Spencer shook his head, and Mina rolled her eyes. "Serious old Texas money family. Ranching. Oil. Tech. The whole nine yards. Parker could probably buy and sell this whole town just off the interest on his trust fund."

Yeah, definitely not liking the guy.

"As for the hug," Mina added, "you'll have to ask Brooke. But if I had to go out on a limb, I'd say they know each other."

"Then I guess it's time for me to make his acquaintance. Why don't you finish that list?"

"Okey-fine," she said, her lips trembling from withheld laughter.

"What?"

"You're such a guy, Spencer."

He considered that, shrugged, and said, "Thank you." Then he headed across the bar, fully intending to lay flat Parker Manning.

He didn't make it that far. Instead, he was stopped by a familiar female voice calling his name. He turned, and found Amy Rice standing behind him, her arms crossed over her chest, and her expression wary.

"Amy?" She'd been one of the production assistants on Spencer's Place, and as a general rule she didn't look so small and fragile. "What's the matter?"

"I keep trying to call you, but I couldn't. So I came here."

"Call me?" He pulled out his phone, but there were no missed calls.

"No, I meant that I tried, but I couldn't."

He frowned. The words were clear enough, but he wasn't catching the meaning. "Do you want to sit down? Maybe take this a little slower?"

She nodded, and he tried to swallow his worry. She'd been a freshman in college when she started working for the show, taking classes around the crazy production schedule. She'd been a hard worker and never shy about asking for projects or help or even a raise. So this hesitancy was completely out of character.

"It's okay, Amy. Whatever it is, I'll try to help."

The words worked like magic, and he watched as her shoulders sagged in relief. "Thank you. I really appreciate--well, just, thank you."

He waited, not wanting to rush her.

"So, the thing is--it's about Brian Shoal."

Spencer forced his expression to stay neutral. "Go on."

"Well, I know that you and he--well, he screwed you with the money stuff. I know that's all gossip, but--"

"It's true. What of it?"

"It's only--I mean--well, I thought if you knew something, then seeing as you probably don't much like him, you might be willing to tell me."

"Amy, you're going to have to back up and give me a little more information."

She sucked in a breath. "He raped me. He drugged me at a party and he raped me and I'm pressing charges. And my parents are helping me sue him civilly, too, and my attorney says if I can find someone else he did that to, then it will help my case a lot, and that's why I'm here. Can you help me?"

She blurted it out so fast he couldn't process all the words. But that was probably a good thing. Any more detail than what he picked up on, and he'd be too livid to think straight.

"Brian Shoal drugged and raped you?" He wanted to at least clarify that one, salient point.

She pressed her lips together, and she nodded. "I'm not lying. You might--"

"I believe you."

Her shoulders sagged with obvious relief. "Can you help me?"

Tags: J. Kenner Man of the Month Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net