Page 50 of Blake

A photograph on his dresser caught her attention, pulling her that way. She smiled at the sight of a younger Blake standing between a man and a woman in front of a house.”

“Your parents?” She picked up the small frame.

“Yeah.”

“You look like your dad.”

Blake smiled as he came to her side. “So I’ve heard.”

He explained how his father had taught him to fix things. Cars, appliances, radios. As a kid, he’d followed him everywhere until his dad finally handed him a screwdriver and put him to work.

“And your mother?”

“Mom mostly tried to keep us from electrocuting ourselves.” His smile widened. “They’ve been married forty-two years. Still live in the same house, actually.”

Devon’s lips curved as her chest grew warm. “You had a good childhood.”

“I did.”

His phone buzzed as she returned the frame to its rightful place.

“It’s Emmett.”

“Go ahead.” When he hesitated, she assured him, “Really. I’m okay.”

“Make yourself at home.” He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

Devon watched as he disappeared from the room.

He went into his office, and she returned to the living room to find Willow had already claimed the couch. She sat beside her cat, watching the lights beyond the windows.

For months, safety had meant staying behind locked doors. Now she was in the same city that gave her nightmares, spending the night in a strange apartment. Yet she felt safer here than she had in her own home.

A few minutes later, Blake emerged from the hall.

“You hungry?”

She hadn’t eaten since the pizza they’d shared, but the thought of eating in that moment made her nauseous. When she shook her head, he joined her on the couch.

Her gaze drifted to the bruise along his jaw. “You really scared me last night. When that gun went off . . .” She swallowed. “For a second, I thought you were dead.”

His expression sobered. Something shifted in his eyes as he reached over and covered her hand with his.

“I’m right here.”

“I know.” She curled her fingers around his. “But I can’t stop thinking about what would’ve happened if you weren’t.”

“We’re going to figure this out, Dev. Who came after you, whether it connects to those transactions . . . all of it. But we don’t have to solve everything right now.”

“I don’t know how to put it out of my head.”

His thumb brushed across hers. A small touch, really. Barely anything at all. But somehow, Devon felt it everywhere.

Blake turned toward her. His gaze dropped briefly to her mouth. Her pulse jumped.

He’s going to kiss me.

She wasn’t sure which surprised her more, the realization of his intent or how much she wanted him to do it.