NICK STOOD in the kitchen and watched Izzy move through the living room. She walked deliberately, touching every piece of furniture as she made a full circuit. She completed the return trip in the opposite direction, then paused. A few seconds later, she walked into the center of the room and stopped. From there, she went first to the sofa, then back to the middle. She crossed to the window and returned to the center.
She was learning the room. By the time she was finished she would know where everything was and find it easily. In a couple of days she would be able to hurry through the house like everyone else.
Even as he watched her turn and pace and count, he was distracted by her long bare legs. Her shorts barely covered her butt and her tight T-shirt outlined her full breasts. Normally he would have been able to ignore her athletic body. Normally he could appreciate the show and move on. Normally he hadn’t spent a long, agonizing night lying next to a beautiful woman, her legs tangled with his, her head on his shoulder, her breasts nestling against his arm.
He told himself that the price was worth it. She’d proven her strength-not only in avoiding a crash and burn after her nightmare, but by being able to move on from their fight. He’d taunted her. She’d risen to the bait, but hadn’t gotten trapped in anger. She was strong and determined-someone he could admire. Now if only he could see her naked.
Stop it, he told himself. Izzy was a client, someone he was helping. He had no business thinking about kissing every inch of her, of touching her until she begged and then losing himself in her. It was unprofessional. It was sexist. And being hard all the time was damned unpleasant.
The point of all this was she hadn’t given up, which meant she was one step closer to having the surgery. There were more-
“You have some serious stalker tendencies,” she said, turning to face him. “It’s borderline creepy. You should go talk to someone about it.”
“I’ve been here ten minutes. Why did it take you so long to figure out you weren’t alone?”
She continued finding her way around the room. “My bat sonar isn’t fully installed just yet.”
“You need to work on that.”
“You need to get a life. Do you watch me in the shower?”
The image dropped into his brain and there was no way he could ignore it. “Do you want me to?”
She tilted her head slightly. Her long, dark, curly hair tumbled over her right shoulder. She walked toward him, stopping only inches away. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
“You need a woman. Seriously. It’s bad enough that the blind girl can figure it out. That’s got to be embarrassing.”
It was, but he wouldn’t admit it to her. “I’m playing your game. That should make you happy.”
“Maybe. I take it you don’t have anyone you’re seeing right now. I’m guessing it’s a geographic thing. It’s hard to date when your life is in the middle of nowhere.”
“My work keeps my busy.”
“So you’re between relationships? Or are you the type who doesn’t get involved?”
Why were they talking about him? “I don’t get involved.” Why was he answering her questions?
Her eyes were hazel, the irises a kaleidoscope of color.
“So typical,” she said. “Were you burned by love? Did someone break your heart?”
“No.” No one got close enough to break anything. “What about you?” he asked. “Why aren’t there a pack of guys at your beck and call?”
“I prefer one-on-one to a pack,” she said. “I don’t do serious, either. It’s too much trouble. I like my men easy and pretty. Although I guess pretty is less important than it used to be.”
It was as if a light clicked off inside her. One second she was flirty and confident, the kind of woman who made men look even when they didn’t want to. The next, her shoulders slumped, her chin dropped and her energy faded.
She turned away, obviously lost in defeat.
He grabbed her arm. “Don’t,” he told her. “Don’t give in. You have to stay strong. It’s worth it.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, I do.” He wanted to shake her until she figured out there was a process and she had to keep moving forward.
“Were you really going to let me go home?” she asked.
“You could have gone home.”
“You were a bastard on purpose. I suppose I should thank you.”
He would like it better if she were yelling or throwing things. Anger had power behind it. This acceptance would kill her…or at least keep her from getting well.
“Don’t thank me,” he said, frustrated. “Get pissed off. Yell at me. Hate me.”
“Why? You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Sure I have.” He was a guy-there had to be something he’d done. “I think you’re an idiot for wasting the opportunities you’ve been given.”
“Like I’m buying that.” She pulled free and turned to leave.
“You’ve wasted your life. You’re a Titan. You could have done something with all that money, but you haven’t. You’re useless. Being blind just makes it obvious to everyone else. Because you’ve always known the truth.”
She turned back to him, her expression more annoyed than angry, but at least it was better than defeat.
“You have some serious psychological problems,” she told him. “I don’t think your geography has anything to do with why you’re not in a relationship. I think it’s you.”
“What’s your excuse for being alone? Since when are relationships too much trouble for a woman? It’s what you all live for.”
“You are seriously grasping here.”
