Page 68 of Blake

“Tomorrow works.”

“Good.” The spunky blonde stood. “Wear something comfortable.” She was almost out the door before she looked back. “And Devon? I hope you know, you don’t have to prove anything to me or anyone else.”

The tension in her shoulders eased. “Thanks, Gwen. I really appreciate it.”

When she was gone, Devon sat quietly for a moment in Blake’s office. Her pulse was a little faster, but beneath the nerves was something she hadn’t expected.

Excitement.

She was still staring at the doorway when Blake returned.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” Devon smiled. “Gwen offered to teach me some self-defense.”

His expression brightened. “Really? That’s great.”

“So you approve?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” He settled into the chair beside her. “Knowing you can handle yourself is always a good idea. And Gwen’s excellent at what she does.”

His support warmed her. Some guys would insist she leave the dangerous stuff to them. But not Blake. He’d do what he could to keep her out of harm’s way, of course. But he’d also just shown her in the simplest of ways that he supported her desire to protect herself.

“Thanks.”

“Any time.” His tone softened. “And for the record, you’ve already handled more than most people could.”

Devon looked away before he could see how much those words meant. “So.” She cleared her throat. “What did Draven find?”

Blake’s expression shifted. “Possible lead on the SUV at your gym. He found another camera that caught part of the vehicle leaving that area. Different angle, better view.”

“Plate?”

“Partial. Enough to narrow the search, at least. But not enough to identify the owner. Yet.”

“Yet,” she repeated, feeling hopeful.

Devon glanced at the screen and then back to him. “I think I know something we can try.”

For the next forty minutes, they compared the available footage with a map of nearby intersections. Devon suggested checking the timing between cameras instead of relying solely on the license plate.

Blake adjusted the search. It took no time to eliminate several similar vehicles before isolating one dark SUV.

The vehicle in question appeared on two different streets within minutes of Devon leaving her gym.

“There.” She pointed. “Same damaged rear bumper.”

Blake enlarged the frame. “I’ll be damned.”

She blinked. “Please tell me that’s not your impressed face.”

“It’s my extremely impressed face.”

Devon smirked. “It needs work.”

He laughed, but his attention returned to the screen. The SUV had turned onto a road leading away from the gym, then disappeared out of the camera’s view. There was no clear plate, no visible driver, and no proof the vehicle even belonged to the man Devon had seen.

Still, it was something solid.