"I don't think they want to blame you. They just want to understand what happened." Jenna thanked the waitress and took a sip of her lemonade. "When you woke up in the motel, was there any sign that Annie might have been with you at any time? Somebody must have cared enough to make sure you were in a safe place, so it might have been her way of thanking you for the ride."
Big Mike stared off into space for so long that Jenna began to worry. Eventually he sighed and looked across the table at her.
"Diaper stink."
"What?"
"In the bathroom trash. I almost puked when I went in there." He shook his head. "I only just remembered that."
"Do you remember the name of the motel you stayed in or which town you were in?"
Big Mike's gaze hardened as he looked past her to the door. "Your boyfriend's coming back."
Talk about bad timing. "Do you remember the town?"
"I'll have to think about that."
Blue sat down beside her. "Sorry I took so long. I had trouble getting hold of Chase." He held Jenna's gaze. "Chase said we are authorized to pay him up to five thousand dollars, depending on the usefulness of his information." Big Mike started to interrupt, and Blue held up his hand. "Chase also says that Big Mike has already been paid five grand to even grace us with his presence, so he's talking shit if he says he hasn't."
"Good to know," Jenna said. "Blue can you confirm that your family has no intention of involving the police in this matter, and that Big Mike is not being held accountable for kidnapping or stealing Annie away from the ranch?"
"I can confirm that."
"See?" She turned back to Big Mike. "Now if you want to earn some more of that 5K, perhaps you might try and remember the name of that hotel and the town?"
* * *
By the time the taxi was almost at the San Diego airport, Jenna was running on fumes. After she'd filled him in with the relevant new details, Blue had remained uncharacteristically silent. He was still distracted now as he picked up her backpack.
"I just texted Chase. We're staying here tonight. He's got us a hotel room." He leaned forward to talk to the driver. "Can you take us to the Fairmont Grand Delmar?"
Jenna sat back and closed her eyes against the beginnings of a headache. It had been a stressful day. Far worse than she had anticipated. She hadn't even realized Blue had a temper. He was usually so in control . . .
"Jenna? We're here. Give me your bag."
Someone opened the door of the cab and she was bowed into the lobby of the hotel like a visiting celebrity, Blue at her side. The suite they were shown into was huge and faced the ocean. After using the bathroom and washing her face, Jenna stared longingly at the huge California king – sized bed.
"Want to take a nap before dinner?" Blue emerged from the second bathroom wearing just his unzipped jeans. He suddenly stopped about six feet away from her. "By yourself, I mean."
She was too tired to work out what that meant and simply climbed onto the bed, rolled onto her front, and buried her face in the pillow. Within seconds she was asleep.
* * *
When she woke up she opened her eyes to a room in half darkness. The drapes remained open, giving her a fine view of the ocean and the lights dancing along the seafront. Blue sat in one of the easy chairs, his legs stretched out in front of him as he contemplated the view. The pillow next to hers hadn't been touched.
"I'm just going to shower."
Jenna escaped into the bathroom and spent quite a while using all the lotions and potions that were heaped in a basket beside the bath. When she came out wrapped in a velvety soft white bathrobe, Blue had disappeared. She wandered out onto the balcony and admired the view. Having a multimillionaire for a brother was obviously a useful thing. She wasn't sure how she was going to deal with going economy again.
Her cell buzzed and she took it out of her pocket.
Why didn't you tell us you were in San Diego, darling?
Jenna pulled a face and texted back. Sorry, Mom. It was a totally unplanned trip.
Understand you are staying the night. We will be at your hotel to take you for breakfast tomorrow morning. No excuses! x
"What's up?"
Jenna looked up as Blue came toward her. He'd obviously been in the shower as well.
"My mom thinks I'm close enough to take out to breakfast. What time does our flight leave?"
He looked amused. "I think that's up to us. What time do you need it to leave?"
"I'd better see her. It means she's less likely to hunt me down at the ranch."
"Go ahead. There's no rush to get back."
