CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT #2
“The further we are from home, the more security Duncan takes. Nowhere is as safe as here. This situation in Dubai is an internal one at the company, but it can quickly turn external if we’re not careful. Duncan just doesn’t want to take any risks.”
“I’ll miss you,” she said, seeming to accept the inevitable.
“I’ll miss you too.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“Probably at least a week. And I need to ask you a really big favor.”
“What?”
“I need you to stick to the estate while I’m gone. I haven’t had the chance to bring in your bodyguard yet, so if I’m not here, I’d rather you stay on the estate unless it’s an emergency.”
Her fingers tightened around his as she seemed to consider his request, then she nodded. “I don’t have any real reason to leave. I don’t need anything from the store since we just went, and I’ll simply wait until you’re back to go to church again.”
“Thank you,” he said. “I don’t want to have to restrict you like this again, so when I get back, we’ll look at bringing your bodyguard to the estate.”
“Do you know who it is already?”
Jude nodded. “I’ve been considering someone from New York. But I want you to meet her first. We’ll deal with it when I get back, just in case Duncan needs me to go with him somewhere else.”
“Will we be able to message or talk while you’re gone?”
Jude smiled at her. “Yes. Definitely.”
“Good.”
“Can you hang out with me for a bit?” Jude asked, not wanting their time together to be over just yet, especially because of his pending departure the next day. “I just need to send a couple of emails first.”
“Sure. Are you hungry?” she asked. “We’re on our own around here for suppers on Sundays, but I can make us some sandwiches.”
“That would be nice.” He glanced around. “I’ll come with you to the kitchen.”
Jude got to his feet, then held out his hand. Angela took it and allowed him to pull her up. He didn’t let go of her hand as they left the library and walked down the hall to the kitchen, which was currently empty.
He settled on a stool at the large island counter, while Angela gathered up the fixings for their meal. Jude watched her for a moment, taking in her movements as she began to make their sandwiches.
“Anything you don’t like on your sandwich?” she asked, glancing up at him.
“I’m a pretty simple eater, so as long as it doesn’t have anything too wild on it, I’m generally pretty good.”
“No fancy mustards?”
Jude chuckled. “Nope. I’m good with plain old yellow mustard.”
“Me too,” Angela said with a smile on her face as she sliced a tomato.
Jude was glad to see that she was starting to feel more comfortable in the home. When she’d first arrived, she wouldn’t have dared to come into the kitchen to make herself a meal without being given permission by someone.
His phone dinged, letting him know an email had arrived.
Though he wanted to keep watching Angela, Jude opened his app and found an email from Duncan’s assistant in New York, who seemed to work twenty-four/seven. It gave details of flight departure and arrival times and information about where they’d be staying in Dubai.
He sent out emails to all the security team members he wanted with them. Two were already there at the estate, but they’d swing by New York to pick up the rest of the team members.
By the time he was done, Angela had finished the sandwich and slid the plate across the counter to him.
“What would you like to drink?” she asked.
“Just water,” Jude said. “But I can get that while you make your sandwich. Do you want water as well?”
“Yes, thanks.”
After he’d filled a couple of glasses, he carried them to the breakfast nook, while Angela brought their plates over.
Once they were seated opposite each other, Jude hesitated for a moment before he said, “Do you mind if I say a prayer of thanks for the food?”
Angela’s face lit up with a smile as she nodded. He laid his hands on the table, palm up, and without hesitation, Angela placed her hands in his.
He wasn’t used to sharing his faith with anyone. Just like he wasn’t used to sharing his life with anyone.
But that was changing, and he was fine with it. Wanted it, in fact.
He said a brief prayer of thanks and also added a request for safety for the team as they traveled to Dubai, as well as those left behind on the estate.
“Have you been to Dubai a lot?” Angela asked as she picked up her sandwich following the prayer.
“We go about once a year, but usually only for a couple of days. Duncan likes to touch base with his company headquarters in each location at least once a year.”
“Do you enjoy it?” she asked.
“Dubai?” She nodded. “Well, it’s a very interesting city. Very modern. Almost futuristic. It’s very different from what I’m used to here, but it’s a nice place to visit.”