“Whatever works.”
“What’s your end game?” she asked.
“For you not to give up.”
“And then what? Do I get a cookie?”
“You get your life back, Izzy. That has to be worth something.”
“According to you, it isn’t. I’m useless.”
“So be mad at me. Have something to prove.”
“You know, you need a strategy,” she told him. “Right now you’re just bouncing around from point to point. There’s no cohesive argument here.”
“I’m thinking on my feet.”
She smiled. “Not your greatest strength, huh?”
He relaxed a little. “I do okay.”
“The people who say that are your employees, aren’t they? You have to pay them a lot of money to get them on your side.”
“You’re saying I don’t inspire loyalty?”
“I’m saying you have issues.”
“So do you.”
“One or two.”
“Like not having the surgery.”
She poked him in the chest. “We are so not having that conversation.”
The fire was back. Good. As long as she stayed strong, she would make it.
“We have to have it sometime.”
“Not today.”
She looked at him. If he didn’t know better, he would swear she could see everything. Her eyes were so damn beautiful…just like the rest of her. Without thinking, he reached toward her and cupped the side of her face. Her skin was smooth and soft.
“You can’t hide from me forever,” Aaron said as he walked into the kitchen. “You can run but you can’t hide. I’ve always loved that saying. I have proposals that need your approval and a lot of other details you keep avoiding.”
Nick dropped his hand and Izzy took a step back. Aaron rounded the corner, then came to a stop.
“Oh, my,” he said, glancing between them. “You could cut the tension in this room with a knife. What have you two been up to? It’s bad. I can tell. I’m just going to back out and we can pretend I was never here.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Nick said. “I’m leaving.”
“But you’re the one I have to talk to.”
Izzy heard footsteps retreating. Based on the sound and cadence, she knew Nick was the one who had left.
“What did I miss?” Aaron asked, sounding intrigued. “You both looked guilty. There’s something going on between you two.”
“Not that much,” she said, thinking that last night had been about comfort. He’d kept her sane through a rocky couple of hours. But what had today been about?
“Honey, I know sexual tension when I see it and it was filling this room. Come have a seat and tell Uncle Aaron everything. Start at the beginning and talk slow. My love life sucks so I’ll have to live vicariously through yours.”
He took her hand and led her to the sofa. When they were seated, the cushion moved as if he were getting more comfortable or angling toward her.
“Tell me everything.”
“There’s nothing to tell. We were arguing.” Sort of. “Nick wants to make sure I don’t give up. Sometimes he’s a jerk about it.”
Aaron sighed. “Don’t you love it when he gets all manly. I know it makes my heart beat faster.”
She laughed. “I find him annoying.”
“I don’t think so. The way he was looking at you.”
“Really?”
“Uh-huh. Like he hasn’t eaten in three days and you’re the buffet.”
Something deep inside her belly quivered to life. “Nick is nice,” she said cautiously, aware she was at a serious disadvantage. She couldn’t tell what Nick was thinking by looking at him.
“Nice? He’s a lot more than that. Have you seen those muscles. Oh. Right. Probably not. Well, they’re there and they’re fabulous.”
She’d felt them when he’d dragged her out of Lexi’s house and again last night. He’d been strong and safe and, well, kind. Not exactly a word she would have expected to use where he was concerned.
“You’re not seeing anyone, are you?” Aaron asked. “I don’t want Nick hurt.”
“What? You should be worried about me. I can’t wear makeup or fuss with my hair. I have to shave my legs by feel, which is probably not pretty.”
“You’re beautiful and sexy and something tells me you’ve been fighting off the boys since you were thirteen. It’s not about makeup, Izzy, it’s about you. Nick is drool-worthy. Believe me, I know. But he keeps to himself. No one gets in, because he makes sure they don’t.”
The compliments made her feel good, but she was more interested in what Aaron hadn’t said.
“Why doesn’t he get involved?”
Aaron was silent.
She sighed. “If you’re making a face, I can’t see it.”
“Oh. Right. Sorry. He has a past. Most of it, I don’t know either. Some I’ve figured out. Some he’s told me. He was raised in foster care. I don’t know what happened to his parents. He’s smart. Scary smart. Went to college on a full scholarship when he was fifteen or sixteen. It’s never good to be the smartest kid in the room. Then he grew up and…” Aaron paused. “The next few years aren’t clear to me. Anyway, he ended up here with this ranch and his business.”
Talk about a lot of gaps, she thought, wondering how many were because Aaron really didn’t know and how many were because he didn’t want to tell her.
