Jill Shalvis - The Detective’s Undoing

“It’s a good idea, Delia, for his sake.”

“Do you think I’d hurt him?”

Annoyance flickered across Scott’s face. “It has nothing to do with you. It’s the way this works.”

“The system is overworked and underfunded. Jacob’s lucky to have such a dedicated social worker,” Delia commented.

“Yes, well, I am dedicated to Jacob. He’s a special kid.”

Delia felt a pang of guilt for her pettiness, because there was nothing but honesty in Scott’s eyes, nothing but true concern for her brother. She was the last one in the world to resent that. “The custody hearing is only a few weeks away,” she said evenly. “What do you think my chances are?”

“The judge will make that decision.”

“Yes, but that decision will be based, in part, on your recommendation and reports.”

“Are you asking me where I think Jacob should be?”

“Yes,” she said with equal bluntness. Pride had no place here. “That’s what I’m asking.”

“Edna has more money than Jacob’s inheritance. She can and will manage it well.”

“And I can’t?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“I can hire someone to handle his money. I would never touch it.”

He didn’t soften. “Then there’s the fact that you live so far away. You’d be taking him from everyone and everything he’s ever known.”

“Life has already done that to him,” Delia argued quietly. “I’d be taking him to a place where he could grow up with love and affection and wide-open spaces. He’d have everything he ever needed.”

Scott nodded in reluctant agreement. “That’s true. And to be honest, Edna’s age works against her, as does the fact that she didn’t go looking for him. He was pretty much dumped on her. Plus, you’re his half sister.”

“So you’re saying I have a chance?”

“I have nothing to do with the final decision.”

“Scott.”

“I won’t give you false hope, Delia. You have several things against you, mostly your lack of financial solvency.” Seeing the stricken look on her face, he sighed. “Look, you asked. Now let’s go. Jacob’s out back playing basketball.”

Burning with the need to prove herself, Delia followed Scott around to the backyard.

Jacob saw Scott and grinned. Then he saw Delia and his smile faded.

“Hi, Jacob,” she said, forcing herself to stay back when what she really wanted to do was hug him close. “It’s great to see you again.”

“Yeah.” He blew a big bubble from the wad of gum and shrugged. He’d turned slightly away from her, but glanced back at her as if he wasn’t quite sure whether or not she was real.

Her heart nearly burst, and ignoring the distance he clearly still needed, she moved closer, stopping directly in front of him and hunkering down to his level.

“I missed you,” she said simply.

He stared at his sneakers. “You came.”

A knot lodged in her throat because she could see that her presence was a surprise to him, even though she’d called. “I’ll always do what I say. I promise.”

His only response was a shrug. Delia imagined he’d had lots of promises broken in his past, but that, too, was going to change. “Want to play?” she asked, gesturing to the ball he carried.

“You any good?”

She laughed at his skepticism and kicked off her heeled sandals. “I grew up with a sister who was the best, and I couldn’t stand to lose. So, yeah, I’m pretty good.”

“Your foster sister,” he said.

She watched him carefully. Was he jealous? Excited? Indifferent? “Yes, one of my foster sisters. Zoe and Maddie were all I had for a very long time. Until you.”

“Foster sisters aren’t really related.”

“Not by blood maybe, but in our hearts we are.”

“We’re blood-related, but it doesn’t feel like it.”

“It does for me,” she said softly. “From the first moment I learned about you, I felt you in my heart. I’m hoping you grow to feel the same.”

He thought about that, then with the ease of the very young, he changed the uncomfortable subject. “Which of them can play? Zoe or Maddie?”

“Zoe. I have pictures that I brought with me. Of my life in Idaho and the people there. Zoe, Maddie. Zoe’s fiancé, Ty. Want to see them?”

He lifted his shoulder again. “You going to play or what?”

“Oh, we’re going to play. We’ll look at the pictures after I beat you,” she teased.

“I’m not going to lose to you.” Then he looked directly at her, for the first time since she’d gotten there, and his eyes filled with a fierce pride she knew well.

It was like looking into a mirror, and it took a moment before she could answer. “Well, let’s see if you’re as good as you say.”

“I am.”

Delia silently thanked all those torturous days she’d played with Zoe when they’d been young, for in truth, Jacob was good. Better than good. In less than fifteen minutes, she was laughing and admitting defeat.

Cocky, he held the ball and watched as she bent over, trying to catch her breath. She expected him to make fun of her, but all he said was, “You’re in pretty good shape.”

Lifting her head, she stared at him in surprise.

“For an old chick in a silly dress,” he added.

Scott, who’d been watching from the sidelines, laughed. “Not the way to a woman’s heart, sport. Never mention their age. And most definitely not their appearance.”

Jacob’s smile faded. “Sorry,” he mumbled, and turned away.

Delia could have cheerfully strangled Scott, who had, admittedly, been only teasing. But clearly Jacob thought he’d insulted her and now was either wary or embarrassed.

“Ready to see those pictures?” she said, trying to get the good mood back.

But Jacob merely shrugged, his back to her, and for the rest of the day, he was unreachable.

The next group of guests arrived at the Triple M. It was easier this time, especially since the three sisters and Ty knew what to expect.

Maddie outdid herself in the kitchen. Ty and Zoe were a complete success with a mock roundup.

And Delia, without the distraction of the unbearably sexy Cade, found herself enjoying running the house. The hard work kept both her hands and her mind busy, which was exactly what she needed.

The wedding plans helped, too, especially since when she was sewing, she felt validated. One thing she could most definitely do, and do well, was sew.

But through it all, she counted down the calendar toward the custody hearing, which would occur only days after Zoe’s wedding, wondering as she did how Cade was coming along on the lead about her father.

Several times each of her sisters had pressed her about Cade, always with that hopeful speculative gleam in their eyes.

They wanted to know what was going on.

Nothing, Delia always claimed, but no one seemed to believe her.

Cade was interested, no doubt. She knew that from his hot looks and even hotter kisses. But he wasn’t interested enough to want more, wasn’t interested in sharing himself.

She was better off without him.

Or so she told herself in the deep of the night when she awoke with that strange haunting need to be held against a man’s warm hard body. And not just any man, but one with fathomless dark eyes and the ability to see past her facade.

On Saturday, as she was racing down the back hallway, a pile of fresh towels in her arms, she heard the office phone ring. She thought about not getting it, but it could be someone wanting reservations, which in turn equaled cash.

Money was still in short supply. But they were booked for nearly every available weekend, so things were looking up. Breathless, Delia slipped into the office, juggled the load of towels in her arms and pushed the speaker button, just as Maddie and Zoe came running from opposite directions, each looking every bit as harried as she did.