More Than Paradise: A Watchdog Security Novel Book 4 by Olivia Michaels

Author:Olivia Michaels [Michaels, Olivia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Falcon in Hand Publishing
Published: 2021-06-21T16:00:00+00:00

Eighteen

For the next few days, Costello did everything he could not to get too close to Jordan whenever Daphne was around. At least John Charles was back to leaving Eden House and going in to work, insisting he didn’t need a ‘babysitter’ to accompany him.

Costello smiled to himself. Gina made a great babysitter.

Daphne announced she had plans in town and had left that morning, taking with her the oppressive atmosphere that had grown since she’d attempted to seduce Costello. Jordan sat at her favorite table with her sketchbook and her phone. When Costello was sure Daphne was out of earshot, he approached her.

“Good morning,” he said, unable to keep the smile off his face. She looked radiant in the morning sun streaming through the window behind her, the backlight limning her hair like a halo, the same way it had that first afternoon. She was hard at work on something in her sketchbook, writing instead of drawing, but she still looked up quickly and returned a smile full of happiness.

“Good morning, yourself.” Her smile turned languid and Costello had a hard time controlling himself. She lowered her voice. “Are we playing hide and seek again? From my mom?”

Hide and seek. It jolted him inside every time she said that. He was on the verge of mentioning it when she turned her sketchbook around and proudly displayed it. “Look what I’ve been doing.”

He picked up the sketchbook and read down the list of names and organizations, some with check marks next to them. She’d listed the mayor of Malibu and a couple of council members, a woman in charge of a kids’ day camp, the head of a nearby food pantry, and the local chapter of the veterans’ association. And at the bottom of the list were two words: Elliot’s friends.

“I’ve contacted the ones with checkmarks next to them already. But I could use a little help when it comes to inviting your friends.”

“What about your friends? That’s the one thing I don’t see on here.”

Jordan shrugged. “I don’t…have that many. And the ones I do have are across the ocean.”

Costello’s heart clenched for her. She’d grown up as lonely as he did, but had yet to find her true family like he had. Well, he could help her with that. “In that case, get ready to make friends. I’ll let them know at Watchdog that you would like to extend the invitation to your event to them, though most of the guys will actually be working security for the party already.”

Jordan covered her mouth. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“It’s okay. It’s what they do, what we do. Even off-duty we’re still on-duty. Always on alert to protect our loved ones.” He relished the color that rose in her cheeks. “Tell you what. I’ll write my friends’ names down here, but I’ll do the contacting. Easier that way.” He had an idea. “Have you arranged the food yet?”

“Um, no I haven’t.” She looked distressed. “I’ve never thrown a party before.”

Costello grinned. “Eh, me neither.

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