“Would you take some video or pictures for me?” she said. “I’m not sure I actually want to visit there, but I’d love to see the parts of the city that interest you.”
Jude smiled. “Well, I’m not usually one to take many pictures just for pleasure, but I’ll do it for you.”
"Thank you," Angela said, her eyes brightening. "I've only seen places like that in movies."
Jude took a bite of his sandwich, savoring the simple combination of flavors. Something about sharing a meal with Angela made even ordinary food taste better. The quiet domesticity of sitting across from her in the kitchen nook felt right in a way he hadn't expected.
"I'll try to get some shots of the Burj Khalifa. It's the tallest building in the world. And maybe the Dubai Mall. It's enormous, with a large aquarium inside."
"An aquarium in a mall?" Angela leaned forward, sandwich momentarily abandoned. "That sounds amazing."
"It is pretty impressive," Jude admitted. "Though I usually don't get much time for sightseeing."
A shadow passed over Angela's face. "Because you're working. Keeping Duncan safe.”
“Yes. I am.” He paused, then asked, “Are you worried about that?”
“Of course,” she said with a nod. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. I also don’t want anything to happen to Duncan or any member of the security team. So yeah, I worry.”
“That was what my mom struggled with. The constant worry about my dad when he was on the job.”
“I’m aware of what your job entails. That it can be life-threatening,” Angela said as she set her sandwich down on her plate and lowered her hands to the table.
She gazed at him, her eyes wide and filled with emotion.
“And I know there’s a risk I could lose you.
But there’s also a chance that I won’t. The only way I’m guaranteed to lose you is to walk away, and I’m not willing to do that.
If I only have a short time with you, then I’ll be thankful for every minute. ”
Emotion filled Jude, and he had to swallow hard in order to be able to respond.
“I want to come home to you.”
He reached his hand out and once again laid it palm up on the table, waiting for Angela to take it. She didn’t hesitate.
Her hand was smaller than his and soft. Yet he could feel the strength in it. It was just like her—soft and small, but strong. Her strength never ceased to amaze him.
“I’m not going to tell you not to worry,” Jude said. “But I want to encourage you to pray for me and to trust that God’s will will be done.”
“I do pray for you,” Angela said, her fingers gripping his more firmly. “And I will definitely be praying for safety for you and the others on this trip.”
“Why don’t we pray together now?” Jude suggested.
At Angela’s nod, Jude once again took her hand. As they bowed their heads together to pray, Jude felt his connection to Angela deepen. This wasn’t something he’d done with a woman before, but he was glad he was there with Angela, sharing that spiritual moment with her.
The rest of their meal was spent talking about simple things, like what they preferred to do in their spare time or what sort of movies or TV shows they watched.
He enjoyed learning those small things about Angela, and for the first time in his life, he was opening up about things he usually kept to himself.
But finally, the time came for him to head home to pack and prepare for the trip early the next morning.
“Take care of yourself and stay safe,” Jude said as they stood together in the mudroom.
“You too,” Angela said.
Jude reached out to take her hand and pull her to him. She came willingly and stepped into his embrace.
He held her close, feeling the warmth of her body against his and breathing in the subtle vanilla scent of her hair. Her arms wound around his waist, and he could sense her reluctance to let go in the way she leaned against him.
For a moment, they simply held each other in the quiet of the mudroom. Jude rested his cheek on the top of her head, feeling the silky strands of her hair against his skin. He wanted to freeze the moment and store it away to carry with him across the ocean.
He didn't want to leave her.
The thought hit him with surprising force. In all his years working for Duncan, he'd never felt this pull to stay home. His job had always been his primary focus, his sense of unwavering duty. But now, with Angela in his arms, he wished he could find a way out of the trip.
"I'll call or message you as soon as I can," he murmured.
She pulled back just enough to look up at him, her blue-green eyes searching his face. "Promise me you'll be careful. Don't take any unnecessary risks."
Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I promise."
The goodbye he had to say to her was the hardest he’d ever said. And as he drove back to his place, Jude was eager to get the trip underway so that he could get back to Angela. The sooner he left, the sooner he’d be back.