Chapter One #3
“Why not?” she asked. The thumping of her heart roared in her head. “I would think you’d get a lot of cases like this in your line of work.” She didn’t care what his issues were, only why he didn’t want to do her a favor.
Or at the very least, take her money.
“And I always turn them away. It’s nothing personal—”
“Like hell.” She took him by the shoulder and yanked until his body twisted.
She caught his gaze and gasped at the judgment staring back at her.
“This is very personal to me, and you’re not only saying no—which, okay, you have that right—but you’re also condemning me and my decision, and that’s not fair.
You don’t know my history. Or anything about why I might have been completely incapable of raising a child at sixteen. ”
He let out a long breath, nodding as if he understood. But he didn’t. How could he? “Please understand, I’m not judging what you did. I do, however, have a problem with what you’re asking me to do.”
“I think you owe me the reason why, at least,” she said under her breath.
For years, she’d let her mother pretend that Shannon had never had a baby.
She allowed the shame her mother felt to become hers.
Not anymore. And she’d be damned if she would let Jackson—or anyone for that matter—make her feel shitty for one of the most difficult decisions she’d ever had to make.
“Do you want the truth?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder, his dark orbs conveying a resolve that could only mask a crushing pain. She saw it every day in the eyes of the patients she treated.
The same look stared back at her every morning.
And today, she could see it cut deep into Jackson’s psychological make-up. Her pulse steadied as she braced herself for his explanation. “I expect nothing less from you,” she said.
“You might not like what I have to say.”
“I don’t like what you’ve said so far, so I don’t think you’re going to make it worse. At least maybe I’ll understand and respect your decision.”
“I don’t think it’s right for birth parents to insert themselves into the lives of the children they gave up. Maybe if it were the other way around, and the child wanted to know… But even then, I’d still decline the case. I’ve seen what it can do to families.”
“But you’ll spy on a woman because her husband thinks she’s cheating.” She smoothed her hands down her slacks.
“You’re right. I will,” he said with a steely tone.
“I’m not the only private investigator in town.
I can recommend someone who will do an excellent job.
In the meantime, I’m still happy to check in on your friend.
” He downed his coffee in one gulp. “I’ll text you contact information for a buddy of mine.
I send him a lot of cases like this. He’s good, and he’ll be discreet.
I’m really sorry, but it would be like asking you to perform brain surgery just because you have a PhD. It’s not your specialty.”
She opened her mouth and snapped it shut three times.
His specialty was finding people. Said so right on his business card that he’d given her when they first met.
She had half a mind to call him on his bullshit, but the sudden screeching of tires spinning on the pavement of the road above caught her attention.
A van nearly missed a vehicle at a standstill at the top of their driveway.
“Stupid place to park a car.” Jackson flipped his mug, tossing the last few drops of the liquid to the grass. “Do you happen to know the owner of that vehicle?”
She stared at a light blue sedan. “I don’t think so.” She shook her head. “But the first cabin on the hill isn’t rented this year, that I know of. Maybe it’s someone looking into it.”
“Third morning in a row that I’ve noticed. But it’s never there before I go to bed at night.”
“Do you think it’s something we should be worried about?” she asked.
“I’m probably being paranoid. I should really get going.” He tipped his hat.
“I’ll see you tonight at nine.”
“I know you’ve got plans with family, so take your time. We can do drinks another night.”
“Are you canceling on me because I had a baby when I was a young girl and gave her up?” She drew her lips into a tight line, breathing in through her nose and exhaling with purpose. It wouldn’t be the first time a man had taken offense to her choice.
Or maybe it was because she’d had sex at such a young age. Imagine if he knew the truth. That would blow his mind into a million tiny pieces.
“It’s not that. I just think with it being the anniversary of your father’s death and being around your family, it might be best if we do it another night.”
“I don’t need you to think for me.” She shoved the mug at his chest. “Thanks for the coffee.” She turned on her heel and stomped into her house, slamming the door.
She didn’t need Jackson to find her daughter.
She didn’t need him to have a drink with her.
Hell, she didn’t need him one damn bit.
Her phone buzzed.
She glanced at her mother’s name flashing across the screen. “Sorry, Mom, I’m not dealing with your drama today.”