Executive Protection(76)

“Might as well call it a night,” Darcy said. “Avery is making dinner tonight. This isn’t going anywhere anyway.”

Darcy going home to his new love preparing dinner made Thad think of Lucy. Before he’d seen her held against her will with a pistol to her head, Darcy’s romantic comment would have bothered him. Now he felt agreement.

The investigation wasn’t going anywhere between now and tomorrow. Besides, there was something he wanted to do before going back to the estate...and Lucy.

“Is Lucy okay? She had quite a scare,” Darcy said.

“She’s doing fine. Staying at the estate to be safe. Mike was one shooter. There might be more.” Thad went over some pages he’d found in Wade’s desk drawer.

“Yeah.” Darcy closed the file cabinet drawer and moved to the messy bookshelf. “I get nervous about living with Avery. I’m afraid for her safety, too. Wade isn’t a threat anymore but that doesn’t mean the threat is gone.”

No. The opposite. The threat was greater than ever.

Darcy picked up a gaudy bear figurine that was left from Christmas, turning it in his hand for inspection.

“Have your feelings changed for Lucy?” Darcy put the bear back on the shelf and faced him.

Thad continued to study the pages he held, but a grin formed on his mouth.

Darcy chuckled. “I knew it.”

“Excuse me, Agent Winston.”

Thad looked toward the office door to see Gladys, the receptionist. She’d stayed to take care of the basic needs of the team and assisting in any office logistics that came up, like tracking down other officers or sending faxes or emails. A lot went into a crime scene investigation, and Gladys had the stomach for it.

“We just got a call from the Wake County Coroner’s Office.”

What now?

“Andrew Lindeman’s body was found on the side of a country road. He was shot in the head.”

Thad slapped down the stack of papers he’d been going through onto the desk. Great. Everyone who could tell him something about the political organization behind all this madness was either dead or not talking.

“They’ll send over the autopsy report once it’s completed.”

“Thanks, Gladys. You might as well go home. We’re wrapping this up for the night.”

She hesitated in the doorway. “Are you sure? I’m glad to stay and help.”

“I know. I’ve got to get back to my mother’s estate.”

He saw her ascertain that meaning. Apparently someone had told her he was taken. Lucy was also staying at Kate’s. Rumor did have its advantages. He didn’t want Gladys having any false hopes for him. She always flirted with him, but he was no longer available.

Six weeks ago, he’d have cringed at that notion. Now it just felt...natural.

* * *

Lucy closed the book she and Sophie had read together. Sophie had started out with the reading, and Lucy had taken over when her eyes began to droop. Sophie’s reading had improved by leaps and bounds over the past few weeks. Lucy had worked with her diligently and it had paid off.

Putting the book down, she turned off the light and bent to kiss Sophie on her forehead. While Thad had spent the day working, she’d been busy taking care of Sophie’s future. With a smile on the inside, she left the room. Going downstairs for something to drink before she went to bed, she heard Thad talking to Kate and a spark of gladness hit her. They were in the informal sitting room, Kate with a book facedown on her lap and a steaming cup of tea on the dainty side table, Thad standing nearby, loosening his tie.


He saw her, and warmth for her smoothed the tension from his face.

“I was just asking Thad where he’s been,” Kate said. “I called the station at six and Gladys said you left.”

It was after eight now.

“I had an errand to run.” Thad turned to Lucy. “We need to talk.”

Kate perked up. She stood from the chair. “I’ll leave you two alone.”

“No,” Thad said. “You might as well hear this, too. You’re as much invested in this as we are.”

Lucy eyed him with a silent, Invested in what? He was acting strange. She hadn’t had much opportunity to talk to him since Mike held her hostage, but his entire demeanor had changed. The way he looked at her, all warm and full of intimacy.

He took her hands. “Lucy, meeting you has taught me a few things.”

Hope flew high as a kite and she had to hang on before it got away from her. What was this all about? She dared not speculate.

“The first and most important is that I should never say never. I never thought I’d fall in love with anyone. I didn’t believe in love. But, Lucy, I do love you.”

“Thad...”

“Shh.” He lifted her hands and kissed the top of one. “I was afraid if I admit I could or did love you, that I’d be forced to marry you.”

“Thad, wait.” She had to tell him what she did today.

“Lucy, I was wrong. It’s okay if I love you. In fact, it’s a good thing.”

Oh, dear God...

“Love isn’t the problem. Love is what makes a relationship great. It—”

“Thad, I’m going to adopt Sophie,” she said before he could go on.

That stopped him short. He stared at her, his hands squeezing hers briefly.