Sonia said, followed by a yawn. “I promise you, it’s not the company. It’s too many flights in too few days, and I’m off again soon.”
Blackwood sighed elaborately. “We’ll miss you, Sonia. Until the next soiree, then.”
“Always such a pleasure, Grant,” Sonia said.
He turned to Lara. “What about you, little lady? How about a walk down to the docks to fill me in on anything new with our wonderful dolphins?”
Lara wasn’t new to his kind of game; she’d worked in the media after all. She was good at handling herself. But before she had a chance to put him off, Sonia leaped to her rescue.
“I think that Lara needs to be very careful about walking on the docks with any man,” Sonia said.
“Why’s that?” Grant asked.
“Didn’t you see her boyfriend?” Sonia smiled. “He’s a very handsome man—and a government man, at that.”
“You’re dating a fed?” Grant said, turning to Lara.
She had seldom felt put on such a spot, but since Sonia had only been trying to help her—and since she was clearly right about Gerry—she phrased her answer carefully. “Well, we haven’t known each other long,” she said. “But he is...quite a man.”
“I wonder if he’s part Latin?” Sonia said. “He looks as if he could be quite passionate.”
“Oh, yes, he’s very passionate,” Lara agreed drily.
“I imagine,” Grant Blackwood muttered, looking over her shoulder.
As he did so, Lara knew—just knew—that she had stepped in it now. Why in God’s name he was back again, she didn’t know.
But he was back. The stick-up-the-ass agent was back. And this time he’d undoubtedly heard her.
“Miss Larson, Mr. Blackwood,” he said. He looked at them and nodded, and though he said nothing else, his nod clearly indicated that they should leave.
They took the hint. Sonia waved goodbye and headed for the exit, and fell into conversation with Ely and Dr. Amory. They were lucky to have Nelson Amory, Lara knew. He’d received degrees in both veterinary science and marine biology. He was considered one of the top scientists working in the fields of marine mammal behavior and physiology.
Lara didn’t even want to look at Agent Cody. She had to, of course. He was standing right in front of her, waiting for her attention.
“What now?” she asked with a wince.
“I wanted to let you know that we’ll be heading out early. I need you to be at the end of the dock by seven.”
“Seven. After today and tonight. No problem,” she said drily.
“Thank you. And good night.”
“Good night,” she said.
He took a step away, but then he paused and turned back. She could almost have sworn that he nearly cracked a smile. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
“What?”
“Feel free to use me. To protect yourself from Blackwood’s advances, I mean. His Lothario tendencies are well-known. Thinking of me as your boyfriend will probably keep him from bothering you. Even if I do have a stick up my ass.”
He turned and was soon swallowed up by the shadowy path to the parking lot.
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