Page 23 of How I Love You
It was not attractive at all. Nope. Not even a little.
But I did admire how much she cared for her friend, in a way that reminded me of how I’d stick up for Colt in a heartbeat.
“If you don’t know what I think she did, how do you know she didn’t do it?” I challenged, tilting my head.
Dakota’s eyes went wide as if a light bulb had gone off. “I’m right, aren’t I? You’re not just a private eye—youarea bounty hunter! That tracks. You look like a bounty hunter.”
I wasn’t dumb enough to be surprised that she’d figured out I was a private investigator, but the fact that it was public knowledge still irked me.Not ideal.Being a PI wasn’t something I liked being broadcasted, especially while working a case. And it definitely wasn’t something I ever told women.
“I’m not a bounty hunter. Just a PI,” I clarified.
“Oh, good.” She visibly relaxed, but only for a second. Her brow furrowed as she glanced into the dark trees around us. “But then, why…” She trailed off, clearly racking her brain. “Nope. I’ve got nothin’. I can’t think of a single reason a private investigator would be at Hope’s house, diggin’ for dirt. She’s not married, so it’s not a cheatin’ spouse thing…”
I sighed. “You’re not gonna let this go, are you?”
“Nope. I’m a dog with a bone.” Dakota’s grin returned, more determined than ever.
It took everything I had not to joke about her being a chihuahua or some other pint-sized, overly energetic creature. “If I tell you why we’re here and how it involves Hope, will you promise to stay out of it?”
“Absolutely not. Can’t do that.”
“Why not?” I almost growled the words, my patience at an absolute breaking point.
She snickered. “If you grew up runnin’ around with the Wilson boys, you’d understand. I don’t make promises without knowin’ exactly what I’m gettin’ into. They’re pranksters, you see, and the wrong promise could lead me down a lot of shavin’-cream-slicked roads, if you know what I mean.”
I didn’t. But I did know the sunshine-with-a chance-of-hurricane in front of me was quickly becoming one of the most fascinating people I’d ever met. And that said something, considering my line of work.
She crossed her arms, which angled her phone’s flashlight into the trees behind her like a beacon in the night. “Now, spill your guts, or let me get back to work. We’re burnin’ moonlight here.”
“First, turn that light off. You’re practically sending up a bat signal for anyone who might care that we’re out here.”
She winced and did as I asked, then promptly crossed her arms again. “Good call.”
It was the smart thing to do, but now that we only had the light from Hope’s porch, I already missed being able to see more of her than I could now. She was very expressive, and I couldn’t help but enjoy the way her eyes lit up every time I said something that, well, shouldn’t have made them do that. It kept me on my toes.
I leaned against a nearby tree, tucking my hands into the pockets of my coat. “Did you know Hope’s grandpa?”
“Not well. He was kind of a recluse. Even before his health started failin’, he rarely left the house,” Dakota said, her voice a little softer now.
“And you’re really close with Hope?”
“I am now, but unlike most of my friends who grew up here, I didn’t meet her until a few years ago. She came to Charlotte Oaksto help him, and she was so busy between her job at the station and carin’ for her grandpa that we really didn’t see each other much. But about eight months ago, Paisley started workin’ with her, and we brought her into the fold.” She gave a small smile, but there was something deeper in her eyes—like she knew exactly what it meant to be pulled into someone’s family.
“The fold?” I raised an eyebrow, curious about her choice of words.
She shrugged as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Yeah. You know, the fold. Our family.”
“You just brought her into your family? Just like that?” My skepticism slipped out, and I wasn’t sure why I even cared.
“Well, it wasn’t really ‘just like that,’” she said, tilting her head thoughtfully. “Or maybe it was. That’s what we do when someone just fits. Isn’t it like that for you and your buddy, Colton?”
“We grew up together.”
“Okay, well, family isn’t always blood, and it doesn’t have a timer on it, either. Just ask Paisley how it was when she first came around. Shoot, ask Riley and Rory. They’re close as any two siblings could be, but they only just met when she came lookin’ for him a little while back. You’d never know it sittin’ around the family table, though. They just fit.”
Her words hit harder than they should’ve. She talked about family like it was easy, like it justhappened. But for me, family had always been something complicated, with strings attached.
My head spun, trying to follow along with her, but I’d done my homework while waiting for nightfall so I could meet with Anthony Barto. I’d learned that Paisley Stevens was the former music manager that Wilson was engaged to, as well as a little about Riley and his mysterious sister. In fact, I’d dug up several tidbits about the people in Dakota’s hoard of found-familymembers, and I told myself it was because I wanted to make sure my bases were covered with the case.