Page 37 of Embrace Me Forever

Though it’s comforting to know Anne and Coco are out of harm’s way, the mention of the police ignites a new surge of anxiety within me. I can’t help fidgeting.

Blake’s hand finds its way to my shoulder. How does one remain professional around such a man? Protective, attentive, and utterly infuriating. Oh, how I regret ever having tasted his lips!

“Hey, don’t worry,” he murmurs, his voice calm. Clearly, he’s a master at maintaining boundaries, behaving as if our kiss had never happened. “My guy is heading to your apartment now to check things out, see what the police have uncovered. Did you leave anything important there?”

“No,” I reply, shaking my head. “Sometimes I used my laptop when I was there, but I always take it with me. And then there’s the phone you destroyed last night. Aside from that, it was just magazines, textbooks, and food.”

His eyes search mine, looking for any hint of doubt. “Good,” he says, satisfied. “Nothing that will tie that place to your sister’s place?”

“No,” I confirm, feeling a bit more secure.

“When you speak with the police, just frame it as a simple burglary. You cashed your Hartley’s check, didn’t you?”

“Yes, at my regular bank. A branch close to the apartment. That was just before Coco’s surgery.”

“Perfect,” he exclaims, although by the look on his face, I bet he already knew that. “We can suggest that someone saw you with a bundle of cash and figured they’d strike it lucky by breaking into your place.”

My anxiety flares up. “Okay. But as you know, I’m not good at lying.”

“Georgia-May, you won’t have to be,” he assures me, his voice steady and convincing. “You only need to tell the police what you’ve just told me. Trust me, they’ve probably already drawn that conclusion on their own. Let’s just hope the culprits were professionals, which I suspect they were, if Bertram hired them. They would’ve left no trace to lead back to them. The case will likely go unsolved and get buried among countless others.”

“I suppose you can’t drive me there,” I murmur, my mind swirling with worry about facing the police station alone. A single day has shifted everything. Now, the thought of being without him makes me feel dangerously exposed.

“Even if I don’t drive you there, it doesn’t mean I’m not with you.”

“Okay.” I feel marginally better. “Now what?”

Blake straightens, his posture assertive, his gaze all business. Any trace of what happened during the flight seems to have vanished from his mind. “I’ll drive you home,” he declares. “Take your time to see Coco. Wait for my guy to come back from Denver, then, when you feel ready, head to the police station.”

“Okay,” I say, already plotting my next steps.

He adds, “Then I’ll need to stay with you, at least until we know where our enemy is.”

His proposal sends a jolt of nervous energy through me. Coco’s safety looms paramount, compelling me to accept his offer despite the complications it weaves into our relationship. If I can call it that.

“Fine. You can take the couch,” I assert, showing off that I, too, am capable of keeping things professional. Though just barely.

12

BLAKE

I let Georgia-May out at her sister’s place. She mentioned earlier that I could take the couch, and honestly, that’s a relief. I had half expected her to suggest I sleep in the car, given the friction between us. I can sleep anywhere, for her sake, but the couch is a far better option. Despite my fitness, age seems to have a direct line to my lower back.

Resisting the pull to follow her inside, I still catch a glimpse of Coco being handed to her by a woman who must be her sister, Anne. I’m too far for them to notice, and I’m somewhat thankful because that little girl, seen only as a fleeting shadow, has melted the frost around my heart. It’s certain—what she means to Georgia-May means just as much to me. Regret might be a lifelong burden, but it won’t hold me back. In fact, it strengthens my resolve to be everything they need.

After getting an update from Ryker, I knock on her door. Georgia-May opens it but doesn’t invite me in.

“Whenever you’re ready,” I tell her. “Remember, I’ll be with you.”

She retreats inside while I make my way back to my car.

A few moments later, she exits the house. Maintaining a discreet distance, I observe as she makes her way to the bus station. Opting for public transport from Colorado Springs to Denver is, admittedly, a clever strategy. It’s less conspicuous and blends her seamlessly into the crowd, thwarting any attempts to single her out.

As she boards the bus, I decide to shadow her by road, keeping my own profile low. The drive to Denver drags on, offering me ample time to ponder everything that’s unfolded. The burglary, the looming threats, and that kiss. A kiss I’m mandated to forget, yet it haunts my thoughts, more poignant than I dare acknowledge.

Following her isn’t merely about protection. It’s more personal than it ought to be, and I’m painfully aware of it. Despite my stern warning to Georgia-May about rethinking this arrangement if she couldn’t maintain our limits, I’ll never pull back. Not when so much is at stake. She and Coco are too important.

Never once does Georgia-May glance over her shoulder. She doesn’t even seem to wonder if I’m nearby. “Good girl,” I mutter under my breath. It’s better this way. She can’t afford to show the police I’m shadowing her.

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