Cav also noticed that when new people entered her office, they would look at the scars casually, not focusing on them. Lia’s warm personality was far more interesting to them. It truly was a non-issue, and he could see Lia begin to ease up about her concerns that people were staring at her.
And that was good for them both.
Cav shucked the corn quickly, placing it in two large aluminum pans sitting on the counter. The fact that Lia boldly wore shorts for the first time actually amazed him. They no longer talked about her scars or how she felt about them. Cav wasn’t sure this was a positive development because he’d learned that if Lia could talk about whatever was bothering her, it no longer had the power over her. Maybe she wasn’t as bothered by the scars anymore, or at least it was less upsetting than it had been.
Cav decided he wasn’t going to push his agenda on her. She was coming along nicely, and far more quickly than he could believe. Inside, he knew it was the emotional support he was giving her, which pleased him that he could play that kind of “rear guard” action with Lia.
He had special plans for their next weekend, and he could hardly wait to spring it on her. He imagined how she’d look when he told her where they were going.
Finishing up, he washed and dried his hands. Cav had made some good friends among the construction crew and decided to see if Robert needed anything yet. Then, he would join the group standing beneath the large elm tree. A cold beer sure would taste good on a hot, muggy July day.
“How are you and Cav getting along?” Dilara asked Lia directly, not mincing words.
Holding the beaded glass of cold iced tea in her hands, Lia said, “Really well, actually.” She wasn’t sure that Dilara knew of their after-hours relationship, and decided she was referring to their work at Artemis.
“He’s a very insightful young man,” Dilara murmured, sipping her tea, pushing the swing a little with the toe of her white leather shoe.
“I’m amazed at his knowledge of Asia and Africa,” enthused Lia. “I’m learning so much from him.”
Dilara hummed a bit, then smiled. “I was referring to your private life, Lia. Not that it’s my business, but I rather pride myself on knowing the people who work with me. Cav seems very devoted to you.”
Squirming inwardly, Lia chose her words carefully. “He’s very sensitive. I know he’s a security contractor and my original judgment about him was wrong. He is so much more than that.”
Cav had been right when he said Dilara was a cosmic mother hen of sorts. She truly cared for everyone and made it her business to know them on a personal level. That, in part, was why Lia wanted to work at Delos—precisely because she’d heard talk that Dilara Culver was the dream boss to work for. And the gossip had been accurate.
“You seem to enjoy his company on weekends. I hear talk from the girls at HR that you two are usually gadding about, like going caving in Virginia.”
Lia smiled a little, running her fingers through the cool beads of water on the tall glass. “Yes. My father is a spelunker and he started teaching me caving when I was ten. I love it. And Cav does, too, as it turns out.”
“I know nothing about caving,” Dilara admitted. “And I did know Cav was interested in them. I whispered to him one time that he should take you caving while you were both in Costa Rica.”
“Yes, he did.” Lia smiled at her. “And he later admitted that you’d whispered that information to him about me. He said he had to learn about caves when he was a SEAL.”
Dilara studied her through her thick lashes. “Well, I think you two are well matched. I knew about Cav’s training as a SEAL and knew you loved spelunking, so I thought that was a natural fit for you two.”
“I was, actually,” Lia admitted. “It brought us together, Dilara and I’m glad you told him.”
“I rather pride myself in pairing up men and women who I instinctively feel are right for one another,” she admitted.
Lia chortled. “You know you’re called the Royal Matchmaker behind your back, don’t you?” She saw Dilara’s aquamarine eyes gleam with amusement.
“Indeed I do. I tell Robert that I wear that badge with a great deal of pride.” She reached out, touching Lia’s knee. “And what does caving do for you? There must be some kind of positive experience you receive from it…”
Lia appreciated Dilara’s insight. “A cave makes me feel safe, Dilara. I feel like I’m in Mother Earth’s womb and I’m the child she’s carrying. A lot of caves are alive, wet and humid. There’s life in there, and you can feel it. Every cave breathes, and I can almost feel it, like our Mother Earth is breathing. I feel completely alive in a cave system and love exploring them and discovering all their secrets.”