More Than a Mission - Caridad Pineiro [87]
A good reason to leave Leonia and Lizzy. Or so he’d thought.
But faced with the prospect of it now…
“Aidan? You have terminated your surveillance of Ms. Moore, haven’t you?” Corbett asked and Aidan sensed that the other man somehow knew about the remaining camera.
He didn’t have it in him to lie. “No, sir. But…”
He could have said that he’d remove it immediately, but he couldn’t. He needed that connection to her. Hell, he needed her.
For days he had been telling himself otherwise. Trying to convince himself that staying in Leonia would be as boring as shit. That there was nothing there to keep his interest.
Except Lizzy. And some really nice people. Her crazy friends. Some fine fishing and surfing areas. Beautiful gardens and cute little homes along the road and the stunning coast and beachfront.
“Aidan?” Corbett prompted again and this time, Aidan knew exactly what to say.
“While working with Rhia would be quite an experience, I’ve decided that it’s time I resigned my position with the Lazlo Group.”
“Are you sure about this?” Corbett asked, and Aidan shot another peek at his laptop.
Was he?
The answer came immediately.
“I’m sure, Corbett.”
The other man chuckled, surprising him. “This is getting to be a costly operation for my group. First Walker resigns and now you.”
“I’m sorry if this leaves you in a lurch.”
“Not to worry, Aidan. Rhia can probably handle this job on her own for the moment. Despite the Sparrow’s deathbed information, I can’t see Nikolas Donovan as her killer,” Corbett advised, confusing Aidan with the statement.
“What? Donovan’s Union for Democracy has splintered into two factions, one of them violent. What makes you believe Donovan isn’t responsible for that violent bent and Dani’s death?” Aidan questioned.
“Lord Southgate is quite familiar with Nikolas Donovan. He believes him innocent in Reginald’s death and also in that of the Sparrow.”
Aidan wasn’t quite as convinced. “If Rhia needs backup, I’m there,” he said, guilt driving him. He liked the woman, who had an adventurous streak and could be a refreshing smart ass at times.
“I appreciate the offer, but if I’m right, we won’t be needing your muscle on this one,” Corbett advised and then quickly added, “And you, Mr. Spaulding, have a lady to contact.”
He peeked at the laptop and cursed beneath his breath when he saw her room was empty. But he knew where she would go. Where she always went when she was troubled. “Goodbye, Corbett. It’s been a pleasure.”
“Not goodbye, Aidan. I do expect an invitation to the wedding.”
He chuckled at the other man’s audacity. “You’ll get it,” he said, not that Corbett Lazlo would show. In the seven years that he had worked for the man, he had never met him.
But that was for another day. First he had to get the lady in question to agree to marry him.
Grabbing his jacket, he raced out of the hotel and down the public-access ramp to the beach. Much as he had expected, she was walking down the beach, headed in his direction. When she noticed him, she paused and wrapped her arms around herself, waited there for a moment before continuing toward him.
No coward, his Lizzy.
He didn’t wait. He hopped down onto the sand and raced in her direction. When they finally stood facing one another, barely a foot apart, he said, “Lizzy.”
Duh. Totally stupid. Inane.
“Aidan. I would have thought that you’d be gone by now.” Her arms remained wrapped around herself and she rubbed her hands up and down in a telling gesture.
He reached out, laid his hands over hers to still that motion. “I would have thought so, too, only…I couldn’t imagine leaving you, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth’s breath caught in her throat with his words. Was she imagining this? She shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t understand, Aidan.”
He smiled and his blue eyes glittered with joy as he said, “I don’t understand, either. Maybe it’s because I’ve found an adventure more compelling than any other.”
“An adventure,” she repeated, unsure