Read Online Bodyguard's Baby Surprise by LISA CHILDS - Free Book Online

after they’d tried to pull her into the car, she couldn’t deny it or pretend it was all a misunderstanding anymore. She was in danger.
    â€œI can bring you home with me,” Candace said. “Garek and I have a great security setup. You’d be safe. But I need to check in at Payne Protection first. See what the plan is.”
    â€œI haven’t hired Payne Protection,” Annalise said.
    Candace chuckled. “You don’t hire family.”
    â€œI’m not a Payne.” And neither was Nick—at least, not legally.
    Candace glanced over again, but at Annalise’s belly—like she suspected that she carried one of them. “Your last name doesn’t have to be Payne to be part of the family.”
    Annalise opened her mouth to argue, but Candace continued, “Your brother works for Payne Protection. And every bodyguard becomes part of the family.”
    She needed her brother. But Cooper was right. She couldn’t risk upsetting Gage now. He had already been through too much. And if she tried going home alone and something happened to her...
    She shuddered. She couldn’t risk that for Gage or for her baby. She had to accept help from the Paynes.
    â€œOkay,” she agreed. “But can we stop somewhere first so I can pick up some things? I need clothes and toiletries.” Her overnight bag had been stolen with her car.
    Candace glanced into the rearview mirror and nodded. “I haven’t noticed anyone following us. It should be safe.” A few miles farther, she pulled into the parking lot of a department store. “This should have everything you need.”
    It wouldn’t have Nick. She’d once thought he was everything she needed. But Nick would never be there for her the way she needed him. He could be physically present even when he was injured, but she doubted he would ever be emotionally available. He’d shut off his emotions long ago, when he was a kid.
    And now he wasn’t even physically around. He’d run off, leaving her to the protection of the Paynes. At least she could trust them.
    As she reached for the door handle, Candace cursed.
    Annalise’s hand trembled. She recognized the frustration and fear in that one word. “What?”
    â€œI was wrong. We were being followed.” And she reached for her gun.

Chapter 6
    W hat the hell had he agreed to? Sure, Nick wanted to work for Payne Protection. He had actually been thinking about it for a while—had been thinking about how bodyguards protected people. Nick usually just put them in danger.
    Was that why someone was after Annalise? Was it his fault?
    It had to be. Annalise was too sweet and honest to have angered anyone enough to go after her. But someone was after her.
    He’d been too late getting back to the hospital. The Payne Protection SUV had already been pulling away from the lobby doors—with Annalise in the passenger seat and Candace driving. He’d pulled out behind them, but his hadn’t been the only vehicle.
    It wasn’t Annalise’s small SUV. That would have been too conspicuous with its shot-out windows and bullet-ridden metal. That must have been ditched somewhere—for a rental with an Illinois plate. It was a nondescript sedan, something he might not have noticed if not for the plate and the fact that it stayed behind Candace’s SUV.
    Why hadn’t she waited for him at the hospital?
    Because Logan was giving the orders. He was the boss. Why the hell had Nick agreed to that?
    He would do anything to keep Annalise safe...
    He’d thought Candace would, too. But instead of heading toward the Payne Protection Agency, she pulled off into the parking lot of a busy department store. Maybe that was smart, though.
    Whoever else was following her might not try anything here. But then, he and his partner hadn’t hesitated to open fire in a hospital parking garage. What would stop him now?
    Nick .
    Maybe he was wrong.