Yes, the party was a good idea.
She just hoped Nash agreed.
Chapter 8
Lena hopped back into the SUV with Nutmeg and shut her door. "I didn’t plan that."
Nash started the engine and reached for his seatbelt. "I know."
"I really didn’t. Nutmeg needed to get out. He needed to walk around in the grass. It was an emergency. As soon as he was finished, I was about to—"
Instead of driving off, Nash leaned back in his seat and rubbed his temples. He wished he could unsee the way Emil ogled Lena. "I know. I believe you."
"Then why do you look mad?"
"Not mad at you. Emil is a creep. That's all." Thief or not, Nash wanted to drop-kick the billionaire into the ocean for staring at her like a piece of meat. Good thing he didn't try to touch her. Nash would've come unglued. And blown his cover.
Steady, Stone. Don't get too protective. That doesn't lead to anything good.
She unclipped Nutmeg's leash. "You know, this isn’t a bad thing. He invited us to a party. Cassidy will be there. Right? Did . . . did you see Cassidy on the boat?"
The desperate hope glistening in her eyes nicked his heart. Painfully.
"No. I only talked to Emil. But I was able to plant two bugs. They'll pick up speech on the main deck. That’s the best I could do for now. I’ll go back and listen to what the bugs pick up. If I hear Cassidy’s voice, I’ll let you know."
She pulled Nutmeg to her chest. The dog was clearly comforting her more than he could.
She twisted in her seat to face him. "But the party, we’re going to go, aren’t we? I mean, if you don't find Cassidy sooner? If it’s a party, Cassidy will have to be there. If she’s not . . ."
Her worries flooded out of her mouth, faster and faster, volume and pitch rising with the flow. "If she’s not at that party, then something’s very, very wrong. If Emil’s vacationing on his superyacht in the Caribbean with his girlfriend, then she’s on the yacht. She has to be there, Nash. She has to be."
Her voice cracked on the last word.
She turned and faced her window. He guessed she was trying to hide the emotion he could plainly hear in her voice. "Actually, it really doesn’t make sense for me not to go down there right now."
He readied himself to pull her back into the car if she opened her door. He cared—maybe more than he should—about her feelings for her cousin, but he wouldn't let her run onto that boat and put herself in danger. Marshaling empathy and firmness into his words, he leaned toward her. "Yes, it does."
She didn't reach for the door handle. Small victory.
He tugged her arm. And spoke to the back of her head. "Lena, he’s hiding Cassidy from your family. I’m sure he’s convinced her it’s for her own protection since she’s a suspect in the theft, but really he’s protecting himself, which makes crossing him dangerous."
She turned from the window, but Nutmeg—not reading the room, or maybe he was—planted his paws on her chest and licked her face. Some of the fight left her spine. Maybe the furball knew what he was doing.
His fingers brushed her arm. "Lena, that’s a big boat. We can't run in blind. I counted three security guards on boardwhen I talked to Emil. I don't know who else is on board. We need to play this smart. I know you're anxious to see Cassidy, but I won't risk your safety by rushing this."
Her lower lip trembled.
And it took a considerable amount of self-control not to wrap her in his arms. Which wasn't okay. He needed to check himself. Yes, she was a beautiful woman with a list of qualities he admired, but she also reminded him of the woman who taught him that love wasn't enough.
He'd keep Lena safe. He'd do his best for Cassidy. And that was all.
Needing something to do besides reaching for Lena, he pointlessly fiddled with the rearview mirror. "I need you to wait another forty-eight hours. I’ll come back for the party. You're right. Cassidy should be at the party. And if she's not, my team will refocus its search."
Raising a finger to silence her inevitable complaint, he continued. "You going to the party isn't a good idea." For more reasons than he cared to explain. "I'm glad Emil thinks you're coming, though. We need to keep our covers for now. Go ahead and try on the dresses or whatever Delphine brings you. Act like you're excited about the party, but that night you can fake a migraine or something."
The steel in her eyes forewarned the sharp rebuttal about to deploy.
He should shield himself.
