shovel, the second leaning on the first man with an elbow on his shoulder.
Picking up a third black and white photo, Hope registered the woman wearing a low-waist frock, but couldn’t quite believe her eyes. The young woman shook hands with a man that looked a lot like Cyrus, wearing a white lab coat.
Frowning, Hope blinked several times before she studied the photo again. Her heart went from beating, to pounding, to galloping out of control.
Her gaze roamed the table, looking for more photos. Snatching one from the back, she stared at the beautiful woman smiling at the camera. Wearing a floral silk dress, she sat with her hands clasped on her bent knee, diamond bracelets dangling from her wrist.
Shaking uncontrollably, Hope’s words came out in a jagged rush. “Jay-dan...”
Whipping around, he rushed to her side. “You’re white as a ghost. What is it?”
She held up the photo for him. “What do you see?”
He glanced between her face and the photo, his eyes wary. “A woman.” With a half smile, he added, “She looks like you.”
Hope forced out the words, her voice choking mid-sentence. “She should… she’s my mother.”
Chapter 9
“Beautiful, isn’t she?” Cyrus stopped beside them at the credenza, his eyes darting from Jaydan’s exposed armbands to Hope’s pale face.
Hope held the photo in her shaking hand, her diamond bracelets glimmering in the lamplight. The cluster of bangles and strands were dotted with tiny stones connected in the center by a letter K done in brilliant, pink diamonds.
The same exact bracelet her mother wore in the picture.
Now, Jaydan understood why she wore it all the time. She wasn’t flaunting her wealth, but cherishing memories. He’d judged her without taking the time to learn the truth first.
God, he was an ass.
Based on the weak pallor of her skin and the tremors wracking her body, his little spitfire barely held it together.
He had to get her back on track.
Not only did they have to get Keegan off the island, now they had to find out Kim Powers’ connection to Cyrus.
“Yes, she’s very beautiful.” Swallowing hard, Hope set down the photo on the table.
Walking over to the wine, Cyrus popped open the cork. “So, you two don’t drink?”
Taking Hope’s hand in his, Jaydan squeezed it as he escorted her to the sofa. “No. We prefer to keep a clear head.”
Taking a seat, Hope gave Cyrus a tentative smile. “We were surprised to receive your dinner invitation.”
Frowning, Cyrus poured himself a glass of wine. “Really? I’m surprised, considering you and… Kiki got along so famously.”
“Will she be joining us?” Hope smiled, her voice more relaxed.
“Yes, of course.” He set the bottle back in the bucket. “She’s running a little late tonight.” Swishing around his wine, he took a sip.
The butler made a silent entry into the room. “Dinner is served Mr. Matheson.”
“Wonderful. Thank you, Vince.” Holding out his hand toward the door, he said, “Shall we?”
Rising from the sofa, Hope reached for Jaydan’s hand, her grip vice-like. He’d never seen her frightened like this. She always seemed to have it under control. Tonight’s shock exposed her vulnerability - and his absolute resolve to protect her.
Kissing her temple, he led her into the dining room behind Cyrus.
“Please, have a seat.” Cyrus invited him to sit across the table from Hope.
“I prefer to sit beside Hope.” Situating her in the chair to Cyrus’ left, Jaydan sat down.
“As you wish.” Cyrus bent to sit when Keegan walked into the room.
Wearing a tight, black dress that fell just below her rear, Keegan was dressed to kill. She smiled at Cyrus with utter adoration before giving him a wet kiss on the mouth.
Damn, she sure didn’t look like she was unhappy here.
Cyrus turned her toward them, a hand at her back. “You remember Kiki…”
Going around the table, she took Hope’s hand. “How are you?”
Brows drawn low, Hope’s
Picking up a third black and white photo, Hope registered the woman wearing a low-waist frock, but couldn’t quite believe her eyes. The young woman shook hands with a man that looked a lot like Cyrus, wearing a white lab coat.
Frowning, Hope blinked several times before she studied the photo again. Her heart went from beating, to pounding, to galloping out of control.
Her gaze roamed the table, looking for more photos. Snatching one from the back, she stared at the beautiful woman smiling at the camera. Wearing a floral silk dress, she sat with her hands clasped on her bent knee, diamond bracelets dangling from her wrist.
Shaking uncontrollably, Hope’s words came out in a jagged rush. “Jay-dan...”
Whipping around, he rushed to her side. “You’re white as a ghost. What is it?”
She held up the photo for him. “What do you see?”
He glanced between her face and the photo, his eyes wary. “A woman.” With a half smile, he added, “She looks like you.”
Hope forced out the words, her voice choking mid-sentence. “She should… she’s my mother.”
Chapter 9
“Beautiful, isn’t she?” Cyrus stopped beside them at the credenza, his eyes darting from Jaydan’s exposed armbands to Hope’s pale face.
Hope held the photo in her shaking hand, her diamond bracelets glimmering in the lamplight. The cluster of bangles and strands were dotted with tiny stones connected in the center by a letter K done in brilliant, pink diamonds.
The same exact bracelet her mother wore in the picture.
Now, Jaydan understood why she wore it all the time. She wasn’t flaunting her wealth, but cherishing memories. He’d judged her without taking the time to learn the truth first.
God, he was an ass.
Based on the weak pallor of her skin and the tremors wracking her body, his little spitfire barely held it together.
He had to get her back on track.
Not only did they have to get Keegan off the island, now they had to find out Kim Powers’ connection to Cyrus.
“Yes, she’s very beautiful.” Swallowing hard, Hope set down the photo on the table.
Walking over to the wine, Cyrus popped open the cork. “So, you two don’t drink?”
Taking Hope’s hand in his, Jaydan squeezed it as he escorted her to the sofa. “No. We prefer to keep a clear head.”
Taking a seat, Hope gave Cyrus a tentative smile. “We were surprised to receive your dinner invitation.”
Frowning, Cyrus poured himself a glass of wine. “Really? I’m surprised, considering you and… Kiki got along so famously.”
“Will she be joining us?” Hope smiled, her voice more relaxed.
“Yes, of course.” He set the bottle back in the bucket. “She’s running a little late tonight.” Swishing around his wine, he took a sip.
The butler made a silent entry into the room. “Dinner is served Mr. Matheson.”
“Wonderful. Thank you, Vince.” Holding out his hand toward the door, he said, “Shall we?”
Rising from the sofa, Hope reached for Jaydan’s hand, her grip vice-like. He’d never seen her frightened like this. She always seemed to have it under control. Tonight’s shock exposed her vulnerability - and his absolute resolve to protect her.
Kissing her temple, he led her into the dining room behind Cyrus.
“Please, have a seat.” Cyrus invited him to sit across the table from Hope.
“I prefer to sit beside Hope.” Situating her in the chair to Cyrus’ left, Jaydan sat down.
“As you wish.” Cyrus bent to sit when Keegan walked into the room.
Wearing a tight, black dress that fell just below her rear, Keegan was dressed to kill. She smiled at Cyrus with utter adoration before giving him a wet kiss on the mouth.
Damn, she sure didn’t look like she was unhappy here.
Cyrus turned her toward them, a hand at her back. “You remember Kiki…”
Going around the table, she took Hope’s hand. “How are you?”
Brows drawn low, Hope’s
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