Hardwired(76)

“Erica—” Margo’s sing-songy voice floated through the air. “You have a guest. He’s at the door waiting for you.”

My head shot up. Only one person could find me here. I rose. Blake stood in the doorway, looking casual and perfect as usual.

“Blake.” I tried to conjure the anger I’d felt earlier. All I could feel was relief, gratitude, love. I fought the urge to run into his arms and let him take me away from this horrible situation.

He stepped into the house and pulled me into his arms, holding me so tight it was almost painful. I buried my face in his neck, breathing him in. My body relaxed. Everything would be all right now that he was here.

“Is he here?” He cupped my face and searched my eyes.

“Who?”

“Mark.”

“Yes. Wait, how did you know?”

“Forget about that, let’s get you out of here.” He grabbed my hand and turned to leave.

“No, I can’t.” I pulled him back, keeping his hand tight in my own.

“Erica, I’m getting you away from here. We’re leaving now.”

“Wait, I just need to say goodbye. To Daniel.”

He frowned.

“He’s my father, Blake. We’re trying to get to know each other. I don’t want to throw this all away.” We’d never have anything close to a normal father-daughter connection, but I’d only just found him. I couldn’t lose him again now, so soon.

“Fine,” he relented. “Introduce us and we’ll leave.”

“Be good,” I ordered, before guiding him into the main room where the family of three waited for our return.

As soon as we entered, his gaze darted to Mark. His posture changed and the tension seemed to radiate off of him. I tightened my hold on his hand slightly, reminding him not to go postal.

“Daniel, Margo, Mark... This is Blake.” I tucked my hair nervously. How ironic that I was introducing my lover to my only living parent days after our first meeting, and I still felt an inkling of anticipation hoping Daniel would approve. He’d seemed to take pride in my achievements earlier. Certainly he’d approve of Blake.

“Blake Landon. You’re with Angelcom, correct?” Daniel rose and shook Blake’s hand.

“Correct. I believe you negotiate many of our term sheets for us.” Blake said.

“Right. It’s a small world, isn’t it?” He paused, his gaze traveling between us and then down at Blake’s fingers interlaced with mine. His face froze and he looked back to me, as if a terrible thought had gripped him in that moment.

He knew that Blake knew. I could read his face like a book. Our embarrassing little secret was spreading in circles he wasn’t anticipating.

Margo jumped up and gave Blake an air kiss on the cheek. “Blake, let me go get you a plate. Please, sit down and join us.”

“Actually, there’s a situation that came up with the deal we’ve been working on. Unfortunately, it’s imperative that I head back so we can resolve it. But thank you so much for your hospitality.”

“Oh.” Margo pouted a little. I could tell she was looking forward to getting to know Blake.

I gave Daniel, and then Margo, a quick kiss on the cheek and waved goodbye. Blake grabbed my bag on the way out.

Blake held out his hand to me and nodded to the Tesla. “Let’s go.”

I stared at him, the details of our morning returning to me. “Blake, I’m not going home with you.”

“No, you’re not. We’re going to go somewhere so we can talk, and if you still want to go home, or wherever, you can.”

“Where are we going?”

He didn’t answer.





CHAPTER TWENTY





“I’m really not in the mood to be stuck on an island with you right now, Blake.”

We were at the ferry station and Blake was begging me to not to leave. He’d locked the doors and driven us onto the big boat, and now he was doing everything in his power to keep me there.

“I promise, we can turn around and take the next ferry back if you don’t like what I have to say.”

“You’re being insane right now, you know that? This is like kidnapping.”

“Promise me you won’t get off.”

I groaned. “I promise, now let me out.”

He released the locks, and I walked up the ramp to the upper level of the ferry where we’d spend the rest of the ride to Martha’s Vineyard. If Blake thought he could romance his way out of the doghouse, he was dead wrong.

I walked through to the front of the boat, stepping out onto the deck. I picked a table for two near the end, knowing Blake was on my heels. I sat, and he joined me a second later. I finally met his stare. His eyes glittered from the setting sun reflecting against the water. God help me, he was as beautiful as he was maddening. We sat in silence for a few moments while a few of the other tables filled around us.