Sure! We're at the Fairmont Grand. Ask for Blue Morgan's suite.
We'll be there at seven thirty sharp. Can't wait to see you!! xxx Bring your young man.
Jenna put down her phone. "You're invited as well, by the way. Seven thirty."
He sat opposite her. "Do you want me to come?"
"It's up to you."
He held her gaze. "You impressed me today."
"Really? I thought I just annoyed you." She kept her tone civil and light.
"I was angry with Big Mike, not with you."
"I get that." She hesitated. "I didn't know you had a temper."
His hand tightened on the chair rest. "I don't."
Jenna just looked at him.
"I mean I try really hard not to lose it, okay? Today was just . . ." He shook his head. "So frustrating. I had this stupid idea that we'd meet Big Mike and he'd take us to his home and there would be Mom and Rachel and . . . Ruth told me not to get my hopes up."
"But we did learn something. Annie definitely left with Big Mike, whether he realized it or not, and left him somewhere near Humboldt. Maybe Chase's detectives can find out who paid for that room and trace your mom from there."
"It was twenty years ago. What's the chance of that? Maybe we should just let it go."
Jenna studied him carefully. "Maybe you should."
"You didn't." He suddenly looked up at her. "You found your birth parents."
"Which is why I'm suggesting you don't make the same mistake. They weren't how I pictured them at all. And neither of them wanted anything to do with me."
"That sucks."
"Yeah." She forced a smile. "But at least I knew, and it helped me appreciate how lucky I was to be given a new family."
"Jenna, darling, they were lucky to have you." He stretched out his legs and yawned so hard his jaw cracked. "I just want to know whether they are alive. I'd even sacrifice seeing them again if I knew that."
"Blue Morgan, you are such a liar. If you found them you'd be knocking on their door in a heartbeat."
"Chase wouldn't let me."
"Like you've ever let anyone stop you doing whatever you've wanted in your entire life."
"Okay. So maybe I'd check up on them, but I can be discreet." He frowned at her. "Why are you smiling?"
"'Discreet' is not a word I associate with you."
He grinned and rose slowly from his chair like the big predator he was. She shrank back in hers. "What are you doing?"
"Closing the drapes and checking the doors are all locked."
"Why?"
"Because I'm taking you to bed." He raised an eyebrow. "Is that discreet enough for you?"
When he returned to her side he had already discarded his jeans and was naked. He ran his fingers over her shoulders and down to the sash at her waist.
"You want me?"
She met his gaze. "You know I do."
He cupped her chin. "I'd never hurt you, Jenna. I'll do my damndest not to lose my temper, but I can't promise it won't ever happen again."
"That's honest of you."
"I don't want to be that man-a mean-tempered drunk who thinks it's okay to take his rage out on those he should be protecting. If I ever laid a finger on you or any kids of mine, I'd kick myself out."
"Did Billy hit you?"
"No, but after Mom disappeared he drowned himself in whiskey. It was frightening, you know? Because my dad was the most awesome person in my life and then suddenly he wasn't, and he'd get drunk and lose his temper and . . ." He shrugged. "You know how it goes."
"Yes."
"So I'd never do that."
"Okay."
His thumb traced the curve of her jaw. "So please tell me you're not scared of me."
She kissed his mouth, and with a sigh, he kissed her back, his hands sliding beneath her robe to caress her bare skin and make her shiver. He backed her toward the bed, his mouth never leaving hers, and she allowed him to lay her down on the crisp cotton sheets and straddle her hips.
"God, I'm sorry, Jenna." He bent to kiss her breast, his breath hot, his stubble rough against her sensitive skin.
"It's okay." She wrapped one arm around his neck, holding him as close as she could. "You'll find them. I know it in my soul."
And then all she could do was make love to him, and hope that his experience went better than hers and didn't make the pain even harder to bear.
* * *
By the time Blue got out of the shower and dressed in the clothes he'd worn the previous day, Jenna was already up and pacing the suite, her high ponytail swinging back and forth. He paused to button his jeans and kept a wary eye on her.