“Even when it means I have blinders on to the rest of the world?”
“You spent a lot of years taking care of the rest of the world. It’s okay to have a season where you take care of you.” And yet she was still choosing to give of herself at the hospital where she worked.
Kira leaned her hip against the counter, and Luca shifted closer.
“You understand that what you do is amazing, right?”
She glanced at him, uncertainty in her gaze. “You mean like guys who go on missions all over the world, saving people’s lives when they have no idea you’re even doing it? Amazing stuff like that?”
Yeah, he wanted to ask her about what she’d done with that flash drive in the refugee camp. But he was pretty sure it would ruin the moment. “Guys who go on those missions also come home and realize there are plenty of wrongs to right here. Even in a place like Renegade.”
“And Ralph is part of that?”
“He was kidnapped a few months ago and mentioned something to us that we’re trying to follow up on. It’s actually been a frustrating investigation because Rousseau skirted out from all the legal trouble he should’ve been in, and beyond what he says was faked, we haven’t been able to discover much so far that is real, physical evidence that there’s a criminal empire at work in Renegade.”
“That’s what you’ve been working on?”
He nodded. “Almost exclusively. Signing on for this Marshals job is going to be a good distraction. It might even help me figure out things I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.”
“Sometimes variety can be good. Or so I’ve heard.”
He chuckled, and she smiled at him.
Luca said, “You have a little bit of chocolate at the corner of your mouth.” He reached for it, moving slowly just in case she didn’t want him to touch her.
Kira didn’t move.
He wiped the corner of her mouth with his thumb, not quite shifting the chocolate.
“Thank you for breakfast.”
He watched her mouth form the words.
“You’re welcome.” He eased a little closer. “When I saw your name on that email, I couldn’t believe it was really you.” Luca paused. “It was a really nice surprise to see you here in Renegade.”
She had to know that. At least to start with. The rest of it? He figured they had time.
“When that guy hit you with his gun and you fell, it looked really bad. I’m glad you’re okay now.” He made sure not to look at the scar, since she hadn’t wanted him to bring it up before.
“It took a lot of physical therapy. I was out for almost six months, healing and then dealing with headaches.” She gave him a soft smile. “But I’m okay now. How about you?”
“I’m great.” Considering his proximity to her and how things were going, maybe even better than expected.
She smiled wider and touched the outside of his arm, over the sleeve of his T-shirt. “I mean this.”
He lifted the edge of the material, and her fingers traced the scar on the outside of his arm. “It was one way to remember you.” He smiled softly. “Even if it wasn’t the one I’d have chosen.”
She opened her mouth, but his phone rang.
Total buzzkill.
What on earth was happening?
Kira let the phone ringing jog her out of whatever mental fog had just taken over her brain. The man came over with food and drinks, a simple breakfast, and in return, she’d gone all googly-eyed?
Luca dug out his phone and apologized. “Saxon Investigations.”
Kira left him to his phone call, giving him privacy and not acting like a nitwit who needed to be as close as possible to him every second of the day.