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Only, right now, Trinity needed someone to support her decision, not tell her to give up.

“I can’t yet. Not until I feel as if I’ve done everything I can,” Trinity said. “I’m sorry, Kathy. I’ve got to go. Emmett is here.”

“Call me later. Promise?”

“I will.” She set the phone on the small table next to her and gave a little wave toward Emmett.

He flashed a wicked smile as he strolled across the patio with his hands stuffed into his pockets.

Her stomach roiled.

Damn, the man reminded her of a movie star with his dark hair and perfectly straight teeth—and she imagined six-pack abs under that form-fitting T-shirt.

“Sorry it took me so long to get here.” He pulled up a chair. “I take it you saw Robash’s pathetic excuse for a press conference?”

“I did. Why didn’t you or your mom say anything?”

“We were told that more would be said. Robash played my mom. The real question is why.”

“Did you ask why she lied to you last night?” Trinity swung her feet to the side and sat up taller.

“No. She didn’t give me a chance.”

That old sensation of heat rising from the pit of her gut to her eyes began. It wasn’t a good feeling. It was more like someone poked her with a cattle prod in her heart, and the searing pain seeped into her veins, poisoning the rest of her body.

“Maybe I should give her a call. Or, better yet, show up at her office.”

Emmett rested his hand over her wrist. “I plan on going there tomorrow. I’ve already learned that she has meetings in the morning, so a surprise visit is in order.”

“I want to go.” She braced herself, waiting for him to tell her no. The last thing she needed was some man telling her what she could and couldn’t do. When she found out the truth at sixteen and went to see her biological father on her own, Ben had hit the roof. Her mother had been even worse, but it had been her adoptive father who’d forbidden her from ever seeing Jeff again. It wasn’t so much that her parents had said the wordno—she’d heard that a million times growing up. Her parents’ job was to protect her, and even then, she could understand that they were only trying to do what they thought was best.

The problem was the way Ben had denied her. The animosity that’d spewed from his mouth had been laced with the venom of a hundred rattlesnakes. What Trinity hadn’t known at the time was that Ben, the man whom she’d calledDadfor most of her life, a dedicated medical technician, had been one of the first responders on the scene. He’d seen first-hand the devastation her biological father had caused.

He’d also been the one to scoop her up from her crib and console her because her mother had gone into shock.

“I was going to ask you to come,” he said. “I only ask that you follow a few ground rules.”

“I might be able to do that.”

“Fair enough,” he said. “So, how is Melinda treating you?”

“She and her staff are amazing. I can’t complain. Thank you so much for setting me up with this.”

“It’s my pleasure,” he said. “So, I’m having my brother Rhett check into some things for us, but it’s going to take some time. I thought maybe we could go to the seafood festival tonight if you’re up for it. There are some great food trucks along with some good cover bands.”

“I could be down for some entertainment.”

“Perfect. I’ll pick you up around seven.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. His lips lingered a little longer than what would be considered appropriate for two people who’d just met, especially since she was there asking for his police expertise, but who was she to complain?

He had really nice lips.

He jerked back and stared at her with wide eyes. “Sorry. That was inappropriate. Not sure why I did that, other than to say I feel as if I’ve known you for a while.”

“It’s okay.” She swallowed, her heart beating fast.

He raised his hands. “I promise to be a gentleman tonight.”

“I’ll see you later.” She fanned herself as he turned and strolled across the patio, passing Melinda along the way.

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