“What?” Lexi asked, but Izzy had already heard the footsteps approaching.
“It’s Nick,” she said, recognizing the sound.
“Ladies,” he said as he entered the room.
She heard Lexi and Skye stand.
“We can’t thank you enough,” Skye began.
“You don’t have to thank him at all,” Izzy grumbled. “I’m the one doing the work. He’s just part of the background.”
“What draws me most to your sister is her charm,” Nick said dryly.
But she knew he was smiling as he spoke. She could hear it in his voice.
“How is she doing?” Lexi asked. “Really?”
Izzy rolled her eyes. “Do you care that I’m in the room?”
“No.”
“She’s doing well. You can see that for yourself.”
“And?” Skye prompted.
“And I don’t discuss my guests with anyone. If you want to know that information, ask Izzy herself.”
“Nice,” Dana said. “A man with principles. I approve.”
“You sound surprised,” Nick said.
“I am.”
“You don’t think much of my gender?” he asked.
“Not really.”
“Fair enough. Ladies, enjoy your visit.”
He left.
Lexi and Skye sat back down. Izzy grinned. “I love that he won’t tell you anything.”
“I’m sure you do,” Lexi said. “I find it annoying, but I’ll get over it. I didn’t realize he was so hot.”
“Excuse me?” Izzy said.
“Oh, yeah,” Skye said. “Not that I don’t love Mitch, but I didn’t notice it before.”
Nick hot? Aaron had said the same, which only made Izzy want to see him more. Being blind really sucked.
“You were probably too upset about betraying me,” she said, not really meaning it in a bad way. “Hot, how?”
“Interesting,” Dana said slowly. “Why would you care?”
“I spend a lot of time with the guy. Good-looking is nice, even if I can’t see it.”
“Beautiful eyes,” Skye said.
“Body to die for,” Lexi told her.
“Love the butt,” Dana said.
Interesting comments, but no details. And if she pushed the point, her sisters would remind her that, in theory, having the surgery would allow her to see for herself.
“Do you think he heard us talking about Garth?” she asked.
“I hope not,” Dana said. “This isn’t information we want getting out.”
“I’m sure it’s fine,” Skye murmured. “We weren’t talking that loudly.”
“I guess it doesn’t matter,” Izzy said. “It’s not like Nick and Garth know each other.”
NICK DROVE DIRECTLY to Dallas. It took nearly two hours, but this wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have on the phone. He was immediately waved in by Garth’s assistant and stalked into his friend’s office.
Garth finished up a call and then stood. “I didn’t know you were coming into town. Want to grab some dinner?”Nick looked at the man who’d been like a brother to him and the only family that had ever mattered. The man he’d nearly died with. The one he trusted with his life.
“What’s going on with you and the Titans?” he asked.
CHAPTER SIX
NICK WATCHED CLOSELY, paying attention to Garth’s breathing and his pupils. Things the average person didn’t notice often gave away the truth. His friend barely blinked.
“Odd question,” Garth said. “What do you want to know?”“Izzy Titan is at my ranch because of you,” Nick said, walking toward one of the leather chairs in front of the desk and taking a seat. “According to her sisters, you’re responsible for their business troubles and they’re investigating you.”
Garth shrugged. “It’s not what you think.”
“You don’t know what I think.”
The other man smiled. “I know you.”
Nick was willing to give his friend the benefit of the doubt. In the twenty years they’d been friends, Garth had never lied to him or let him down in any way.
Garth looked at Nick. “Jed Titan is my father.”
An unexpected piece of information. “You never told me.” Garth had mentioned not knowing his father before, saying the man was alive but that he didn’t have a relationship with him. A mystery father was very different than Jed Titan.
“I never told anyone,” Garth said. “He was rich, my mother wasn’t and when she turned up pregnant, he ended things. To give the old bastard his due, he paid her off. She never told me who my father was and I eventually stopped asking. I found out by accident. Then, when I was thirteen, she started getting headaches.”