Page 84 of Vanessa’s Bravery

“You’ve already thanked me for that earlier,” Cole interrupted.

“It’s not about that. It’s about an offer I have for you.”

Cole raised his eyebrows. “Yes?”

“We would like you to join us here at Scanguards. I understand that you have your own company, and maybe you don’t have the time or the interest—”

“The company runs itself,” Cole said quickly. He wasn’t really needed for the day-to-day. And if he was honest, what he’d done today had been exciting despite the danger they’d all been in. The thought of being part of Scanguards definitely piqued his interest.

Gabriel grinned, and Samson continued, “While I would love for you to use your skills by working in logistics, there’s something we require from all of our team members before that can happen.”

Curious, Cole looked at Samson. Was he asking him if he wanted to be turned into a vampire? “Samson, if it means for me to become a—”

“A bodyguard,” Samson interrupted.

“A bodyguard?” Cole let out a relieved laugh. “Fuck, yeah, sure. I thought you wanted me to become a vampire, but I don’t want that…”

He caught Samson’s and Gabriel’s glances. Had he just insulted them? That wasn’t his intention. “Not that I wouldn’t be honored,” he added quickly.

Gabriel stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “My daughter would stake me personally if we turned you into a vampire.”

“I would do it, really, if it was the only way to be with Vanessa,” Cole assured him, “but she mentioned that a vampire’s mate can live just as long…”

Gabriel smirked. “I’m glad she explained that to you. And I’m sure you know that she enjoys drinking your blood. I have no intention of robbing her of that if that’s also what you want.”

“She told you that?” He felt a little embarrassed to be talking about this with his future father-in-law.

“She doesn’t have to. I can see it.”

Cole acknowledged Gabriel’s words with a nod.

Samson grinned. “But we would like you to undergo our bodyguard training.”

“You would do that?” Cole asked, excited. “I would love to learn skills that can help me protect her.”

“Protect me?” Vanessa’s soft voice came from behind him. She put her arm around his waist and stepped next to him. There was a sparkle in her eyes when she looked at him. “I thought I was the one meant to protect you.”

“I believe today I was the one protecting you,” he said meeting her gaze with a smirk. “Not that I’m looking for a thank you or anything.”

Vanessa beamed at him, but before she could say anything, Gabriel interrupted. “I think that’s our cue to leave these two alone, Samson.”

“You’re right about that,” Samson replied. “So, we’re in agreement?” He extended his hand to Cole, and he shook it without hesitation.

“Yes!”

“Welcome to the team, Cole.”

“Thank you. Both of you.”

As they disappeared in the crowd of Scanguards employees and family members, Cole turned to Vanessa. “How about a dance as a thank you for your rescuer?”

“Is that all you want?” Her eyelashes fluttered.

“That’s all I want right here. All the other ways I’ve come up with for you to thank me… Well, I’d rather not have anybody watch, no matter how much I like your family and friends.”

“I can’t wait to find out what you’ve planned,” she murmured seductively.

He led her to the dance floor and pulled her into his arms. Slow music came through the hidden loudspeakers in the ceiling, and they swayed to the rhythm of the music. It felt good to hold her, to know they were both safe here among their friends and her family.