“Did he buy the ranch or was it in his family?” she asked.
“He bought it and fixed it up.”
“Specially for the corporate retreats?”
“Specifically for the kids. The corporate stuff happens to pay the bills.” The sofa shifted as Aaron stood. “Like I said, don’t hurt him.”
“As if I could. I’m not here to get the guy. I’m here to get better.”
Aaron said something and left, but she wasn’t paying attention. Until that second, she hadn’t been willing to admit the truth to herself. But there it was, at last. Her admission of something she’d been avoiding since she’d first found out she’d lost nearly all her sight. She wanted to get better. To heal. She didn’t know if that meant having the surgery or adjusting to what she had, but at least there was a goal.
It had been a long time since she wanted something. It felt good to have a purpose and maybe, just maybe, get it right.
“YOU’VE DONE THIS a thousand times,” Rita said calmly, as Izzy wrestled with getting the pad in the right spot.
“Jackson’s going to hate me pretty soon,” Izzy muttered, smoothing the pad in place. “Does this look right?”
“Don’t ask me,” Rita told her. “You’re the one saddling the horse.”
“You can be very frustrating,” Izzy told her, as she made a couple of adjustments. “Okay-that should be good.” She bent over to grab the saddle.
“I would appreciate a little cooperation,” she told the horse. “Just don’t step on me.”
“Jackson is too much a gentleman for that,” Rita said.
“I hope you’re right.”
She raised the saddle to what she hoped was the correct height and lowered it onto his back. When it was in place, she made sure the right stirrup was still hooked out of the way, then walked around him and checked the saddle placement by touch.
“This seems good,” she said quietly, patting Jackson as she went. She secured the saddle in place, grabbed it with both hands to make sure it was tight, then fumbled for the stirrup. “Now for the real test.”
She swung herself up into place. Except for the fact that she felt too far off the ground and dangerously vulnerable in a blurry world, it was good.
“I did it,” she said, oddly proud of herself.
“Yes, you did. Next time you’ll do it faster.”
“Why do I have visions of you holding a stopwatch?”
“I have no idea. I’m not the stopwatch type.”
Izzy removed the saddle and pad, putting both away before returning to Jackson’s side and offering him a piece of apple. “You were very good for me and I appreciate that.”
“Next we’ll get you exercising the horses,” Rita told her.
Izzy wasn’t too sure about that, but she would deal with that fight when it was time. For now she was getting through each day, making progress, albeit slowly. She was learning how to function. Sometimes she was pleased with her progress, other times she still wanted to scream at the heavens, complaining this shouldn’t have happened to her.
At least the nightmares hadn’t returned. Not since that night Nick had shown up and comforted her.
“Tell me about Nick,” she said.
“What do you want to know?”
“Has he been married?”
“Not that I know of. He keeps to himself, which is a shame. Every good man needs a wife.”
Izzy grinned. “So speaks someone who has been married a long time.”
“Why should I be the only one? Besides, my husband would be happy to tell you that I’m the best thing that ever happened to him.”
“I’m sure he would.”
“Nick is…complicated. I don’t know very much about his past and I’m not sure how much he’d tell you if you asked. He has secrets. I know he spent at least a year traveling the world, learning survival training. He’s studied with monks to learn to control his body-his breathing and heart rate. He is a surprising combination of dangerous and spiritual. Why do you ask? Interested?”
“What? No.” Afraid she was blushing, something she never did, Izzy turned away. “He runs this place. I’ve never met anyone who does what he does.”
“Uh-huh. You need a better story. No one’s going to believe that one.”
“I’m not interested. Not romantically or anything.”
“Are you saying you’d tell Nick no if he crawled in your bed?”
Actually he already had, although it hadn’t been for sex. Which now that she thought about it, was kind of sad. “He’s a friend,” she began.
Rita laughed. “Words every man longs to hear. If you decide to turn him away, send him over to me.”
“You’re happily married.”
“I know, but I’m still allowed to have fantasies. I doubt there’s a woman alive who would tell him no.”
Izzy suddenly had a burning need to know what he looked like. She had a sense of his height and shape. She knew he was strong and she could pick out his scent in the dark. But what about the rest of him? Did he smile much? What color were his eyes?
As for telling him no, she thought about their earlier conversation. How close they’d been standing. The way he’d touched her cheek. She’d liked the feel of his fingers on her skin and for a second, she’d thought he might kiss her.
