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“Does it matter if he does?” Kyle asked.
She centered her gaze on him. “I don’t want him to get hurt in this. He’s going to end up being collateral damage.”
Kyle’s jaw clenched.
“I know you don’t want to hear that, but I don’t want anyone getting hurt in this. Lydia is dangerous.”
“I know. Why don’t you just tell Luke to leave then? You’re the reason he’s here.”
The words stung her. He had a point…again. She could easily end this by simply telling Luke to leave. Would he go? She wasn’t sure, but a bigger question loomed. Did she want him to?
“Sorry,” Kyle said. “Was that another line?”
She glanced at Luke across the room with Lydia. “Probably.”
“Well, how about this for crossing lines? There’s no way I’m letting you meet with Lydia alone.”
“I don’t think she’s going to let you come with me, sorry.”
“We’ll have to figure something out because that’s not happening.”
She offered him a tight-lipped smile as the music came to an end and the dancers applauded. “I can’t avoid her all night. Besides, what is she going to do in a room full of people?”
“Who knows, Julia?” he said as they left the dance floor. “We shouldn’t take any chances.”
He offered her another flute of champagne as Grant approached them.
“Well,” he said, sliding an arm around her waist, “this night isn’t going how I expected it.”
“Just wait,” Kyle answered. “Lydia wants to see Julia alone.”
“No,” Grant said before a sip of his bourbon.
“Same thing I said,” Kyle answered.
“I don’t think Lydia was taking no for an answer. Just like she wasn’t with you and that dance.”
Grant narrowed his eyes at his ex-wife across the room. “That was clearly designed to set you up for a conversation with Luke.”
“She’s really trying to keep us all off balance tonight. Maybe the best play we can make is not to let her,” Julia said.
“Exactly why you are not having a conversation with her alone,” Grant answered. “Kyle, go talk to her and see what she wants.”
“No!” Julia exclaimed.
Grant shrugged. “What do you mean no? He’s her partner in crime.”
“Barely. And we are not sending him into the lion’s den.”
“Oh, but it’s okay for you to go. I don’t think so, Julia,” Grant answered with a shake of his head.
“I can go. I’ll go,” Kyle said, handing his champagne flute to Julia.
“No, Kyle…” She sighed as she turned a disappointed gaze to Grant. “Why did you tell him to do that?”
“He’s fine. He’s a grown man who is capable of making quite a bit of trouble on his own. Let him see if he can get any information.”
“He’s a grown man who thinks sinking someone’s tour boats is an effective response to them showing up unwanted at a dinner party.”
