Page 85 of Taken With Trouble

“Agent Cruz,” Ford says before stepping forward and wrapping me in a hug.

He must have been more worried than I realized. His broad shoulders and chest curve around me in a way that should be comforting. It should beelating. A week ago, I would have killed for this kind of embrace from him. But now it feels off, awkward. My arms hang awkwardly at my sides and I want to be in an entirely different man’s arms.

“I’m so glad you’re safe, I’ve been worried sick,” he murmurs into my hair.

“I’m okay,” I say.

He pulls back then looks at Caleb. “Thanks for finding her.”

Caleb stands straighter. “She’s my partner.”

Ford looks at me, concern in his hazel eyes. “Can I talk to you in private for a moment?”

“Private?” I squeak.

Caleb raises an eyebrow and chuckles before joining Hadley in the kitchen.

Agent Ford takes my hand and leads me out the back door, to a small stone path outside.

He doesn’t release my hand as we walk. I expect a rush of butterflies or something after pining for him for so long. But I feel nothing.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks, coming to a stop near the garage.

I need to, but I can’t form the words. Where do I even begin? What if Liam doesn’t make it back? How can I get Agent Ford on my side and have him help me find Liam?

Ford runs a hand over his buzz cut. Not many men can pull off a buzz cut, but he can. Though now, I prefer a head of thick brown hair I can tangle my fingers in.

“I know this has been a difficult experience. You don’t have to tell me everything right now,” Agent Ford says. “So, I had an idea?”

“An idea?” Like saving Liam? I open my mouth to ask, but he speaks again.

“What if…” He draws closer, lifting our linked hands and placing them on his chest. I stare at my hand in his. Why is he still holding my hand? But before I can ask, he continues. “What if you and I stay here for a bit? I’ll send Harris and Hadley to the States, and we can”—his gaze drops to my lips—“debrief.”

I chokeon the air in my lungs.Debrief?What is happening right now? Do I want it to happen? Last week I would have said yes. Now the only person I want to ‘debrief’ with is Liam.

“Uh, I…”

He senses my hesitation and brushes my knuckles against his lips. “We can relax, get a massage.”

I don’t want a massage. I want to run out there and find Liam, now.

I try to pull away, but he keeps my hand in his. How do I tell him the truth? “I’m sorry, but that’s not what I want. I need to—”

“You need to forget.” He cuts me off. “I can help with that.”

“I don’t want to forget.” I yank my hand free.

“I understand. It was a difficult situation he forced you into, manipulating you like he did.”

A chill sweeps over my skin. “He?”

“Liam.”

Caleb told him? He promised he wouldn’t. “I, um, I’m not ready to talk about it.”

He scoops up my hand again. “When you’re ready, I’m here.”

His insistence is grating on my nerves. Never has he shown so much interest in me, and nowthis? Did he only realize his feelings for me when he thought I was gone? In that case, I can’t blame him for trying to be helpful, but it’s not the kind of help I want. I don’t want him like that anymore.