An unexpected sense of loss made her chest hurt. She couldn’t shake the feeling of having missed out on something important. Which was insane. She was here because she had to be here. When she could get along in the real world, she would leave. Nick wasn’t any part of her life.
“Okay, go grab me a dandy brush from the storeroom,” Rita said. “Then it should be time for lunch.”
Izzy turned toward the barn. “I don’t like the storeroom. It’s too dark.”
“So?”
“It scares me.” Even with the lights on, she couldn’t see anything in the storeroom. “Like a creepy cave.”
“Life is full of creepy caves. Take them one at a time.”
Rita’s dismissal annoyed her. Everyone was so free with their advice. “I agree that I have to work through things, but not all in one day. Give me a break. I’m making progress. Isn’t that enough? Let me guess. It’s not. Because everyone here has an opinion about my life. You don’t know what it’s like to be blind.”
“Neither do you. You have thirty percent of your sight.”
“Big whoop.”
“It would be to someone who was totally blind. To them you’d have everything.”
“Right. Because I always have to remember there are people worse off than me.”
“Not worse off. Just dealing with more. And you’re wrong about me. I do know what it’s like to be blind because I am. Completely. Have been since birth.”
She kept talking, but Izzy couldn’t hear the words.
Rita, blind? But she ran the stable. She fed and exercised all the horses, knew where they were, took care of them. She told Izzy what to do, explained how and then corrected her if she was wrong. She moved easily, never stumbling.
“I don’t understand,” Izzy breathed.
“What’s to understand? It’s a pretty straightforward condition. My parents put me on a horse when I was four and I never wanted to get off. I’ve always been around them. They seem to know I can’t see because I’ve never been stepped on or even pushed down. Nick had to pay a lot of money to get me away from my last job. But I was interested in a change and he sweet-talked me the rest of the way.”
Blind. Izzy couldn’t believe it. “I never would have guessed.”
“No offense, but you’re not tough to fool. It’s not like you see 20/20.” Rita patted her on the shoulder. “It’s only the dark, kid. Just because you can’t see what’s there doesn’t mean you should be afraid. It’s only the dark.”
It was a whole lot more than that, but Izzy wasn’t going to argue. Especially not with Rita, who obviously had no trouble getting along in the world. There was a lesson there, Izzy thought. One about courage and determination. One she apparently needed to learn.
TWO DAYS LATER Izzy stood in the shade, grooming Jackson. She and the horse had come to terms with each other. At least that’s what she told herself. One of these days she was going to get on him and ride, just like she used to. The fact that she couldn’t really see where she was going was an issue to be dealt with another time.
She heard footsteps, but didn’t bother turning around. Based on the speed and sound, she knew exactly who it was.
“Hi, Aaron.”
“You’re getting spooky. I won’t ask how you knew it was me. I have a surprise for you.”
She might not have been at Nick’s ranch all that long, but she knew enough to guess not every surprise was one she would enjoy. “A good surprise or a bad surprise?”
“A good one. At least I think so. Your sisters are here. Norma said they could stay to lunch and she won’t do that for just anyone. So she likes you.” He paused. “Should I pause for a dramatic reaction to the news?”
“That Norma likes me?”
“Oh, please. To your sisters being here.”
Izzy patted Jackson’s neck. She didn’t know what to think. When she’d first arrived, she’d been so angry at them for abandoning her. She’d seen their actions as a betrayal. Now…she wasn’t so sure. While she was starting to see their point, she wasn’t ready to completely forgive them. Although if they groveled enough, she was willing to be persuaded.
She unhooked Jackson and led him toward the stable. “Tell them I’ll be in shortly.”
“That’s it?”
“Disappointed?”
“Yes. I thought you might scream or something. I adore drama.”
She grinned. “Then stick around for the reunion. There might be a shriek or two.”
“You’re just saying that to make me feel better.” He followed her into the barn. “Your sisters are very beautiful, but they don’t look alike.”
“Different mothers,” she said. When Jackson was safely back in his stall, she turned back to the door. “Skye and I share a mother. Lexi’s mom was Jed’s first wife.”
“How very Dallas.” Aaron linked arms with her. “So who’s Dana? She’s here, too.”
“A mutual friend.”
“She so doesn’t do the girly thing. She could be pretty if she put a little effort into it. And what’s with the chip on her shoulder? I swear, she has to work out. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have the strength to walk straight. That chip would make her lean.”
She squeezed his arm. “You’re rapidly becoming one of my favorite people ever.”
