Her Reluctant Bodyguard (Dangerous Devotion #2)

Chapter 1

Willow

The chime rings above the door to Stems and Blooms, cutting through the faint country music playing over the sound system as I work on a birthday arrangement. The cold winter air blows in from outside as the UPS delivery person walks in, a large smile stretching across his face.

“Afternoon, ladies.”

Somewhere in the back, our part-time assistant hums along to Ella Langley, scissors snipping through stems in a steady rhythm.

My cousin, Violet, waves from behind the counter where she’s taking a phone order.

I nod, tying some gold ribbon, the satin rustling as I pull it tight before meeting Milo near the wedding display.

It’s meant to draw attention, and we change it weekly so there’s always a new, distinctive feel.

Right now, natural light shines through the shop windows at just the right angle to highlight the antique flower press that Vi’s fiancé gifted her.

With an extra pep in my step, I ask, “Are these the orchids?”

“I think so,” Milo smiles, setting the large box on the ground with a soft thud. “There are four more in the truck.” He understands, like the other regular delivery drivers, that our flowers are fragile, even though they’re packed well. “Any big plans this weekend?”

We chat about the upcoming Winterfest over in Bozeman before he brings in the other boxes.

Milo’s funny. His blonde hair and smooth skin give him a boyish charm that is endearing.

He’s probably 22 to my 28, but a girl can look, right?

I sign for the delivery, and Milo gives a mock salute as he heads out the door back into the cold Montana winter.

I am so lucky that I grew up in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Wild Ridge, Montana sits in a valley of the Silverheart Mountains along the crystal-clear Silverheart River, about 90 minutes from Bozeman and Yellowstone.

It has snow-capped mountain views everywhere you turn, even in the summer.

There’s fly-fishing, hiking, and huge night skies strewn with stars.

I grew up in this town of 40,000, although my cousin did not. She’s a Bozeman girl. Even so, both of us descend from the town’s original families. We met at the annual Ridgemont-Wilder family reunion as kids and clicked.

We’re so similar in build and temperament, you’d think we were siblings.

The only real difference is that her hair is blonde while mine is auburn.

We have the same curls, the same blue eyes, the same heart-shaped face, and the same propensity for ridiculous jokes.

I love Vi. She even trusted me enough to buy into my business and become my equal partner here at the shop.

She hangs up from the order, her hair piled on her head the same as me, and nods to the box. “Those are the orchids?”

I smile broadly, opening the box. I reach down and open the box to reveal delicate Cymbidium orchids in rich chocolate and champagne tones.

Their delicate petals and chestnut scent make my heart happy.

We ordered these special for the Winter Rodeo Kickoff, one of the largest indoor rodeos in the U.S.

The Cattlemen’s Dinner is an event for exclusive donors to meet and celebrate and kick off the rodeo season.

Each participant is responsible for getting a group of 20 donors to buy cattle from the Future Ranchers Coalition or other farming organizations at high schools around the state.

The Montana Winter Rodeo Classic is one of the largest scholarship organizations in the U.S.

, with students traveling from all over Montana to compete.

That our floral shop was chosen to create centerpieces for the dinner is huge for our business. We really have Violet’s fiancé to thank. He’s a computer genius and created a software platform that revolutionized our bridal business. That got us noticed by some big names.

“Hey, you got another email from ‘enamoredwithyou.’” Violet’s eyebrows press together, her face scrunching in concern.

“Another one? That’s three in three days.”

The first email was nice, and I didn’t pay much attention to the sender. He or she thanked me for being so attentive while helping pick out arrangements for a relative’s birthday. But the next day, the email was a little more forward.

I scoot around the counter, leaning over my cousin.

To: help@stemsandblooms

From: stillenamoredwithyou@emailservice

Willow,

You looked nice today in your red leggings. The yellow tee was a nice touch.

J-

“You’re not even wearing leggings.”

My stomach tightens, a sick feeling creeping through me. “It’s what I wore to sleep last night. I stepped outside this morning in them when I put out the trash. Maybe he or she saw me then?”

“That was only three hours ago, Will. I don’t like it. It’s weird.”

I hug my cousin, trying to shake off the ickiness. “I’m sure it’s nothing. I was pretty recognizable, right? I mean, who else would dress like Ronald McDonald to take out the garbage?” I picture the parking lot, small remnants of the last snowfall dotting the parking lot.

“You didn’t walk that far, and it close to 50°F around then. I still don’t like it. We ladies should be able to parade around in whatever leggings and shirt we want to without drawing attention.”

“Will you be home tonight?” I ask Violet, already knowing the answer.

Violet rarely stays at the condo these days, and who could blame her?

Her amazingly hot rancher fiancé lives on amazing property in a gorgeous home that he is already making plans to renovate so that it feels like their home, not his home.

“Nope. Bennett made his famous chili. Come eat with us.”

“Yum. I’m in.” My mouth waters thinking about it. Last time we were there, the whole cabin smelled like cumin and chili peppers, warm and inviting against the snow outside.

I’ve known Bennett my whole life. He’s my best friend Tiffany’s brother.

We went to high school, and he really is an all-around good guy.

About five years ago, a 750 acre ranch and built his dream home.

Circle Ridge is actually on the same the river as our condo.

I think back to when Violet first moved to Wild Ridge and how hard I worked to set them up.

A smile hits me at how my machinations worked. I knew they were meant for each other.

And just as quickly as the smile crosses my face, my heart dips a little. I can’t help but think about Bennett’s right-hand man, Cannon Sawyer. He’s gorgeous, built, and everything I could ever want in a man from his cowboy stance, scuffed boots, and sense of loyalty.

There’s chemistry between us, I know it, but he keeps his distance and has for years.

Granted, I have not spent a lot of time at Bennett’s house, but over the years I’ve seen Cannon now and again at family functions or whenever I’ve gone to the ranch.

Now that Violet’s here and is marrying Cannon’s boss, I see him more frequently, but he’s just as aloof as ever.

I really should take the hint and quit lusting after the cowboy.

But I can’t help it. He’s sexy. He smells like clean soap and mountain air, and I just know we would have the prettiest babies.

But as long as he works for Bennett, he will not do anything to cross the line between employee and employer.

It was bad enough that my bestie is his boss’s sister, but now that my cousin is his boss’s fiancée, there is zero chance Cannon will ever cross the line.

Even though the cowboy will get a certain look in his eye—his blue eyes, a certain heat, slow, labored breathing—that lets me know there’s something there.

I take the orchids to the back, removing them and placing them in the fridge, determined this time, finally, to let go of my crush on Cannon Sawyer.

Because one-sided or not, I want a family.

I want a husband. I want kids. I want the whole thing.

And waiting around for Cannon isn’t going to get me anywhere closer to the other things my heart wants.