Page 57 of Vanishing Legacy
They tiptoed to the kitchen.
“Now for the best part.” Cash opened the freezer. The cold air swirled around them. “Madam has two choices of the finest gelato for dessert.”
“Raspberry, please.”
“A wise choice. My personal favorite as well.” He scooped two generous bowls and turned toward the sitting room.
Alana caught the hem of his T-shirt and tugged. “I’ve been dying to try the fort.”
“Your wish is my command,” he said with a slight bow. Those dark eyes could get him to agree with almost anything.
Alana handed her bowl to him and crawled into the shadowy fort. She propped herself against the cushions and took the bowls so Cash could climb in. He settled beside her. Their bodies pressed close in the small space. His senses jolted awake at the scent of her.
They ate in comfortable silence except for the occasional clink of spoons hitting the bowls.
Alana breathed in. “Is it just me or does this taste better in the fort?”
“I think you’re right. Good idea.” He nudged her shoulder with his. “Oh, I had some news today. The Coast Guard confirmed the car is Sonia’s car, and they were pulling it up as of a few hours ago.”
Her eyes went wide. “Way to bury the lead. Tell me everything.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Not much to tell. Bailey called a few minutes before you got here and let me know. They’ll take the vehicle to a secure facility to process it. She also scored her meeting and gave Williams the green light to arrest Trejo.”
“So, we could have some answers soon?”
“That’s the hope. Bailey said one of the detectives would call, but I figure that won’t happen until they have something solid to tell me.”
Alana found something interesting in the bottom of her bowl. “Can I change the subject for a bit?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“When did you first realize Penny was autistic?”
He swallowed a spoonful and wiped his lower lip. Not the question he’d expected. “She was about two and a half. She wasn’t hitting her milestones, wasn’t making much eye contact, and had trouble communicating. I thought it was shyness or maybe losing her mom. But then she started having meltdowns and sensory issues, and I knew she needed help. It was tough for her.”
“And for you too?”
“This is going to make me sound awful, but when the specialist diagnosed her with autism, I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want her to be different. To go through life with challenges. I told the doctor she was wrong.” How arrogant he’d been that day. “I wanted to believe it was something she could grow out of. At worst, maybe she’d need more therapy to deal with losing Sonia.”
Alana put her bowl on the floor and wiped her mouth with her napkin. “It’s not easy to grow up without a mother.”
He studied her. “You?”
“Yeah, but my mom abandoned me on purpose. Penny’s mom didn’t have a choice in the matter.”
“That we know of.”
“Yeah, well…either way, it’s not easy on Penny. Believe me.”
His heart ached at the thought of a young Alana abandoned by her mom. He stacked his bowl in hers and took Alana’s hand, feeling the warmth and softness of her skin against his. “You’re a strong woman, Alana. A great mother and quite the athlete from what I’ve seen.”
“Thanks, Cash.” She smiled at him. A genuine, warm expression that made his heart race.
He studied her in the soft glow of the string lights. Her dark eyes a tantalizing reminder of the woman who had captivated him from the moment they’d met. He fought to keep his composure, knowing that she was here to protect his daughter and he was a distraction. But the pull of her was impossible to resist. In that moment, every nerve ending tingled with the thrill of the possibility of knowing her and connecting more deeply.
Cash had no idea what was happening between them, but somehow, he’d fallen head over heels in love with Alana Flores.
Too bad he’d have to fire her if he wanted to date her.