“I know. Everyone adores me.”
Izzy laughed. “Dana’s a deputy.”
“I can totally see her in uniform and not in a happy way. She needs a man more than I do and that’s saying a lot.”
They reached the back of the house.
“I put them in the living room,” Aaron said, holding open the door. “Go say hi. I’ll bring in refreshments. That will give you time to do the family greeting thing before they get to know the new light of your life. That would be me, of course.”
“Of course,” she said, chuckling as she walked. It was only when she’d nearly reached the living room that her humor faded. She paused in the hallway. She could hear low murmurs of conversation. Skye sounded nervous, which made Izzy feel better. She stepped into the room.
“Hi,” she said.
There were a couple of gasps, then blurry shapes rushed toward her. Lexi got there first and hugged her.
“How are you? Are you okay? You look good.”
Skye pushed Lexi aside and wrapped her arms around Izzy. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I know it was the right thing to do, but I’m sorry.”
“You can’t have it both ways,” Izzy told her. “You can’t tell me it was right to have me kidnapped and apologize at the same time.”
“Of course I can,” Skye told her. “I’m a Titan.”
“She can be so annoying,” a third voice said.
Izzy turned as Dana hugged her, as well.
“You smell like horse,” her friend said. “And I had nothing to do with the kidnapping.”
Izzy laughed. “I know. You’re not the one who’s in trouble.”
“Am I in trouble?” Skye asked, sounding upset.
“Trouble?” Aaron walked into the room. “My favorite. Is someone going to be punished?”
Izzy introduced him to her sisters. He passed out drinks, then got everyone seated. Izzy noticed that Aaron stayed beside her and led her to the sofa, so she wouldn’t have to guess where everything was. Despite the time she’d spent memorizing the room, having four other people around made it impossible to remember what was where.
“So, you probably have a lot of questions for me,” Aaron said when they were seated. “I am the most important person in Izzy’s life. She depends on me for everything.”
Izzy laughed. “You are the air that I breathe.”
Aaron sighed heavily. “It’s a massive responsibility. Oh. Norma’s waving frantically from the kitchen. I think she wants me to leave you girls alone. Normally I would ignore her but she makes these amazing biscuits and I am a slave to my senses. Ladies, it’s been lovely. I’ll see you at lunch.”
Izzy felt him get up and heard him walk out of the room.
“Who’s that?” Dana asked. “He doesn’t seem your type.”
“He’s Nick’s assistant. He pretty much manages everything.”
“You seem to be doing well,” Skye said. “This was a hard decision for us, Izzy. You weren’t leaving your room, let alone the house.”
“I know.”
“Even if you decide not to have the surgery, which we still don’t understand, you have to do something with your life.”
“I know.”
“Losing part of your sight isn’t the worst…What?”
“I said I know. I might not agree with what you did, but I understand why you thought it was important. I don’t mind being here. Which is not the same as forgiving you. Just so we’re clear.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Lexi asked, sounding more relieved and happy than frustrated.
“You shouldn’t be. Okay, enough about me,” Izzy said. “What’s been going on with you two? What have I missed? Erin’s getting ready to start school soon, isn’t she? Third grade. I can’t believe how fast she’s growing up.”
She’d been there when Skye’s daughter had been born. While birth was a lot more messy than she’d expected, it had still been something amazing. Erin was…
She realized that no one was talking.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing.” Skye sounded shocked. “It’s just you said ‘enough about me.’ I’ve never heard you say that before.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Just that you’re usually…You enjoy…”
“Stop trying to be so damned delicate,” Dana grumbled. “She’s trying not to say you usually like it when we talk about you.”
Izzy frowned. “That’s not true. I joke about it, but I’m not totally self-centered.”
There was more silence, and this time it was less comfortable.
“I’m not,” she insisted.
“Of course not,” Skye murmured soothingly.
Izzy had a feeling they were all exchanging looks she couldn’t see. Ones that said they shouldn’t upset her.
Did her sisters really think she was selfish? That she didn’t care about them? Or anyone? Hadn’t she been the one to try to protect Skye from lying, slimy T.J. Boone earlier that summer? Not that Skye had appreciated her effort.
She shifted on the sofa and did her best to keep her confusion from showing on her face.
“How are things going with Garth?” she asked, to change the subject.
“He’s been quiet,” Lexi said. “Which makes me nervous. Jed is still being investigated for the arms shipment. So far he hasn’t been officially charged with treason, although the threats are there. Garth hasn’t attacked my business lately.”
