Yellow Rose Mysteries 02 - A Wedding to Die For by Leann Sweeney Read Free Book Online Page A

betcha. After a few decades of deception I figured I owed her about as much respect as a coyote owes a jackrabbit.
    “Can I finish?” she said.
    “Go on.”
    “I’m willing to work on those . . . less than desirable aspects of my personality.” She said the last few words so fast I nearly didn’t catch them.
    “And so you have Jeff followed to accomplish that goal?”
    “Yes,” she said quietly. “The detective I hired said there’s nothing wrong with following people. Can you forgive me for my past mistakes?”
    “I don’t know.” I chewed on a cuticle, already feeling myself weakening. Heck, she was pushing seventy. And grudges made you run even if no one was chasing you. I didn’t want to run.
    “Please consider the possibility,” she said, her eyes moist.
    I stood abruptly, a tiny, unwelcome lump in my throat. “Coffee?”
    Her features relaxed as much as the Botox would allow. “I’d love coffee.”
    We sipped and made small talk about her latest charity event. Then Aunt Caroline said, “I’m aware you left CompuCan. They miss you.”
    Kate had told me my aunt still sat on the board of Daddy’s old company. “Right,” I said. “They miss me bumbling around like I knew what I was doing. I have a new job.”
    “Doing what?”
    “I find people,” I replied, avoiding eye contact. I had a working person’s job now, not a token appointment from an inherited business. I was guessing she wouldn’t approve and for some stupid reason, her approval still seemed important. Old habits die hard.
    But she surprised me by actually sounding interested. “So tell me more. Is this a computer job? Because despite your protestations, you’re very good with computers.”
    “The job does involve plenty of Internet searches, but actually . . . I’m a private investigator specializing in adoption.”
    She slowly nodded. “I see. And have you had much work?”
    “A few cases so far, but I have to build my reputation and—”
    “I could help. Give me some business cards and tell me where your office is. I have plenty of friends who would be more than—”
    “That’s not necessary, Aunt Caroline. In Texas, you have to—how do I put it?—apprentice with a licensed investigator.”
    “So you’re an intern? You’re not even getting paid?” Ah, the old Aunt Caroline hadn’t completely disappeared after all.
    “I do get paid,” I snapped.
    She held up both hands. “Sorry. I’m being judgmental and I vowed not to do that. Do you work downtown?”
    “Angel’s allowed me to work out of my home with my own little branch of his agency. It’s called Yellow Rose Investigations, though technically I’m employed by him. He’s sent me a few clients and I’m advertising on my own as well.”
    She looked around. “You work here ?”
    “I have an office in the front of the house in what was supposed to be the formal living room. I’m done with formal anything, Aunt Caroline. This is what I want.” I spread my arms and nodded around the room, hoping she understood this was a warning. I didn’t want any of her snooty society friends sending me business.
    “This place is, well, very like you,” she said, nodding again. “But if you plan to redecorate, remember the traditional look never goes out of style.”
    “I’ll remember.” This visit was dragging on way too long.
    “And if you’re at peace with this new lifestyle, that’s wonderful.”
    At peace? I wondered if I’d ever be at peace with her, but running away wouldn’t solve that problem. I’d accept her back into my life if only to quit running from the past. But that didn’t mean I’d ever forget how she’d betrayed Kate and me.

    Angel Molina mopped a hefty bite of blueberry pancakes through the puddle of syrup on his plate. I’d finished my omelet and was nursing a mug of coffee while he worked on his second stack. Angel’s a strapping, soft-spoken man with steel-colored hair pulled straight back into a ponytail. He usually wore