Holding the phone number of the private detective in her hand, she almost told Miranda the truth, but decided she wasn't ready to share. "I'll explain later."
"Trey?" Miranda asked.
"No way," Kylie answered.
"Sara?" Miranda asked.
"I'll explain later." Kylie frowned, remembering Sara still hadn't tried to call her back.
"A secret admirer," Miranda continued as if were a game. "A hot stud muffin who kisses like no tomorrow that you haven't told us about? Oh, I want to meet him."
Kylie groaned. "I don't have a stud muffin."
"Really? The way you blushed when you talked about Derek naked, I thought he was your stud muffin."
"Go to breakfast." Kylie waved her off.
"Oookay," Miranda said, and started off.
Kylie shut the door and looked at the scrap of paper she held in her hand. She finally felt as if she might be closer to finding answers. She hadn't had any luck finding Daniel's adoptive parents, or even knew if they were still alive, and she didn't have a clue how to go about looking for his real ones. But if Derek was right ... if this guy was that good, then maybe he could find them. And because they were supernaturals, or at least one of them had to be, and considering they had a longer life expectancy, then there was a good chance they could be alive.
And if she found them, she would find her answers. She would finally know what she was. God, she really, really hoped this guy was as good as Derek believed.
Just thinking Derek's name, or maybe it was Miranda's whole stud muffin talk, either way, Kylie got flashbacks to last night. To the whole shower scene and to the hot kisses they'd shared.
"Wow. If he actually finds them, what do I get?"
Derek's question played in her head. She knew he was joking, he didn't expect payment of any kind for helping her. And perhaps that was part of the reason she wanted to reward him. Or not exactly reward him.
She just wanted ...
Don't go there, she told herself. It was way too early to start thinking about those kinds of things. Think about decorating cupcakes. Or think about making the call.
Grabbing her phone off the kitchen counter, she sat down at the computer desk. Taking a deep breath, she dialed the PI's number.
"Brit Smith Agency," he answered.
"Hi." She didn't exactly know where to start. "Uh, my name is Kylie Galen."
"Derek's girl?" the man said.
Kylie felt her stomach wiggle at being called "Derek's girl." It sounded really nice, even though Kylie wasn't officially his girl. Then again, seeing him naked ... Don't go there.
"Derek said that you might be able to help me find someone."
"Yeah, something about your dad being adopted. Let me get to my computer and I'll take notes."
"Sure." While Kylie waited, she looked up at her computer and decided to check her e-mail. She moved the mouse to wake up the computer.
Seconds later, a Springville Times newspaper article appeared on the screen. When Kylie started reading, she realized it wasn't just any article.
It was the Springville Times obituaries. Springville? Wasn't Della from Springville, Texas? But why was she ...
"Ready," Mr. Smith said. "What's your father's name?"
Kylie looked away from the computer. "Daniel Brighten."
"Parents' names?"