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“The music festival is gaining momentum. I heard Juliet talking about it with some friends while I was working on the yacht.”
Nina’s dark eyes went wide. “Oh, wow! That just made my day. You should come with us next time. But girls only.”
Lila chuckled. “That would be wonderful.” She meant it. Returning to Brookwell would mean taking the time with friends. And she’d definitely need some girlfriend therapy and a few fresh faces to get over Travis when the time came.
Although she wasn’t sure getting over him was something she could achieve in this lifetime.
But that wasn’t today’s problem.
“Tell me about your current favorite band,” Lila said.
Nina’s face brightened and she launched into a full description of the sound, musicians, and latest performance of a band she’d been following. She pulled out her phone and sent Lila a link to their video. “They’re really good. I have a playlist on repeat when I’m alone in the shop.”
“I can’t wait to give them a listen,” Lila promised.
Her phone rang with a call from the bakery. Not recognizing the number, Lila let it go to voicemail and kept chatting. When the icon appeared a few minutes later, Lila checked the text display. Seeing it, her skin iced. “Nina, I’m sorry, but I need to go.”
“Are you okay? It’s not more bad news?”
“No.” It was horrifying actually. “I’m fine,” Lila bluffed. “Travis and Will just have a couple of questions for me.”
Nina popped to her feet and gave Lila a quick hug. “Seriously, Lila. If you need anything, please give me a call.”
“I will.” Lila watched Nina walk out and then headed outside to call Travis.
Maybe this was finally the contact they’d been waiting for. The demand that would allow them to capture the thief behind this entire ordeal.
Chapter 13
Travis had rushed over as soon as Lila called. Standing with her now, under the soft shade of the pergola on the clinic patio, Travis hit replay, listening to the threatening message again and again, trying to pick up any details.
Tonight, Ms. Copeland. Take the last ferry to the Waterfront Park stop. Choose a swing and wait. Bring it all with you or I’ll burn down your bakery and the whole damn block with it.
He swore and listened once more. “Connor should hear this.”
Lila brushed his arm. “Isn’t he monitoring my phone?”
“Yes. Yes,” Travis repeated. He was supposed to be the calm professional here, but that message, with the voice distortion and threatening tone, sent him over the edge. Were they really dealing with an arsonist ready to escalate, or just a desperate, bluffing thief? Sending Lila to a meet without anything to trade? Not if he could help it.
“He’s probably already pinning down where the call originated.”
“Good,” Lila said. “Do you think it’s the woman? Does she have a partner?”
She must. She had some kind of network or a system, definitely. No single person could have accomplished this from making the drop on the yacht at the marina in Miami to the trouble here. “Doesn’t matter to me as long as this ends.”
Lila gazed up at him. “I agree.” She swiped her hands on her jeans. “Tell me what you need.”
Her. He needed her. “Pardon?”
“What should I wear or do? How do you want me to prepare for this meet? We don’t have much time.”
“No.” The denial was instant, immediate. And absolutely necessary. “It can’t be you.” He wouldn’t let her storm into harm’s way. He loved her. Didn’t matter that it wasn’t practical. Didn’t matter that it had happened too fast. It was real. Her welfare was suddenly his only focus, far more important than any job or case.
“I’ll talk to Jess. We’ll—”
“Me.” She rested her hands on his chest, then reached up to stroke the muscle ticking in his jaw. “Let me do this,” she said. “They expect it to be me anyway.”
“But it’s not you,” he protested. “Neither of us has the loot they’re after.”
