Cap’s jaw tightened. Emma was exactly what he tried not to think about.
He worked to loosen his muscles and finished chewing his eggs.
Mom’s gaze stayed on him. A small part of him wondered if his family had read Emma’s letter before he came to, but then he realized they would never invade his privacy like that.
“She was just a client. An innocent bystander. Her ex dragged her into this whole thing.”
Mom’s dark gaze stayed on him, intensifying with each passing moment. Then, she arched a brow.
“Nothing else? You went through an awful lot of trouble to protect her, even though that line of work isn’t what you do anymore.”
He glanced at his Dad, only to find there would still be no help from him.
“I guess it’s in my blood to look out for people.”
“You make me proud.”
Mom’s compliment made him feel good.
“Hunter said he thinks you really like her.”
Damn his brother. Sold him out.
“Cici agreed.”
Double damn. There was no way to lie his way out of this mess. One, he wasn’t one for lying, and two, his mother already knew.
“I thought I did,” he stated flatly.
He tried to look away from Mom, but her magnetic gaze held his.
“So, have you talked to her since your surgery, since reading her letter?”
Cap’s facial muscles tightened.
“We did not read the letter,” Mom stated.
“No, we didn’t,” Dad assured, in a tone as if he’d taken offense at the accusatory look he must have flashed his parents.
Cap stared guiltily at his plate. He supposed his mother’s curiosity about killed her. Especially since he hadn’t spoken of Emma at all to his parents, even though they knew of the mysterious letter.
“I’ve not talked to her. I really don’t know her. We didn’t meet until she and her friends showed up to take the charter she’d originally booked as a gift for her fiancé…well, ex-fiancé, no… dead fiancé,” Cap rambled.
“So, you like her,” Mom pushed.
Mom had been on him more frequently about companionship, marriage, and having a family. She worried he’d shut his heart off when his ex left him. She had expressed concern he’d grow old and lonely. Her concern was genuine, but his heart…well, he wasn’t sure if his heart was capable of opening up and loving again. The tightness in his chest reminded him he had opened his heart only to have it stomped on all over again.
“I do.”
Mom smiled softly. “Then call her.”
“In her letter, she said not to. She’s very confused right now, and I think she needs time to sort things out.”
“I guess I can understand that. But, did she really mean it?”
“It’s all I have to go on.”
Dad cleared his throat, and he turned his head to look at him.
