him. He thought about calling her earlier and canceling their trip to Gdańsk, and then just grabbing the train there on his own.
The truth was he had a hard time falling asleep. He was really taken by little Tomasz. They’d become fast friends in a few short hours. He liked kids well enough, but the two of them bonded very quickly. Tomasz was a remarkable little boy.
But Jack also felt really sorry for him. The poor kid was dealt a bad hand early on, losing the two most important men in his life so young. Jack hoped that God would turn over a few aces for him soon, starting with a good man to raise him and to love his mother.
Last night was something special. Maria was both charming and engaging, and Liliana was particularly attractive. It had been only a couple days, but they had spent a lot of time together. She was bright, hardworking, and fiercely patriotic. Jack had little patience for lukewarm souls, especially when it came to the important things. “Dead skunks and yellow lines,” his Grandpa Em used to say.
The three of them had invited him not just into their home but into their lives. He was surprised how easy it was to enter into that. “Instant family,” it seemed. And it felt good. Too good.
He felt guilty. It wasn’t going to happen. There wasn’t going to be any magical ending to their tragic story, at least not one that he would be part of. He had no intention of staying in Poland or changing his life for the sake of a woman he’d just met or her amazing son.
He didn’t care that she hadn’t mentioned Tomasz before. Why would she? Field operatives kept their personal lives hidden. Married undercover guys—even the good ones who didn’t fool around—didn’t wear wedding rings on the job. You couldn’t hand your enemy any leverage or, worse, put your family at risk by advertising their existence. No, Liliana had played it straight.
But what about him? Had he led her on last night? He hoped not. He was just being social, right? Enjoying himself and being a good guest, the way he’d been raised.
But last night bothered him. Had he crossed a line? Was he playacting like a dad? A potential husband? He didn’t think so. God knows he wanted to be both someday. But he wasn’t auditioning for those roles last night. He was certain.
So why the guilt? Maybe because he hadn’t fully resolved things with Ysabel yet.
Hell, he just wasn’t good at any of this people stuff.
Liliana’s car stopped and the trunk popped open. Jack tossed his leather satchel and his laptop bag into the back. There was a distinct possibility that Jack could get everything he needed in Gdańsk in a few hours and they could make it back to Warsaw late that evening. Better to be prepared than not.
“Dzień dobry,” Jack said, climbing into the front seat.
“Dzień dobry. Sleep well?”
“Yeah, great. You?”
“Yes, fine. Thank you.”
She seemed a little distant herself. That was good, right? Or just a confirmation that he screwed something up last night.
She pulled out of the little courtyard and maneuvered onto the main boulevard. Traffic was light.
“About four hours, you said?”
“Yes. Do you have the addresses you need?”
“On my phone.”
“Perfect. Mind if I play a little music?”
“Not at all.” A reason to not talk.
Fine with him.
* * *
—
Jack and Liliana had ridden along in silence for the better part of an hour. Jack used the time to check for new e-mails and texts and to explore some travel options for his Cory trip.
“You haven’t spoken much this morning,” Liliana finally said.
Jack glanced up from his phone. “Just a little tired, that’s all.”
“I thought you said you slept well.”
“Yeah, well, I lied.”
She grinned. “Me, too.”
“Did I do something wrong last night?”
“What? No.” She popped off the music. “I was thinking we had offended you somehow.”
“Me? Not at all. I had a great time. My head is just in a weird place these days.”
Liliana smiled knowingly. “So you do have a woman.”
That was the question, wasn’t it?
“I don’t think so.”
“I understand. Relationships can be complicated.”
“So, you and I are square?”
“Square? Yes. Better than that. Friends, I hope.”
“Yeah. For sure.”
They rode along for a few more minutes, Jack relieved that he hadn’t ruined their friendship, and Liliana was clearly thinking about something.
“This woman, Jack. Is she smart?”
“Brilliant.”
“Then don’t worry about her. Give her time. I doubt she’s foolish enough to let you go.”
Jack grinned and shrugged.