Claimed by the Alien Bodyguard - Tiffany Roberts Page 0,2

in the driveway. It was a small, bronze Honda Accord, a little beat up but dependable. The best part? It was hers, something she’d paid off in full.

Gabriela opened the driver side door and got into the car, tossing her purse onto the passenger seat. It wasn’t until she’d shut the door and placed a hand on the wheel that she registered what she’d just done.

I turned Mason down.

She looked back toward him. He was already across the road, walking to his front door with his jeans hugging his tree trunk-like thighs and sculpted ass.

I turned Mason down…for a date.

“Jueputa!” Gabriela clutched the steering wheel in both hands and banged the back of her head against the head rest.

The first man—a damn fine man, at that—to show real interest in years, a man who’d asked her out, and she’d left him hanging.

“You didn’t turn him down, Gabriela, you just…rain-checked it. You didn’t say no. You just have responsibilities and a kid. He understands.”

Except he’d looked like a man who’d been rejected.

That tightness seized her chest again. Gabby buckled her seatbelt, pulled her keys out of her purse, and stuck them into the ignition. She took in a deep breath to calm herself before starting the car. Cold air blasted from the dashboard vents. She reached forward and switched the dial to defrost, shivering.

As she backed out of the driveway, she once more glanced toward Mason’s house. He was no longer in sight.

“Way to go, Gabby,” she muttered as she faced forward, put the car into drive, and followed the private street out onto the main road, which was thankfully well maintained and clear of snow and ice. Though it snowed a lot in McCall, Idaho, the city did a great job keeping the roads safe.

When she reached her daughter’s school, the pick-up lane was already empty, allowing Gabriela to pull right up to the main doors where Ana was waiting with a couple other students. As soon as Ana caught sight of Gabby, she turned to her teacher, waved, and ran to the car.

Gabriela snatched up her purse and tucked it between the two seats, atop the parking brake.

“Hi, Mom!” Ana said as she pulled open the door and dropped into the passenger seat. After a brief struggle make sure her backpack and coat were fully inside the cab, she pulled the door shut.

“Hey, mija.” Gabriela reached out, tugged her daughter close, and pressed a kiss to her head. “How was school?”

“Boring,” Ana said, shoving her backpack onto the floor between her legs before turning up the radio.

Gabriela laughed as she pulled away from the curb. “You always say that.”

Ana flashed a big smile, revealing the same dimples in her cheeks that Gabriela had, as well as the gaps between her teeth where her canines had yet to grow in. “Because it’s always boring.”

“You’re just not being challenged enough, that’s all. You’re too smart.”

Ana blew on her fingernails and rubbed them against her chest. “Damn right, I am.”

“Ana! Language!”

Ana laughed. “Mom, damn isn’t a bad word.”

“It is under my roof.”

“But you say it all the time.”

Gabriela chuckled, glancing at her daughter. “Is this where I tell you do as I say, not as I do?” She shook her head. “Are you excited for tomorrow at least? Last day of school before Christmas break?”

“Yes! Mrs. Connelly said we’re going to watch a movie and have snacks. We get to wear our pajamas to school and bring blankets, too. Julie said she has an amazing Pegasus onesie she’s going to wear to match me better.”

“That sounds fun.”

“Can I bring a snack for the class?”

Gabby’s smile died, and she squeezed the steering wheel. “Ana…”

“It’s okay if I don’t. Just thought I’d ask. I…know we don’t have much money.”

Gabriela curled her lips in and bit them. Her eyes burned, and it took a lot of effort to blink away the blur of tears without crying. She felt like a failure as a mother. Ana went without so many of the things her classmates had, things Gabriela just couldn’t afford—even things as simple as treats for the class.

“I’m sorry, baby,” she said softly, throat tight.

“It’s okay, Mom. Really. I understand.”

And Ana did understand. Even on those rare occasions when she asked for something, she never whined, begged, or threw a tantrum when Gabriela said no. The little girl just accepted it, often graciously. Though things had never been easy, Gabriela wouldn’t give her daughter up for anything. She was proud of the young lady Ana