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The dogs got birthday presents. Robin did not.
Still, she couldn’t complain. Dad might not be the most present person, but he’d never forgotten a birthday or special occasion.
“I know a few parents like that,” Harper said with a conspiratorial nod of his head.
She blinked at him.
Could he get any more unreal? Was she dreaming?
She had the sudden urge to take his hand and never let go.
A man didn’t fit into her plans right now, but what was wrong with a little flirting?
It didn’t have to go anywhere.
“One moment?” She snapped a quick picture of the little trouble makers and sent it off. That should keep Saaina happy for an hour or until she realized the house was quiet for a change.
Robin really didn’t have time to fit Harper into her schedule right now, but maybe that was the problem. She’d been so focused that all the happiness in her life had been sucked out. Perhaps she needed a little distraction?
Hadn’t Dad mentioned taking Saaina out to dinner tomorrow? And Uncle Daar was coming to town. It stood to reason that all three were going out together without her. Under normal circumstances she couldn’t do anything about that besides ignore her hurt feelings about being excluded. However, Harper presented her with a new opportunity to advance her plans.
Robin tilted her head and regarded Harper with new interest.
Dad and Uncle always had been more interested in who she dated than her. But that was to be expected. To them, women were second best, who they were attached to truly mattered. That was why Dad had never really mourned Mom. She’d been an accessory and a bank to him, not a partner. And Uncle Daar?
Robin never could make herself give up on the idea that Mom’s death was Uncle Daar’s doing.
Was it possible Harper could help her out? Could she use him and not let her conscience get in the way?
It wasn’t like there was a handbook about investigating your own family’s role in a murder. She was figuring it out as she went, without a lot of hope. Mom had been dead for over fifteen years. Robin knew better than to hope she found the murder weapon. All she wanted was confirmation. Something to tell her she was right and then she could cut ties and move on with her life.
Harper clasped his hands behind him then leaned toward her. “How do you feel about coffee?”
“It’s necessary.”
“Mind if I get us some?”
She gestured down at the hellions. “Do you mind the dog park?”
“You’re going to let these two little hooligans run around a dog park with other, respectable dogs?”
She chuckled. “This time of day there’s usually only a few others around, and those are bigger dogs that can get away from them easier. If they get to be too much of a pain, I’ll just take them home and make them Saaina’s problem.”
Harper wagged a finger at her. “Beautiful and intelligent.”
Robin smiled despite inwardly cringing at the compliment. She knew she didn’t look her best, and yet it was still nice to hear. But what did she say to that?
In lieu of a good reply, she decided to ignore the compliment. “I’m a lots of cream and sugar girl.”
“Got it.” He merely nodded instead of telling her to lay off the stuff like Dad or Saaina.
Harper turned and headed toward a little café cart.
Oh, my. Look at that ass.
Tall, dark, handsome. She felt like she was hitting the jackpot here. He had to have some secret, some less than desirable quirks, otherwise why wasn’t he attached to someone already?
Shit. Was he married? She hadn’t seen a ring or a tan line. He was probably old enough to have lived a little, unlike her. She’d gone from boarding school to college to here. Every step of the path had been managed.
