Flashback (Kendra Michaels #11)

“You made his day,” Kendra said as she gazed at Pauly’s eager face. “You know, it took him months to learn my name. For you, it took all of one visit.”

Lynch smiled. “Roll up in a car like mine, nobody will ever forget you.”

Kendra shrugged. “I told you I’d go up ahead of you.”

“Well, I wasn’t going to let you go up to the condo alone,” Lynch said as he punched the button. “Not a good idea considering what happened the last time that scum decided to raid your place.”

“I wasn’t hurt. Nothing was stolen here.”

“Pure luck.”

“No, I was careful to make sure Olivia had the documents safe. No luck about it.”

“I stand corrected.” Lynch was grinning. “Forgive me.”

She grinned back at him. “I’ll think about it.”

“You do that.” Lord, she loved his smile, and she was suddenly back to the time when it was so very natural for them to be together.

“It’s going to be fine,” he said softly as they exited the elevator and walked toward her condo. He watched her unlock her front door. “I told you I’d go slow. No rush. But I go in first to look around. Okay?”

Her mouth dropped open. “The hell you do.” She threw open the door and stepped to one side as she entered the condo. “In your dreams, Lynch. My condo. My assignment.”

“Whatever.” He sighed resignedly and yet somehow he’d suddenly managed to get ahead of her, using his own body to block her as she moved through the condo. “I thought there was no way it was going to be that easy.” He gestured ahead of her into the living room. “By all means, guide me. Show me… everything. I’m at your disposal.”

“You bet I will,” she said crisply. “The documents first… Those women managed to find virtual treasures that no one else in the case had discovered.” Kendra pulled her iPad from her leather satchel and pulled up the Morgan sisters’ files that Zack had scanned for her. “I’ll explain as I go along.”

She explained in detail as he sat on the couch, his intent gaze fixed thoughtfully on her face, only asking a question now and then. But there was no doubt that he was paying attention to every word she said. She knew him well enough to be able to read his every expression, and when she finally started to put the iPad away, she tilted her head and asked curiously, “Well, do you believe I’ve missed anything?”

“You know you haven’t.” Lynch’s eyes were twinkling. “You were reeling off those facts as if you were quoting the encyclopedia. However, there’s a distinct possibility that I might have missed something. But I’m certain you can take care of that as well.”

Kendra frowned. “I thought I was being very clear. What do you think you missed?”

“Why, you promised me a cup of coffee. So far I haven’t seen a drop.” He reached for his phone. “But I’m certain Olivia will take care of me.”

“She always does,” Kendra said. “Did it occur to you to ask me?”

“Of course. But I’m trying my best not to be a bother. Haven’t you noticed?” His smile was almost blandly innocent. “I guess I’ll have to try harder.”

“I believe I got the point.” Yet she’d be relieved to have Olivia as a buffer in the hours to come. She listened to him chatting with Olivia, and then a few minutes later Olivia was at the front door and Lynch was acting as if he owned the condo as he welcomed her.

Patience, Kendra thought.

Then she saw Lynch wink mischievously at her as he handed her a cup of coffee and was tempted to throw it at him.

Patience, she thought again.

“Isn’t it time you made your move, Lynch?” Olivia lifted her glass of wine to her lips. “Personally, I’m getting a little bored with this game you’re playing. You took too long, and you let Kendra get hurt before you showed up on the scene. I always thought you knew what you were doing, but I had to make a few moves myself before you got around to showing up. I shouldn’t have to tell you how that pissed me off.”

Lynch turned toward the hallway that led back to the home office, where Kendra was adjusting her client appointments. He turned back to Olivia. “I can’t tell you how upset it makes me to hear that. Particularly since I dropped everything and rushed back here when I heard that she’d been attacked by that scum.”

Olivia shrugged. “Perhaps I was playing a few games myself. I got very tired of worrying about Kendra this time. She’s my best friend, and she can be very stubborn. I didn’t see why I should take a chance on losing her because you didn’t move fast enough. I decided that wasn’t going to happen.” She took another sip of her wine. “I thought you might understand.”

“Oh, I do,” Lynch said. “That prospect is totally unacceptable. I can see why you decided to use desperate measures. Only I wasn’t quite as desperate as I might have seemed. I was doing a little investigating of my own while I tied up a few loose ends. I did get here as quickly as possible, Olivia.”

“Then you’d better tie up these particular loose ends here, too, Lynch.” She handed him her empty wineglass. “Because I’ve been watching Kendra since I came here today and I’ll bet she’s becoming impatient, too. She’s used to working with you and she wants those women found. I can see the signs. If you handle it right, we can get this show on the road.”

Lynch grinned. “Then by all means let’s get you out of here and I’ll stroll over to her and see if you’re right.”