Page 79 of What Started In Deception

He clenched his jaw, understanding where Danny was going. “You can tell the brass that I’m not fucking her.”

Danny shrugged as he set his sandwich back down. “You said yourself that this was a fucked-up situation. There’s a line, Ty. I’m making sure you don’t cross it.”

“I know how to do my job.” But even as he said so, he thought of his kiss with Lydia yesterday. It had been impossible to think about anything else.

She’d surprised the hell out of him when she came downstairs, making her request that he plant one on her.

He’d known that kissing Lydia was bound to be a mistake, even as she’d brought up several valid points as to why they should. And he’d been right to be wary because she’d been intoxicating. Soft lips and a sexy tongue that had eagerly slid against his. Warm arms that had wrapped around him and her hot body that had pressed against his. And when she’d moaned…

He swallowed, fully aware that he and Lydia had dipped their toes into the murky gray area of their fake relationship, but he also couldn’t deny that they’d added another authentic layer to whatever this messed-up situation was.

Kissing was on the table when it seemed absolutely necessary. They’d both agreed to leave it there, which was why he had no plans to mention anything about it to Danny.

“And if I didn’t bring it up, I wouldn’t be doing mine,” Danny said.

Ty sighed as he rubbed at the back of his neck. “I get it, man. I do.”

Danny slid a smaller yellow envelope his way. “Your new Virginia driver’s license.”

Ty took it out, studying it—his fake address and the Real ID seal. “Looks good.”

“How are you guys with pictures? Tech didn’t get a chance to backdate anything, which isn’t great.”

Ty shook his head as he put his new license in his wallet. “It’s not a problem. We’ve taken dozens of pictures.” Picking up his phone from the table, he opened his photo library, showing Danny.

Danny took it, using his finger to scroll up several times. “There’s definitely plenty to work with.” He scrolled back to the bottom, selecting his and Lydia’s latest pictures from DC, swiping quickly through the shots that they’d both taken from The Taco Dive and the clock tower. “You guys certainly sell it. There’s no denying that you look like a real couple.”

Ty took the phone back, quickly glancing at the shot he’d taken of Lydia with sauce running down her arms as she grinned at him across the table. “I’d say we’re damn lucky that she was willing to cooperate.”

Danny nodded as he took his last bite. “I wish you both the best of luck. Obviously, I’m heading up to Mass tonight for a couple of days. I’ll be back and forth between the two offices. Nick Anders will be your contact agent on the ground. We’ve set him up with personal trainer credentials as well. If anyone asks, you two met at a health conference in San Francisco a couple of years ago, and you’ve been friends ever since.

Ty nodded, taking in the new information.

“He’s staying in an apartment in downtown Shoalmans Bay, so you guys can meet up there when you need to touch base. He’s flying up from the New York office tonight, so there shouldn’t be any concern about the Monroes recognizing him if you invite him to the compound. I’ll text you his contact information when I get checked in at the airport—the address for the apartment, too.”

“Sounds good.”

Danny stood as Ty did, shaking his hand. “Godspeed.”

“Thanks. We’ll be in contact.” He waited for Danny to head out, then got in line, waiting to order lunch for himself and Lydia. She’d met up with some of her friends for a see-you-in-a-month coffee—or an iced chai latte in Lydia’s case. For all intents and purposes, it was showtime.

Chapter Nineteen

Lydia noted the Welcome to Rhode Island sign as she drove her Telluride north on I-95 in the heavy evening traffic.

She and Ty were officially eight hours into their nine-and-a-half-hour drive. The day had been fun by road trip standards—or certainly more fun than when she made the trip alone. They’d talked and snacked, sang and laughed, but with every mile that she drove closer to the compound, the sicker she felt.

They were nearly there. To her dad’s childhood home. To the place that he’d loved most in the world. To the grounds where her family still lived—her wonderful Gram-Gram, uncle, aunt, and cousin who’d made her feel safe and stayed involved in her life after the accident. The people who adored and trusted her.

“Hey,” Ty said, sliding his knuckles down her arm, interrupting her thoughts.

She looked at him as they both wore sunglasses in the bright sunshine.

“Are you getting tired? Do you need me to take a turn?”

She shook her head, focusing on the road again, moving out of the fast lane to let a car pass. “I’m good.”

He shook his head this time. “You’re quiet—in your head.”