Page 59 of Laura's Truth

“Thank God.” She would’ve felt terrible if the closest thing Drew had to a friend had died because of her. “What’s the plan for today?”

“We’re supposed to continue the honeymoon act. Spend some time downtown, have lunch, hope Hackett intercepts us.”

“If he does?”

“There will be two of us.”

True. Two of them armed and ready for anything. “And if he doesn’t?” She wasn’t sure how long she could go on this way. Not just because of her job, but the constant proximity to Drew would test her in ways she wasn’t sure she could pass.

“He has to show up to the sale. After the chaos we caused last night, I don’t expect him to exhibit much patience. With the ammunition I gave Cypress Security, I’m sure Eva is making him desperate.”

“Good. Let’s get moving then.”

“Just one last thing.” He caught her hand, preventing her escape from the balcony. “What about last night?”

“Oh.” She felt her cheeks going hot. Better to get it out there all at once. “I just think we should keep it simple.”

“It’s complicated?”

She sighed. “I’d prefer if it didn’t get that way. What happened was…”

“Amazing.”

“Well, yes.” She could hardly argue when he echoed her thoughts. “But I don’t want you to think I’ve forgotten who we are. I don’t expect anything.”

“Maybe you should.”

“What?”

He stared up at her for a long moment, making her wonder what was going on behind those striking blue eyes. She shifted away when he came to his feet, but he didn’t let her go, sliding his arms around her waist. “You want simple?”

She nodded.

“All right.” He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her gently, thoroughly, until she couldn’t recall why she’d said anything. “Simple it is.”

Once they were out in public, she relaxed. It helped to know there was a purpose behind the affectionate performance. They were as disguised as they could be, she thought. Holding hands like lovers and wandering through the outdoor art gallery in Marion Square, they blended quite nicely with tourists from all over the world.

Everyone had skills and secrets. The artists shared both on canvases, in sculptures, but the spy at her side kept most of his buried. Much as she did. It was a tough admission, even in the privacy of her mind.

For any other couple, she imagined it would’ve been simple. Two people enjoying each other in a romantic city on a delightful afternoon. While they were braced for any kind of action from Hackett, she did her best to enjoy the moments as a woman. Clearly, she and Drew presented the right picture based on how others reacted to them. Wearing the obligatory oversized sunglasses and flip-flops, no one seemed to realize they were armed or hyper-vigilant.

Despite the glorious sunshine and the breeze from the harbor combating the humidity, Laura’s conscience nagged at her. She couldn’t bear the way Drew had suffered because of Hackett’s treachery. The deaths on Ross’s team had been evaluated, investigated, and eventually blamed on Drew. How had she missed Hackett’s involvement? There had to have been some indication.

“Not your style, huh?”

The lanky young man in the skin-tight skater jeans with too many piercings to count pulled her out of her thoughts. “Pardon me?”

“You weren’t giving that piece much love.”

Drew squeezed her hand. “Are you the artist?”

“And proud of it.”

“You should be,” Laura said, actually looking at the bright colors screaming across the large square canvas. “I wasn’t judging it harshly, I was debating which room would suit all that energy.”

“She scowls when she thinks,” Drew explained.

“Oh, sure. My mom does that.”

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