Page 53 of Caleb
“Oh, nonsense.” Annette clears her throat nervously.
Scott’s behind the wheel and has the engine going while a bellboy loads the trunk with Red’s luggage. I help Red inside the vehicle and close the door behind her.
“Garçon,” Annette whispers behind me. Her eyes seem glassy, and I know I must choose my next words carefully. I wouldn’t want to make her cry right now, but I can’t leave without speaking my mind either.
“Staying is optional,” I remind her, my voice barely audible. “If that asshole is making you feel uncomfortable, you can always—”
“Caleb … don’t.” She lifts a hand in front of her. “He’s in charge here, not me.” Her gaze drops to the ground. “He always has been.”
She sighs.
“You—want to stay,” I say, the realization hitting me. I don’t care if she wants to stay or not, but I know how this story ends—with Annette crying inconsolably in my room until she collapses from exhaustion or the sun comes out the next day. Whatever happens first.
“Please don’t judge me,garçon.” Her voice is almost a plea.
“I’m not … judging you,” I rasp out. She’s staring at me in a way I don’t understand. It’s almost like she wants me to save her from the stupid desire that afflicts her heart. But she’s the only one who can end her misery. Not me.
This is not your problem, I remind myself.
“Take care, okay?”
She nods.
“And you take care of her.” She angles her head elegantly at the SUV and embraces me in a gentle but warm hug afterward. I hug her back. “Let me know when you arrive in Pa—”
“Miss LeRoux!” Ambassador Murphy’s voice booms from a distance, cutting her off before she can finish the sentence.
Annette presses her lips into a sad smile and squeezes my arms before letting her hands drop beside her. She looks over her shoulder to see him marching our way. I take a careful step to the side and slide back into my bodyguard stance.
“I want to say goodbye to my daughter,” Ambassador Murphy says, knocking twice on Red’s window. As it glides open, he addresses Annette. “Miss LeRoux, I’ll meet you in Conference Room 2.”
“Of course, Mr. Ambassador.”
She turns on her heel and leaves without looking at me again, and I thank her for that because it’s not until she’s a few steps away from us that Ambassador Murphy’s gaze finally lands on my face, and it’sscorchingme. I can see it clearly in my peripheral vision. He’s pissed about that hug, alright.
I keep a straight face and do my best not to level his gaze with mine.
Fuck you.
“Kiddo?” He peels his attention away from me and peeks inside the window. Red’s lying on her side, resting, but pushes herself up clumsily at the sound of her father’s voice. She looks sleepy in between her father’s questions about how she’s feeling and multiple promises to keep in touch until he’s back.
I look away.
“Please tell Caleb to sit beside me,” I hear her say. “In case I get too dizzy.”
Crap.
“Of course, kiddo.” I can almost taste the acidity dripping from his words even when they sound sweet and melodic coming out of his mouth. Then, they say their goodbyes, and I hear him knocking twice on the door. “Scott, the window, please.”
I listen to the window rolling up behind me, but I’m committed to being a statue.
“Can I trust you with my daughter?” Ambassador Murphy asks behind me, the question undoubtedly layered.
I turn around and meet his gaze. His face is almost contorted with … something. I’m sure he didn’t love witnessing Annette hugging me, and now his daughter’s asking to ride with me. Not ideal.
Am I his favorite person in the world? No. Do I care? No.
But I should.
