“Done.”
No, she certainly wasn’t anyone’s secretary. If he were being honest, he would have to say that JJ was pretty much the heart of this operation. Without her, they’d be lost.
***
“Should I go back to my roomand wait?” Becs asked after they’d finished their sandwiches, and Brantley and Reese were getting ready to go to the Kavanagh Holdings building.
Although she hadn’t directed the question at anyone specifically, Reese looked at Brantley. They did that a lot, she noticed. Becs figured that was what made them great partners, both at work and in love. They looked to each other for advice and direction, which made them stronger as a team. At least from her viewpoint.
“No,” Brantley said, looking at her. “You’ll stay with us. It’ll be good for you to get a firsthand account.”
She fought the urge to smile. Becs had hoped he would say that. Although her job as an analyst required her to be glued to her computer, spending most of her time researching, she was fascinated by the fieldwork.
Not that she was hoping to become an investigator. That was too far outside her comfort zone, but it didn’t hurt to occasionally get in on the action. More importantly, it allowed her to get outside and enjoy at least a small part of the Big Apple.
While Atticus and Slade cleaned up the trash from lunch, Becs stowed her laptop in her backpack and slid her arms under the straps before following Brantley and Reese out the door.
“We can leave the SUV as long as you’re up for a walk,” Becs informed them when Brantley pulled out his phone. “Or we could take a cab. It’s probably faster to walk, though.”
“You realize it’s ninety degrees, right?” he countered.
“You realize the traffic’s at a standstill,” Slade retorted.
All eyes shifted to the street. Yep. Even on a Sunday afternoon, the street was crammed with vehicles.
“Plus,” Becs said, “it’s New York. Temperature means nothing.”
Brantley gestured for her to lead the way.
Becs didn’t hesitate.
Their hotel was on 7thAvenue between 55thand 56th, so they headed northeast toward Central Park. They walked against traffic, and Becs didn’t hide her interest in the city. She’d never been to New York, but she’d always wanted to. She always imagined one day bringing Carly here so they could walk the trails in Central Park and go to the zoo. She also wanted to visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, as well as the Statue of Liberty and Grand Central Terminal. She figured they would check out the American History Museum, see the city from the 86thfloor of the Empire State Building, and go to Rockefeller Center.
Today, she would settle for walking alongside Central Park as they headed toward Columbus Circle. She smiled, wondering if Evan would be interested in a vacation here. One day. They could bring both girls and spend a week checking out the sights. Getting caught up in a fantasy like that was silly, but Becs couldn’t help herself. No, she wasn’t getting her hopes up because a happily ever after didn’t seem to be in her future, but it never hurt to dream.
The walk took less time than she expected because she’d been so caught up in the sights and smells of the city. She nearly passed the Kavanagh Holdings building, which was sad because she’d actually been looking for it. She probably would’ve kept going if Reese hadn’t called out her name.
“Right.” She grinned sheepishly. “Sorry.”
“You’ve never been here?” Reese asked.
“To New York?” Becs shook her head. “Always wanted to.”
“Maybe you’ll get a chance to see the sights,” Brantley noted.
Her eyebrows rose, and she hoped he would elaborate, but he didn’t. She loved the idea, although going alone wasn’t something she was willing to do. Too bad Evan hadn’t come along on the trip.
They moved as a group up the stairs toward the towering glass building. The front was lined with a dozen glass doors, allowing multiple people to come and go at once. Reese reached them first, opening one and stepping back, allowing them to go inside before him.
Becs did her best not to express her awe when she saw the lobby. If she didn’t know better, she would’ve thought it was an art museum. The marble-lined walls were decorated with a variety of large canvas paintings, and a few sleek statues stood throughout, looming proudly over the elegant marble floor. High above them were chandeliers that dangled, the lights glittering like diamonds.
The space had no benches or desks, only a discreetly placed reception stand that blended in with the marble walls. Three uniformed people stood, two watching computer monitors and one woman tracking them closely.
“How may I assist you?” she asked as they approached, stepping out from behind the stand as though gearing up to tackle them before they reached the elevator.
Becs noticed she spoke with a distinct Irish accent.
“We’re here to see Ronan Kavanagh,” Brantley informed her.
