Page 70 of Love, Hate, Love

“I’ve been saying that for weeks.”

“Maybe you might’ve been hinting at an issue, but I needed to be sure myself.”

“Hinting at?” He straightened, getting to his feet as he scanned my office. “I’ve been screaming it for weeks.”

“Fine,” I said, holding up a hand. “You’ve been screaming it. Point is, there’s something off.”

“What has brought you to this great epiphany? Enlighten me.” He leaned on a filing cabinet and crossed his arms, waiting for the lowdown. Knowing him, he’d only stay still for another five minutes.

“There’s some stuff that my guy has dug up on her stepfather that looks off.”

He tilted his head slightly, studying me. “You finally got your head out of your ass and got John to working on this. Good for you. And now you think her stepfather has something to do with tossing Leah in a shitload of trouble?”

I nodded, shoving my hands into my pockets. “He’s got an art collection. He’s dabbled in trading, as far as we know, and I’ve got a hunch he’s behind this somehow—whether he put her up to it or forced her, I don’t know, but it’s something. He’s got his hands in this.”

“Did you try to ask her?” His tone softened as he unfolded his arms.

“She shuts it down immediately. She’s never been an open book, but this is like it’s locked in a vault.”

“You should still ask her about it. Just put it out there that you know something is going on.”

“And what? Tell her I called in a quasi-PI? No way.” I fidgeted with a folder in front of me just to have something to do with my hands.

“You think that’s overstepping?” He laughed. “After the stories I’ve heard, that’s the least overstepping you’ve done in weeks.”

“Sometimes I’m not sure why I tell you things.”

“Because if you held any more in, you might explode.”

He had a point.

The door to the office swung open, Missy storming in with more fire than she should be able to carry in her little frame.

“You need to stop being mean to her,” she said.

Alec cleared his throat from where he was leaning in the corner.

She looked over, spotting him. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize you had company. Hi, Alec.”

“Hey, kiddo.” Alec straightened. “He’s all yours. I’m going to go unpack and get a shower.”

He reached out and ruffled her head like she was a kid before he walked out.

Missy stared at his back as he walked out of the office, and then continued to stare at the door. And Alec calledmeblind.

“Missy,” I said, drawing her attention, “I can guarantee I have not done anything mean to Leah in the last week.” Actually, I’d done some pretty nice things for her, but I wouldn’t be sharing those.

“Then why is she so sad today?” she asked.

I scowled but couldn’t stop myself. “Did she say she was sad?”

That was one thing Leah never did, period. She held her emotions in tighter than a homeless man holding the Hope Diamond. I’d seen her break down one time, recently, and even sobbing, she had still fought admitting being upset.

“She doesn’t have to. I could tell she was out of sorts, and you’re the only one around here who makes her sad, soobviouslyyou did something.”

“I didn’t, or at least not intentionally.” She’d been weird at lunch. I just figured it was because things had been awkward since the kiss. What had upset her to the point that she was sad?

“Where are you going?” Missy asked as I walked past her and toward the stables.

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