Page 99 of Blind Trust
His gaze dipped to her lips. He fought the heady temptation to kiss her and instead forced himself to release her.
Lyla, her cheeks pink, looked a bit flustered as she brushed her hair from her forehead. She bit her lip. “I’ll go get the shoes.”
With Lyla grabbing their bowling shoes, Nic finished greeting Lyla’s parents, grandparents, and Director Walsh and his wife, Sam, before he walked back to where Kekoa, Elinor, and Jack were putting on their shoes. Brynn was typing their names into the bowling lineup.
“Jack was just telling us that President Guzman declared Christine León a war criminal for her role in providing weapons to rebel forces attacking his soldiers.” Elinor shook her head. “You guys handle some really crazy assignments.”
“Which is why we’re always glad when they’re finished,” Jack said.
Lyla sat next to Nicolás and handed him his shoes, their eyes meeting in agreement that they, too, were glad the assignment was over.
Christine León and Richard Brooks Vale were connected to multiple arms trafficking deals that stretched over two decades. Christine León was facing numerous charges. She’d also had her naturalization revoked for crimes against the United States. It was one of many conspiracy-related headlines that had R.D. Leto busy.
“Okay, no more work chat.” Brynn raised her brows at Kekoa. “Let’s bowl.”
Nic rolled up his jeans and pulled off his boots, only to realize his mistake when he heard Kekoa’s hoot.
“What are those?”
Nic wiggled his toes in the armadillo socks Lyla had given him. “Armadillos.” His cheeks warmed. “Lyla gave them to me.”
“You have it bad, brah.”
“Don’t listen to him.” Elinor smacked Kekoa’s arm. “Love looks good on you.”
“You wore them.”
Nic glanced up and found Lyla standing with her hands clasped under her chin. She walked toward him, reached for his hand, and brought him up to his feet. His heart pounded heavy against his ribs. He brushed his knuckles along her cheek.
“Go on, brah, kiss her.”
Laughter echoed around them, causing Nic’s cheeks to burn and Lyla to smile. He gently cradled the back of her neck as Lyla wound her arms around his waist. Built-up anticipation had led to this moment, and he wanted to savor every second of it.
“Lyla, with your family, our boss and friends as witnesses, even the crazy Hawaiian, with me in my armadillo socks, I’d like to ask permission to kiss y—”
She kissed him, silencing the rest of his request, and he closed his eyes. The noise around him disappeared as her lips softly explored his for several seconds. When she pulled back, the intensity in her gaze stole his breath.
“Finally,” Elinor said.
“Maestro,” Kekoa called out to the DJ, and the music in the bowling alley changed to the twangy song “Rhinestone Cowboy.”
Nic shook his head as Lyla giggled, but before the moment was gone—or Kekoa interrupted—he twisted her around in his arms, dipped her backward, and kissed her with all the passion of someone who’d risk his heart over and over again for the chance to be loved by such a woman as Lyla Anne Fox.
