Page 58 of Embrace Me Forever

“We’ll feed the ducks some other time, okay?” I say.

“Oh, this time she means she wants a bath. Though you don’t have a rubber duck, obviously,” Georgia-May explains.

Without question, I prepare the bath, laying out multiple towels around the tub, unsure how many she’ll need. “And I’ll hang the robe here for you.”

Georgia-May pecks me on the cheek, though I can tell something’s on her mind.

“Tell me what else you need,” I insist.

“No, it’s fine. Coco usually uses a bath seat, but the tub is big enough for the two of us, so I’ll be her seat for now,” she says, eyeing the bubbling water, clearly planning her spot.

“Okay. Anything else?”

“Can I borrow your T-shirt tonight?” she asks.

“Of course.”

“And your…um…boxer shorts?”

I’m aware she doesn’t have fresh underwear to change into, but that’s not why I feel this drive to meet her every need. It’s something deeper, almost paternal, pulling every ounce of my experience to be the man she needs. Maybe even the one she wants.

Taking perhaps a bit longer than necessary, I finally respond, “Of course. I’ll put them out on the bed.”

“Love you!” Coco suddenly squeals, throwing her arms up in the air. “Daddy!”

“Coco!” Georgia-May’s face shows a flash of alarm. “He’s Blake,” she quickly corrects, gently covering Coco’s mouth as if to prevent her from insisting. But Coco simply laughs, clearly amused by her mother’s reaction.

And I can’t help but laugh too.

“Sorry, Blake. I mean…she says that a lot when she’s happy,” Georgia-May explains. “She didn’t mean it. I mean, she did, because she loves you, but the ‘daddy’ part?—”

I step closer, hugging them both. “Hey, relax. I take her words to heart, but I know they’re not binding.”

She smiles, though I’m not sure she fully understands what I mean. To be honest, I don’t either because I do take Coco’s words to heart, and I’ll hold on to them for the rest of my life.

As the bathroom door closes, I leave the adorable mother-daughter duo to their peace and use the time to catch up with my man Ryker. “What’s the situation?”

“Santa Fe has been quiet,” he replies. “I’ve kept an eye on Anne and her boyfriend’s residence. No movements out of the ordinary.”

“What about the target I neutralized at Anne’s house?”

“Looks like the authorities are out of the loop. I’m sure Bertram’s men have sanitized the area. Erased every trace as if it never happened.”

“Stay vigilant and report any changes,” I instruct.

“Will do,” Ryker confirms, and I end the call.

“Do you have enough pillows?”I ask, watching Georgia-May build a cozy fortress around her sleeping daughter. I even offer all of mine, as the smaller ones don’t seem quite enough.

“Yes, I think she’s settled now,” she whispers, carefully climbing away from Coco. Then I notice her wince as she moves.

“Aches?” I ask.

“My shoulders are killing me,” she admits, her face tight with discomfort.

“May I?” I offer, gesturing toward her shoulders.

Her eyes meet mine with a naïve curiosity. “Um…”

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