Page 55 of The Problem with Playboys

This was news to Chloe. It also made zero sense. “Mom. I was on the board of the Baldwell alumni association. I don’t ever remember seeing her name on the list of former students.”

“That’s because she never graduated. She left school early. I think it was the middle of her junior year. Her parents pulled her out and no one knows exactly why.”

“How do you know this?”

“I remember my mother talking about it. They knew each other, and it was the subject of a lot of gossip at the time because she wasn’t sent to another school. She was kept at the Astley estate, but it was very rare that anyone ever saw her.”

This was getting to be a little creepy, and entirely too close to home. Still, Chloe didn’t really buy that there was that much of a connection. “It’s probably nothing.”

“It’s at least worth looking into,” Parker said, returning to his eggs. “I have a great investigator. I can have her look into it some more.”

Chloe turned to Parker. “No. Absolutely not. I don’t know what else Little Black Book has, but if it has anything to do with anyone at this table, I want it to stay under lock and key. No good comes from poking this particular bear.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Parker said.

“I’m right. I’m absolutely certain about this.”

“Well, someone should stop them.” Her mother poured herself another cup of coffee.

“Someone who isn’t us,” Chloe countered.

Luckily, the conversation steered away from Little Black Book after that. Parker and her mom had taken the hint—they needed to be thankful that the anonymous social media account no longer seemed to have them in their crosshairs. They could let someone else worry about it. They’d all had plenty of upheaval as a result of having their secrets aired for all to see.

So instead, they chatted about life—her mom’s optimistic prognosis on the health front, a few trips she had planned with Gavin, Parker’s hopes to sign a few big college basketball stars who were headed to the pros, and Chloe’s job trying yet again to get Dakota Ladd to walk the straight and narrow path of not being a kleptomaniac. Chloe marveled at how well Parker and her mom got along. She was amazed that things had worked out, especially after the massive amounts of time she’d spent worrying. By the time they were set to leave, Chloe was filled with nothing but the happiest of good thoughts and feelings.

“What do you two have planned for the rest of the day?” her mom asked as they stood in the foyer to say their goodbyes.

Chloe looked at Parker and shrugged. They hadn’t made any plans at all. “It’s Sunday. We’ll probably go for a run to work off brunch. Relax. Get ready for the work week.”

He put his arm around her shoulders. “Actually, we have a little shopping to do.”

“We do?” she asked, peering up at him.

“One stop. It won’t take too long.”

“Where are we going?”

Parker held his finger to his lips. “It’s a surprise.”

“Sounds like someone has a trick up his sleeve,” her mom said with a distinct edge of glee in her voice.

Chloe wasn’t sure what Parker was up to, but she figured she’d find out soon enough. “He likes being mysterious sometimes. I’m just along for the ride.” She gave her mother a hug. “Bye, Mom. We’ll see you soon?”

“Yes. I need to speak to Gavin, but perhaps the four of us can go to dinner. I’d really like that.”

“It’s a date,” Parker said. “Just let us know when and where and we’ll be there.”

“That’s wonderful.” Her mom opened her arms wide to get an embrace from Parker. “I like you, Parker Sullivan. I’m glad that you were willing to stick around for my daughter and be there for her. She really needs that.”

Parker stood back from the embrace, but lovingly grasped her mom’s elbows and looked right at her. “I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

Chloe thought she might swoon, especially when he turned back to her and bounced both eyebrows. He knew he’d done well, and he was ready to take the credit.

The elevator dinged and the door opened. “That’s us,” Chloe said, giving her mom one more hug before she and Parker boarded. “Do you want to tell me where we’re going?” she asked Parker when they began their descent.

“We’re going to visit a man named Mr. Russell.”

“I have no clue who that is.”