Daddy's Angel (Montana Daddies 7)

“Dominic and Bain work for JSI. They are both ex-Navy SEALs. There is no one better than them.”

The father’s gaze flicked to him for the first time. “JSI, huh? They work for Kent Jensen?”

“Yes,” Arianna said slowly, as though uncertain at her father’s change of tune. He didn’t like it either.

“JSI? Never heard of them,” her mother said snootily. “Larry wanted to hire that dead actress’s bodyguard. He would have been far better suited to deal with Arianna.”

Deal with her? Were these people for real?

“I think he looks just fine,” the sister said. “If Arianna no longer needs him, I’ll take him.”

“What? Of course, I need him,” Arianna said. “Why are you here, Gabrielle? I thought you were in San Francisco with Julian.”

The sister waved her hand. “I ended things. He was so demanding. I’m now free again.” She licked her lips while staring at Bain.

Something in Arianna’s façade cracked and she shifted around on the chair. “Bain is mine.”

“Yours?” her mother snapped. “What do you mean by that? You can’t be involved with him, surely, Arianna?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“He’s an employee.” Her mother held a hand to her chest. “A bodyguard. We raised you better than that.”

What the fuck? First of all, they hadn’t raised her. And secondly, were they saying he wasn’t good enough for her? These people were unfucking believable.

“What I do is none of your business.”

The mother’s mouth dropped open. Then she turned to her husband. “Frederick, say something.”

“Arianna, you cannot and will not get involved with your bodyguard. That’s just. . .that’s. . .”

“Trashy,” her mother replied.

Arianna turned to Bain and that blankness in her gaze hit him hard. The need to protect her, to wrap her up in safety and love slammed into him.

“Bain, maybe you should—”

“I’m not going anywhere.” He stepped closer and put his hand on her shoulder. It was then he could feel the fine tremor running through her body. It wasn’t visible in the way she held herself. But it was there. This was affecting her far more than she was letting on.

“I’ll have your job for this!” Her father leaped to his feet. “You cannot sleep with a client.”

“Arianna isn’t a client. I’m not being paid by JSI to guard her,” Bain said in a low voice. “If you’re only here to berate your daughter, then it’s time you left.”

Arianna placed her hand on his and squeezed.

“Arianna, this is completely unacceptable,” her mother said. ?

?Think of our reputation. Your father is a respected businessman. We cannot have you slutting around with the help.”

“Oh, leave her alone,” her sister spoke up surprisingly. “So she wants to fuck the bodyguard. Look at him, who wouldn’t? It’s not like she’s gonna marry him. Even though she’s weird, she still has needs. Truthfully, I was starting to think you were a lesbian, sis.”

“Gabrielle!” her mother protested.

“What? Ari’s always been weird. She never had any friends. Just that stuck-up asshole that lived next door and that weird little kid who belonged to one of the maids.”

“Frederick!”

Arianna’s father ran his hand over his face. “I told you it was a mistake to bring Gabrielle. You’re the one who insisted she come.”