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God help me when she and Margot met tonight. In the meantime, though, I was paying attention to the gentleman in the seat beside her.
“You’re sure you can find him? His phone has been off for a few days.”
“I track people for a living. High-ranking corporate espionage is my lifestyle. Your girlfriend’s teenage runaway is beginner’s work.”
My mother cleared her throat, making the private investigator shift in his chair. “That said, I’m more than happy to assist the Calvin family in whatever they need.” He rose from his chair, casting wary eyes over my form as I stood to my full height. “I’ll be in touch.”
“See that you are,” I said.
The PI slipped from my office without another word, leaving me and Ma staring at each other.
“This is not how I was hoping to meet your lady love,” she said smoothly. “I was hoping for a casual dinner. Perhaps dinner at the beach. Not a full-scale search for her younger sibling.”
“We didn’t plan this either, Ma. And you didn’t have to come.”
She batted at the air. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m thrilled for the excuse. After Merrell finds your rogue teen, then I’d love to take you all out for a meal, my treat. I want to get to know her, get to know both of them, before you pop the question.”
I raised my brows. “How do you know I was going to do that?”
Ma snorted delicately. “I raised you, Jamie. You’ve talked of nothing else for weeks.”
I grinned. “Does that mean that I can have your ring?”
She brushed off her black pencil skirt with a manicured finger. “It’s being cleaned and repackaged for you at the jeweler’s. Should be done tonight if you are in a hurry.” She raised her eyes to mine. “Are you in a hurry, son?”
“Always.”
“Good. Now let’s find this boy.”
***
Merrell the private investigator was worth his fee. He’d located Jackson in no more than two hours. And as Margot and I strode down the street outside a dingy-looking duplex, I could practically feel the nervous energy radiating from her body.
Together we made it up the stairs, and she rang the high-pitched doorbell.
Footsteps sounded, and then the door cracked a little. I was looking straight into Jackson Beckett’s face. Immediately he blanched and went to shut it on us, but I was faster. One foot in the door made sure I was going to be sore tomorrow but also allowed us an extra two seconds of time.
Margot made excellent use of those seconds. “Jax please, let’s talk.”
Jackson hesitated, eyes darting between us. “I’m not sure I’m ready to talk.”
I stayed silent, squeezing Margot’s hand as she said, “That’s okay, but I need to tell you a few things before you close us out again.”
Jackson nodded, and Margot let out a shaky breath.
“Jackson, you are the most important person in my life. You and I have been a team since the day I first held you. I know things have been different lately, but nothing, absolutely nothing could make me love you any less. So, whenever you are ready to talk, I would love to.”
Jackson’s eyes were watery, but he didn’t speak to his sister. Instead, he boldly met my gaze. “And what about you? What do you have to say?”
I was surprised by the animosity from the usually quiet-tempered youth. I tilted my head, a new thought taking root. It was me he was upset at, not her.
“I think I mentioned this earlier, but I want to talk to you alone. Maybe if you let me in for a moment, I bet your sister will be happy to stay outside.”
Jackson seemed to consider it, and then slowly, his dark head bobbed in agreement as he stepped back, admitting me into the dimly lit foyer.
“We can talk here,” Jackson said, crossing his arms.
I glanced around briefly, wondering what kind of house this was, before deciding that was not a topic I was ready to tackle yet.
