Chapter One #2
“No,” I said with genuine surprise, then referenced my screen again through his eyes. “But I am looking for someone.”
“If you’re a bondsman or a private investigator, I appreciate the work you did today, but you might as well go now because I see nothing, know nothing, and say even less.”
“Understood.” I pocketed my phone. “Luckily I’m neither of those.”
He grunted. “Who’re you looking for?”
In a world where trust was a rare commodity, the truth was the most valuable currency. “Thomas Steele. My father knew him in college, and they had a falling out.”
Roy’s expression didn’t change. “What does that have to do with you?”
“My brother is getting married and his fiancée wants everyone at the wedding.”
“Ah,” Roy said slowly and with sympathy.
“I have four daughters. Two are married and although I love their husbands, I’m still recovering from their weddings.
Everyone says they’re expensive. I expected that, but no one talks about the year leading up to that special day when no one around them can say or do anything right.
I swear, I disappointed both of them on a weekly basis.
” He rubbed a hand on the back of his neck.
“Told my two youngest they’re not allowed to get married before I’m dead. ”
I coughed on a laugh.
He grinned. “I meant it at the time, but I’m a real bastard sometimes which means I ain’t going nowhere soon, so I may have to retract that.”
“My sister, Bella, eloped instead of having a wedding. She did it to avoid the family drama.”
“Now that’s an option I’d consider if I didn’t know my wife would skin me if I suggested it.”
I nodded. “Yeah, not everyone was happy with it, which is why my brother Evan is hoping we can mend a few fences before his wedding.”
“And one of those fences is this Steele guy?”
“Yes,” I continued casually. “But he’s basically nonexistent online. Which is impressive . . .”
“Or suspicious,” Roy muttered.
“Maybe.” I nodded. “From what I can tell, he works in cybersecurity. That could explain why he’s hard to find.”
“And you think he’s here?”
“I think he might be,” I said. “Or someone who knows him is.”
My phone buzzed.
Roy nodded at it. “Answer it. It’s not like you need to ask me to take a break since technically you don’t work here.”
I chuckled at that, took a few steps away and answered. “Hey, Mom.”
Her voice came through warm but edged with that familiar worry. “Brady, you’re not allowed to disappear off into Nevada without calling me daily.”
“Sorry,” I said, keeping my tone light. “I was waiting for something worth reporting.”
Her tone lightened. “I heard you spent time with a Steele family, just not the right one?”
I chuckled. “They were amazing. Invited me back anytime.”
My mother sighed. “I love that you’re doing this, I really do . . .”
“But?”
She took a moment before answering. “Are you sure you’re the right one for this? Evan is slowly losing his mind waiting for news.”
There was a time when her question would have made me defensive, but there wasn’t one person in my family who had all the crayons in their boxes, so I actually was the best option.
When I saw Roy looking around for something to wipe his hand on, I walked over, handed him a fresh rag, and moved away again.
“I might not be as fast at this as Bella would be, but I’ll find him, Mom, and who knows, maybe I’ll even convince him to come to Evan’s wedding.”
My mother gave a soft laugh. “Now that would be a miracle.”
“Maybe I’m a miracle worker.”
Roy glanced over, curious, but kept working.
My mother’s voice lowered a notch. “You’re not doing this because you have feelings for Nora, are you?”
What? How was that leap made?
“Mom, stop.” I kept my tone easy. “Nora’s been a good friend to me. That’s it. I’d like to give her and Evan some peace as a wedding present.”
“And you really think finding Thomas Steele can achieve that?”
“There’s a chance it might, and that’s reason enough to try.”
“Be careful, Brady.” There was real concern in her voice. “Something happened back then, so bad your father won’t talk about it. I don’t want you to get mixed up in something that might be better off left in the past.”
“I’ll handle whatever I uncover, Mom. And if this Steele isn’t someone who belongs in our lives, I won’t invite him to be.”
She let out a relieved breath. “I trust your judgment.”
Did she? Did any of my family? I prided myself on not allowing the opinions of others to define me, but part of me viewed this quest as an opportunity to prove that I might be different, but different was good.
“I’ve got to get back to work,” I said. “I’m in a mechanic shop right now and they need a second pair of hands.”
“Hold on, you’re in a garage?”
“You know it. And, since it’s not considered bragging if I tell my mom, I can say that Roy is impressed with my work.”
Roy grumbled something, but didn’t disagree.
My mother cooed, “Of course he is. You’ve always been good at figuring out how things work.” She paused. “But I am worried that you’re handling this on your own.”
“Mom, have a little faith in me.”
“I do,” she said gently. “But call me every day anyway.”
“Okay,” I said with a laugh. “I’ll try.”
“Promise?”
“I promise. Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too.”
We said our goodbyes and I slipped the phone back into my pocket. Roy was watching me now, openly amused.
“You’d better call her more,” Roy said firmly.
“If you say because yours is gone and you wish you could talk to her one last time, I’m going to have to lie and claim I have allergies,” I said.
His grin twisted. “No, she’s still around and cussing me out when I mess up. But having my own kids made me see how lucky I am that she cares enough to.”
Before I could respond, the bell over the garage door rang.
Roy’s head came up. “Hold that thought.” He looked past me and called out, “You’re early.”
I turned.
She stood just inside the doorway, hovering like she hadn’t decided yet if she wanted to be there. Sunlight caught the edge of her dark hair and lit the side of her face as she scanned the garage.
“Your car’s not ready,” Roy added. “Had guys call out. You’re not the only one I still need to get to.”
Her gaze moved from Roy to me, then back again. Quick. Measured.
“Do you mind if I wait?” she asked.
Her voice was calm. Careful.
Roy shrugged. “It’s a free country.”
Not exactly welcoming.
She nodded once, stepping farther inside, taking in the space like she was cataloging it.
I was drawn in. A quick glance at her left hand revealed she probably wasn’t married. She was casually dressed in slacks and a loose cotton shirt, both in muted colors as if her goal was to blend in rather than stand out.
Her hair was swept up in a haphazard knot, a practical choice for local warm temperatures. Her nails were short, but manicured. If she was wearing any makeup at all, it was designed to look natural. This was a woman who toned herself down rather than glamming herself up.
I couldn’t look away.
Somewhere between noticing how beautiful her guarded dark eyes were and warning myself that she was a distraction I didn’t have time for, I’d already taken a step toward her.
“Hey,” I said, stopping a comfortable distance away. “I’m Brady.”
She looked me over, from the top of my sweat-covered forehead, down my stained overalls, to my shoes. Her gaze shot back up to meet mine. “Elise.”
After wiping my hand across my forehead, I said, “Nice to meet you.”
Another pause.
Standing there, looking down into her eyes, with neither of us speaking was painfully awkward, but also oddly exciting.