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The backseat suddenly feels even more isolating.
Gage gets in the driver’s seat and as soon as his door shuts, we all let out a sigh of relief. As if keeping up the charade took all we had. We don’t talk as Gage maneuvers us out of the airport parking lot. Both guys staying alert and vigilant.
“D,” Jackson says after about ten minutes of silence. “Maroon sedan, three back, right lane.”
“Yeah, I see him,” Gage says. “Fucker was waiting right outside of the airport.”
I start to look back.
“Don’t move,” Jackson barks, his booming voice vibrating throughout the car. The force of it has me flinching before I freeze in place.
Yep, the sweet guy from the airport is gone.
Jackson pulls out his phone, swipes at his screen then places it at his ear. “ETA forty minutes. Be ready,” he says sharply then hangs up. Gage reaches over and hits Jackson’s arm with just enough force to show he’s unhappy then gives Jackson a warning look. Not sure what’s going on, but I don’t like being in the dark.
“What does that mean?”
“We’re doing a bait and switch so we can get you to your house safely,” Jackson says though he doesn’t look back at me.
I push my sunglasses up into my hair like a makeshift headband. “I can’t believe they found me this fast. Though I’m not sure why I’m surprised by anything at this point.”
“Media already got wind you were coming into town and after your stunt in the airport, now the secret of when is gone.”
“My stunt? You think I enjoyed that?”
I see Jackson’s jaw clench before he looks out the passenger window. “I didn’t say that.”
“You want me to stay silent and take all their insults.” My voice raises.
He looks over his shoulder at me, his eyes narrowed. “Did I fucking say that?”
“You implied it.” Seriously, where is the guy who held me tightly and told me he’s got me then kissed the living hell out of me?
His mouth tightens before he turns back around. “Cover was blown. That’s all I meant.”
We ride the rest of the way in mostly silence except for Gage and Jackson exchanging quick glances and updating about our tail. Eventually, we pull into a gated community and up to a house where the garage door is open.
“Whose house is this?” I ask because all the silence is about to kill me. And I really hate not being in the know.
“A former client,” Gage answers. “He’s offering us his wife’s car so we can get out of here easily.”
We pull into the garage and there’s a soccer mom looking SUV already inside. A woman stands next to it with an excited but sweet smile on her lips. Her look is very suburban mom with her soft-curled hair styled into a messy bun and wearing high-end athleisure wear. I can’t tell if she’s moreReal Housewivesor “Cool” Mom fromMean Girls. Yet her expression tells me she’s neither. It’s far too genuine for either of those roles. She reminds me of a younger and more modern version of Kitty Forman fromThat 70’s Show.
“And does the car come with its very own soccer mom?”
Gage chuckles. “For today, but only in looks. That’s Everleigh.”
Everleigh is Gage’s girlfriend and the reason why Gage isn’t stepping in as my bodyguard. She must be part of the bait and switch. We get out and once the garage door closes Gage makes a beeline for her.
“Damn, baby, you look hot.”
Her eyes spark as they wrap their arms around each other at the same time. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, maybe we should do a little suburban mom/delivery guy role-playing later.”
“Fuck, D—Gage. Could you at least whisper that shit?” Jackson says as he goes to the back of the vehicle to remove my luggage.
Everleigh blushes, but she doesn’t look too embarrassed. She whispers something to Gage, and he lets out a little growl before kissing her. “You got yourself a promise,” he mutters softly, but not too softly.
