I fold a shirt and drop it in my bag.
“So, what now?” His question is tentative, and I hate it.
I grab my sweatpants and shove them in. “Tracker spoke with the authorities, and they’re taking over. The Stingrays will be contacted. They think they have enough evidence to hold her, and you can file a restraining order.”
“So, that’s just it?”
“Yep. We’ll wait to hear, but Tracker’s not expecting any snags.”
There are a few seconds of silence while I continue to pack.
“And what about you?”
“Well, you’re officially back to being a free man.” I try to joke, but I do a sucky job.
After a moment, he stands and moves toward me. “Hey.”
I frantically toss in another shirt, and his hand slides up my back.
“Ryder, hey.” He takes the shirt from me and lays it down, turning me toward him. “What’s going on? Tell me.”
I keep my eyes glued to the floor because if I don’t, I’ll run far and fast when what I need is to get home. “Nothing. I’m just glad they caught her.”
His finger gently lifts my chin, tipping my face up to his.
I close my eyes.
“This isn’t nothing.” His voice is soft. “What happens when we get back tomorrow?” The question comes out with a hint of apprehension, as if he’s not sure he wants an answer.
I force my eyes open. Those perfect blue eyes rest on mine, waiting. His hand remains firm on the middle of my back, holding me here.
My professional assignment might be over, but I will always protect this man. The only one I’ve ever felt anything for, even if I’m not completely sure what these feelings are.
My job now is to guard him from me so he can have a life with someone who deserves all his goodness and everything he has to offer.
“It’s time for me to go home.”
Chapter 38
COLE
I punch in the code on the keypad and open the door to my apartment. I don’t want to step inside. I know what’s coming.
I’ve been dreading it every second of the last fifteen hours. Ever since I found Ryder in the basement and she told me Mindy was taken into custody, she’s only made it clearer.
I remade my bed on the floor and spent most of the night trying to understand what’s happening. The shift between our morning at the cabin and the evening was a sudden, full-on reversal.
I step inside, and Ryder follows me in silently. It’s the same silence I’ve endured since she told me about Mindy.
I’ve known at some point Ryder would no longer be my hired protection, but we crossed a line. When you live with someone and basically do everything together, professional boundaries kind of go out the window. In this case, I wanted them to.
I thought this mattered to Ryder—that I was more than a job. But at the moment, I can’t help but feel like maybe I was only an experiment. Now that her duty is done, she’s ready to move on.
Her suitcase roll against the tile, and I turn toward her.
“I’m. . .going to pack my stuff and check in with Tracker.” Her gaze remains locked on her bag.
“So, you pack, and then what?”
