Chapter 19 #3
“He really does,” Lydia agreed. Then her eyes widened as she looked at Ty. Leaning his way, she grabbed him by the wrist, pulling him closer and into the conversation. “Mac, this is my boyfriend, Ty Corddry. Ty, this is Mac Monroe, one of my very best friends.”
Ty shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Lyd talks about you a lot.”
Mac studied him as she smiled and returned his handshake. “Lydia’s kept you all to herself, but I’m looking forward to getting to know you.”
He grinned, sensing that she had a sassy side. “I appreciate everyone being okay with me crashing the summer party.”
“If you’re important to Lydia, you’re important to us.”
He nodded. “Thank you.”
“It sounds like there’s something fun going on over here.” A tall, well-built, dark-haired man grinned as he moved their way, carrying a sleeping preschooler. His friendly blue eyes lit up his handsome face.
“Will!” Lydia beamed, rushing forward to hug her cousin.
“Hey, squirt,” he said, returning her hug with one arm. “How was the drive?”
“Tolerable with a driving partner.” She eased back, grinning as she touched Everly’s cheek as Everly rested her head on Will’s shoulder. “She’s out cold.”
“Running around with a dozen other kids will do that to you.” Will looked at Ty. “I take it you’re the driving partner.”
Ty smiled, holding out his hand. “That I am. I’m Ty Corddry.”
Will returned his handshake. “It’s good to meet you, man. I’m Will Monroe.”
“I was just thanking your wife for letting me crash your summer party.”
“We’re happy to have you. From what I understand, you’re a personal trainer.”
Ty nodded. “That’s correct.”
“I work out every morning before I head into the office. Feel free to join me whenever you want.”
Ty nodded again, thrilled that he’d not only already made contact with one of his two targets, but he now had his in to start gathering the information that he needed. “Yeah, that sounds great. What time do you get started?”
“Right around six thirty—before everyone wakes up for the day. Or sometimes anyway.”
“Count me in.”
“Perfect. The gym’s the last door down on the first floor. I’m sure Lydia remembers the code.”
Lydia nodded. “Of course.”
“Well, I’m going to get this sack of potatoes into bed,” Will said, gesturing to his daughter, who was dressed in a grass-stained pink jumpsuit and had tangles in her long, dark-brown hair. “She looks light, but my arm’s telling me a different story.”
Ty laughed as Lydia did. “I’ll see you in the morning. Mac, it was nice to meet you.”
Mac smiled as she gave the baby a gentle bounce as he started to stir. “It was nice to meet you, too.”
Lydia touched Everly’s cheek again. “I’ll see you guys in the morning. You can tell my best girl that I’ll stop by to have breakfast with her.”
Mac grinned now. “I can’t wait.”
“Have a good night,” Will said as he hooked his arm around Mac’s shoulders as they walked toward the glass doors on the back of the house.
Ty captured Lydia’s hand again, heading toward her car. “How are you doing after that?”
She nodded. “It felt okay. Mostly, I felt like I was introducing my boyfriend to my family.”
He tossed her a wink, relieved that she seemed relaxed—that the time they’d spent together had made this a little easier for her. “Good.”
She stopped next to the hood. “You’re going to work out with Will in the mornings?”
He nodded. “It’ll be a good opportunity to start to get to know him.”
“Like how you got to know me?”
He studied her eyes, recognizing the familiar protective light that always seemed to be there when it came to her family and him. Apparently, she wasn’t quite as relaxed as he thought, as the stirrings of tension came rushing back between them. “Will and I are going to lift some weights and talk.”
She nodded as she moved toward the driver’s seat.
“Hold up,” he said, snagging her by the wrist, stopping her before she could reach for the door.
How the hell did he explain to her that she was different? When it came to the role she played in the operation. When it came to the way he felt about her. Because Lydia had become so much more than just his cooperator. “What you and I have… You’re important to me, Lyd.”
She nodded as she pulled away from him, reaching for the door handle this time, clearly not entirely believing him.
He grabbed her for the second time, turning her back to face him. “You’re important.”
“Okay,” she said, holding his gaze. “Just be careful with my cousin. He’s important, too.”
He nodded. “I already promised you that I would be. I’ve shown you that you can trust me so far. Give me a chance to show you that you still can.”
She nodded this time.
He stepped closer, stroking his knuckles along her jaw because he couldn’t seem to help himself. “Eat pizza with me, Lyd.”
She let her eyes close as she moved into his touch. “All right.”
He stroked her soft skin some more. “Hold my hand and walk on the beach with me after.”
She nodded again as she looked at him. “Okay.”
“Are we okay?”
She sent him a small smile. “Yes.”
Smiling back, he let her go and got in on his side as she got in on hers. He needed to text Nick and let his new “friend” know that he’d made contact with Will, but that would have to wait until later. Making sure that he and Lydia were truly back to good mattered more.