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Murdoch had kissed her not even twenty-four hours ago. Just right there, in the graveyard, next to her mother’s final resting place. That man had never put his hands on her in an unprofessional way the entire time she had known him.
Until yesterday.
Zoey still didn’t know how she felt about that two-second kiss. She’d pulled back first. And turned away.
Before she threw herself into his arms and stayed there forever.
Which was beyond crazy.
That man? No.
It just wasn’t going to happen.
No. She had to focus on Finley Creek and Blessed Reunions and her family. But even now, in the middle of a billionaire’s mansion in North Barrattville—she could almost smell Murdoch Lake, feel the man’s arms surrounding her.
Crazy. Utterly, completely beyond crazy.
“What’s got you tied up in knots tonight?” a voice asked behind her. Zoey turned to see her hostess for the evening. Sydney’s older sister, Melody Barratt, had married Luc’s best friend, another billionaire, a few years ago. Melody spent most of her time keeping Houghton in line—and giving away as much of Houghton’s money as she possibly could. Melody had once been TSP, until a bullet had destroyed that career and left her with permanent paralysis.
They understood each other, Zoey and this woman.
“The never-ending quest for answers about my mother. I’m not sure if this is a fool's errand I've set for myself or not." What good could opening the past really have? There weren't going to be any good answers to come of this.
Just more hurt.
More confusion.
"Sometimes you got to make it to the finish line before you know if the race was worth running or not," Melody said, clutching the crutch that went with her everywhere.
“Are there many other options?”
"That’s a question each of us has to answer for ourselves. The St. Louis crew will be here in a few hours. I figured you'd want a chance to take a break before the onslaught. And your little meeting tonight.”
Zoey still worked for the TSP—for now. She would remain a paid consultant and investigator for the task force her brother-in-law had started, until his term ended in a little over a year. But that would only be part-time, when needed.
Zoey just nodded. She still felt more than a little disconcerted from yesterday. Maybe seeing the gravestones had caused it. Put a finality to her mother that she just somehow hadn't expected.
Zoey hadn't ever formed those wild dreams of her mother one day swooping in to rescue her, that she could remember. All she remembered most was Pen. Pen was the fanciful one, dreaming of a big, happy family, where she and Zoey were welcomed immediately. And loved.
Well, Pen had gotten that. They had been welcomed. They had gotten lucky there. Zoey was still…adjusting to that.
Pen had been her world for so long. Her entire world. Opening up to let anyone else in had been the hardest thing she had ever done. She was still working on that. "I'll be fine. I want to get started looking for some of the names on this list. See if perhaps Luc remembers any of them. It's a long shot, but..."
"Zo,take a break. It's waited this long. It can wait even longer. Tonight is for enjoying family and friends. Not worrying about the past. Luc is turning forty this week—that means Houghton is just seven months away. And you know he's going to make a big deal of it." She shot Zoey a rueful look. "The man is going to be difficult. I can already tell."
Zoey laughed quietly. Melody seemed to be doing better. She’d had a few rough knocks lately, too. "It's because he's a big kid at heart. He's almost as bad as Luc. Payton is constantly trying to stay one step ahead of him."
"Trust me, Payton and I commiserate often. I'll have one of the maids open up a guest room for you. Take a break. The party is at eight, and it will go all night."
"I have nothing with me to wear tonight." Fancy parties and expensive designer dresses hadn't been her thing until she'd met her oldest brother, Luc. Now, Zoey just tolerated it for her family's sake.
Sometimes, she did eye-candy duty for Melody to keep certain acquaintances of Melody’s husband under control. And to keep an eye on their baby sisters who were just now old enough to be swimming in these shark-infested waters, too. Sydney and Pen drew trouble far too easily for her peace of mind.
"I'll handle that. Now, go."
Zoey went.
11
