Page 42 of Shadow of Hope
“True that.”
“I was very impressed with Sierra.”
“Me too, and the entire center has a solid reputation. Maybe you’re right and hoping a little might not hurt.” He smiled at her and held her gaze. His angst vanished, and his eyes warmed to a honey brown.
Her heart flip-flopped. “Now you’re just trying to make me feel better.”
“I am,” he admitted.
Reality did its very best to settle into her body and grab a firm hold. “I could really go to prison, couldn’t I?”
“It seems possible, but remember we’re just beginning the investigation. When Colin gets the original video tomorrow, it could very well contain info to prove your innocence.”
“You really think he’ll be able to persuade them to give it to him?”
“You said the administrator’s a woman, right?”
“Right.”
“Then yes. This might sound sexist, but when Colin turns on the charm, women are hard-pressed to say no to him. Not that he abuses it, but he does use it to his advantage in investigations.”
She could see that as Colin had proven to be quite the charmer. “You probably do too.”
“Probably, but he’s more charismatic than I am.”
“I don’t know. You have your moments.” Relishing the change in mood, she grinned at him.
His expression remained serious. “You think so, huh?”
“I do,” she said sincerely.
“Then if I turn all my wiles on you, does that mean you’ll fall for me?” he asked, sounding very unsure of his abilities to charm her.
She wasn’t sure how to answer his question, but she would take a stab at it. “Is that what you want to happen?”
He went so still she didn’t know if she’d offended him.
“I do.” He looked her in the eyes. “And I don’t. I can’t make a commitment. My sister needs me more than ever right now, and I have to focus on her first.”
Ava appreciated his dedication to his sister—very admirable—but she wanted to know more. Know everything she could about this wonderful guy. “Can I ask how she was injured?”
He grimaced. “A freak accident. She fell from a step stool and injured her spine. Became paralyzed. Verdict’s still out on if it will be temporary or permanent, but her husband couldn’t handle it, and he walked out on her and their daughter. The poor kid is really suffering from the situation. She’s barely talking. So you see why I don’t have time for dating, especially not seriously. I can’t make another commitment.”
“How awful for her. For them.” She reached for his hand and held it, his skin rough and calloused against hers. “I’m sorry they’re having to go through such a traumatic situation.”
“It’s hard.” His voice cracked.
“I can’t imagine her exact situation, but I grew up much like the two of you and can understand how very important your bond with her must be.”
“You grew up in the system?”
She nodded. “Not something I like to talk about, but yeah. My mom was into drugs and ended up becoming estranged from our entire family. Her choice. Kept them all from me. But then someone reported how she neglected me, and she was deemed unfit. She didn’t want the family to know she’d failed and lied to her caseworker about having any family. So I went into care at ten years old. She refused to let me be adopted, wouldn’t relinquish the rights.”
Micha gritted his teeth and reversed their hands so his cupped hers. He held tightly. “That’s rough.”
“Which is why I don’t like to talk about it. Best to leave it in the past.”
“I understand that, as long as you don’t let it fester and cause problems.”
