When the neurons in her brain started to fire up again she managed to find some words. “Hi. You look—” Magnificent? Sexy? Doable?“—stressed.”
Kai looked around to see if anyone was in earshot before replying. “Damn civilians,” he growled. “One of the girls broke a nail and wailed about that, the other said that the protective vest made her look fat. One of the guys got nailed in the thigh by a paint gun and is bitching about how much it stings. He should try getting shot by a real bullet!”
The last drop of moisture in her mouth disappeared. “Have you been shot?”
“No, but I’ve seen the damage.” A curious mixture of resignation, horror, and sadness crossed Kai’s face, and Flick suspected the memories of what he’d seen still haunted him. He crossed the room to where she stood and reached for a bottle of water. Cracking the seal, he removed the top and swallowed half the contents in one long sip. He hadn’t shaved again today and Flick wished she could rub her cheek against that soft, short beard. It would scratch and tickle—
“This looks sensational, Flick,” Kai said and Flick jerked her eyes to his face. Instead of looking at the food, those gold eyes held hers, and for one minute Flick thought that he might be talking about her and not the food. His next words booted that thought off a cliff. “I love pasta salad. And, God, I think I’m addicted to those caramel cupcakes.”
Nope, he was definitely talking about the food.Sigh. “Glad you like the look of it, but maybe you should taste it first before handing out compliments.”
“Can’t wait, I’m starving,” Kai said. “The group should be here in twenty minutes or so.” They both turned as someone entered the boardroom and Flick was surprised to see the teenager she’d given directions to the day before. She was wearing the same pair of skinny black jeans and the same sneakers, but today she sported a tight red t-shirt under a brown jacket. She also wore an expression of belligerent dread.
“I’m looking for Kai Manning.”
“That’s me. Who are you?” Kai asked, swiping a cookie from the plate in front of him. He ignored Flick’s squawk and popped the whole thing into his mouth.
“Do you remember someone by the name of Jane Pike?”
Kai thought for a moment and Flick knew the exact moment when the penny dropped. His Adam’s apple bobbed and his eyes turned speculative as his body went into what she thought might be combat mode. Tense and alert, he looked like he was ready for anything. “Yeah, I do.”
Where from? Who was she? It took a great of Flick’s willpower to keep those questions behind her teeth.
The girl’s face was equally blank but Flick saw her hand shake when she pushed her wool cap back, revealing honey-blond curls. “I’m Tally Pike, her daughter.”
Tally pushed that still-shaking hand into the front pocket of her jeans and pulled out a grubby, worn envelope, which she threw onto the boardroom table, aiming it in Kai’s direction. “I didn’t want to do this, but she made me promise. Just so you know, I’m eighteen and an adult and I don’t have to do a damn thing I don’t want to.”
She was ten years older than this girl, and she still didn’t feel like an adult, so Flick thought Tally might be protesting a bit too much.
Kai didn’t take his eyes off Tally as he picked the envelope up off the table. When his attention was transferred to the paper, Flick saw Tally quickly wipe her mouth with her hand, dropping it when she noticed Flick watching her. Flick looked at Kai, who was skimming the letter. He frowned and then he seemed to go back and read it again.
Something major was happening, Flick thought, right here and right now. This was a moment that could change lives, Flick realized as she stepped away from the table. She shouldn’t be here, shouldn’t be standing between them. She needed to leave, now.
“Fucking hell.”
Kai’s hard, icy voice pinned her to the spot. She threw an anxious look at him but he wasn’t looking at her. He was staring at Tally, his expression a curious mixture of fascination and horror.
“When did she die?” he demanded.
Tally lifted a thin shoulder. “Four months back. I wanted to get this over with three months ago but you were out of the country and she asked me to personally give you the letter. So here I am.” Tally jammed her hands into her jacket pockets. “ I did what she asked. I don’t need you in my life and, let’s be honest, the last thing you need is a teenager to look after.”
Kai carefully refolded the piece of paper and slipped it into the envelope, which he slid into the back pocket of his cargo pants.“Where are you staying?” he barked.
“At the motel on the outside of town,” Tally replied, lifting her chin. God, she was so young, but trying so hard not to give a damn.
Kai glanced at his watch. “Stay there. I’ve got some shit to do but I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”
“Why?”
“To talk this through. That’s what adults do,” Kai said and, judging by the blush that stained her cheekbones, his barb hit its target. “I’ll meet you there at around five, maybe six.”
“I just promised to deliver the letter. I don’t have to hang around if I don’t want to.”
Kai’s expression darkened further, but Flick knew he'd missed the panic in Tally’s eyes when he suggested that they meet at the motel, neither did he notice her biting the inside of her cheek. Flick couldn’t blame her—she would be scared of meeting a stranger in her motel room at night too. Especially one who looked as forbidding and hard as nails as Kai.
“Maybe you can meet on more neutral ground,” Flick suggested and Tally’s expression lightened a fraction. “I’d suggest the bakery but we’re closed then, so what about the diner on Main Street? It’s easy to find and Kai can buy you dinner.” Because good grief, the child looked like she needed one.
“I can come to the motel—”