“You’re here. Good. I’ve been trying to find you for the past hour.”
Kay jumped up, unconsciously respondi
ng to the urgency in his voice. “What’s wrong? Are you all right?” She clapped a hand over her stomach. “Is it Hope? Did something happen?” She could hear her own voice rising with hysteria until Matt came forward and put a hand on her shoulder.
“She’s fine.” Matt squeezed her arm. “It’s nothing to do with her. I just need to show you something.
Kaylee let out the breath she was holding. “Okay.”
“Have you ever seen this before?” He held up his cell phone. There was a picture of a small ceramic figurine displayed.
“Yeah. I have a similar one.” Kay leaned closer. It was hard to tell from just a picture, but the figurine looked almost identical to the one she had.
“That’s what I thought. Uh, are you done for the day?” Matt glanced at the others uncertainly.
“Not really. Why?” Kay asked.
“Because we need to go. Now.”
Even though it had been months since Matt was assigned as her bodyguard, some part of Kay still responded to his authority because she immediately turned and gathered her things. It had taken her a while to get used to someone shadowing her every move, but she’d gone along with it because it was for her own protection.
“Whoa, what’s going on? Is she in danger again?” Jackson directed the question to Matt even as he stood and helped Kaylee with her coat.
Matt hesitated and the two men seemed to be having some sort of silent conversation. Kay rolled her eyes. This was exactly how things had been last summer, except then it had been Eli and Matt making decisions for her, treating her like she was a little girl who couldn’t handle knowing the truth.
“Just tell me, Matt. What’s going on?”
Matt finally looked at her directly. “I don’t have that many details. Eli just called and said I had to find you.”
“Well, I’m fine. I’ve been at the studio for the past two hours and Sasha and I are going back to my apartment now.”
Matt looked uncomfortable. “Uh, I’m supposed to bring you to the Alexanders’ place and stay with you until he gets here.”
Sasha appeared at Matt’s side. “Gets here. Eli’s coming back?”
At Matt’s nod, Sasha turned to Kay, her eyes gleaming. “I don’t mind if you take a rain check on our movie date. You should go, make sure everything’s okay.”
Kay narrowed her eyes at her friend. “I’m sure it won’t take that long. You could come with me.”
Sasha made a show of looking at the clock hanging on the wall behind her. “It’s already so late. I’m sure you’ll need time to get all this sorted out. I’ll just call you later. Or tomorrow. In case you get home late tonight.”
Kay grabbed her handbag. “I’m sure I won’t be out that long.” Although it would please her friend immensely if she was. Sasha had never agreed with her decision to give up on Elliott. If her friend had her way, Kay would have followed him to Northern Virginia and cornered him with an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“A girl can always hope,” Sasha whispered.
Kay pasted a smile on her face and zipped up her coat. “I guess we’d better go, then.” She turned to Jackson and Mac. “Sorry to run out on you. Hopefully we can finish tomorrow.”
“Whenever. Like I said, we’re ahead of schedule.” Jackson exchanged another one of those silent looks with Matt. “I think I’ll come with you guys if you don’t mind.”
“I can close up, Jack.” Mac offered her a sympathetic smile.
“Thanks, man. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Jackson retrieved his own coat and followed them out into the freezing night air.
He waved at them before getting into his sedan. Sasha gave Kaylee another quick hug. “Call me tomorrow with details. Hopefully something juicy.”
“I doubt there will be anything good to report.” She waited, Matt at her side while her friend unlocked her little economy car and got inside. Then she followed Matt over to his truck. He unlocked it with the remote on his keychain and she threw her stuff on the floor of the cab before hoisting herself up into the seat.
“So, are you going to tell me what’s really going on now?”