Page 85 of What Started In Deception

“Have a good night,” Will said as he hooked his arm around Mac’s shoulders as they walked toward the glass doors on the back of the house.

Ty captured Lydia’s hand again, heading toward her car. “How are you doing after that?”

She nodded. “It felt okay. Mostly, I felt like I was introducing my boyfriend to my family.”

He tossed her a wink, relieved that she seemed relaxed—that the time they’d spent together had made this a little easier for her. “Good.”

She stopped next to the hood. “You’re going to work out with Will in the mornings?”

He nodded. “It’ll be a good opportunity to start to get to know him.”

“Like how you got to know me?”

He studied her eyes, recognizing the familiar protective light that always seemed to be there when it came to her family and him. Apparently, she wasn’t quite as relaxed as he thought, as the stirrings of tension came rushing back between them. “Will and I are going to lift some weights and talk.”

She nodded as she moved toward the driver’s seat.

“Hold up,” he said, snagging her by the wrist, stopping her before she could reach for the door.

How the hell did he explain to her that she was different? When it came to the role she played in the operation. When it came to the way he felt about her. Because Lydia had become so much more than just his cooperator. “What you and I have… You’re important to me, Lyd.”

She nodded as she pulled away from him, reaching for the door handle this time, clearly not entirely believing him.

He grabbed her for the second time, turning her back to face him. “You’re important.”

“Okay,” she said, holding his gaze. “Just be careful with my cousin. He’s important, too.”

He nodded. “I already promised you that I would be. I’ve shown you that you can trust me so far. Give me a chance to show you that you still can.”

She nodded this time.

He stepped closer, stroking his knuckles along her jaw because he couldn’t seem to help himself. “Eat pizza with me, Lyd.”

She let her eyes close as she moved into his touch. “All right.”

He stroked her soft skin some more. “Hold my hand and walk on the beach with me after.”

She nodded again as she looked at him. “Okay.”

“Are we okay?”

She sent him a small smile. “Yes.”

Smiling back, he let her go and got in on his side as she got in on hers. He needed to text Nick and let his new “friend” know that he’d made contact with Will, but that would have to wait until later. Making sure that he and Lydia were truly back to good mattered more.

Chapter Twenty

Ty glanced at the bedside clock as he inched his way out of bed, being careful not to wake Lydia as she slept sprawled out on her stomach. He made fast work of heading toward his bag, pulling on clean shorts and fresh socks, paying little attention to the gorgeous beachy views just outside the windows.

He didn’t have time to admire the pink-hued sky or watch the water rush against the sand. The only thing he was focused on was getting out of the house while Lydia was still asleep.

Today was officially a workday, which meant he couldn’t afford any distractions. And Lydia and her big hazel eyes were the definition of the ultimate distraction.

It was time to focus on his job and only his job, and currently, that meant chatting with Will Monroe again. Building a relationship to betray it—something that had never been a problem for him as an undercover agent until Lydia came along.

He glanced at her again, studying the way the early morning sunlight played across her stunning face, then headed downstairs, pulling on his shoes before he quietly left.

Starting down the path to the main house, he looked toward the ocean waves, mercilessly squashing any stirrings of guilt for doing what he’d been sent there to do. He would take care with Lydia’s family like he’d promised her he would, but it would be easier all the way around if Will and the senator weren’t doing anything worth reporting to the brass.