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“But nothing.” Even with the quick cutoff, Marlowe’s eyes remained kind and warm.
Direct. Simple. Easy.
Marlowe continued on. “What I care about more is that, if you are Ace’s daughter, you know you’re not alone any longer.”
“I—” Nova stopped and took a deep breath.
This woman was offering everything she’d hoped for, during every single mile of the drive west. Family. Belonging. Security.
Could she really bring all the stuff with Ferdy to their door?
Marlowe had an infant. The family patriarch was in a coma, still struggling from the attempt on his life. Her father was fighting for his own reputation and freedom.
“I thank you for that. And you’ve given me a lot to think about.”
“I hope so. What are you doing for a place to live?”
The sound of the door opening and closing echoed behind them, Nikolas’s call evidently at an end.
“I’m good. I’m going to find a little place of my own.” She might not be able to afford Mustang Valley but she’d seen enough places on the drive in to town that she knew she’d find something. A job, too.
“
You sure about that?” Nikolas’s voice lashed her like a whip. “Or do you already have one, as well as an accomplice? Just waiting for you to come home with the goods?”
Chapter 9
Home with the goods.
What was that supposed to mean?
Nova heard the words and tried to piece them together with the dark expression that had settled over Nikolas’s face. He’d seemed off when he’d left to take his call, but whatever had ensued in the meantime had seemingly left him upset and out of sorts.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“I heard you but I don’t understand you. What goods are you talking about? And no, I don’t have a place yet but as I told you yesterday, I’m going to find one.”
“Nikolas? What’s this about?” Marlowe asked.
“It just strikes me all of a sudden that Nova’s story is rather convenient.”
“What are you talking about?” Nova’s mind spun with questions. She and Nikolas had spent the past twenty-four hours together and not once had he given any indication that he didn’t believe her. And now she was with her family and suddenly he had doubts?
Wasn’t he the one who had suggested they come here? In fact, hadn’t she specifically asked him for his opinion? She’d wanted that—no, had needed that—before making the final decision to have him reach out to Marlowe.
With a solid streak of self-righteous indignation, Nova dug in. “I don’t know what your problem is, or why you’ve suddenly decided you have a problem with me. But I don’t appreciate your attitude.”
“Well, maybe I don’t appreciate not knowing how you got here or where the father of your baby is.”
Nova sat back on the couch, his words more shocking than if he had reached out and slapped her. She’d had enough of that with Ferdy’s impulsive emotional jabs and she wasn’t interested in going back down that road.
Ever.
“What does that possibly have to do with finding my brother?” Marlowe inserted herself into the discussion once more. Nova was grateful, because at that moment she couldn’t have said anything if she’d tried.
Had she misread Nikolas completely?
