Page 44

We continue across the room until I realize I’m walking alone. Yaya has drawn back to absorb herself into my team—Mosely, a trusted bodyguard from Clay Bolton’s security firm, and Jenny.
“Is something wrong?” I ask when Yaya gets closer.
Yaya shakes her head before Jenny can complete the interpretation.
I set my fingers against the small of her back, noticing her little flinch.
Somethingiswrong.
I remove my hand and study her. There are no lines between her forehead. Instead, she’s got her mouth open and she’s breathing deeply.
Nerves.
But why, when she was so confident before?
I glance at Jenny, decide I want this moment to remain between me and Yaya and whip out my cell phone.
Typing, I show her the message.
Would you like a minute before we meet Lucy?
She gives me a grateful look and nods enthusiastically.
“This way.” I gesture to one of the hallways off-shooting from the sunroom.
The entire team starts to follow, but I flick my fingers.
Mosely nods and gestures to Jenny. The two stay behind. My security follows from a respectful distance.
Once we’re in the brightly lit hallway, Yaya steps away from me and continues to take deep breaths.
I give her the space she needs.
A few minutes later, she starts signing.
I stare in total confusion.
She only gets a couple words in before she realizes I don’t understand and fishes for her phone.
My lips inch up as she types furiously.
Trust shimmers in the air between us.
Not a lot, but at least it’s not as frigid as before. I don’t know what made her thaw. The princess watch? Admitting I need her to meet my sister in rehab? The fact that I haven’t backed her up against a wall and pushed her skirt up like I so desperately want to?
Hold your horses, Dare.
Yaya not seeing me as the villain in her story is a good thing. Right now, we’re partners. We’re on the same side… ish.
Are you sure this is going to work?
Of course.I type back.Lucy is going to love you.
I’m not worried about that.
Then what are you worried about?
The hand gripping her cell phone falls limply to her side. She opens her mouth like she’s trying to decide if she should use her voice or not.