Rick put his hand on Lydia’s back and steered her back up Main Street to where they had parked the borrowed SUV. “We need to leave. Now!”
Rick clenched his jaw and did his best not to show his concern. He took in everyone they passed, searching for additional threats.
Lydia slid onto the black leather seat of the SUV.
The ride back to the compound had been in uncomfortable silence. The tension was thick, and he didn’t know how to fix it. He’d almost screwed up by giving her space, and on top of that, she was mad.
****
Lydia couldn’t shake Rick’s comment. His being with her was a favor to her family, regardless of the attraction they shared that was like a living, breathing thing. She’d made it a point not to get into relationships, mainly due to trying to keep her gifts a secret, but with him, she’d thought she might try and take a chance. Until now. Now she’d confirmed her first thought. It would never work between them. It was better to find out now then before she fell head over heels for the man, if she hadn’t already.
He’d intrigued her from the moment they’d met back in Southall. He was a paint-by-numbers kind of guy, and she never could color inside the lines. They were doomed from the start, and she had kidded herself that they could be anything more.
The man that had bumped into her hadn’t really been a threat that she couldn’t have handled herself. With a flick of a finger and a bunch of witnesses, she could have handled the beady-eyed man. Why Rick was giving off angry vibes confused her. She was the one with the right to be mad.
Lydia didn’t wait for Rick to put the SUV into park, before she hopped out. She made her way to the silver box and slid in the card that Jonah had given her so she wouldn’t ruin any more of his toys. The door buzzed open, and she trooped down the hall, carrying her bags, trying not to think about the man behind her.
“Thanks for not blowing up another one.” Jonah smiled as she passed.
“No problem,” Lydia mumbled. She’d learn to bottle up her emotions like Brody had told her if it was the last thing she did.
General Lister stood outside of his doorway and watched as Rick followed in behind her a few seconds later. “Thompson, in my office,” He bellowed his demand that carried throughout the central office.
The General retreated behind the closed door. Lydia tried her best to ignore the curious glances cast her way. It was obvious that she and Rick had some type of disagreement, but as far as she was concerned, it was none of their damn business. She’d gone from upset to pissed in the amount of time it had taken them to get back to the compound. She wasn’t mad at him per se. She was mad at herself for believing that she could have normal when she was anything but.
Lydia dropped her bags inside her door and quickly changed into her workout clothes and stomped out of the “presidential suite” with one goal in mind. She needed Brody. She was ready to throw his ass around a room and watch him bounce off walls. Her energy was spiked, and she needed an outlet, one that Rick couldn’t give her. She went in search of the flirt.
It didn’t take her long to find him. She found him in the cafeteria in a heated conversation with Jaime. Lydia had meant to back out without being seen, but they caught her. She cleared her throat and walked over to the table. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Lydia glanced at Brody. “But I thought we could train for a while if you have the time.”
Brody stood. “Anything for you, Red.” He leaned over the table and raised his brow as he spoke to Jaime. “This conversation isn’t over, just postponed.”
She stood and grabbed her tray to walk away. “Sure it is. I have nothing more to report… yet.”
****
Brody threw his arm around Lydia’s shoulder. “You missed me, didn’t you? I can see it in your face.”
Lydia rolled her eyes as they traipsed down the hall. “No, not really. Just wanted to kick your ass for a while.”
Brody laughed. “Touché. I take it your shopping trip didn’t go very well. Did Romeo piss you off or were your favorite jeans out of stock?”
Brody put his hand on the metal box and entered the training room behind Lydia.
“He has a name, and it’s not Romeo, and there’s nothing wrong with me. I’m fine.”
Brody glanced down at her ass and mumbled beneath his breath. “You can say that again.”
Lydia concentrated on the stool she couldn’t manage to control at her last session and flung it toward Brody’s head. He barely managed to duck in time. “Damn, woman. At least warn me next time.”
Lydia lowered her lashes. “Sorry… I just want to learn to master this curse so I can leave.”
Brody held up his hands. “Whoa, Red. You want to leave me already? I guess Thompson really screwed things up. You want to talk about it?”
Did she… uh, that would be a resounding no, at least not with him. “You’re my teacher, not my therapist. So teach.”
“Okay… but first I need to say something.”