“Mine, either,” Skye said. “I suppose we should be grateful, but not having him do anything is nearly as stressful as having him coming at me. I keep waiting for the next shoe to drop. It’s impossible to relax.”
“Maybe that’s part of his plan,” Dana told her. “I swear to you, I’m going to get him. I’m talking to a couple of guys at the Dallas PD, and they’ve hooked me up with a Texas Ranger. These are guys who know how to investigate. We’re doing our best to build a case. Garth Duncan isn’t going to get away with any of this.”
She sounded fierce, which made sense, given their history with Garth.
A couple of years ago Lexi’s banker had offered her a loan to expand her day spa. The terms were good enough to be seriously tempting and the investor didn’t even want a piece of the action. Just principal and interest. The only catch had been that the note was callable without warning. The past spring, the note had been called and Lexi had scrambled to find a way to repay the mystery lender in less than a month. She’d nearly lost everything.
Then she’d been sued by a former client, several of their father’s race horses had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and someone had leaked damning but false information to the district attorney about Skye’s not-for-profit foundation. Only Izzy had been spared, probably because she didn’t have anything worth taking.
The sisters had struggled to figure out what was going on. Their investigation had led them to an impossible truth-their businesses were being targeted by a half brother they didn’t know about. Garth Duncan was Jed’s oldest child-one he’d never acknowledged. For reasons they didn’t understand, Garth was after them, with a vengeance.
Dana, a Titanville deputy, was doing all she could to protect her friends.
“Garth has always come at you in ways you didn’t expect,” she said now. “From our perspective, his attacks seem random, but I don’t think they are. I think he has a master plan. I just want to throw his ass in jail. Very little else would make me happy. We need to-”
Dana stopped talking.
“What?” Lexi asked, but Izzy had already heard the footsteps approaching.
“It’s Nick,” she said, recognizing the sound.
“Ladies,” he said as he entered the room.
She heard Lexi and Skye stand.
“We can’t thank you enough,” Skye began.
“You don’t have to thank him at all,” Izzy grumbled. “I’m the one doing the work. He’s just part of the background.”
“What draws me most to your sister is her charm,” Nick said dryly.
But she knew he was smiling as he spoke. She could hear it in his voice.
“How is she doing?” Lexi asked. “Really?”
Izzy rolled her eyes. “Do you care that I’m in the room?”
“No.”
“She’s doing well. You can see that for yourself.”
“And?” Skye prompted.
“And I don’t discuss my guests with anyone. If you want to know that information, ask Izzy herself.”
“Nice,” Dana said. “A man with principles. I approve.”
“You sound surprised,” Nick said.
“I am.”
“You don’t think much of my gender?” he asked.
“Not really.”
“Fair enough. Ladies, enjoy your visit.”
He left.
Lexi and Skye sat back down. Izzy grinned. “I love that he won’t tell you anything.”
“I’m sure you do,” Lexi said. “I find it annoying, but I’ll get over it. I didn’t realize he was so hot.”
“Excuse me?” Izzy said.
“Oh, yeah,” Skye said. “Not that I don’t love Mitch, but I didn’t notice it before.”
Nick hot? Aaron had said the same, which only made Izzy want to see him more. Being blind really sucked.
“You were probably too upset about betraying me,” she said, not really meaning it in a bad way. “Hot, how?”
“Interesting,” Dana said slowly. “Why would you care?”
“I spend a lot of time with the guy. Good-looking is nice, even if I can’t see it.”
“Beautiful eyes,” Skye said.
“Body to die for,” Lexi told her.
“Love the butt,” Dana said.
Interesting comments, but no details. And if she pushed the point, her sisters would remind her that, in theory, having the surgery would allow her to see for herself.
“Do you think he heard us talking about Garth?” she asked.
“I hope not,” Dana said. “This isn’t information we want getting out.”
“I’m sure it’s fine,” Skye murmured. “We weren’t talking that loudly.”
“I guess it doesn’t matter,” Izzy said. “It’s not like Nick and Garth know each other.”
NICK DROVE DIRECTLY to Dallas. It took nearly two hours, but this wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have on the phone. He was immediately waved in by Garth’s assistant and stalked into his friend’s office.
Garth finished up a call and then stood. “I didn’t know you were coming into town. Want to grab some dinner?”
Nick looked at the man who’d been like a brother to him and the only family that had ever mattered. The man he’d nearly died with. The one he trusted with his life.
“What’s going on with you and the Titans?” he asked.