"When you went to get me cake after telling me you didn't want any. She said that you never ate cake, that every birthday she had to make you a giant chocolate chip cookie to share with your friends."
She shook her head in embarrassed amazement. "I can't believe she told you that. Did she also show you my naked baby picture she finds so amusing?"
"No, but I'd like to see that," he said with a laugh.
"Never."
"Never is a long time. And your mom likes me. I bet she'd send it if I asked."
"You're not going to ask, and you don't have her phone number."
"You don't think a super spy like me could get her number?" he teased.
"Well, you're not going to do that. And I was lying before. There aren't any naked pictures, but I'm sure my mom has other embarrassing things to share. So, you two don't need to talk again."
"I think you're lying now, and your mom and I will talk again. I am your fake boyfriend after all."
"Who will disappear like all the others," she said, getting to her feet. "And you don't do long-term relationships, remember?"
"I remember," he said, an odd expression coming to his eyes. "But that could change."
His words made her a little nervous, taking the moment to a more serious level, and she wasn't ready for that. "We should go. We don't want to miss Dominic's ten-minute break."
Chapter Seventeen
Stone Ridge Mountain Lodge was nestled in the Hudson Valley between rolling hills covered in thick trees. She only saw the lodge from a distance because Max turned off the highway into an empty, winding road that led to a parking lot at a trailhead. There were two black vehicles in the lot, and two men waiting at the entrance to the trail.
They got out of Max's Jeep, and one of the men gave him a nod, while the other escorted them down a gravel trail toward a gazebo, which overlooked a small lake. Another was standing in front of the gazebo where Dominic and Caroline Rowe were standing. She was surprised to see Caroline. Although she was one of Dominic's top executives, it still felt a little odd. Dominic was dressed casually but expensively in slacks and a sweater, topped with a warm coat. Caroline wore black pants with a button-down blouse visible underneath a wool coat. Her blonde hair was pulled up in a loose bun, and her made-up face was flawless. They were a striking couple, even though they weren't really a couple. Although she wondered if Caroline wanted to change that. She certainly seemed very interested and protective of Dominic.
The man stepped to the side to allow them to pass. Dominic gave Caroline a nod, and she turned to them with an expression of both irritation and concern. As she moved down the two steps leading into the gazebo, she paused and said, "Make this quick. Dominic has to be back in fifteen minutes. He shouldn't have even agreed to this meeting."
She didn't bother to reply to that, ignoring Caroline's very speculative look as she followed Max into the gazebo.
"I didn't know you were coming, Agent Reid," Dominic said.
"I wanted to make sure you were alerted to a possible threat," she replied. She glanced toward Caroline, who was clearly within hearing distance. "This conversation needs to be private."
"Caroline is a trusted employee."
"Tell her to go back to the car," Max said, a hard note in his voice.
Dominic looked at Max, weighing his words, then said, "Caroline, I'll meet you at the car."
She didn't look at all happy to hear that, but then she turned and walked away.
"Now talk," Dominic said. "What's happening?"
"We think we know who's behind the bombings," Max replied.
Dominic stiffened. "Who?"
"Kara," Max said, motioning to her.
She was surprised that he wanted her to take the lead, but she grabbed the opportunity, sensing they had little time. She told Dominic about the Meridien Tower connection, about Hartford and Faulkner losing family members, about the suspected pattern of revenge targeting everyone involved in the case, and how he was connected to everyone.
"I can't believe David or Harry would do something like this," Dominic said in disbelief. "They're not killers."
"Revenge is a powerful motivation," Max said.
