When they returned to the SUV, Nutmeg resettled himself on Lena's lap, looking as relaxed and pampered as the Maltipoo royalty he was, and smelling like . . . like he'd been to a spa.
Nash started the engine and gave Lena what he hoped was good news.
"You're not staying at Emil's house tonight."
Her back straightened. "What? Why?"
"It's not safe. It wasn't safe before, and it'sdefinitely notworth the risk now. With two murders in the past twenty-four hours, I sense there's some kind of clock ticking down. People are getting antsy, desperate."
"Emil?"
Nash nodded. "And others. Emil's men didn't kill the safecracker, but they did kill the man who moved her body."
Lena sucked in a breath of air and shut her eyes. He didn't need to revisit all the gruesome details. Time to focus on the good news.
"I talked to Jason. You and I are staying at The Mandeville tonight. It's safer. We'll have more control over our surroundings. Jason, Knox, and Allie are here, and they can keep an eye on us from a distance and intercede if we need any help."
"It sounds good," she said. "But what do we tell Delphine? What reason do wegive—"
"We're going back to Emil's house for now. When we get there, act natural around Delphine for a little while. I'm going to tinker with the air conditioning unit at the main house. I can make sure it's not working. On a day like today . . ." He glanced out the windshield, shook his head, and cranked up the AC. "It'll start feeling uncomfortable in a little over an hour at the most. Delphine will notice the AC's not blowing cool air. She'll check it and realize it's not working. About that time you need to complain that it's too stuffy in your room. If she doesn't immediately suggest it, you insist that Nutmeg needs to stay somewhere with air conditioning, and that you don't want to have to tell Victoria that Nutmeg got overheated. You can suggest The Mandeville, or I will. I'm gonna try to find a reason to be around. If Delphine pushes back on the idea, I'll convince her."
He backed out of the space and turned to leave the parking lot. "We can make this work, I promise. We'll be back here in about two hours. Just don't let Delphine see you packing up your things before she's agreed we're leaving."
For the first time in hours, Nash saw an almost-smile grace Lena's delicate features.
"I like your plan," she said. "It will work. Delphine knows how particular Victoria is about Nutmeg. Relocating to The Mandeville for his comfort won't seem like an overreaction to her. She'll probably insist on it."
Her almost-smile grew into a full-fledged grin. The admiration shining in her eyes buffed out some of the dents on his battered heart.
His professional concern about her safety had morphed into personal feelings about her well-being. Her happiness.
Yeah. He was falling for her. Not the time to tell her that. Besides, he wasn't confident she'd return any feelings toward him other than gratitude for keeping her safe.
Doesn't matter right now. Focus on the mission. Maybe you get the girl in the end, and maybe you don't. Her safety is priority one. Focus, Stone.
Lena's stomach tightened as Nash turned down the private road to Emil's estate. Returning to the main house, she felt exponentially more nervous than she'd felt on that first day. When she'd had to talk herself into walking up thefront steps. Before everything got so much more dangerous.
She reminded herself she wouldn't have to stay the night in that house.Thank goodness.
She glanced at Nash. She'd been so grateful for his plan minutes ago that she'd nearly hugged him.
Even Nutmeg seemed nervous to be returning to his home. Maybe the fresh-from-the-spa Maltipoo was picking up on her own trepidation. She rubbed his chest and patted his back in soothing circles.
"He really does smell like vanilla and lavender," she said.
Nash's mouth quirked up. "Well, I'm glad Victoria got her money's worth."
She nuzzled Nutmeg's head. "You're worth every penny, aren't you, Nutmeg?"
A car drove toward them on the long private road. As it approached, Lena realized it was Delphine's car.
Delphine and Nash both slowed to a stop when their driver's windows were parallel. They both lowered their windows.
"I need to leave early today," Delphine said. "Something's come up." She leaned her head to look around Nash and made eye contact with Lena. "I ordered you fourdresses from the boutique at The Mandeville. They're in your room. Feel free to try them on and pick any one you like for the party tomorrow night."
"Oh, thank you."
"I hope everything's okay," Nash said, obviously probing.
