Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Lydia shouldered her bag as she stepped out of the women’s locker room at Oliver Heights Fitness Center, smiling and tossing up a wave to the staff at the desk as she made her way to the door. With her fifty laps complete, it was time to get home and bake.
Her friends were expecting Mom’s raspberry bars at book club tomorrow night, and she planned to deliver. A cool glass of wine and a couple of sugary treats were definitely on the agenda—a celebration of their first day without a classroom full of kids. Summer break was officially here.
Sighing in satisfaction, she pushed through the exit, sliding her sunglasses into place as she stepped into the warm sunshine. She faltered when she spotted the hottie that she’d met at Marnie’s yesterday, walking up the sidewalk.
Tall and tan—probably six foot two-ish—with dark, sandy-blond hair, bold blue eyes, a strong, square jaw, full lips, high cheekbones, and so many muscles on his lean frame. And then there was that sexy grin of his that worked just fine, too.
She smiled as he moved closer in a pair of blue jeans and a snug black T-shirt that accentuated his broad shoulders and beefy biceps. “Well, this is fun. Two days in a row.”
He returned her smile as he stopped in front of her. “Hey.”
“Hi. Are you heading in for a workout?”
“Nah. Not today.”
“Oh,” she said as she smiled again, not hating that they were striking up another conversation. “Did your sister like her flowers?”
He nodded, flashing her one of his yummy grins. “She did. According to her, I’m the best big brother in the world.”
She laughed, liking him. “That’s great.”
He nodded again. “Yeah.”
“Yeah,” she said next as she adjusted her bag on her shoulder, because she had no idea what to say now.
“Lydia,” he said as he pulled a black leather wallet from his back pocket, opening it and showing her a badge. “I’m Special Agent Tyler Corddry with the FBI. Do you have a couple of minutes to talk?”
Her smile vanished as she blinked at him, completely shocked. “What is this?”
“Let’s step over here,” he said, moving farther off the sidewalk and into the small patch of grass.
She followed. “Am I in some sort of trouble? Because I’m not sure what I’ve done.”
“No, you’re not in any trouble. But I can’t say the same for Will and Senator Monroe.”
She felt her spine snap straight as he mentioned her family. “Is this some sort of joke?” Because she was still trying to equate the sweet man who’d bought flowers for his sister yesterday with the FBI agent standing in front of her.
He shook his head. “I’m afraid not.”
She adjusted the bag on her shoulder again. “What do you want?”
“To know what you do.”
She frowned as she shook her head. “About what?”
“I’m investigating potential improprieties.”
She shook her head again. “I have no idea what that means—what you’re talking about.”
He held her gaze, clearly skeptical. “You’re close with your family.”
“I am,” she said as she crossed her arms and stood hipshot now, no longer finding anything about him to be yummy or sexy.
“And that’s why I don’t believe you. In fact, I think this is about the rumors that my uncle might be running for president next spring.
If you’re looking for dirt to use against his campaign, you can forget it.
You’ve come to the wrong place.” She whirled to leave.
He grabbed her arm. “Lydia.”
She yanked out of his grip, whirling to face him again. “Don’t touch me. And that’s Ms. Monroe to you. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Wasting little time, she headed for the parking lot.
He sidled up next to her, matching her hurried pace on the blacktop. “Let me assure you that this has nothing to do with campaign bullshit.”
“I don’t believe you.”
He got in her way, moving backward as they continued to walk. “Well, I hope you’ll at least believe me when I tell you that this isn’t going away.”
She hit the unlock button on her key fob as they reached the hood of her Telluride. “We’ll see about that.”
“Ms. Monroe, let me caution you against contacting your cousin or your uncle—”
She stopped at her door as he did. “I have every right to speak to whoever I want.”
He shook his head. “Not when there’s a federal investigation underway.
I’ll warn you that tipping your family off would be considered impediment.
You could be charged with obstruction of justice, or we may consider you an accessory to a potential crime.
Aiding and abetting can have serious consequences. ”
She swallowed as she held his gaze, truly digesting what he was saying. Federal agents and investigations. Will and Uncle James. Potentially serious crimes.
Opening her door, she got in. “I have nothing more to say to you.”
Then she slammed it closed, buckling up as she hit the start button in her SUV and backed out, waiting until she was pulling onto the main road before she looked in her rearview mirror at Special Agent Tyler Corddry staring in her direction.
Shuddering out a breath, she gripped the steering wheel tighter as she headed home. All of this had to be a huge mistake.
“Well, that went well,” Ty said as he watched Lydia drive away. “Fuck,” he muttered as he walked back to his truck that he’d parked three spaces down from her spot.
He hadn’t necessarily expected anything less than exactly what he’d gotten, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t hoped that she would have at least listened to what he had to say.
“Fuck,” he repeated as he got in and started the engine, heading in the same direction that Lydia had gone, picking up her tail easily enough two blocks from her house.
His contribution to the Boston-based investigation was officially off to a rocky start, but he wasn’t about to give up, especially with his time crunch. Lydia was his ticket onto the Monroe compound. Now, he just needed to convince her to help him, which was easier said than done.
He pulled up to the curb, parking three houses down from her place in the pretty, upscale neighborhood as she pulled into her garage.
Sighing, he restlessly rubbed at his jaw, worrying a little as she got out and closed the garage door, knowing that what she did over the next several hours was out of his control.
The typical anxiety of things going to shit before they’d had a chance to get started was nothing new.
It was the risk that came every time he made his approach in an undercover operation.
But hopefully, Lydia would remember the latter part of their conversation about impediment of an investigation and obstruction of justice and keep what she’d learned to herself.
Mostly, he was confident that she would.
He’d studied hundreds of people over the years.
It was his job to understand their behaviors and motivations.
From what he’d read about Lydia and had seen for himself, she had a strong sense of right and wrong.
She was a rule follower. He was counting on that.
Sitting back, he took off his seat belt and got comfortable, watching as she moved in front of one of her windows.
She was gorgeous and fiercely protective of her family. Sexy and sassy.
He couldn’t help but smile as he thought of how she’d given him the business. It would be interesting to see what tomorrow would bring when their paths crossed again.