Page 36 of Embrace Me Forever

He slaps his hand against the steering wheel. “That’s not something you ask if you’re trying to forget what happened.”

“It’s a fair question.” I stand firm.

He stops the car, hands clenching as he shakes his head in determined denial. “Georgia-May, I’m not the cheating type, okay? I choose to make myself off-limits. Let’s be adults about this. We can move past things that shouldn’t have happened—for our own sake.”

I study him, noticing how he bristles, now the one appearing offended. As for me, I’m not merely offended, not just disappointed or frustrated. I’m gutted. “Does your job really mean more to you than anything else?” I ask.

He tilts his head, a flash of regret crossing his features. “I’m protecting you and your daughter. Of course my job takes precedence!”

“Thanks for treating us just like another job!”

“You know that’s not what I meant. I would give my life to you both in a heartbeat.”

“Why am I sensing it won’t be the first time you said that to someone you’re protecting?” I probe, pushing him further.

“Please, Georgia-May, stop trying to read me,” he snaps.

“We kissed, Blake. The truth is, I can’t just forget about it.”

“If you can’t stop acting like a brokenhearted sixteen-year-old, we’ll need to reconsider our arrangement. So, do you want to continue with me?”

“You’re such a child!”

“Do you want to continue with me?”

For Coco’s sake, I have no choice but to give him a curt ‘yes.’

The silence stretches between us as he merges back onto the street.

“Where are we going?” I ask as we drive further from Anne’s house.

“Just scouting around,” Blake answers, his gaze intense as he scans the area. “Where do you think my guy is, the one keeping an eye on Anne and Coco?”

I peer out the window, eyeing a few passersby—a woman pushing a stroller, a man walking his dog, a teenager on a skateboard. “I have no idea,” I admit, shaking my head in bafflement.

“I’ll make it easier for you.” Blake smirks as he pulls out his phone and dials. He’s on the line for a few minutes, speaking in that low, authoritative tone. Despite my best efforts, I still can’t pinpoint who it might be.

Then, just as we’re about to complete another circuit around the block, Blake nods toward a jogger with earbuds, who has been trailing behind us. “There he is,” Blake declares, a trace of pride coloring his voice. “Meet Ryker.”

I watch the jogger, realizing he has been with us the entire time, seamlessly blending into the environment. It’s clear Blake was serious when he said no one would notice our surveillance.

He relays what Ryker reported over the phone. As he ends the call, he turns to me, his demeanor shifting from confidentto grave. “There was a burglary at your Denver apartment last night,” he informs me, his voice steady yet tinged with concern.

A dark heat floods my chest. “What did they take?”

“The police were there, trying to reach you,” he continues, “but they couldn’t get through since your phone was…well, smashed.”

I recall that moment vividly. “What about Anne and Coco? Are they safe?”

“Yes, they’re fine,” Blake reassures me. “Ryker stayed on to guard them. He wasn’t swayed by the distraction. But that means we still don’t have the full picture of the situation at your apartment.”

“Is that why we’re driving around the block?”

“Well, I only just found out about the burglary, but yes, I needed to be sure we weren’t being followed. Your sister’s place seems to have stayed off the radar, and we want to keep it that way.”

Drawing in a deep breath, my need for certainty persists. “So, no one suspicious or threatening nearby?”

“Nope. It’s been quiet here. But we should check in with the police before they start searching for you like a missing person.”

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