“We’ll have to talk later. How about we meet for coffee this evening?”
“Sure.” I cleared my throat. “Is everything okay? You’re scaring me.”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“Okay…” When I headed for the door, she grabbed my arm.
“If Robert asks, we were discussing my trip to London. I’m leaving in a few days.”
“Is Robert… Is he the reason you’re feeling uncomfortable?”
Her lips thinned, and she shrugged. “Robert is Robert. He’s always been a good guy to work for but…” She winced and whispered, “We’ll talk later.”
“Text me the details. I don’t have anything else planned this evening.”
She stalled, looking as if she wasn’t ready to let me go yet. “Kayla, are you sure you’re okay? Why do you need a bodyguard?”
I puffed up my cheeks and let the air out. “I’ll tell you tonight. Robert’s probably wondering where I am.”
“Right. You should go.”
I opened the door, and seeing no one, stepped out of the room. “It was good to see you, Lillian.”
She smiled. “Good to see you too. I’m glad I caught you on my last day.”
Chapter 11
Kayla
“I have no idea what this means,” Robert said, looking at a copy of Daniel’s journal entry. He let out a heavy breath and looked at me with sympathy in his eyes. “This must be very upsetting for you.”
We were at Michelangelo’s, an Italian restaurant downtown, and Robert had insisted on bringing me there even though I told him I wanted something less expensive. He would undoubtedly demand to pay the bill, and we would argue over who got it when the waiter brought it to the table. We always engaged in that little dance: him wanting to treat me to dinner and me wanting to pay my own way. I appreciated his kindness, but I didn’t ever want him to feel like I was taking advantage. I was more than willing to pay for my own dinner. Preferred it, actually.
I glanced at Troy who was seated behind Robert at a different table, and his steady presence made me feel safe. He tipped his head in acknowledgment, and I smiled and then turned back to Robert. Robert was looking out for me as well, but he was a financial planner, not a protector. He was the one who had insisted I have a bodyguard in the first place, so I had to give him credit for that. I was appreciative a thousand times over, and once I got a job that paid more, I would pay him back.
“Yes, it is upsetting,” I said, “and it makes me think the guy who mugged Daniel and me wasn’t some random guy. What if someone planned on killing him because of what he knew?” I glanced at Troy and wished he was sitting at the table with us. Something about him grounded me, and I would have liked his input in this discussion.
Robert frowned and pressed his lips together, glancing up at the ceiling as if thinking. “But the police looked into it and didn’t find anything.”
“They didn’t have this new evidence, though.”
I glanced at Troy again and a wistful feeling washed over me. No matter how much I tried to focus on my conversation with Robert, my gaze kept wandering to Troy as he leaned back in his chair, his muscled arms crossed at his chest, his huge physique taking up space as if every inch belonged to him. It was hard not to admire him, not to wish I was sitting at his table, getting to know him better over lunch. I wanted more from him, more than he could give. He obviously didn’t feel the same way, so I needed to let it go. He was my bodyguard and nothing else, but for the first time in a long time, I felt alive. It was as if a part of me died when Daniel was killed, but that part was slowly coming back to life.
“Yes, this is new evidence.” Robert sighed and his shoulders drooped. Leaning in, he placed his hand possessively over mine. “It makes me sad that Daniel kept secrets from you. Of all people, you didn’t deserve that.”
A chill raced down my spine. I pulled my hand away and leaned back in my chair. “Wait… You aren’t suggesting he was involved in criminal activity, are you?”
He frowned. “No, of course not. Daniel was a solid guy, but he stumbled onto something, and, for whatever reason, decided to keep it from you.” He was quiet for a few moments and then met my gaze. “I’m just sorry he kept you in the dark.”
I bristled. “What are you implying?” My tone sounded accusatory, but I didn’t like the way he was phrasing that, almost as if he were inferring that Daniel was unfaithful. My Daniel would not have been involved in anything untoward. I knew that without a doubt.
“No, no. I’m sorry if that’s how you took it. I didn’t mean it that way. I just know that Daniel kept to himself at times and wasn’t the type to open up much. I wish I could give you answers, but I don’t know what he meant.” He sighed, lifting a glass of water to his lips. After taking a sip, he set the glass on the table and crossed his arms. “Maybe it had something to do with that neighbor you guys were always complaining about.”
“Maybe. That could be it. Perhaps he didn’t want to worry me.”
I glanced up and caught Troy watching me with an intense expression on his face. Those brown eyes of his were fierce with concern, and he looked as if he were about to jump up any second and come to my aid. I doubted he was able to overhear
