Page 56 of What Started In Deception

She picked up the remote, powering on the TV screen, giving them a look at their streaming options. “Do we want to watch a movie?”

“That works for me.” He settled back against his favorite corner cushion, lifting his feet to cross his ankles on the coffee table like he often did. “So, I know we’re leaving for DC on Sunday. Are we getting together tomorrow?”

She selected the HBO app before she looked at him. “We can in the morning, but I have plans in the afternoon. I have a date with my best girl.”

“With Everly?”

Her spine snapped straight as she looked at the screen again.

He studied her rigid posture in the suddenly tense silence, surprised that her guard had come up—that she wouldn’t answer him. “Everly’s your best girl, right?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Can I sit in on your story time?”

She shook her head, still staring at the television. “That’s my special time with her.”

“Will you look at me?”

She turned her head, meeting his gaze.

He stared into her eyes for several long seconds, recognizing the familiar protective light that he hadn’t seen in days. “What’s going on? What just happened?”

She jerked her stiff shoulders. “Everly has nothing to do with any of this—with the FBI or your case. She’s an innocent little girl.”

“I’m going to meet her eventually.”

“Not tomorrow.” She stood, heading toward the kitchen.

He got up, following her. “Everly’s part of the equation. So’s Maverick. I’m investigating their father.”

She kept her back turned to him as she gripped the counter. “I’m well aware.”

“We’re going to have to talk about Massachusetts at some point. You’re going to have to share that part of your life with me.” Because thus far, she’d been closemouthed about the Monroes.

“I’m not ready.”

He kept his distance, standing on the opposite side of the island. “That’s okay for tonight, but you’re going to have to get ready. We’re running out of time.”

She moved toward the stairs without looking at him.

He hurried after her, snagging her by the arm, turning her to face him. “Where’s this coming from all of a sudden?”

She jerked her shoulders as she darted a glance at him, then looked at the floor. “I don’t know. I’m not entirely sure.” She shrugged again as she met his gaze. “I guess sometimes I forget what all of this is about—what the endgame actually is. Most of the time, it’s hard to believe that all of this is truly happening. Then I have these moments where reality punches me in the face.”

“I’m not going to hurt those kids. I don’t want to hurt your family.”

She took a step back as she crossed her arms—a defensive gesture that he didn’t like at all. “But you’re willing to. If push comes to shove, you will.”

He couldn’t deny that this conversation was taking him by complete surprise. Things had been great between the two of them for days. Lydia had let her guard down around him, but clearly not when it came to her family. She obviously still felt like she needed to protect them from him. “Lyd⁠—”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

“Okay. We can table it for now, but I need you to know that I’m going to do everything in my power to take care with Will and Senator Monroe. I’m going to take care with you. I hope you can see that I mean that.”

She held his gaze, the fierceness vanishing from her eyes as she swallowed. Now there was naked vulnerability instead.

“I’m going to take care with you, Lyd,” he said again, needing her to believe him.