“I sense you have an issue with age gaps,” I said.
He shook his head.“No, it’s not for me.I could give a shit who a brother fu— sleeps with.”
I chuckled.“If you say so.”
“Are you gonna clear up your nonsense?I’m one-hundred percent right, not twenty-five percent.”
I tilted my head.“It’s not your business since it’s a private matter, but I’m not pregnant.”
“Whatever,” he interjected.
“Lark has a baby, yes, but Iamthat baby.That’s why I’m looking for him.He’s my biological dad.”
He put a finger to his temple and rubbed.“There’s no way.Lark just moved to Jacksonville two years ago, and you don’t sound like you’re—”
“Stop.You’re making all kinds of assumptions.My mom went to a sperm bank, chose to use his deposit based on the information he provided.I’m not wrong, and…should we get out of this alive, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell him.It’s my news to share.”
He stared at me like he was trying to figure me out then gave a slight nod.“Are you from Memphis?”
“No.We lived outside Atlanta until I was nine, and my stepdad got a great job offer in Jacksonville.”
His head reared back a touch.“Wait…you said your mom chose Lark – but you have a step dad.Did he get no say in—”
I waved a hand toward him.“No.Mom hadn’t found the right man, and had saved her money, so she decided to go for it.”
His expression shifted, and I couldn’t tell if he was shocked or impressed.“All alone?”
I shrugged.“Yeah.After she had me, she remained single.Her parents were around and helped her out a ton, though I don’t remember much of that since I was so little.There was another man she was serious about until…it fell apart.That forced her to explain things to me about my father situation much sooner than she’d have liked.”
Luckily she hadn’t married Ed, but I didn’t want to share that.
I mean, Ryan’s attitude seemed a bit kinder now that he knew I wasn’t pregnant, but he obviously didn’t like me.To be fair, I wasn’t too enamored by a man who jumped to conclusions like he was at a trampoline park, and he apparently judged women who were attracted to older men.He might have claimed he didn’t care who Lark slept with…but that didn’t ring true from the way he said it.
“You’re doing it again,” he muttered.
He sat on the floor with this back against the wall and his legs bent, resting his wrists on his knees.
“Doing what?”
“Thinking too hard.Whatever it is, let it go.We’re gonna need our energy.”
I arched a brow.“That’s easier said than done.I can’t understand why someone wanted to abduct us.I’m not even part of your world.Why not leave me behind?”
He flicked a hand up in a dismissive gesture.“Two possibilities.First is because you saw them, and they didn’t want you to report me going missing.Second, and I think this is more likely from a conversation I overheard earlier, Boyd thought you were my sister Mick.”
A nervous chuckle escaped me.“If he actually mistook me for your sister, he’d be especially dumb then, because she’s the definition of gorgeous.”
He stared at me for a long moment.
“What?”I asked.
“You’re ten times prettier than my sister.”
“Whatever.I wasn’t fishing for compliments, but thanks.”
Chapter 6
She Had a Knack
