But today he was alone and he looked haggard, gaunt even. It wasn’t only because of the fear from yesterday. It was the result of weeks, months, of having to allow events around him to govern his decisions and actions. There’d been no one to work with and no way for him to take constructive steps.
All he’d been able to do was hide and swallow a hundred not-so-subtle indignities handed to him by police and the district attorney.
Well. He’d changed the game. And the person with him was a different kind of protector. Perhaps she could be convinced to become an ally. Otherwise, the next few days were going to be very, very long.
Wrapping a towel around his waist, he stepped out into the bedroom area. Lizzy was on the small sofa in the sitting area tapping away at her laptop. But there was a change in her appearance. Same clothes, but her hair was slightly mussed. A few more strands of dark hair had escaped from the knot at the back of her head. The skin of her neck glistened slightly with sweat.
She actually had taken the opportunity to exercise while he’d been in the shower.
He was disappointed he’d missed it. Then again, it was entirely possible and probably likely she wouldn’t have exercised if he hadn’t given her the relative privacy of going into the bathroom. Perhaps he should develop a longer morning routine in the bathroom to give her more time. It wouldn’t hurt him for a day or two.
Lizzy stood then. “I’m going to head out to check on a lead and grab some food. It won’t be long. Are you going to want restaurant takeout or would you be okay with fast food?”
She didn’t even blink at his state of dress. Or lack thereof. There hadn’t been a hitch in her voice or any sign of discomfiture, definitely no sign of interest. If nothing else, she was a lesson to his pride. He was used to women drooling, or stuttering at the very least.
“I’m going with you.” He reached for his clothes.
“No, you’re not.” Her tone was matter-of-fact.
He turned to face her, clothes in hand. “The last time you left, there was an issue shortly after you returned. Before you joined my protective detail, I was attacked while my police escort had left me in the hotel room.”
Her lips pressed together. “You were attacked in the elevator lobby, not where you were supposed to be.”
“And I doubt it would have gone as well if they’d found me in my hotel, as I’ve mentioned to many. Those men knew where to find me. It was only luck I encountered them in a public area.” He kept his voice reasonable, no added sarcasm. He got the impression she’d shut him down if he went his usual route. Besides, her own tone had remained reasonable thus far. “While staying here might be the usual policy, I respectfully disagree with the plan because it’s what seems to be the standard. I strongly feel I would be safer directly at your side at all times. I will follow your instructions when we are outside, you have my word, but I most definitely will not if you leave me here to my own devices.”
Perhaps ending with an implied threat hadn’t been the best way to finish out his statement, but he was at the end of his patience with cooperating.
He struggled to maintain a respectful, rational tone. “I make much better decisions when I’m not going insane hiding in a tiny, dark place, hoping the bad guys don’t find me. At least let me remain in the loop with your line of investigation.”
Lizzy stood motionless and silent for so long, he was starting to feel the chill of the air-conditioning against his skin. Finally, she sighed. “I’ll show you what I plan to go check out. That doesn’t mean you’re going with me. But first, get your damn clothes on.”
He grinned. She had noticed.
Chapter Eleven
Kyle leaned over to study the building. He wasn’t touching her but he was inside her personal space. Hell, she wasn’t sure if his body heat was actually warming her skin through her shirt or if her mind was doing bad, bad things to her at the thought of his proximity.
“You think the shooter you’re hunting down was in this building?” Kyle didn’t seem to notice her issues.
Good. He really shouldn’t ever know how much her body was trying to convince her chemistry was a good thing.
She tightened her jaw and tapped the screen. “It’s an old neighborhood and just about every other building in the area is fully developed with either office space or tenants living on every floor. This one has several of the top floors not only vacant but under renovation.”
“The top floors.” Kyle chuckled. “There’s at least one well-established business on the third floor and several others on the first and second.”
She craned her neck to look at him and had to lean back to avoid accidental contact. He’d been leaning in very close. Ostensibly to see the laptop screen. Which was fair. Sure. “And you know this how?”