lifted her gaze to him in surprise. “That’s kind of you to say.”
“It’s the truth. He came to the training center not long before his death and watched you putting Riff through his paces,” Westley told her.
That’s right. She’d been so nervous knowing her father was there. She’d tried extra hard to do everything perfectly. And Riff, thankfully, had cooperated on that day. She hoped someone found him soon and returned him to the training center.
“He asked me how you were doing. If I thought you were in the right place.”
Her stomach sank. She braced herself. “And what did you tell him?”
“That you have the makings of a good trainer,” Westley replied.
She swallowed the lump of emotion clogging her throat. “You did?”
“Yes. I could tell he was pleased.”
Love for her father swelled in her chest. “Do you believe that I’ll make a good trainer?”
“I do. In time.”
She held his gaze as his words slid into her, bolstering her confidence. That was the closest Westley had come to giving her a compliment on her work. Being the youngest and newest trainer, she tried so hard to earn his approval. Instead, most of the time she earned only a scowl from the handsome, buttoned-down master sergeant.
He cleared his throat and averted his gaze but not before she saw a softening in his eyes that sent a flutter through her. He wasn’t scowling at her now.
She swallowed and tried to make sense of the change in her boss. Well, he was no longer her CO. Now he was her protector.
Gesturing to the front door, he said, “Let’s wait outside.”
With Dakota at their heels, they walked out to the porch.
Felicity leaned against the railing and faced him. The need to make sure they were on equal footing forced words from her mouth. “I’m trusting you to keep me safe. I’m trusting you with the knowledge that my dad’s death was more than it seems.”
Westley braced his feet apart and returned her gaze. “I’m honored. On both accounts.”
She narrowed her eyes. She toggled two fingers between them. “But this has to be a two-way street. You must trust me, as well. I’m not some wilting lily for you to prop up.”
A small smile curved his lips. “Duly noted.”
Annoyance buzzed around her head like a million tiny mosquitoes. It was like doing her absolute best to prove herself yet again and falling short.
A flush of frustration heated her skin. “I need to know that you won’t keep secrets from me. If something comes up with Boyd or the investigation into my father’s death, you can’t try to protect me by not telling me.”
All humor left his face. His jaw firmed. “If you need to know I’ll tell you.”
“No. That’s exactly what I mean.” She pushed off the railing. “If we’re to do this, we’re all in together. You don’t get to decide what’s right for me. Not you, or anyone.”
“Aren’t you tired of carrying that chip on your shoulder all the time?” he commented softly.
Her eyebrows shot up. “What do you mean? I’m just trying to do my best.”
“But you don’t have to do this alone,” he countered.
“As my supervisor, I took instructions from you. But now, you’re not my boss. I want to make sure we are clear on that.”
“Crystal.”
He stepped closer, forcing her to tilt her head to look up at him. She found herself fascinated with the little gold specks surrounding his dark irises, making the outer rim of blue even brighter up close. There was so much in his gaze that confused and confounded her. Determination. A spark of anger. And something else that had her pulse leaping.
What was going on? This was her superior. The man who never stopped watching her so he could find a fault.
“But make no mistake, Felicity.” His deep voice commanded her attention. “My mission is to protect you. Whatever it takes. If I tell you to duck, you’d better duck. I refuse to have your stubbornness cost you your life.”
Felicity swallowed hard. She hated the way his words wound through her, conjuring up horrifying images of death and destruction. “I am not stubborn.”
His mouth softened and his eyes sparkled. “Your stubbornness is one of your most appealing traits.”
He found her appealing? Whoa. That was unexpected.
She blew out a breath, unsure what to say or how to feel. The line between them that always seemed so clear at the training center was now blurring.
Before she could reply, several vehicles roared to a stop in front of her little house. Best to let his comment go. She didn’t want to care what Westley thought of her.
But what she wanted and what happened were rarely the same thing.
* * *
Westley watched the play of sparks in Felicity’s eyes and pressed his lips together to keep from grinning. He’d surprised her with his comment. Good. He wanted to keep her on her toes. She needed to stay sharp if they were going up against two deadly threats.
Turning his attention away from the lovely staff sergeant, Westley greeted Captain Justin Blackwood and the OSI agent, Ian Steffen, with a salute. Two base-security policemen followed with crime-scene kits in hand.
“What happened?” Justin asked. “Did Boyd Sullivan break in?”
Westley exchanged a quick glance with Felicity. A red rose and ominous note this morning and now an intruder in her house. It made sense the captain would ask about Boyd.
“We don’t know, sir,” Westley said. “Someone broke in and ransacked the place. It’s obvious they were looking for something.”
Justin pinned Felicity with a questioning look. “Any ideas what they were searching for?”
Felicity’s gaze darted to Ian. Westley figured she was looking to the agent for permission to speak about their suspicions regarding her father’s death.
Ian gave a subtle nod before stepping forward. “I can answer that, but first, please direct your men to process the scene. This is for your ears only.”
Justin’s gaze narrowed, but he motioned for the two MPs to proceed into the house. When the two men were out of earshot, Justin said, “Explain.”
“Prior to OSI Agent Monroe’s death, he was working on several cases that are still open,” Ian said.
Justin swept a hand toward the house. “Then this isn’t related to the Red Rose Killer?”
Ian shrugged. “Hard
