Dark Legacy by Jen Talty (reading books for 4 year olds .txt) 📗

“Other than my mother showing up at my office, I’m good.” Shannon shook out her hands. In the year she’d lived here, and in the eighteen years she’d been coming to celebrate her father’s death, she’d never once come across a man she’d known in the past, but that didn’t mean they weren’t still lurking in the shadows.

“She didn’t.” Cameron’s voice screeched over the country music playing in the background. “I remember when we graduated from college, how mortified she was when you let her know you’d be going for a PhD in psychology. And of all the days for her to show up… Does she even remember what today is?”

“Oh, she remembers. And she wears it on her chest like some sort of medal. But she didn’t come by to commiserate.”

“Right, because you both really miss that bastard. So, why did she show up?”

“Tara and her boyfriend broke up again. I’m sure it had to do with my mother’s meddling.” Shannon wove her way through the crowd toward the bar. “Where’s Peter?”

“Right behind you,” Peter said, making her jump again.

“Shit. The two of you really need to stop sneaking up on me.”

“Shannon,” Annette called from the front of the restaurant. Now there was a woman who was not only loud but also commanded attention with her personality. Her looks hadn’t changed much in the last eighteen years, but the woman had.

“Doesn’t your stepmother know that bright blue eyeshadow and big hair went out of style back in the eighties?” Cameron whispered.

Shannon laughed. “She’s been slowly waiting for it to come back in style.”

“Oh, my God. Shouldn’t the two of you still be on your honeymoon?” Annette asked as she yanked Cameron in for a big hug, kissing her cheeks, leaving bright red lipstick on her skin.

Annette had an uncanny way of spreading joy and sunshine. Her life had been hard, even before she met and married Shannon’s father, but she’d managed to pick up the pieces. And when she put a smile on her face, she put one on everyone else, as well.

“We just got back yesterday.” Cameron swiped at her cheeks.

“And the first person my wife wanted to see when we got back was her old college buddy,” Peter said.

“I love hearing you say, ‘wife,’” Cameron teased with a wicked smile.

“Who wants a drink?” Peter said.

“I’ll have the usual.” Shannon loved nothing more than being with the family she chose, and these people were exactly that. There was no way in hell she would have been able to get through her childhood without them.

Annette cocked her head. On this day, they always drank beer, not her usual glass of red wine.

“Just one, though. Then Annette and I have some things to discuss.”

“We don’t want to home in on your alone time, but I knew you’d be here, and guess who we ran into earlier,” Cameron said, elbowing Shannon in the ribs.

“Who? Was it that hot, hunky neighbor of hers? The PI guy? I’ve been telling her for a few months she should let him take her out on a date.” Annette said, playing right into Cameron’s insanity.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Cameron replied with the biggest smile ever.

“You all need to stop this.” Shannon waved her hand in the air. “I don’t need any of you meddling in my love life.” She cringed. She hadn’t had a love life in a long time, and she wouldn’t have one until after she took care of something. It was time to finally make sure the past was secure where it belonged and ensure that she’d done the right thing.

“Are you saying you’re dating?” Cameron planted her hands on her hips and glared. “Did something happen while I was on my honeymoon?”

“No. And I’m not going out with my neighbor.” Shannon couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a real date, and she didn’t think being forced to walk the aisle with Peter’s brother constituted a date—especially since he had a life partner.

“Well, your hot, hunky neighbor told us he’s meeting you for drinks tonight,” Cameron said, smacking her lips together, making a kissing noise like a small child would. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

“First, it’s not a date. Second, he mentioned he wanted to reschedule. And third... You got home yesterday. When did you expect me to tell you about something that wasn’t even a date?” Shannon’s pulse doubled. Perhaps she’d be seeing Jackson tonight, after all.

But why was he acting so weirdly?

“If it wasn’t a date, then what was it supposed to be?” Peter asked as he leaned against the bar.

“I wanted to hire him to help me find someone.”

“Find who?” Cameron asked, her forehead wrinkled with bewilderment. One thing Cameron didn’t like was not being in the know.

Shannon caught Annette’s steady, all-knowing gaze.

“A client. It’s a long story, and I can’t really talk about it.” Shannon brushed her new bangs out of her face.

“I hear Jackson and his partner are very good at finding people,” Peter said, nodding his head. “You’re in good hands.”

“Cute hands, too.” Annette winked.

Shannon glared at Annette, giving her the old evil-eye twitch.

“Oh, stop that,” Annette said. “He’s cute. Enjoy the eye-candy. When all is said and done, I’ve got money on the two of you hooking up.”

“I’m in on that,” Cameron said.

“Me, too,” Peter piped in.

Shannon laughed. “Did you two love birds seriously come over here just to harass me about Jackson?”

“Nah. We’re meeting my parents.” Peter rose on tiptoe, waving. “And they’re here. So, we’ll catch you later.”

“Are we getting together this week?” Cameron said, looping her arm through Shannon’s.

“Of course, we are.”

“Awesome.”

Shannon watched Peter rest his hand on the small of Cameron’s back as he glided her through the bar. At times, Shannon wished she’d confided in Cameron about so many things, but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. At first, she’d tried to put that part of her life in a box and stuff it into the corner. By the time she was ready to speak