AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My pro bono cases have taken center stage at Sunday dinners and if I’m growing tired of anything, it’s my family's concern for my workload.
“Dad, I grew up with half these people, I can’t turn them away because I’m too busy making rich people richer.”
“I get it,” he whispers gruffly. And I know he does. It’s why he saved this Inn from becoming a pile of rubble. Tearing down the only hotel in town would have devastated Hideaway Springs. It would only be a matter of time before a bigger, fancier hotel would be built that would change our quaint little town forever. “But something’s gotta go. Just think about it.”
I nod once to get him off my back. “Seed planted.”
“Can I get you anything?”
“Another espresso wouldn't hurt.” And some peace and quiet.
He hesitates. “You really should slow down on those. I don’t think they’re good for—”
“Water, Dad. I’ll take water.”
“How about a nice, iced tea?”
I growl and he holds up his hands in defeat. “I’m going. I’m going.”
I get a total of five minutes of peace before my younger brother strolls into the inn, takes a seat across from me and sets his motorcycle helmet beside him. “Speak of the devil,” I mutter, keeping my eyes on the screen.
I’m told his gaze is slightly more powerful than mine, and it’s times like these, that I believe it. “What?” I grit, pushing down my screen.
“Oh good, you’re done. Can we chat?”
“Chase, I charge over six hundred dollars an hour for my Denver clients, which you’re interrupting.”
“I need three minutes. And you can send me a bill.”
“This about our case?”
“Sort of.”
I push my computer aside. “How sort of?” A few months ago, I agreed to take on a personal case outside my expertise when he asked me to help him find his fiancée’s parents.
The ones who supposedly faked their deaths nearly a decade ago, leaving her alone at just seventeen. Due to her father’s indiscretions, she started a new life in New York and changed her name. None of us heard from her again until the news of her engagement to the president’s son popped up on Dad's television a year ago.
Six months later, she raced back into town looking for a room at the Inn. Enter my younger brother and his unconventional arrangements to keep her in hiding and here we are.
Pepper’s story is unfortunately— or fortunately—far from over since I’ve been hired by my brother to help find her parents who, as Pepper confessed, weren’t the couple found in that burnt vehicle.
It’s been five months, and we keep hitting dead ends but Chase refuses to give up.
“Well… it’s about Pepper.”
I sigh.
He twines his fingers in front of him and looks to the side, but I know this look; he’s either about to threaten me or hustle a deal. “In a couple of days, Pepper is going to ask you and Charlie to be in the wedding party.”
My chest tightens but I keep my expression even. The way I’ve trained it to when I hear her name.
The name I gave her.
He turns back to me—this is the part where the threat comes.
“You’re going to act excited.”
“No.”
