The Bodyguards Sweetheart

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

   🔞MATURED THEMES AHEAD 🔞

“OH, LOOK AT YOU,” Adeline gushed, ushering them into the kitchen with effusive hugs for them both. “You are so beautiful. Rian, you better scoop up this pretty thing before someone else with more sense does.”

CoCo blushed and wondered how uncomfortable that made Rian, but when she snuck a glance at him she saw something that shocked her—contemplation—as if Adeline’s advice had struck a nerve, and her stomach trembled at the thought. No, neither of them was looking for a relationship. This was just good times and she was fine with that. Besides, it wasn’t as if either of their lifestyles was conducive to having a permanent plus one. For starters, Rian would hate her friends. He certainly didn’t have anything nice to say about Stella, not that CoCo blamed him, but it would make things awkward when she wanted to party with them. “Smells amazing,” she said, hoping to redirect the older woman.

“Oh! Yes, steaks and mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, that’s what we make around here, stuff that will stick to your ribs. Good country food. And the steaks are from our own cattle. Nothing fresher than that.”

“Have you ever had fresh milk?” Rian asked.

She surprised him with an eager nod. “We had a farmer who would deliver fresh eggs and milk every day in exchange for a new pair of shoes every six months. The farmer had a taste for fine shoes when he went out but he couldn’t afford my dad’s shoes so my dad worked out a barter with him. It suited them both.”

“That sounds like a good ol’ country arrangement between good folk,” Adeline said, approving just as Warren walked in.

The older man was spry, in good shape and hearty like most men who worked with their hands for a living. She sensed his innate integrity and felt immensely grateful to this man for giving the Dalton boys a reason to hope when they needed it the most. Unexpected tears sprang from an unknown place and she had to push them back with a sunny smile as she introduced herself. “I’m CoCo Abelli. Thank you so much for allowing me to stay while things are worked out with my father. It means so much to have a safe place to hide.”

Don’t even think about it,” he said gruffly as he took his place at the head of the table. “Bradford Ranch is a safe haven.”

She smiled with true gratitude because that’s exactly what this place felt like—a safe haven. Maybe it was because of Rian but she couldn’t imagine being anywhere but here at the moment. “Your ranch is amazing. What a beautiful piece of land you have.”

“Isn’t it, though?” Adeline agreed as she ladled mashed potatoes onto her plate. “When I first saw it, forty some years ago, I was in awe. Truth be told, I was a bit jealous of Cora and her good fortune. She managed to land the best man in all of Kentucky and she got this amazing property to tend. But no one deserved it more than Warren and Cora. Good people.”

CoCo smiled at Adeline’s open generosity and marveled at how easy she was with admitting her own faults, even if they were from forty years ago. Everything about Adeline was sweet and unassuming. It made her wish she’d been able to meet this legendary Cora, as well. It also made her miss Miss Plix all the more, which was interesting because before all this, she’d shamefully forgotten about the older woman.

“Tell me about this pickle you’re in, young lady,” Warren said, tucking into his steak. “Rian tells me your father is being threatened and the FBI are involved. Are they any closer to solving the case?”

She looked to Rian. “I don’t know. We’re removed from the investigation. Rian is keeping me safe while the FBI do their thing.”

“I talked with the agent in charge and he said they were close to finding who was responsible. I’m sure it won’t take long now.”