Page 111 of The Bad Wedding Date

“Because he tracks us everywhere we go,” Dean said from the backseat, chuckling to himself, and it was only then that I realised they could all hear the call in the thick and heavy silence of the music-less vehicle.

“I guess I’ll see you in ten minutes then,” I said to Fraser.

We eventually pulled up to an apartment block that looked out to the ocean. Fraser was at my car door in a minute, opening it for me and taking my hand to help me climb out. I stared into his eyes, desperate to throw my arms around his strong body and swallow back the sudden rush of emotion that came over me, but it wasn’t the time. Not with his team watching.

Apparently, Fraser didn’t have the same concerns as I did. As soon as my feet touched solid ground, he pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around my body and resting his chin on the top of my head. My arms folded around his waist instantly, and I rested my cheek against his chest.

At some point, I’d started shaking, whether with nerves or relief, I had no idea, but he recognised it before I did. Fraser’s hands rubbed at my back, pouring his usual warmth into me.

“It’s a good job we like each other’s company,” Fraser muttered. “I’m not letting you out of my sight after this.”

“I’m sure it’ll all blow over.”

“I’ll make sure it does.”

Wade dumped my bag at my feet, and I broke away from Fraser, running my hand through my hair as my awkwardness seeped in.

“Thank you, Wade,” I said when he looked at me. “Sorry for being a pain.”

“You weren’t.” He turned to Fraser, giving him a nod before he reached into the back pocket of his black trousers and pulled out the photograph that had been left on my kitchen floor.

Fraser took it from him, holding it in both hands as he studied it for a full minute or more before he looked up at Wade again and pushed the photograph into his own trouser pocket.

No words were exchanged, but a silent conversation passed between the two of them before Fraser dismissed his men with a single look. Wade turned to get back into the car, and the one I assumed was Joey jumped into my seat at the front, flashing me a warm smile before he nodded at Fraser and shut the door on us both. Out of all three of the men that escorted me here, I felt the most comfortable with Joey.

Once the Range Rover drove away, Fraser lifted my bag from the ground and threw it over his shoulder, taking my hand in his free one before guiding me to his Aston Martin that was parked in the apartments’ parking bays.

“I have to say goodbye to my mum before we leave,” he said, his boot automatically opening at the touch of a button before he slung my bag into the back of it. “Since I don’t want to leave you alone for a second, that means you have to come with me.” Slamming the boot shut, he turned to look at me, a brow raised.

“Whatever you want me to do.”

“That’s not like you.”

“Like I said…” I cleared away the croak in my throat. “A little shaken up. I’m not feeling like my usual self right now.”

Fraser’s eyes searched mine before he reached up to grab my chin between his finger and thumb. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

Without me registering that my eyes had even misted over, a lone tear found its way down my cheek, only for Fraser to catch it with his thumb and look at it with a frown on his face like that tear was a bomb that threatened to blow us both apart, neither one of us having enough time to run from it.

Wiping at my cheeks quickly, I shook my hands out and laughed nervously. “Sorry. It’s been a day.”

His eyes found mine again. “That’s all it takes sometimes.”

Fraser led the way to the apartment block behind us. After entering a code into several panels, a few flights of stairs climbed, and another security panel to access, we came to an apartment door.

“She doesn’t get many guests. Don’t take it personally if her reception isn’t the warmest.”

“I feel like I shouldn’t be here,” I whispered up at him.

“No one is more surprised than I am.”

He offered me a soft smile before he kissed my forehead, that single point of contact making my nerves melt away. How had this man become the source of all my calm, even after throwing me into a world of such chaos?

After opening the door to his mum’s apartment, he pressed his hand into the small of my back and guided me inside.

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but Keira Scott wasn’t it.

She was dressed to mourn, her long cardigan pulled tightly around her chest as she took me in from across the room. I hadn’t known a woman in her fifties could look so youthful yet have the eyes of an eighty-year-old. Exhaustion poured out of every part of her.

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