Ah. He should rectify the situation in regard to trust. It wouldn’t matter what he told her, so much as how he actioned on his stated intent. Things like trust, respect and integrity took a much higher priority when he held each of those for another person. And he did for her.
“I would be disingenuous if I tried to claim you were incorrect in your suspicions. The temptation to go out and attempt to take control of the course of events would’ve gotten to be too much if I’d had to wait long.” The admission cost him little to say out loud and he was still amused as he continued to walk at the pace she set. Ahead and around them, the tour group walked along overtaking other people on the street here and there.
“We need to know more.” It surprised him when she commented, but she kept to a conversational tone. “Coming after you is one thing, but investing in retrieving your family from Korea? The news coverage? That’s more exposure than I’d thought they’d be willing to risk. Knowing why is going to be key to making sure you all come out of this okay.”
The group stopped at a street corner, waiting for the traffic signals to turn.
Kyle started forward and had to gently tug Lizzy along. Her gaze was raised upward and she appeared to be a tourist enjoying the city skyline as they walked. Once the group reached the opposite corner, they paused again for a bit of history and a witty story from the tour guide. Lizzy’s attention seemed to have been caught by a storefront.
He leaned close and made sure to brush his lips ever so slightly over the shell of her ear. “Are you studying your reflection or the store?”
Her hand tightened on his arm as she huffed out a laugh. “The reflection and it’s not mine. I’m checking out the area around us for potential issues.”
“Is there anything I can do?” An itch developed between his shoulder blades. He rolled his shoulders uncomfortably.
Her gaze remained on the storefront. “Not really. If you spend time trying to spot dangerous people, you’ll look suspicious. It’s better if I keep an eye out. You keep your head down, turned toward me or looking at things in storefronts. Makes it harder to get a good look at your face.”
As much as he’d wanted to get out of the confined space of the hotel, she wasn’t making this outing enjoyable. Then again, he appreciated it. “I am very glad you don’t let me forget myself.”
“It’s what I do.” Her simple response was reassuring and unsettling at the same time.
Nervous, he studied the reflection in the glass pane and only saw buildings. Then he looked through the glass to the goods displayed. “Do spare a moment to admire the designer shoes too.”
Silence.
He glanced at her and butterflies tickled his throat. Dusky rose spread over her cheeks. He coughed to cover his laugh. “I’m partial to the nude pair with the dusting of crystals across the heel. I think it would lengthen your already very shapely legs.”
She bit her lip, then tugged him to continue forward with the tour group. “I liked those and the strappy red ones too.”
More and more fun. “Not the pink ones with the silk rose over the toe?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Not so into flowers on the shoes. Maybe a bow once in a while if they’re simple and elegant. The flowers, not so much, and I definitely don’t like fur or feathers.”
This time he did laugh. He had noticed those set in the corner of the display. Meant more for wear with lingerie than for going out, he’d bet. “I’m surprised you have this much of an opinion on heels.”
There was a pause. “Okay, I have a thing for shoes. I don’t get to wear them often, but when I do, I like pretty shoes.”
He was delighted.
“Enough with the frilly stuff.” Her tone turned brisk. “I need some critical thinking. We’re missing something about your former employer and the projects you used to manage. Is there anything you didn’t mention before?”
Kyle hesitated. He had resolved to testify and expose his mistakes in order to expose greater wrongs. It was one thing to do it in court. The testimony involved facts and documented proof. Telling Lizzy was a much more personal confession.
Her opinion of him mattered.
But she’d asked, so he would try to give her more. It was important for her to know in any case, because he was more and more certain he wanted to continue whatever this was between them.
The tour group around them burst into laughter at some joke the tour guide shared via their headphones. No one else was listening.