“You could always use Gram’s trust fund to help you along. I think she would’ve been happy to see you return to the island.”
“I don’t want to spend that money just making ends meet. I want to invest it in something special. Something that would’ve made Gram proud.”
Mom offered a smile. “It’s your money to do with as you wish. Gram was already proud of you.”
“I know that.”
A frown pinched Mom’s brows. “If I hadn’t let go of her house, you could’ve moved right in.”
“You can’t foretell the future, Mom. You did what you thought was best at the time. That’s all we can do.”
“Well, I’ll keep my ear to the ground for an open position. Maybe something interesting will turn up.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Jenna rose to her feet and dragged a hand over her sweaty brow. “I’m going to grab a water. Want one?”
“Could you get me one of those raspberry teas?”
The drink Gordon had introduced Mom to was quickly becoming her favorite. “Sure.”
The cool air-conditioning swept over Jenna’s skin as she entered the house. The effect Gordon was having on her mom was so weird.She wasgardeningnow? What next—bird-watching? Jujitsu? Flame-throwing?
She reined in her sarcasm. It wasgoodthat Mom was trying new things and getting out of the house more. It just... wasn’t reallyher. Or not the mom she’d known all her life.
Jenna was reaching for the fridge door when she heard a voice. Gordon. The sound trickled in from the backyard through the patio door, which was slightly ajar.
“I’m not sure... Yeah, it’s going well...”
As a pause drew out, Jenna crept closer to the door. His voice was low and tender. He was obviously talking to someone with whom he was close.
“It’s beautiful here. Who knew Maine was so nice this time of year?”
Maine?Jenna frowned. Why was he lying about where he was? The potential answers stirred up a hornet’s nest in her gut. She feared he wasn’t the man he portrayed himself to be. He was probably using her mom for financial reasons. Meanwhile she was falling head over heels for him and would wind up heartbroken.
Jenna pressed her fingers to her temple. Maybe she should confront him. Tell him she’d heard what he said. But what if he simply claimed she’d misunderstood? What if she stirred up trouble and Mom took his side?
“I’m glad to hear it,” Gordon said softly. “Okay... I miss you too.”
The call was winding down, and he would soon enter the house. What should Jenna do? She didn’t have actual proof. All she had was hearsay, and her mother was so besotted with him, she feared Mom might believe she’d simply heard wrong.
Making a quick decision, she grabbed the drinks and scootedfrom the room. But not before she heard Gordon’s quiet parting words: “All right. Love you too.”
“Are you sure that’s what he said?” Tyson asked Jenna thirty minutes later.
Jenna had hunted him down at his house the first chance she got. His small home was predictably tidy, and he’d recently invested in some nice leather furniture and gray paint. It now looked less early American dorm room and more responsible adult male.
They sat at his well-lit island over glasses of water because that was the only beverage he had on hand.
“I heard every word,” Jenna said. “Do you think he’s got another woman stashed away somewhere?”
“There’s a limited number of people you say ‘I love you’ to.”
“It could be his son or daughter, I guess. From his tone, it seemed he was speaking with a woman. But it still could’ve been a female relative.”
Ty frowned. “But why would he lie to a relative about where he was?”
“Good question.” For that very reason Jenna didn’t believe it had been a relative at all.
Ty stood and retrieved his laptop from the coffee table. “I think it’s time we did a little research on this guy.”
