Lynette Eason - The Black Sheep's Redemption

Before she could get out, he said, “Wait a minute, Demi.”

She turned expectantly.

He tapped his thumb on the steering wheel then said, “You know, when I interviewed you, the fact that you had amnesia put me off a bit. I mean, how could I trust my children to someone who can’t even remember who she is?”

She lifted a brow. “Are you sorry you did?”

“No, of course not.” His quick response reassured her. “But I do have a confession to make.”

Her brow lifted. “What’s that?”

* * *

He cleared his throat. “I have to be honest. I had Owen run a background check on you. On the name you gave me, anyway.”

She tilted her head. “I figured you probably had. You’re not the type to just hand over your children to someone you haven’t looked into.”

He nodded. “Nothing came up, of course. But more importantly, your fingerprints weren’t in the system.”

“The nurses in the hospital gave me my last name. I remembered my first name, but that was it.” She let out a deep breath. “When I came to in the hospital, the police also tried running my fingerprints. Again, they came up empty, but assured me that might be a good thing. At least I’m not in the criminal database.”

At the feeble joke, Charles felt himself smiling.

Another shrug. “I don’t blame you for doing a background check on me.”

He let out a long sigh. “Good, because I was going crazy feeling like I was lying to you. Part of me was afraid you’d be furious.”

“No. I would have done the same thing if the roles were reversed.” Her soft voice pulled him to her. Delicate features framed with honey-blond hair drew him like bees to honey. Her emerald-green eyes wanted to ensnare him. Innocence and gentleness radiated from her. He’d definitely made the right choice in hiring her.

“It’s only been a week, and the twins already adore you,” he said.

A gentle smile pulled at her lips. “The feeling’s mutual.”

There was something about her that he liked. Trusted. Wanted to know more about.

But not tonight.

“Come on, I’ll walk you up.” He climbed out of the truck and walked around to help Demi out.

“So, Fitzgerald,” the voice to his left said, “is this your next innocent victim?”

THREE

Charles whirled. “Burke, what are you doing here?”

“Just enjoying a little walk. Reveling in my freedom, taking in the taste of the night air.” His gaze hardened. “Wondering why criminals are allowed to roam free, given another opportunity to prey on more innocent women.”

Burke Hennessy. A lawyer and his father’s rival for mayor. Burke and Judge Ronald Monroe, who was rumored to be considering a run for mayor, were two peas in a pod. Fitzgerald Bay would be in major trouble should Burke win the election.

Charles held his tongue long enough to get it under control. Then he said, “Knock it off, Burke. This is Demi Taylor. She’s the children’s nanny.”

“Yes, I’d heard you managed to talk someone into taking the position.” Burke smirked and eyed Demi. “Be careful about following in Olivia’s footsteps. Especially if they’re along the edge of some steep cliffs.”

Charles felt his fingers curl into a tight fist. With effort, he loosened it and forced a smile. He would not sink to this man’s level—or do anything to mess up his father’s chances to beat Burke in the election. “Nice to see you, too, Burke. Now if you’ll excuse us…”

He placed his hand on Demi’s rigid back and tried to usher her into the rear entrance of the bookstore.

Burke stepped in front of them, anger smoldering just beneath the surface. Charles felt the tension in his shoulders escalate. Burke jabbed a finger at him. “You know you should be in jail. If the main suspect was anyone else not related to the almighty Fitzgeralds, that person would be rotting in a cell right now.”

“And if there were any proof that I’d killed Olivia, I’d be there, family or no family. But there’s no proof because I didn’t kill her. Get out of the way, Burke. Now.”

Demi walked away from the two of them, pulling her keys from her purse. Charles swallowed hard. Was she scared? Repulsed? Had she decided Burke was right and that she was placing herself in danger by just being in his company?

He remembered the look in her eyes when she’d said she believed him. No, it was something else.

Turning his back on Hennessy, Charles followed Demi. He saw her hands shaking as she unlocked the door and slipped inside.

“You haven’t heard the last of this, Fitzgerald!” Burke hollered.

Charles didn’t bother to turn around and waste any more time or breath on the man. “Demi?” She stopped on the steps and looked back down at him. The fear in her eyes cut him. “Hey, I’m so sorry.”

“No. Don’t apologize. It wasn’t you,” she said with a shudder. “I had a flash of something. Of violence and anger and…and I just had to get away from that man.”

Charles hurried up to her and put a hand on her shoulder. “I understand. I was in a bit of a hurry to get away from him myself.”

“Is he gone?”

“Yes, I think so. I didn’t stick around to make sure.”

She took a deep breath and lifted a brow. “Too busy trying not to smash his nose?”

Charles jerked then gave a surprised laugh. “You noticed?”

“Oh, yeah. I noticed.” He felt some of the tension leave the shoulder under his hand. She bit her lip then said, “I’m sorry I was such a wimp. I didn’t mean to just walk away and leave you to deal with him, I just…”

He placed a finger on her lips. Her soft lips.

He pulled back his finger and rubbed it with his thumb even as he said, “No need to apologize. Burke’s a pain with a loud mouth, but he’s harmless. The trick is to just ignore him.”

She nodded and finished the trek up the steps. At the top, she turned down the short hallway that led to her apartment.

Charles caught her before she got to the door. “Demi, I want to make something really clear.”

“Sure, what is it?”

He raked a hand through his hair. “The rumor is that Olivia and I were romantically involved.” A frown creased her forehead and he resisted the urge to smooth the shallow lines. “We weren’t. She was my children’s nanny and I trusted her with my children. She was a pretty private person, but I’d like to think we were becoming friends. There were no romantic feelings between us whatsoever.”

Her eyes stayed locked on his for the longest time and he wanted to squirm under the scrutiny, but he didn’t. He just stood there as she decided whether she believed him or not.

Finally, she smiled. “I believed you the first time you told me that. Tonight hasn’t changed anything.”

Key ready, she reached out to unlock the door when Charles stopped her again, his hand on hers. “Wait a minute. It’s open.”

Demi gripped the keys tighter and pulled back. “That’s weird.”

“You probably just didn’t pull it shut behind you hard enough when you left earlier.”

The doubt on her face said she wasn’t buying it.

And after the night he’d just had, he wasn’t sure he was, either.

* * *

Demi stared at the door. “Maybe Fiona needed to get in for some reason.” But why? And why would she leave the door open? “The furniture was delivered last week. Maybe they had something else to bring up…or…or…something.”

And what about Chloe, the stray cat she’d taken in the day she’d moved into the apartment? Chloe had followed Demi up the stairs and sat outside the door meowing until Demi had finally let her in. Chloe had made herself at home and some of Demi’s loneliness had dissipated.

Had Chloe slipped out the open door?