Forever Hers by Walters, Ednah (new ebook reader .TXT) 📗

Raelynn gets her attitude from. Next round.”

“Oh no, you don’t,” she said, sitting down. “I want answers.”

The gleam in her eyes said she was up to something he wouldn’t like. He sipped his drink. “Okay, shoot.”

“When and why did your mother leave your family?”

He stiffened. Memories sneaked in, blindsiding him. He rubbed his eyes and pushed them aside.

“Eddie?”

“That’s two questions,” he hedged.

“Okay, I’ll rephrase. Tell me about your mother?”

CHAPTER 9

Eddie grimaced. “My mother lives in New York.”

Amy waited for more. He didn’t speak. “And?”

“I was fourteen when she left.”

The bleakness in his voice said he hadn’t forgotten the incident. Amy wanted to reach out and touch him. “Why?”

He shrugged. “Motherhood didn’t fit in her schedule. You know, book signing tours and conferences. She’s now a very successful author.”

How selfish of her. On the other hand, her parents often left her with nannies to attend conferences. She’d thought they went on vacations without her. Unlike Eddie’s mother, they’d come back and get immersed in their work. She wasn’t sure what was worse, not having a parent around, or having them and being ignored.

“How did you father take it?”

“I’m not sure. We don’t discuss her.” Eddie leaned back and crossed his arms. “He never remarried, so maybe he still loves her. Who knows?”

“Do you see her often?”

“Not since high school when she stopped by my school. I made it clear then I didn’t want a relationship with her.”

Amy blinked. “You haven’t forgiven her?”

He shrugged. “She didn’t ask for my forgiveness, just tried to justify her actions.”

Would she forgive her parents for not believing in her when she told them about Nolan? She didn’t know. She was an only child and Raelynn was their only grandchild, so she’d have to do a lot of soul searching. The last three months, she’d wanted to call them so many times, but stopped out of fear that the phone call could reveal her whereabouts.

“Are you an only child?” Amy asked.

“I have a baby sister, Lori. She was five when our mother left.”

“Wow. That’s Raelynn age.” No wonder he’d reacted the way he did when he’d learned she was a writer. No wonder he refused to forgive his mother. That was selfish, cold and cruel.

He picked up his bottle and chugged then gave her a speculative look. “What would you do if your publisher asked you to do a tour?”

“They already did and I said no. Raelynn needs me.”

“What if she were older? Would you take her with you?”

Amy knew what he was thinking. He’d been abandoned when he was a teenager, old enough to accompany his mother. “I’d hate to take her out of school, so the answer would still be no. Fame isn’t everything. If I had to, I’d schedule short summer tours when she can come with me.”

Eddie drained his drink then rested his elbow on one bent knee and leaned against the chair. “How many questions was that? Six?”

“No way. That was one. The little ones were to clarify things. Just like the ones you asked don’t count. One down, four to go.”

He chuckled. “Okay, tigress. Shoot.

“Why a cop?”

“My father is a cop. I’m following in his footsteps.”

He wasn’t the type to follow anyone. “Really? Not to serve and protect, create order out of chaos?”

He chuckled and got up. “Do you want more coffee?”

“Yes, thank you.” She dangled her mug by its handle, but before he could take it, she moved it away. “Admit I’m right. You like order and chose the only profession where you can create it without being labeled anal.”

He laughed and snatched her cup before she could pull it away again. “I’m not anal. And don’t mock order. It makes the world function.”

“You really want to open that can of worms?” she asked. “Because I’ll out-debate you—”

“With the craziest reasoning this side of the Mississippi River,” he retorted.

She grinned. She did like to win and often used whatever argument to prove a point. She watched him even though she shouldn’t, loving the way he filled his jeans. Amy went on her knees for a better view when he bent to throw away the beer bottle and retrieve another from the fridge. She quickly turned around when he looked over his shoulder.

She now knew why he was so regimented. His entire outlook stemmed from a single incident he hadn’t controlled—his mother leaving them.

“Here’s a fun question. Why is an L.A.P.D detective taking a three-week vacation in the middle of summer…alone?”

“Are you asking why I’m not vacationing with a girlfriend?”

She wasn’t, but why not. “Yes, and why now? Isn’t crime at all time high during school break?”

“Not in L.A.” He came back with their drinks and took a side chair. Moving languidly, he leaned back then proceeded to study her with a hooded look. He had lashes like a girl’s except his were natural.

“Okay, fine. Why now?” she pushed.

He hesitated. “Technically, I’m not on vacation.”

He really didn’t want to discuss this, which only piqued her interest. “Meaning?”

“I was suspended.”

“No way. For what? Overzealousness in maintaining order?”

“I punched the D.A. and a senior officer.”

She stopped smiling. “Why would you do that?”

“They were freeing criminals and blaming it on my former partner and mentor. I lost my cool and slugged them.”

She could see him defending someone he cared about. “What did your partner do?”

“Nothing. They claimed he tainted evidence because he was on the take. You know, accepted money from local drug dealers. He is a good officer and a great father. I would have known if he were on the take.”

Amy frowned, hearing the conviction in his voice and wondering if he was in denial. “Nolan’s colleagues had believed he was a good officer and a great father too.”

“Gregory Launders is not on a crooked cop,” he snapped. “Next question?”

Okay. Touchy subject. “Do you have a girlfriend?”

“I don’t have girlfriends. I have women friends.”

Amy rolled her eyes. “So are you in a relationship with a woman?”

“Sort of.”

“Sort of? You are either in one or you are not.