Page 21 of Embrace Me Forever

Not that anyone’s ever managed to give me one, thanks to my ticklishness. Poor Sebastian tried and failed miserably. But Blake’s thick, strong mitts? Maybe they could bypass my ticklish defense system and hit the sweet spots.

Oh, sweet Jesus…

Before I can get lost in the thought, the front door opens, and there’s Anne, her face lighting up as she sees us.

“You’re home!” Anne exclaims as she stoops to kiss Coco. “My sweetie pie is home!”

Coco babbles away as if she’s telling Anne all about her adventure.

“Come, join us.” I motion for her to grab a chair.

Anne does so with a smile. “Got your game plan ready?”

“You bet. After this, can you watch Coco for a bit? I need to check my cell at my apartment.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. No one’s going to follow me this time.”

“I’ve got Coco,” my sister assures me. “Why don’t you go now so we can have dinner together later? Besides, I’ve really missed bath time with Coco,” she almost pleads. I miss it too, but I let her have this moment.

I give Anne a grateful smile, reassure Coco that I’ll be back soon, and head out the door. Opting to leave my car behind, the bus ride to my apartment feels longer than usual, but it gives me time to clear my mind. I stay vigilant, watching for any signs of followers, but the streets are quiet. No shadowy figures, no suspicious cars.

Once I arrive at my apartment, I go straight to my cell phone. My heart skips a beat when I see a missed call from Kylie, Rob’s assistant at Hartley Marine. I can’t stay here long, and I’m not about to risk carrying this phone with me.

Determined to stay ahead of any potential threats and protect my anonymity, I set up all emails and calls from this phone to forward to my laptop through a virtual private network—something I hadn’t had the chance to do. It’s a small step, but it gives me a sense of control.

With that task done, I head back to Colorado Springs. Anne is watching over Coco, who is now asleep, clearly more comfortable in her own bed than at the hospital. I feel a wave of relief seeing her so peaceful.

But then, a distinct ping nearly shatters the calm. Thankfully, Coco doesn’t stir. I quietly slip out of her room and go to my laptop.

A new email from Hartley Marine.

Dear Georgia-May,

I tried reaching your mobile and left a message, but I wanted to follow up with an email just in case.

Great news! You’ve been invited to dinner with Rob and Clayton. Thomas and Rocky will also be there. It’s a casual gathering, but you’re welcome to bring your laptop and present your final demo after the meal.

The dinner is scheduled for next week at 7 p.m. Please find the details of the invite attached.

Best regards,

Kylie

Dinner at seven. That means I’ll have to leave Coco overnight. What if she wakes up scared or needs me?

But I have to do this, and I know Anne will do everything she can to help Coco not miss me too much.

P.S. Thomas has a special request for your demo. He asked if you could include the QuantumSync Data Transfer Protocols. (I’m as clueless as Rob’s koi on this one, but I’m sure you understand).

I chortle at Kylie’s last remark, imagining her strong Irish accent. She’s such a joy to be around.

So, my return to Hartley Marine is now inevitable. I know my next steps for QEOPA, but my strategy regarding Simon Blake remains unclear. I should probably shake off these thoughts and focus, be the responsible adult who doesn’t indulge in fantasies.Yet, for someone with such a first impression, in my world of numbers, secrets, and fears, dismissing him is like ignoring an elephant in a phone booth.

I allow myself a few minutes to search for him online again. But just like my previous sporadic attempts, I find nothing. It appears he has taken his PI role to the extreme.

Hearing Anne approaching, I tuck away my searches and flip to my email.

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