“Nailed it again. You and my parents would get along great.”
He tensed at his words. Would Emma someday meet his parents?
“I bet they’re great.”
Cap smiled.
“I like them. Tell me about your family,” Cap said.
“There’s not much to tell. We’re kind of boring.”
“I doubt that.”
Now that his eyes had adjusted to the darkness, he could make out the soft smile that stretched on her face.
“My dad is a developer, mostly residential. Apartments and condominiums. That type of thing. My mom has a degree in interior design, but she’s never actually held a job. She helps my dad here and there, but she devotes most of her time to helping not-for-profit charities.”
“That’s nice of her.”
“I guess.”
“Earlier, you said you were an only child…so you were spoiled.”
The giggle she let loose was delightful to hear, considering the danger they were in.
“Guilty as charged, sir.”
So, she admits it.
“And what do you do for work?”
“I’m a graphic artist. I enjoy making designs.”
“Do you have your own company or do you work for someone?”
“I’ve been on my own for about six years now. I started at a marketing firm in the valley.”
Given her parents’ background, that made sense to him. She wouldn’t be afraid to venture out on her own. He recalled one of her earlier comments about not being brave. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Going on your own is a bold move. Good for you.”
She shrugged as if it weren’t a big deal.
She held his gaze for several beats of silence. He could stare into her eyes forever. No words were needed.
He enjoyed the conversation. It felt normal and real. It soothed him.
Emma clamped her bottom lip between her teeth and looked as though she contemplated revealing a big secret.
She released her lip, but the strange look on her face remained.
“I suppose you’re wondering about how I wound up here.”
What did she mean? He already knew she was a jilted bride who took the charter she’d booked as a present for her ex.
At his silence, she continued. “How I ended up with a guy like Jonathan. I keep wondering that myself. I had no idea what he was into. My dad met him through the bank and introduced us. Dad thought Jonathan was great. I really want to call my parents and let them know what’s happening, but I don’t want them to worry. I hope they’re not in danger because of this.”
“With us keeping the focus here, they should be okay. This is part of the reason we have Investigator Pearson-Hawk driving the truck around the county.”
