Page 20 of Blind Trust
Lyla chewed her thumbnail. “You think Jerry’s son would come after me?”
Nic scrubbed a hand over the scruff along his jawline. “His dad killed himself. He might be looking for someone to blame.”
He regretted the words when he saw the impact they had on Lyla. She dipped her chin to her chest, gaze falling to her hands.
“Jerry should have paid for what he did, but I never wanted him dead.”
“We know, Lyla.” Walsh’s cell phone rang and he pulled it out, exhaustion coloring his expression before he silenced it. “Kekoa, assist the police in any way you can. Otherwise, I think Jerry Miller’s only purpose behind those letters was psychological, and I’m happy to officially put his case to rest.” His forehead wrinkled. “Didn’t mean it like that, but you know what I’m saying.” He checked his watch. “We have a growing list of assignments that require our attention. If you need me, I’m going to be in and out all day today.”
Walsh disappeared into his office. Nic helped Jack clean up second breakfast, or—he looked at his watch—elevenses. Lyla had moved to her desk, and Nic couldn’t help the surprise he’d felt when she so readily accepted Walsh calling Jerry’s case closed.
Maybe she was going to follow through on her assurance to heed authority and be less stubborn. Of course that would happen when he was on his way out...but not gone forever.Right?It was a question he’d wrestled with since Walsh presented him with the opportunity. He knew DeAntona would keep his word and allow Nic to return to SNAP, but would that be for the best?
His gaze moved back to Lyla, who was twisting her hair around a finger as she worked on her laptop. The woman’s personality was as vibrant as the hair color choices she liked surprising them with during certain assignments. Nic had never met anyone who so fully and completely embraced their job. It was like her identity was inextricably wrapped up in the success of each and every assignment. Which wasn’t far from accurate. Without her extensive network of connections across the globe in every facet of business, politics, and society, their work would be a lot harder to complete. But with her mesmerizing personality that made resisting her requests next to impossible and her innate—albeit often impulsive—intuition,Nic credited many of SNAP’s successful assignments to her.
So why did she approach the job with such recklessness? What was driving her to take unnecessary risks? It wasn’t just the Castillo assignment. He put himself in her shoes, and he would’ve done the same thing she did, though that didn’t make him feel better. But in other assignments, when lives weren’t in immediate danger, Lyla still seemed too comfortable stepping into the line of fire.
“Did they sneak something in your smoothie, Nicolás?”
Lyla was staring at him, and he had no idea why. “Sorry?”
“My mom wants to know who all is riding in the drag hunt so we have enough horses available.”
Kekoa stepped out of his office and shook his head vigorously. “Not me.” He jumped into a surf stance. “I ride the waves, not the horses.”
Lyla gave him an exaggerated eye roll. “What about Elinor?”
“Oh, she’s riding.” Kekoa headed toward the kitchen, probably for twelvses. “She’s been so excited, she’s read two books and three equestrian magazines to make sure she knows the right lingo.”
“Please tell her that’s not necessary.” Lyla wrinkled her nose at Nic as if they shared a secret. “The drag hunt is just an informal fox hunt, but no foxes and just for fun. What about you, Jack?”
“Brynn and I will be there.”
“And you, Nicolás?”
“I’ll be there.”
“Good.” She wrote a note and passed him a smile before answering her ringing cell phone.
Nic hadn’t been on a horse in years, but he’d grown up riding and he missed it. And with his pending departure, he wanted to enjoy as much time with herand his teamas possible. Just in case.
“I’m really beginning to think that health nut slipped something into your smoothie.”
Nic blinked at Lyla, who was staring at him again. “What?”
“I think you need some sleep, Nicolás.” She picked up her purse. “My rental car is ready. Can you drop me off?”
“Sure.” Ears warming, Nic tugged his brim down, embarrassed how easy it was to become distracted by her. This was what he’d been trying to convey to Jack the day before. When it came to Lyla, his perspective had become skewed. Distracted. Which meant his mind wasn’t focused on the job. Like he’d told her last night, distraction was dangerous.
Nic did a quick scan of the parking garage when they walked out of the elevator. He unlocked his truck and opened the door for Lyla.
“Thanks for doing this,” Lyla said after he climbed into the driver’s seat. “I know you’re busy.”
“I don’t mind.” He started the engine and did another quick scan of the parking garage before pulling out. “Where to?”
She gave him directions, then bit her lip. “I guess it’s not really that far. I could’ve walked—”
“No,” Nic said far louder than he’d meant to. He ran his palms over the steering wheel, embarrassed. What was wrong with him today? “We’re following Jack’s directive to remain vigilant, remember?”
