Read Online Desperately Seeking Dad by Marta Perry - Free Book Online Page A

with a crow of delight when he tickled her.
    â€œProbably because I mentioned yesterday I wanted to come back for the chicken-dumpling soup.” And a private conversation with Cassie.
    His smile told her he knew exactly what she was thinking. “Good day for it.” He waved across the room to Heather. “Another bowl of the chicken soup here, Heather.”
    The girl nodded. “You bet, Chief.”
    â€œYou guessed—” At his warning glance she lowered her voice. “You guessed I wanted to talk with Cassie myself. I’d rather do it in private.”
    â€œYou mean without me around.” His face kept its relaxed expression, probably for the benefit of anyone who might be watching, but his eyes turned to stone. “I have an interest in this, remember?”
    â€œI remember.” She could so easily see his side of it. If he was innocent, naturally he’d want to protect himself by knowing anything she found out. Unfortunately, if he was guilty, the same thing applied.
    â€œThen you can understand why I’m here.” His square jaw seemed carved from granite.
    â€œAll right.” She didn’t have much choice. She needed his cooperation, whether she liked it or not. “Let me bring it up.”
    â€œGo ahead. But don’t be surprised if she can’ttell you much. If you haven’t been here during tourist season, you can’t imagine how crazy it is.”
    The soup arrived in huge, steaming pottery bowls. Heather put down a basket of freshly baked rolls nestled in a blue-checked napkin. She looked from Anne to Mitch.
    â€œAnything else I can get you? Chief, don’t you want a sandwich with that? Cassie made pulled pork barbecue.”
    â€œI’m saving room for a dumpling. You’ve got one back there with my name on it, haven’t you?”
    â€œSure thing.” Heather smiled, touching one earring with a plum-colored nail.
    Anne could so easily imagine Mitch having this conversation with Tina. Could imagine this sort of encounter, day after day, leading to an invitation, then to an involvement he might later regret.
    â€œSounds as if you’ve been waiting on the chief for a long time.” That probably wasn’t the most tactful way into what she wanted to ask, but she couldn’t think of a better one.
    Heather shrugged. “Almost a year I’ve been working here. You get to know the regulars, believe me.” The girl frowned at the sound of a persistent bell from the kitchen, then spun away, bluebird-trimmed apron rustling.
    â€œI could have told you Heather didn’t work here when Tina did.”
    â€œI’d rather find out for myself.”
    He shrugged. “I figured.” He dipped the spoon into his soup.
    â€œAttorneys prefer to ask the questions.” She took a spoonful, and rich chicken flavor exploded in her mouth, chasing away the chill. “It’s in my blood, I’m afraid.”
    â€œA whole family of lawyers?” He sounded as if that were the worst fate he could imagine.
    â€œJust my father. He has a corporate practice in Hartford.”
    â€œYour mother’s not a lawyer, too?”
    She tried to imagine her mother doing anything so mundane, and failed. “My mother’s social life keeps her occupied. And I don’t have any brothers or sisters.” The last thing she wanted to discuss right now was her parents. Their reaction to Emilie had been predictable, but it had still hurt. “What about you? Big family?”
    She’d thought the expression in his eyes chilly before; now it had frozen. “One brother. My mother died when I was in high school. My father was long gone by then.”
    â€œI’m sorry.” She suspected pain moved behind the mask he wore, but he’d never show it, not to her, probably not to anyone. “That must have made you and your brother very close.”
    He shrugged. “Link works heavy construction,