Page 86 of Caution

As nice as it might have been to pretend that wasn’t going to happen, it was unrealistic. And I figured there was no time like the present to address it with him.

“It really has been the best. But I kind of wanted to talk to you about that,” I declared.

A curious look marred his handsome features. “What do you mean?”

I finished the last bite of my doughnut, noted how Forrest didn’t even hesitate to place a second one down in front of me, and sent an appreciative look his way. “You’ve taken care of me all over again without so much as batting an eyelash. I love the way you make me feel, like I’m important to you and I matter. Like there isn’t anything in this world you wouldn’t do to protect me. Having lived pretty much my entire life without that, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking. I did it in the weeks we were apart, and I’ve done it a lot since I arrived here in Steel Ridge.”

I paused a moment to gather up the courage to say the rest of what I needed to say, and Forrest kept every ounce of his attention focused squarely on me. But I could see that with each second that passed without a word from me, Forrest started to grow more and more concerned.

“I know that it’s ultimately my decision if I want to do it, and I know you’ve said how much you like having me here, but I wanted to see how you’d feel if I decided to make my move to Steel Ridge a permanent one.”

“Are you serious?”

I couldn’t be sure, but I sensed a mix of disbelief and frustration.

“Yes.”

“Sunshine, I thought we discussed this the morning after you arrived here,” Forrest started. “If I had known you didn’t want to continue living where you were, I would have brought you back here with me without a second thought.”

I nodded my understanding. “I know. I know we did, but I feel like this is different. We’re still very new, and I’m trying to find my place in this world, a place that feels like home. Coming here, meeting your friends and family, and being with you…” I shrugged, looking away momentarily as my emotions started to take hold of me. When I returned my stare to meet his, I ended, “Steel Ridge feels like a great place to call home, and I was hoping you’d be willing to help me start looking for a place here.”

“You’re staying with me.”

“Yeah, I know that. Obviously, I’ll continue to stay with you until Jeremy is found and things get resolved on that front, but I’m talking about a place for me to live permanently after that’s all been settled.”

Forrest narrowed his eyes at me, setting his second, half-eaten doughnut back down on the napkin in front of him.

Yep.

There was definitely frustration there.

Had I read this all wrong? Was it possible he wanted me here for now, but wanted more time with us just being together as a couple before I started making permanent, life-changing decisions?

“Forrest, if you’re not okay with me moving to Steel Ridge, I un?—”

“It’s not my decision to tell you where to move, Daisy.”

“I know. I just?—”

“But it blows my mind that you couldn’t possibly understand that there’s nothing I’d want more than for you to be here in the place I call home, so you could do the same,” he added, cutting me off.

So, this wasn’t about him needing more time before I made a decision like this. Confused, I asked, “Why do you seem so upset about this, then?”

“I’m over the moon that you want to make a permanent move here. What I’m struggling with is why you’d think you need to find a new place to live when you’ve already got one.”

My eyes roamed over his face, searching for answers I couldn’t seem to find. “Your house?”

“You already said you liked it there.”

“I did. I do. But I thought that staying there was just a temporary solution, since you’re acting as my bodyguard right now,” I reasoned.

I could no longer tell if Forrest was annoyed with our conversation or amused by it. “In my line of work, do you think I regularly bring clients home to sleep in my bed?”

God, I hoped he didn’t do that.

I shook my head.

“I’m not your bodyguard right now, Daisy. I’m the man who intends to be in your life for a long time, giving you the love, loyalty, safety, and family that you deserve to have. That’s a far cry from my typical job responsibilities as a bodyguard.”