they were nose to nose. “Of course it is. But first, I need to tell you I have missed you so fucking much, I could barely stand myself.” He pressed his lips against hers in a kiss that rocked her socks. By the time she came up for air and he set her back on her feet, the room was spinning. “Welcome home, Doc.”

  She swallowed hard and got her bearings, turning again to take in the full effect of his amazing and thoughtful gift. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that the front wall had been almost entirely scooped out, and a gigantic walnut bookcase had been set in. It was brimming with hundreds of paperbacks. She stepped toward it, scanning the titles. The Pirate’s Brazen Wench. Deceiving the Count. Reluctant Captive. They were all romance novels, and her favorite kind. A fat, butter-soft chair next to a squat lamp was right next to the shelf, with all the books within easy reach.

  “I-I don’t know what to say,” she said, shaking her head, willing the stinging in her eyes to go away. If she started crying again, there’d be no stopping her. How could this giant slab of a man, so tough, so hard, be so amazingly sweet? It never ceased to amaze her.

  “Say you love it,” he urged, stepping behind her and tugging her hair gently to get her to turn around. “Say you love me.”

  “I love you. God, you know I do.” She faced him, stretching onto her tiptoes for another kiss, but the apprehension on his face stopped her cold. “What? What is it?” Her stomach jumped and did a shimmy as he pulled away from her. Surely, he wouldn’t go to all this trouble just to tell her he’d changed his mind, or—

  “I’m glad because—” He reached a hand into his pocket and pulled out a tiny box before sinking low in front of her.

  Holy shit. “Holy shit,” she muttered, her mouth going bone-dry as the breath sawed in and out of her lungs in panicked gasps. Was this seriously happening?

  Gavin laughed and took her hand. She wasn’t sure which one of them was shaking, but it didn’t matter. She dropped to her knees next to him a second later when her legs couldn’t hold her.

  “That’s not how this is supposed to go, love,” he said, his tone gentle. He brushed the hair away from her face, and she shrugged helplessly.

  “I don’t really care about how it’s supposed to go. I just want to be next to you.”

  “That’s what I want, too. Now and forever.” He cracked open the box and a gorgeous cushion-cut diamond winked up at her. “Sarabeth?”

  She swallowed hard, willing moisture to her mouth with everything she had. “Yes?” she finally managed to squeeze out.

  “I’ve spent my whole life thinking I wasn’t worth loving. Then I met you.” His voice grew husky and with it, the brogue that was barely a trace most of the time thickened. “And suddenly, everything changed. You made me want to be worthy of that love. You made me want to be worthy of you.”

  “You are. You always have been,” she insisted, trying to quiet the sound of the blood rushing in her ears.

  “I love you for saying that, and I’m just now starting to believe you. So, before you change your mind, I need to know.” He took her hand and held it in his own and this time, the two of them were steady as a rock. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  She didn’t hesitate. She yanked her hand away and launched herself at him, knocking him back onto the plush cream carpet, eliciting an exaggerated ooph from him.

  “Yes,” she said, peppering his face with kisses. “Yes, yes, yes!”

  His chuckles warmed her from head to toe, and he closed his arms around her tight. “I’m so glad to hear that, because I told Maddy my plan and she already called dibs on the best man slot and bought a tux. I think she’d be heartbroken if she had to take it back.”

  “Well, we can’t disappoint her, can we?”

  “Not if we want to live to tell the tale,” he agreed through his laughter. He gaze never left hers as the smile on his face slowly faded, but the joy in his eyes remained.

  “I’m the luckiest man in the world and believe me, I know it, Doc.” He paused to gently run his thumb over her bottom lip. “It’s me and you, together forever, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying to make you as happy as you make me.”

  “You already have, Gavin.” She stared into the eyes of the man she loved and let the magic of the moment wash over her. “You already have.”

  About the Author

  Christine Bell is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and one-half of the happiest couple in the world. She and her handsome hubby currently reside in Pennsylvania with a four-pack of teenage boys and their two dogs, Gimli and Pug. If she gets time off from her duties as maid, chef, chauffeur, or therapist, she can be found reading just about anything she can get her hands on, from young adult novels to books on poker theory. She doesn’t like root beer, clowns, or bugs (except ladybugs, on account of their cute outfits), but lurrves chocolate, going to the movies, the New York Giants, and playing Texas Hold’em. Writing is her passion, but if she had to pick another occupation, she would be a pirate…or, like, a ninja, maybe. She loves writing fun and adventure-filled romance stories, but also hopes to one day publish something her dad can read without wanting to dig his eyes out with rusty spoons.

  Christine loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted through her website, www.christine-bell.com or on Twitter under the handle @_ChristineBell.

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