I'd been so fixed on what they'd been looking at that I hadn't realized the two of them had been having a minor argument of sorts. As I listened, I realized that they'd been disagreeing because he'd wanted to factor in his income. That had made me like him a little more. In true Isadora fashion, she'd been insisting she pay for it alone. Aside from the annual income she received from her share of the company, she also had a hefty enough trust that she could live wherever she wanted. Most guys would like that.
From the shadows, I’d watched them come to a compromise. And I learned more about the young man than I'd known before, both about him personally and the kind of person he was. He’d always wanted to be a teacher, but hadn’t had the money for school. As they talked, Isadora had come up with a plan. She’d handle things while he went back to school, and then they’d go back over their finances once he started teaching. Look at this way, she'd said, if you had the money and I wanted to go to school but couldn’t, wouldn’t you take care of it?
Colton had kissed her even before she'd finished with her statement. I guess I can be a kept man for a while.
She’d laughed. Oh, baby...I’m keeping you forever.
Forever.
The word echoed in my head and made my chest tighten.
Looking over at Toni, I found her watching me over the rim of her coffee cup.
I never used to think forever.
I never used to think about a lot of things.
But now, all those things crashed together in my head, and they were all tangled up with her, this frustrating, amazing woman with the turbulent blue eyes.
I tried to smile at her, to show her that I wasn't angry with her, but the muscles in my face didn't want to cooperate.
She looked down at her plate, her expression blank.
“There’s plenty of food left if you’re hungry,” Isadora's voice was easy-going, but I knew she'd seen the exchange. There was something sharp in her eyes.
The kidnapping had matured my sister in ways I wasn’t entirely sure I liked, but there was nothing to be done for it. Nobody could go back. Things couldn't be undone. I knew only too well the truth of that.
I also knew that if I turned and walked out of the kitchen, they'd all know it was because I was still running. And I couldn’t keep doing that, especially not after my discussion with Toni yesterday.
Still, I wasn't in any mood to eat. “I’m not too hungry.”
Toni’s shoulders drooped slightly and my heart gave a wild thump.
When I took a step toward the table, her eyes slid up to mine and I managed a smile this time. I sat in the seat next to hers. “But I will sit down while I drink my coffee.” Giving her a sideways glance, I asked quietly, “How did you sleep?”
“Lousy.” She shrugged and went back to picking at her food. “The room’s lovely and all, but...it’s not mine.”
Isadora and Colton were quiet now and I knew they were listening. Toni must've known it too, but she didn't look up from her plate.
“I kept thinking about my family,” she continued. “My parents are worried. My brothers are mad. And it’s not like I can explain anything yet, can I?”
I was reaching for her hand before I even realized what I was doing. I didn’t stop myself, though. She jumped when I touched her, but didn't pull away. She did, however, look up.
Twining our fingers together, I held her gaze with mine. “I’m sorry.”
I felt stupid saying it, but I didn’t really know what else to say.
“So.” Isadora broke the silence and drew my attention away from Toni. “I already have our weekend activities planned.”
I blinked at her. She what? “And what's that?” I asked.
A laughing smile on her face, Isadora propped her elbow on the table and cradled her chin in her palm. “Going through paperwork and pictures. Trying to see if we can’t find something to jog my memory or a picture or something. Figuring out who the hell is doing all this, remember?”
I nodded my agreement as Toni shifted on the seat next to me and leaned forward, a frown on her face as she looked at my sister. For a moment, all I could think was that she’d managed to move closer to me. I felt the warmth of her thigh against mine, and the scent of her flooded me. A fist closed around my throat and my cock pulsed, suddenly hard and uncomfortable.
“What exactly are you looking for, Isadora?” Toni's voice was gentle, but firm. “Do you really think you’re going to find something or are you just hoping?”
Isadora’s eyes slid away.
I understood. In the face of Toni’s unwavering confidence, the newly found assurance that Isadora seemed to be relying on just didn’t seem as steady. But she didn’t back down like I'd thought she would. Lifting her chin, my sister met Toni’s gaze again.
“I’m not sure, but there’s something to find. I'm sure of it, and I’ll know it when I see it.”
“Are you sure?” And then Toni's voice trembled slightly. “I’m kind of relying on you for this, Iz.”
My fingers tightened around Toni's and she jerked as if she'd forgotten I was there. Still, she didn't pull away, and I counted that a win.
“There’s something connecting him to my parents, Toni. I know there is.” She reached for her coffee and folded her hands around the mug, staring grimly into the liquid. “Now I just have to find it.”
I felt a tug of pride in my gut at the steadfast surety in her voice. It was like she didn’t have a doubt. In that moment, I think she was more certain than I was. Usually, I was the one who knew what I was doing, the one who had a plan. I was the one in control.
Except, at the moment, I didn't have a clue what the hell I was doing.
Chapter 5
Toni
We'd been at it for two hours and it wasn't getting any easier. I'd been trying not to feel self-conscious with Ash sitting across from me, looking through his own stack of photos and scrapbooks. Every once in a while, I felt his eyes on me, and it took everything I had not to look at him.
It had taken even more strength not to hunt him down last night.
I’d felt more alone in that big, beautiful bed than I'd thought possible. I didn’t want to be alone there.
Fuck it. I didn’t want to be without him, period.
It would have been easier if he'd gone all asshole on me again, but he’d been polite, had smiled at me. Even now, he was being civil.
I didn’t want him to be civil.
I wanted him to...
Stop. I yanked my attention away from all the drama in my head and focused on what I was supposed to be doing. The newspaper articles in front of me were starting to blur together so I shuffled them off to the side. There was no use looking at them if I couldn’t pay close enough attention.
I reached for a leather-bound baby book. Isadora’s name was elegantly inscribed in the leather, making it clear this baby book had been custom made for her. When I opened it, I saw that the pictures and decorations were done by hand, and I smiled at the notes written in the margins or on the lines provided.
Isadora lifted her head today.
Isadora laughed.
Isadora seems to be recognizing her brother. She smiles when she sees Ash.