Bodhi gives Lisa a measured look, but when she speaks to him, offering what looks like a heartfelt congratulations, he nods and accepts her handshake, even managing a small smile once he's assured that she's not here on business. And when Bodhi and Emma get dragged into another photo, Lisa says her goodbyes and turns away, scanning the crowd again, looking for someone.
When her gaze connects with mine, she freezes. The warmth she showed Emma vanishes, replaced by naked animosity, but my bear is just thrilled she's here at all. She walks toward me, and the crowd parts again, but this time, they're not just admiring her. They're sensing the anger rolling off her, and the tension from me.
Lisa doesn't stop until she's right in front of me, close enough that I breathe her in.
"We need to have a little chat." Her voice is low, but there's steel underneath it. "Now."
"You realise this is a wedding? A social occasion. We can talk shop tomorrow." Dragging my eyes away from her glistening, pillowy lips, I stare out at the mingling crowd, hoping she'll take the hint and leave me alone.
But she doesn't. She's way too stubborn for that.
"Why? Are you nervous, Beau?" She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "I've worked out that the tip-off about where he held the girls came from you, and if anyone has information on where Dimitri has slunk off to with my missing person, it's you."
Oh shit.
I laugh, because it's the only thing I can think of to do. "I know you want to think you're on to something…"
Lisa's eyes blaze, not taking my dismissive attitude kindly.
"Because I am." She steps closer, and I catch the scent of cherry lip balm.
"This isn't the time or place, Lisa." From the dance floor, Bodhi's glaring at me. He looks at the door pointedly.
Take it outside.
"You have lied to me non-stop since I met you." Her cheeks flush as her temper gets the better of her.
"I–"
A growl ripples through the crowd as Bodhi decides he's had enough.Get out,he mouths at me.
"Let's go outside." I catch Lisa's elbow, attempting to steer her toward the doors, but she jerks away before realising she's getting what she wants and storms ahead of me, not bothering to check if I'm following.
I'm following. Of course, I'm following. What choice do I have? My stomach drops.
She knows more than I'm comfortable with.
Stopping between the barn and the saloon-style bar, hoping to get some privacy, we're barely out of sight when she whirlson me, her hair fanning out around her as she turns, gloriously furious.
"Kozlov is dead." Her voice is low. "And I’m not going to lose any sleep over that, but his second in command took someone with him whose description matches Amber.”
Despite knowing this was coming, and having adequate time to prepare a story, nothing good enough comes to mind, so I stand here, shove my hands in my pockets, and stare mutely back at her.
This only seems to rile her up.
“I need to find her, Beau.” Another step closer. “And your brother is twirling the other woman we know Kozlov was holding captive around this dancefloor. Don’t stand here and pretend you’re not smack in the middle of this."
She points one perfectly painted crimson red nail in my direction.
"Instead of bringing me in, you looked me in the eye at Ben's cabin and refused to help me."
Disappointment flashes across her features, and my bear pushes against my restraint, wanting to comfort her, to make it all better and explain we had to keep her away to protect her.
"Lisa—"
She blinks hard, and I stop, because the next lie that's about to fall from my mouth is choking me. She's furious, absolutely furious, but underneath that, there's more. She's hurt.
But she doesn’t get to be hurt. Not when she’s the one who rejected me.
