She leaned forward in her seat, only held back by her loose seatbelt. “This is good news, right? We can find the guy, and he won’t even see us coming.”
Brody chuckled. “That’s my girl. Take them by surprise. We’ll need to find the building and whatever schematics we can find on the place to prepare, and hopefully, we’ll be able to catch this asshole before he does any more damage and more people get hurt.”
Rick shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere; she’ll be in danger.”
Lydia sat back in her seat and laid her head on his shoulder. “It’s too important for you not to go. My family isn’t safe if that man isn’t kept behind bars where he belongs. They need your testimony and I need you to go and give it.”
“No, they can do it without me.”
Lydia lifted her gaze to meet Rick’s. “No, they can’t. You were the one who was after that jerk for years. You know him better than anyone else and what he’s capable of. You need to go.” Lydia lifted her head and glanced around the Hummer. “They’ll keep me safe, and if I get in trouble, I’ll just start tossing people around the room and blow crap up. I can do this. Isn’t that right, Brody?”
Brody turned his head. “Man, we’ll keep her safe. We’ll all be with her and Briggs too, since I know you don’t trust me. But I swear on my word of honor, I’ll keep her safe.”
Rick’s eyes narrowed to slits as he glared at Brody.
“Dude, I’m not screwing with you.”
Lydia was saved from anymore of the embarrassing conversation when they pulled up at the compound. Rick needed to go as much as she needed to stay if her visions could be trusted. She could no more make him do anything than he could make her. The choice was his; all she wanted to do was get him to believe that she would be okay without him. At least physically she would be okay, even if her heart might break.
Lydia’s mouth parted as it dawned on her that in a month’s time since she’d met Rick she’d come to care for her overbearing protector. When the hell had she let that happen? She berated herself. Damn, she needed to call her sisters. It couldn’t be natural to fall that hard so quickly.
Chapter 11
Lydia reheated the coffee that she had made before the “fake” mission that she’d so miserably failed. No matter how hard she tried to keep her mind busy on the task at hand, it kept straying to the man next door. She believed Rick when he’d said he would’ve told her about his trip, but it still sucked.
Lydia took a shower to ease her aching muscles. She’d had a long day, first shopping with Rick, then training with Brody, and then traipsing through the forest. This wasn’t how she was used to spending her days. She’d always been a loner after the death of her friend at a young age; unable to use her gifts to stop the assholes that had killed him. She’d always kept people at arm’s length, never letting anyone get close enough to earn her trust. She couldn’t help but think she might screw up now that she had all of these people relying on her.
Lydia slipped into her new green nightgown and sipped her cup of coffee. The silky material felt good against her skin. She should have purchased more than five of the slinky sheaths. Falling asleep tonight wouldn’t take long.
Lydia hit the off switch on the coffee pot and turned off the lights, settling on her couch in front of the television. She needed a night just to veg out, and it appeared her next few nights were going to be busy. Training and locating the mastermind who threatened her security were her only priorities.
A knock on her door had her swearing. She wasn’t in the mood for company. Not tonight, not after everything that had happened. She yelled through the closed door, “Go away. I’m sleeping.”
“Lydia, open up, it’s me, Rick, and I need to talk to you.”
Lydia dragged herself off the comfortable couch and hit the mute button on the television. She unlocked and pulled her door open. “Shouldn’t you be packing?”
Rick put his hands on her waist, walked her backwards into her suite, and kicked the door closed with his foot. “I’m already packed. I needed to see you.”
Lydia put her hands on her hips. “I’m beat and don’t have the energy to fight with you tonight.”
Rick pulled her into a hug. “I didn’t come here to fight.”
His muscular arms surrounded her. His body pressed flush with hers. He rested his head on top of hers. She let him hold her, enjoying the security she felt in his arms. She normally didn’t allow herself to get this close to anyone. Getting comfortable and caring about someone usually ended up with her getting hurt, but she couldn’t help herself where Rick was concerned. So tonight she lingered and enjoyed the comfort of his arms encasing her.
Rick leaned back and smiled down at her; his thoughts unreadable from his features.
“Feel better?” She asked.