Page 43 of When Hearts Awaken

I have influence and resources as an Anderson. I’ll fucking help myself.

Brushing past her, I pull out my phone and pull up my text messages.

Taylor

Grace, can you get me the info for the private investigator you hired back when you were trying to find the identity of our dad?

Chapter 19

Nervous anticipation sizzles throughme as my cell phone buzzes inside the hidden pocket of my bridesmaid gown.Please tell me it’s him.

I quickly take it out and swipe to the message.

Emerson

I won’t lie and tell you this is going to be easy—the trail has most likely gone cold, but I’ll take the case.

My fingers shake as I type out a response.

Taylor

Thank you. Please keep this between us.

Emerson

That goes without saying. Privacy is a requirement in my line of work.

A few dots appear on the screen.

Emerson

And Taylor…I’m sorry about what happened to you. We will get the bastards.

A lump forms in my throat as I stare at the message from him and I grip my phone tightly in my hands and rake in a ragged inhale.

It’s the first time anyone has ever acknowledged what happened to me without doubt, suspicion, or derision.

He’s not like Alexis or Camden, the cops or that shitty therapist. He didn’t reject me.

I was expecting the pain of dismissal and rejection from Emerson Clarke, the private investigator who helped Grace in the past and is one of the best in his field. I thought he’d take one look at the paltry information I’d gathered and brush me off.

A glimmer of hope flickers inside me. Maybe luck is finally on my side, because he’s going to find out what happened all those years ago.

“Tay, you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Millie tucks a lock of dark brown hair behind her ear as she stares at me with concern.

I wipe away my expression. “What? Oh, nothing. I’m just thinking about walking around in this getup.” I smirk and gesture at our deep burgundy bridesmaid gowns—all designs from McKenzie’s Atelier, because there’s no way Belle would let us wear any other brand. “This is not exactly my style.”

“Come on—they are gorgeous! I picked them out specifically for you guys!” Belle complains and pouts at me, but her eyes are shining with laughter. “Millie gets the sexy thigh high slit that’ll drive Ryland insane. I get the sweetheart neckline with the hidden bustier because I don’t have massive boobs like you guys.”

She points to her chest for emphasis. This woman must be delusional because she is gorgeous with her perfectly proportioned curves, her porcelain skin, and straight black hair, thanks to her mom, who’s an Asian supermodel.

Belle then narrows her eyes at me. “And you, Ms. Badass Ballerina, you get the boatneck gown with sleeves since I know you like to cover yourself up, which makes no sense to me because why wouldn’t you flaunt that?” She gestures to my body and sighs. “But never fear. McKenzie’s designs are gorgeous, no matter the cut, and you look ravishing. Too bad there isn’t a guy you’re trying to impress.” She snorts.

A flash of blond hair and intense blue eyes barrels into my mind.

It has to be the love in the air impacting common sense because there is no way I’m trying to impress Charles Vaughn even if he were the last man on earth.

“Tay is trying to impress someone? Is that what I hear?” Grace sweeps into the living room of the bridal suite inside The Orchid and we all gasp in surprise.

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