“If something seems off, ifyoudecide it’s too dangerous...I’ll trust your decision. We can leave and call the police.”
Lyla prepared to leave as if her assurance was enough to silence all the doubt and questions roaring in Nic’s head about his ability to work with her. But what choice did he have? Lyla wasn’t going to sit back and let Jerry get away with whatever postmortem plan he’d set in motion.
And someone needed to keep Terrel Baldwin safe from Lyla.
10
Lyla pressed the button on the espresso machine inside the SNAP Agency kitchen. The sound of the grinding beans soothed her frazzled nerves but did nothing to calm the shaky feeling inside. She didn’t need any caffeine, but if she was going to survive the drive with Nicolás, she needed liquid courage.
His agreeing to talk to Terrel hadn’t come easily, even after her promises. The wariness she caught in those hazel eyes of his made her feel terrible. Could she blame him? She was surprised Walsh hadn’t fired her on the spot.
When she had finally escaped Mrs. Davenport’s matchmaking, Lyla had grabbed her laptop out of the rental car to get some work done, only to find her computer wouldn’t turn on. At all. Not even plugged in. Panic kicked in after she’d called Kekoa and heard the alarm in his voice when he told her to get back to the office.
How could she have been so stupid? Why hadn’t she turned around in the alley and left? Why hadn’t she called one of the guys when she saw the car? Why had she opened that flash drive?
There was only one answer to these questions, and it proved Nicolás was right—her impulsivity was not just a risk to herself. She’d now put the agency and potentially her family at risk too.
After pulling a travel mug out of the cabinet, she made quick work of her vanilla latte—extra cinnamon—and grabbed another mug and filled it with plain black coffee. She’d meant what she said. If Nicolás gave her any direction, she would listen. Followthrough. Because more than anything, she wanted to prove to him that she could be trusted. All she had to do was control her impulsive, stubborn, sometimes reckless nature and be who he wanted her to be.
Tears stung the back of her eyes.Fearfully and wonderfully made—except when it didn’t fit someone else’s definition.
“How you doin’, sis?”
“Good.” Lyla quickly wiped at her eyes, then busied herself twisting the lids onto the mugs. “Fine.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Do you need a little Hawaiian aloha?”
“No.” She held up her hands, shaking her head. “I’m good.”
“Aw, come on, sis.” Kekoa closed in on her in two strides and wrapped her in a hug that smushed her face against his chest. “Now, see?” He petted her head. “Everything is better.”
“Vrthing’s dahk.” Lyla tried pulling her head back, but like a python of love, Kekoa’s grip tightened gently. She opened her mouth, eating her own hair as she tried again. “Ke-ko...can’t breev.”
A rumble echoed in his chest, vibrating against her cheek as he started laughing. The movement caused his muscular arms to contract, crushing Lyla with every breath. This was not the way she imagined dying.
She managed to wriggle an arm free and with a deep breath of readiness, she reached up and tickled him beneath his arm.
“Bahh!” Kekoa half screamed and half laughed, his arms unwinding instantly, but the relief was short-lived as he pushed her away with such force that she stumbled back into the couch and nearly lost her balance before he caught her. “Sis,” he wheezed, “why you gotta go for the tickle?”
“Me?” She yanked her arm from his grasp and began smoothing the rat’s nest he’d turned her hair into. “You were suffocating me.”
Kekoa’s eyebrows danced. “With aloha.”
Lyla rolled her eyes. “Homicide is still homicide, even if it’s hiding behind a hula skirt.”
“Kane wear malo, not hula skirts.”
“What’s a malo?”
The corners of his lips lifted in a snicker. “A loincloth.”
“Oof.” Lyla cringed, closing her eyes. “Not the image I needed.”
Kekoa’s laughter drew her gaze back to him, and his goofy smile soon had her smiling and laughing with him. It was a nice relief to the tension that had gripped her all day.
“Thanks.” She took a deep breath. “I needed that.”
“Garcia was less grateful.” Kekoa pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge. “Was like hugging a barracuda.”
