"He wants you to stay," Jude said without hesitation. "I've known your father for three decades, Angela. I've seen him make decisions based on obligation, and I've seen him make decisions based on love. This is love."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I've watched him grieve for you every single day since you were taken. There's a photo of you and Annie as toddlers on his desk that never got moved. His greatest wish was to have you back in his life. I think he would have given up his fortune to get you back."
Angela's breath hitched slightly. "Really?"
"Really." Jude navigated around a slow-moving truck. "Duncan Burke is a complicated man, but when it comes to his children, there's no question about his priorities. You are safe with him."
"What about with you?"
The question hung in the air between them. Jude felt his pulse quicken as he tried to interpret her meaning.
"What do you mean?"
"Am I safe with you?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“Definitely.” Jude glanced over at her. “You are part of Duncan’s family, and my job is to keep all of you safe.” He hesitated, feeling compelled to let her know that she wasn’tjusta job to him. “That doesn’t mean I don’t view you as a person too. I view Annie and Benji the same way I view you.”
It was all the truth, and at the same time, it kept some distance between them. He hoped.
This was the first time in a long time that he’d had a woman pique his interest, and he wasn’t sure how to deal with it. The complication came from the fact that he couldn’t just avoid her.
If a woman at church seemed interested in him, he could steer clear of her because the church was big enough. But that wasn’t possible with Angela.
It was going to take all his mental fortitude to be able to interact with her without being drawn to her even more. There was just something about her that called to him.
A softness wrapped in strength. She was a survivor. She had faced difficult situations and pushed forward, even though she might not have wanted to. He was drawn to those qualities.
"I see." Angela's voice was flat, and when Jude glanced over, her expression had shuttered closed.
Even though he hadn’t wanted to, he'd hurt her. The knowledge hit him like a punch to the gut.
But what else could he have said? That he thought about her more than he should? That seeing her smile made his heart race? That he'd started looking forward to any chance they had to interact?
He couldn’t tell her any of that.
So instead, he'd hurt her with his answer. That hadn't been his intention, but maybe it was for the best. The last thing either of them needed was for her to develop feelings for someone who couldn't—wouldn't—reciprocate.
The silence stretched between them as they drove through the snowy landscape. Jude found himself stealing glances at her,noting the way she held herself so still, as if she was trying to disappear into the seat.
"Angela," he said finally, his voice softer than normal.
"It's okay," she said quickly, still not looking at him. "I understand. I'm just another responsibility."
"That's not what I said."
"It's what you meant." She finally turned to face him, and he was struck by the hurt in her blue-green eyes. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable with my questions. I won't do it again."
The formal politeness in her tone was somehow worse than if she'd been angry. It reminded him of how she'd been when they first met—guarded and distant. He'd thought they'd moved past that.
"You didn't make me uncomfortable," he said, though it wasn't entirely true. She made himveryuncomfortable, just not in the way she thought.
"It's fine, Jude. Really."
The rest of the drive passed in tense silence. Angela stared out her window, and Jude focused on the road, hating the tension that now filled the space between them.
When they arrived back at the estate, Jude carried the bags up to the house while Angela walked ahead of him, her shoulders rigid. In the mudroom, she kicked off her boots and hung up her coat without looking at him.
