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“I had riding lessons and competed throughout high school.” She gave an awkward shrug, wanting the spotlight off her now that she’d opened up and allowed these people to glimpse parts of her that she rarely shared with anybody, and definitely not since her mother’s death.
“We need to discuss your mother,” Jaren said gently.
A pang hit her in the chest, but she drew another deep breath and steeled herself for discussing her loss.
He continued. “What was she doing on that cruise alone?”
Trinny shrugged. “She often traveled alone. We both do.”
Jaren’s brow hiked up a millimeter, but it was enough for her to grasp his displeasure at hearing that.
“I have a degree in business, but Mom didn’t like the idea of me working and encouraged me to travel the world. Secretly, I think she was hoping I’d find some wealthy man and marry him. You see, she was a bit of a snob when it came to position in society—a view I do not share.”
Jaren’s gaze drilled into her for a long heartbeat before Ross cleared his throat, breaking their connection.
“She wasn’t meeting friends on the cruise? Or a man?” Ross asked.
“Not that I ever heard about. And the police didn’t find anybody to question either.” Her voice turned sandpapery with emotion. The police had only brought her a bag of her mother’s belongings after they rifled through them all. And her suitcases had arrived on the doorstep a few days later in a similar condition.
“I have something to add.” Everybody looked at Corrine in the back of the room. She had a computer tablet in front of her.
“All your mother’s accounts were in good standing when she passed.”
“That’s what my accountant told me too,” Trinny responded.
“Was your mother involved with any businesses besides the shipping company she was still heading? Was she planning to lend money to anyone? Or borrow it?” Corrine pressed.
“Again, I don’t think so, but I wasn’t privy to her thoughts. We didn’t see eye to eye about things, and we didn’t spend a lot of time together.”
Poor Corrine looked even more distressed than Trinny felt at the questions. Her lips compressed as if in apology for needing the information that would only help the team with her case.
Jaren’s thumb brushed over her pulse point again, making it shoot upward at a fast rate. Her neck muscles strained from the need to look at him, to fall into those dark eyes and find some comfort, but she resisted.
“I’m moving Trinny to a new location.” His sudden announcement made her head jerk around.
Scenarios played through her mind. She could buy a car, even a used junker, and continue her road trip to nowhere. She could hop the first international flight to just about any foreign country her passport was good for.
The determination in Jaren’s eyes told her he wouldn’t let her do any of those things.
“Do I get a say in this location?” she asked peevishly.
“No,” he said firmly.
One of his brothers let out a grunt of amusement.
Corrine popped to her feet. “Trinny, would you follow me into the front office? We can go over some things while the team discusses the matter.”
Tension flooded the space. Whatever was going down, clearly she was going to be left out of the loop.
Jaren’s hand fell away from hers, leaving her free to follow Corrine out of the conference room. When she caught up to her, the woman ushered her out and then quickly shut the door.
Beyond it, low growls erupted. She stopped, eyes rounding on Corrine’s.
She latched on to Trinny’s arm and pulled her toward the front of the building. “Come on. Let them argue. We don’t need to listen to it.”
A shout erupted. Trinny gasped. “What are they arguing about?”
Corrine shot her a look.
