Big Easy Temptation (The Perfect Gentlemen #3)(100)

She squeezed his hand. “I loved him. I truly did.”

“He loved you, too. I know he didn’t always show it. He did things that hurt you, but I truly believe he loved you.” Dax couldn’t find it in his heart to judge his parents any longer. Their marriage had blossomed in a different time, and its inner workings would always be a mystery to him. The fact that his father could dishonor his vows and his wife with another woman still pissed him off, but anger served no purpose. There were always two sides to every marriage. The best any son could do was to love his parents.

Dax vowed to work as hard as he could for his own marriage and treat it with the sanctity it deserved.

After a moment’s tears, his mother reached for a tissue and dried her eyes. “But if he didn’t hurt that girl, then why did he walk into the motel with her?”

That was a very good question. “You know, we never see his face in that video.”

“It was his uniform. I know because I’d had to patch it. He’d torn the sleeve and they were getting him a new one, but he was stuck wearing the two jackets he had until they replaced it. I don’t know why he chose to wear the one that needed to be fixed, but I recognized it.”

“Did you ever ask why the hell he would wear a uniform to the scene of a crime at all? I know you were angry with him, but give him some credit. He wasn’t a foolish man.”

“He was drunk that night. He did stupid things when he’d had too much Scotch.”

He couldn’t argue with her on that. “Did they leave you a copy of that video? I know Dad’s attorney got a copy of it. You don’t happen to still have one, do you?”

She sighed. “The lawyer left a box with me. I’m sure it’s in there, along with all the legal filings. I have a copy of everything, though I’ve never really looked through it. Dax, if your father was innocent, we have to clear his name.”

He cupped his mother’s shoulder. “That’s exactly what I intend to do.”





EIGHTEEN




Holland got out of the car, stretching after hours of being cooped up and listening to Connor tell stories of how amazing Dax Spencer was. According to Connor, Dax had singlehandedly helped him pass algebra, saved him from drowning once, and given Zack the idea to run for office. Holland wasn’t sure when he’d had time to do those things since apparently young Dax had spent a whole lot of time helping the poor and guiding old ladies across the road. Oh, and Connor had worked in a story about Dax saving a dog, too.

“You know, if your back’s giving you trouble, you should really see Dax.”

She rolled her eyes. “Give you a lot of back massages, did he?”

Connor grinned. “Overplayed my hand?”

For a former CIA operative, he wasn’t very smooth when it came to building up his friend as a potential mate. “A long time back, Sparks.” She sighed as she closed the car door. It looked like Dax was already back at the remote fishing camp and waiting inside. “I’m not so sure we shouldn’t have confronted Peter Morgan. He could easily disappear again.”

“I don’t think so,” Connor replied. “He seems pretty settled into his house. It’s off the beaten trail. He thinks he’s pulled himself off the grid. I can promise you, he didn’t catch me tailing him. We know where he is. When Dax is ready, we confront him. But we need to know what we’re going to ask him first.”

“We should ask him why he turned in an innocent man.” It seemed pretty simple. If it had been up to her, she would have hauled him in and questioned the little bastard until he gave everything up.

Connor shut his door. “I want Dax there. He deserves to be involved in whatever goes on. You know he took a bullet to save Gabe’s fiancée a few months ago.”

“Yes. I saw the scar.”

Connor’s jaw tightened before he spoke. “I know you think you have to push him away, but don’t throw something good out because it might go bad someday. I thought I needed to do that but it’s better on this side, Kirk. It may sound stupid, but it’s true. Take a leap. You’ll see. And if you don’t, well, if you ever need anything, you come to me because whether you’re brave enough or not, he’ll always love you and that means I’ll always help you.”

Holland blinked, stared. She had zero idea how to handle that.

Connor turned toward the house. “Don’t stay out here too long. We need to catch up with Dax, see what he might have learned and decide how we want to proceed. We can’t hide out here forever.”

No. They couldn’t, which meant she would have to decide what to do about Dax soon. She’d walk away. Wasn’t that decision already made?

The cell in her pocket chirped and she was happy for the distraction. Her uncle. Yeah, her happiness faded somewhat. She answered anyway. “Hello, Uncle Beau.”

“Holland, I’m glad you decided to pick up the phone. I think we should talk.”

“I don’t have a ton of time, but you should know that I’m safe. I’m with a couple of very well-trained men.”

“If you’re with who I think you’re with, you could be in serious trouble.” Her uncle’s deep voice rumbled over the line. “I looked into this situation and it’s bad. Come in and let me put you in protective custody.”