Holiday Baby Scandal

“I’m a big girl.”

She refused to look at him, refused to give him the power over her, because he had no say in how she handled her emotions or what she did with Ryker.

When he stormed out, Laney let out a breath. That went well.

Her cell chimed, but she ignored it. Braden was here, so if there was anything pressing going on, he’d know. The more she looked over this laptop, the more she was convinced it was clean. She’d just shut it down when her cell chimed once again.

Leaning over, she dug into her purse and fished it out of the side pocket. Giddiness burst through her when her contractor’s name appeared.

She swiped her finger over the screen to open the message.

Inspections all passed. Moving forward on reworking the electrical.

Finally. Some good news. With the initial building inspections passed, she could push forward and hopefully come in ahead of her original spring opening.

After Ryker had shared his story with her the other night, she was even more determined to raise awareness for children who didn’t have a proper home life.

She may not be able to help them all, but if she even helped one, then that was one less child who would doubt his or her self-worth. These kids needed to know someone cared about them, genuinely cared, because that was the struggle with Ryker right now. He didn’t know what to do with the love she offered.

Laney sent off a quick reply that she’d be by tomorrow to discuss lighting and a few other questions she had regarding the kitchen area and the rec room.

She was making headway with the project, and possibly with Braden since he didn’t seem so full of rage. Now if she could only figure out this puzzle of who was betraying her family. She didn’t feel a bit sorry for the person on the other end of this investigation. Whoever had gone against the O’Sheas deserved everything they had coming.

* * *

Ryker had a sinking feeling, and he never ignored his instincts.

As he pulled in front of O’Shea’s, he killed the engine and let his mind process all the intel that had come in regarding the scrolls. There were obvious dead ends, so he dismissed those immediately. But there was something eating away at his mind. It only made sense for the works to be fairly close. They were last known to be in Zara’s home, or the home that the O’Sheas had lost in the Great Depression. If they had gotten out, word would’ve traveled.

Braden had searched, Ryker had searched. There wasn’t a square inch of that house that had gone uncovered. But Ryker couldn’t help but wonder if he’d missed something.

Zara’s house sat empty now, well, save for her grandmother’s things, because Zara had moved in with Braden. But Ryker wanted to go back in. He refused to give up. He’d been all over the damn globe on hunches, on veiled hints, but nothing had turned up. Frustration and failure were bitter pills to swallow, so he was going back to the point of origin, starting at square one. Because he was fresh out of leads.

Now more than ever, he needed to find those heirlooms. He needed to prove his family loyalties.

He stepped from his SUV, pulling his leather coat tighter to ward off the bitter chill. As soon as he stepped into O’Shea’s, Braden’s glare greeted him.

“Your eye looks better,” he commented before looking back down at a stack of folders on his antique desk.

Ryker didn’t take the bait. His eye still hurt like a bitch, but he had no right to complain.

“I want to get back into Zara’s house,” he said instead.

He moved farther into the spacious lobby area, complete with a Christmas tree that Laney no doubt had a hand in putting up. It had the same damn glittery nonsense she’d wanted him to put in her house.

“That resource is exhausted if you’re referring to the scrolls.” Braden dropped his pen and eased back in his leather seat. “Why do you need back in?”

Ryker shoved his hands in his pockets. “There’s something we’re missing.”

“You’re wasting your time.”

“It’s my time to waste.” He refused to back down on this. “You know I’ll just go in regardless. I’m merely telling you for courtesy.”

Braden slowly came to his feet. Ryker didn’t move, didn’t bother to get out of the way when Braden came around the desk and stood toe to toe with him.

“Oh for pity’s sake. If this is another pissing contest, count me out.”

Ryker caught a glimpse of Laney in the doorway to the back office. Her hair was tied up in a loose knot, and her outfit consisted of an oversize gray sweater, black leggings and brown boots. She looked so young. Granted, she was ten years younger, but the simple outfit had her appearing almost innocent. His heart slammed against his chest as he took in the sight.