Just…don’t expect too much.”
“From…?”
“You know what I’m talking about, Ashley. He needs time. He’s hard to get close to. If you try to force it, he’ll just run the other way. I speak from experience.”
“I’m not…”
She smiles and places her hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay. You’re not the first woman to fall under his spell.”
Not the first woman? Why do I find that surprising? Of course I’m not. The man is magnificent. Women probably fall all over him. “I’m not under any spell. I…spent last evening with your nephew. Brock.”
“Ashley, you and I both know you’re not interested in Brock.”
“He’s gorgeous.”
“Of course he is. He’s smart, too. And funny. A joy to be around. I love him dearly, as I love all my nieces and nephews. But we both know he doesn’t hold a candle to my oldest.”
She’s right.
No one holds a candle to Dale.
Already I’m in too deep.
Like Jade before me, I’m the moth who can’t resist the flame.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Dale
John Greene has a beer belly and a balding head. If he turns and bends over, I’m betting I’ll see a plumber’s crack. He meets Dad and me at the address I texted him earlier, and he’s right on time.
“You Dale Steel?” he says.
“Yeah. This is my father, Talon Steel.”
Dad rises and shakes his hand. “Please, have a seat, Mr. Greene.”
Greene sits down.
“Coffee?” Dad asks.
“Yeah, please.”
Dad signals our server. “One more coffee here, please.” Then, “My son shared your letter with me. I understand you’re willing to give us the name of your client who claims to be his birth father.”
Greene clears his throat. “That’s right. I assume he told you our terms.”
“He did.”
“I’ve got it,” I say. “Cash.”
“Good.”
“Assuming the information is good.”
“Hey, I don’t know whether the guy is your father or not. He says he is, and he paid me to find you. It wasn’t easy, since he couldn’t remember your mother’s last name.”
“Sounds like a real winner,” I say. “Abandons two kids and can’t even remember their mother’s name. Can’t even remember his kids’ names.”
“Hey,” Greene says. “I just do the jobs they pay me for.”
“Fair enough,” I say. “I want his name and his contact information.”
“Our deal was for his name,” Greene says.
“The deal has changed. What the hell good does a name do me? If his name is Bob Smith, I’ll be on a wild goose chase.”
“His name isn’t Bob Smith.”
“Good. I need it and the contact information.” I take a sip of coffee.
“Then I’ll need—”
“John,” Dad begins. “May I call you John?”
“Uh…sure. No problem.”
“Good.” Dad gets serious. “John, it’s no secret who we are. You know we’re good for any deal we make, but my son is correct. The name by itself does us no good. We need all the information you have on this client of yours.”
“I won’t be in business long if I divulge that kind of information.”
I roll my eyes. “You claiming ethics?”
“I guess I am,” he says.
“You already left your ethics at the door when you agreed to give me the guy’s name,” I say. “I guess now we’re just deciding on the price.”
“Dale…” Dad says.
“Sorry, Dad, but it’s bullshit. He’s willing to play ball. He just wants more money.”
“I know that.” Dad grins. “You think this is my first horse race?”
I can’t help it. I laugh out loud. Leave it to Dad to be one step ahead.
Greene stands. “I don’t have to sit here and be insulted.”
“You do if you want any money out of us,” Dad says.
“You weren’t part of the bargain anyway,” Greene says to Dad. “I was just supposed to meet with him.”
“My son and I have no secrets.”
Well, we have a few. But not many. I have mine, and apparently Dad’s been keeping something huge from me.
“What does it matter?” I say. “We’re both here now, and the information is important to both of us. For some reason, my alleged father wants to find me. Have you given him my contact information?”
“I haven’t. Not yet.”
“Why not? Didn’t he pay you for it?”
Greene reddens.
“Just what I thought,” I say. “You’re willing to sell the information to the highest bidder. That’s us. No contest.”
“You’re not wrong,” he says. “Your father only paid me a hundred bucks to find you. The only reason I was able to do it on such a low budget was because I found out you and your brother were adopted into such a high-profile family.”
“I assume the hundred bucks was all he had, then,” Dad says.
“So he says.”
“If you’re that worried about