Page 51 of What Started In Deception

He nuzzled her skin again. “Let’s take a break from the past. Come take a walk with me at the park.”

She nodded, ready to move on. “Okay.”

Ty kept Lydia close with her hand tucked in his as they walked down the path that veered closer to the river in the shade. They’d grabbed an ice cream cone by the fountains and stopped to talk to a couple of her former students at the playground, yet he couldn’t stop thinking about Lydia’s sad story.

He’d known many of the details of her family’s demise. The FBI was privy to more information than the public. Yet hearing Lydia tell him about her family’s final day had been heartbreaking. Knowing that a mere twist of fate had kept her and her grandmother safely on the ground had left him surprisingly shaken.

She smiled as she looked at him. “This was a great idea. This path is always so pretty in the summer.”

He smiled back, relieved to see that she was no longer haunted by the past. “This is a gorgeous park.”

She nodded. “It really is.”

He pulled her closer, trying to focus on the present—on his job, even as they inched ever closer to a real friendship. “You know, we don’t have a lot of time before we head up north. When do you want me to take you to DC?”

“We could go on Sunday.”

He nodded. “Let’s do it.”

“I really need to visit my gram-gram while I’m there. She broke her hip in May and ended up needing a full hip replacement.”

He nodded again. “I remember hearing about that in the news.”

She nodded this time. “For the most part, she’s fine. When she fell, her bone broke in an odd way, so her hip replacement was pretty complex, but overall, she’s had an excellent recovery.”

“That’s good.”

She nodded again. “She’s been doing some extra physical therapy at the rehab facility. When I talked to her on Sunday, she said she was going to Uncle James and Aunt Cindy’s house next week instead of to her own. They’ll travel up to the compound together, but I should still stop by.”

“I’ll come with you.”

She nearly missed a step as she shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“It’s perfect, actually. Your grandmother will be the first in your family to know that I’m in the picture—that we’re serious enough that you’re bringing me with you.”

Her brow furrowed.

“It’s time, Lyd.”

She held his gaze for several seconds before she nodded. “Okay.”

He pulled her closer. “So, we’ll head up on Sunday?”

She nodded. “Sure.”

“We can head out midmorning-ish and beat some of the traffic if that works for you.”

She nodded again. “All right.”

“Lydia?” A short blonde woman and a tall black-haired man stopped on the path next to them.

Lydia beamed. “Hey, guys.” She broke her connection with Ty, hugging the woman, then the man. “Long time no see.”

“How’s the summer treating you?” the man asked.

Lydia beamed again. “Really well.” She looked at Ty. “These are my friends from work, Jamie and Greg. Jamie and Greg, this is my boyfriend, Ty.”

Ty shook their hands, thrilled that Lydia hadn’t shied away from making introductions. “It’s nice to meet you.”