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Those two words still rattled around in his head…in his heart. Del was right. She had a lot going on beneath the surface. She was definitely up to something, from what he could tell. Beyond her work with Team Alpha, she was doing some other digging because she had always whispered conversations on the phone with Ian. But Del also hit on the fragility.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Because he’d just realized he might be falling for the woman, and he hadn’t even kissed her.
“I’m trying to figure out how to convince you to give me a ride back to my place tonight.”
She tilted her head and studied him. “You’re in luck because Sam and Ian came in Ian’s car.”
“Does that mean you’re going to take pity on me?”
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“First, is there food at your house? I always demand payment.”
He blinked and looked around him, then looked at her again. They had all sat down for dinner. There had been huli huli chicken, kalua pork, ribs, rice, tons of salads and vegetables, and Liliha Bakery Cocoa Puffs. She had eaten a lot.
“Hey, are you with me, Seth?”
“You ate a lot.”
“Way to romance a woman.”
He smiled. “You do have the appetite of a Hobbit.”
She rolled her eyes. “Have fun getting a ride home, loser.”
As she turned to walk away from him, panic set in. He didn’t know why, but something told him this was an important moment. Gently, he reached out for her arm. Soft, warm skin.
“Hey, sorry.” He couldn’t keep the laughter out of his voice. She was smiling when she turned to look over her shoulder at him.
“I need a piece of Mrs. Lui’s haupia pie.” The Hawaiian treat was similar to a French silk pie.
“Okay. Let me know when you’re ready to leave.”
She nodded, and he let her go.
“So, you don’t need a ride home?” Ryan said from behind him. Dammit. He turned to face his team member standing a few feet behind him, with Maya beside him. “No. I’m fine.”
“Nikki’s feeling guilty.”
And she should, but he shouldn’t have reprimanded her the way he did.
“Gotcha. I’ll take care of it.”
He nodded. “We’re headed out. Maya will get up at oh dark thirty.”
“And you need a plate,” Merri said as she hurried toward them, his mother beside her. “Do not leave me with all this food.”
“I wouldn’t think of it,” Ryan said.
His mother gave him another kiss, and his parents left.
He glanced over at Nikki, who looked a bit miserable, and he decided to talk to her. It took him about fifteen minutes to make it over to her.
“Hey, Nikki. Sorry, I got onto you earlier. I shouldn’t have.”
