Page 21 of Revelation (Love Isn't What It Seems 3)

I felt her gaze on me, like a warming tingle on my skin. “How long were you in the military?”

“Ten years.” Military was the last thing I wanted to talk about. I was more curious about her. She piqued my curiosity unlike any other woman before. Even when she spit fire, I liked her. It made the craving to tame intensify. “How long have you known Livy?”

“About twelve years, give or take.”

“So college time?”

“Yes.” Her smile when she spoke of Livy was radiant. “I met her and Lena in the first semester.” A shadow crossed her face.

“I’m sorry for your loss.” I knew their friends’ death was hard on them and Brandon. It was still fresh for all three of them.

“Thanks.” She shifted as if uncomfortable talking about her emotions. “It was harder for Livy and Brandon.”

“It doesn’t mean it was easier for you though.”

Her head snapped to me, her eyes wide with surprise. As if she never realized that just because Livy was struggling with it, it didn’t mean it hurt her any less. Something about her made me want to protect her, keep her safe and happy. Not that she would ever let me.

Layla reminded me of a skittish, hurt animal that had gone through years of abuse and finally decided she would be the one to bite those that tried to get close to her. I had no reason to think it, but my sixth sense told me she’d had it rough. I just didn’t know why.

“What did you study? And what did Livy study in college?” I broke the silence. I knew what Livy studied, but I didn’t want it to seem like I was interrogating her. I purposely left Lena out. We better let the dead rest peaceful tonight.

“Well, Livy studied publishing. I studied nonprofit.”

“Nonprofit?” Now, that was unexpected. And surprising.

She chuckled. “Right? I wanted to change the world back then.”

“Ever work in it?” Did she work with her grandfather? It didn’t take long for my contact to send me confirmation that Layla Cambridge was indeed connected to Henry Cambridge. She was his granddaughter. It surprised me that we never crossed paths before. I’d see the old man at various functions but always alone or with his wife. It was unusual, to say the least.

“Yes, for a bit in the States,” she replied, ignorant of my lingering thoughts. “But since we came back to the UK, no.”

“Why not?”

She leaned her head back against the wall of the balcony, her eyes gazing at the stars. A soft sigh left her lips.

“I guess it kind of worked out that way. There were a few that seemed intriguing, but my family wouldn’t hear it, so I kind of gave up.”

I frowned at the weird explanation. “What do you mean? They wouldn’t let you?”

“It’s complicated,” she muttered.

“I’m good at complicated.”

She chuckled. “That’s concerning,” she teased and I swore for a moment, I forgot to breathe. When Layla smiled, truly smiled, she was stunningly beautiful. Her whole face lit up and her eyes sparkled. “Anyhow, I only wanted to work at nonprofits with causes I agreed with. My grandfather happened to be in those few I was interested in, but he firmly shut me down. So I just moved on and did other things.”

“He sounds like an ass.”

Maybe Henry Cambridge wanted to keep her away from what he was doing?

Her laughter warmed the night. “He kind of is,” she agreed.

No wonder Layla intrigued me. There were so many layers she kept hidden under her ice-cold exterior. The night had certainly turned out much better than it started.

* * *

“Bourbon, straight up,”I ordered, taking a seat beside Daniel.

“Hard day?” Daniel was my oldest friend. We joined the military together, after one night in a drunken stupor. We served together in the Middle East, which cemented our friendship with shared experiences. He sat with a cigar in his one hand, his eyes studying me.

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