The Billionaire's Son. Sharon Hartley

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СКАЧАТЬ stepped forward and pumped Brian’s hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

      “Charmed,” Brian said. “I understand you’re quite the heroine.”

      “Just doing my job,” she said.

      “Do you feel better?” Trey asked. “At least warmer?”

      “Much better,” she said, her focus on the buffet. “I heard something about lunch?”

      “Please help yourself,” Trey said.

      “Thanks.”

      She piled two sandwiches, a huge mound of melon and three oatmeal cookies onto a plate. Next she scooped a ladle of steaming minestrone from the tureen and sniffed it. Apparently deciding the mix was satisfactory, she poured the thick liquid into a small bowl, sat at the table and took a giant bite from a turkey sandwich. She kept her eyes down, chewed quickly and didn’t speak.

      As Trey watched her, he thought she seemed protective of her food, worried someone might take it away.

      He glanced at Brian and found his friend also staring at Kelly’s strange behavior. Their gazes met, and Brian shook his head.

      As if sensing the scrutiny, Kelly looked up. She swallowed the food in her mouth and asked, “What?”

      “Nothing,” Trey said.

      “Are you from the south Florida area?” Brian asked.

      “Born and raised.”

      “Where did you go to high school?”

      “Why?”

      Brian shrugged. “Just curious. We’re about the same age, and I’m also from Miami.”

      “We didn’t go to the same school,” Kelly stated.

      “How long have you been a police officer?” Brian asked.

      Kelly narrowed her eyes at Brian. “Is this an interrogation or something, Mr. Lawyer?”

      Brian sighed. “I was hoping you could tell me what happened in the park with Jason and the kidnappers.”

      “You can read the police report,” Kelly said. “I’ve told the story at least ten times, and I’m not going over it again with you now.”

      Brian held up his hands in surrender.

      “Where’s Jason?” Kelly asked.

      “Talking to his therapist,” Trey said.

      “Excellent,” Kelly said, and resumed eating. To his surprise, she finished both sandwiches, all the fruit and started on the soup, loudly slurping the still-hot liquid from her spoon.

      Trey nibbled at his own sandwich, wondering where she learned her table manners and why she was so prickly about her background. He understood why she didn’t want to go over her confrontation with the kidnappers again, and had to laugh at the expression on Brian’s face when she shut him down. Not many people had the nerve to speak to Brian Howell that way.

      “Well, I’m definitely full,” Kelly said after a few minutes, gazing regretfully at her untouched cookies. “Thanks for lunch, but I really need to get going.”

      “You can take the cookies with you,” Trey said, relieved the complication of Kelly Jenkins was soon to be over and she’d be out of his life. And his son’s life.

      She bit her lip, and he could tell she considered grabbing the cookies, but shook her head and rose. “That’s okay. You’ll make sure I get home, right?”

      “Of course,” Trey said. He nodded at Greta who had returned to her post. “Please summon Hans.”

      Trey turned to Kelly again. “Officer Jenkins, thank you. I can’t express how grateful I am for your assistance with my son.”

      “No problem.”

      Trey smiled. Why did people politely say “No problem,” when there actually was a problem? Rescuing his son had created chaos for this woman. He could tell she was uncomfortable even now.

      “How will I get these clothes back to you?” she asked.

      “There’s no need for that. Please accept them as a very small token of appreciation.”

      She hesitated, but said, “Okay.”

      Maria appeared at the door holding a small bag. “Officer Jenkins, this is your clothing. I laundered it for you, but it might still be a little damp.”

      “Thanks, Maria,” Trey said, relieved there’d be no excuse for Kelly Jenkins to reappear in his world. Although, frankly, she seemed to be in as big a hurry to escape as he was to see her go.

      “Should I say goodbye to Jason?” Kelly asked, looking from Trey to Brian.

      “Don’t you think it would be better if you left without him knowing?” Trey said. “He might get upset.”

      “But what will he do when he learns I’m gone?”

      “He’s with his therapist. Dr. Carico will handle any problems.”

      “Better to make a clean break,” she said with a nod, echoing his earlier thoughts.

      “I’m glad you agree.”

      Trey accompanied her to the foyer, and they stepped outside where Hans waited beside the limo.

      “Thanks again,” Trey said.

      “Sure.” Kelly hurried down the steps with a backward wave. She bent over to enter the limo when a blur dashed past him.

      “Mommy,” Jason shrieked.

      Trey reached for his son but missed.

      Out of breath, Dr. Carico appeared beside Trey. “He wanted me to meet her. He really believes this woman is his mother.”

      Trey watched in horror as Jason threw his arms around Kelly’s legs, surprising her, knocking her off balance again.

      But she recovered without falling, and knelt to speak with him.

      Trey and Dr. Carico hurried down the steps.

      “I’m so sorry,” Dr. Carico told Kelly.

      “Come on, buddy,” Trey said. “Mommy has got to go.”

      Sobbing, Jason buried his face in Kelly’s shoulder and clasped his hands around her neck. “Take me with you, Mommy,” he pleaded. “Please.”

       CHAPTER FOUR

      MURMURING SOOTHING SOUNDS, Kelly placed the still-sobbing Jason back in his airplane bed. She knelt, not letting go СКАЧАТЬ