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He angled his head, trying to see the back of his tee. “It’ll probably come out with some stain spray stuff. But I should change so I don’t get it on your furniture.” He typed in a web address and rose, pulling the shirt over his head as he walked to her bedroom. Because she wasn’t dead, she watched his retreat, observing the way the muscles in his back rippled with his movements.
With effort, she dragged her gaze away, mentally berating herself. Now wasn’t the time to recall how long she’d been celibate. And he wasn’t her type, anyway. Instinct told her he wouldn’t be easily dismissed after an hour or two in bed. And what the hell was she doing even contemplating the subject in the midst of everything that had gone down in the last thirty-six hours?
Hayes Moreland presented a danger of his own. He was too intuitive. The memory of him standing in Julia’s bedroom this morning, obviously studying the notes she’d arranged had her mentally backpedaling. His expertise had proven valuable, but his observations about her weren’t entirely comfortable. Reese wasn’t about to invite him to examine the wounds of her childhood. Although from the little he’d said last night, she gathered that his past hid some painful memories, as well.
He returned in an almost identical outfit, the clothes he’d worn clutched in one fist and headed to the bathroom. He musthave discovered the stacked washer and dryer in the closet there. He was self-sufficient. Most bachelors had to be.
It occurred to her then that she didn’t actually know if he was single. He wasn’t wearing a ring, but that didn’t mean he was unattached. Reese actually found herself hoping that he was in a relationship. Surely that would turn off her highly inappropriate awareness of him. She chose to blame it on the shocks, beginning with Raiker’s appearance and then seeing Moreland again.
Remembering her reaction to both men yesterday had her rounding the table, picking up her plate, and disposing of it. She grabbed two bottles of water, setting one near his computer and going back to her seat. Having the table’s expanse between them provided a measure of comfort. She needed to maintain her distance from the man, both emotionally and physically. He’d be gone soon. They’d never see each other again. The realization should have brought relief, but it just muddied her quagmire of feelings.
He emerged from the bathroom and reseated himself in front of his laptop, rapidly typing something. “No better place to start than with the second leading retailer on the globe, which makes it way too easy to order from. Who doesn’t love free shipping?”
Reese smiled. “It spoils you. Fortunately, other retailers are also upping their game.” She picked up her cell again, intent on checking her email.
But it was only a few moments before Hayes announced, “I think this is it.”
“How could you possibly have found it that fast?” She wanted to go over and peer over his shoulder but squelched the urge. Distance, she reminded herself.
“Easy enough when I had the serial number.” He got up and retrieved the clear bag—an evidence bag she realized now—and returned with it to the table. He spent a few more minutescomparing the device to the image he was studying before saying, “Wireless. Bluetooth. Middle of the road in price.” His mouth pulled up. “Four point six on reviews, if you can trust those.” He read for another minute and said, “Do you have any more of those sticky notes?”
Like the ones he’d spotted in Julia’s bedroom. He didn’t add that last, but the memory of finding him in the doorway, his gaze fixed on the arrangement of three-by-three sheets, still made her pulse jittery.
She got up and crossed to the small desk tucked into the corner by the bank of windows in the living room. Opened a drawer and withdrew another notepad, and took it to him. It was bad enough that he’d witnessed what Thorne put her through. She wouldn’t willingly invite him to peruse the nightmare from her childhood, as well.
“Thanks.” Hayes began copying from the webpage in a neat print. “When Gibbons returns your call, you can give him this much information about the device. It’ll be enough to start on a warrant for the company until we can get this to the detective. If you find an email address for him, I’ll send him the pictures I took. They’ll want to see where it was located.”
“I think I might have it.” She went to her purse and found the detective’s card in a zippered compartment inside. Went back and handed it to Hayes. “His email is on this.”
“I’ll compose a draft message and send it after you’ve spoken to him. I know how full a policeman’s inbox gets. There is no use adding to it until he’ll be looking for the information.” He glanced at her. “Is he good about returning calls?”
“I’m not sure. I happened to catch him at his desk last night. Hopefully, he’ll be intrigued enough by our find to get back to me soon.”
Her cell phone dinged and she rounded the table to pick it up. Her pulse quickened. An email from Trent Camry, Julia’sattorney. She opened it and began skimming, her stomach doing a slow roll.
“Bad news?”
Reese tore her attention away from the missive. “The lawyer I was talking to yesterday. He received an update from the court. The contested guardianship hearing will take place in three weeks, with each party presenting their case.” She’d already submitted the bulk of the required information with her formal registration, but Camry had listed more details he’d need from her.
One paragraph, in particular, drew her attention:
One to two pages detailing your relationship with the ward, including evidence of the personal connection between the two of you, and witness testimony of the same.
How sympathetic would the court be to her application if the judge learned of the reason she hadn’t seen Ben for over two decades?
“Did Camry receive word as to the identity of the other applicant?”
It took effort to pull her focus away from the words on the page. She scanned further before nodding. “He was able to suss it from someone he knew in the clerk of court office. Lorna Eckworth.” The attorney warned her against reaching out to the other woman. He needn’t have bothered. The last thing she wanted to do was face someone claiming friendship with the sibling who’d hated her from birth. One who was perhaps privy to Ben’s side of the series of events that had eventually separated him from his family. Someone who, according to Rivers, was close to Ben.
“Let’s see the contact info.” Hayes shoved the notepad to her. She ripped off the top page and stuck it to the table until she could relay it to Gibbons. He rolled the pen he’d used over to her and she scribbled the details. Slid both back to him.
“The judge wants complete stories from each of us before making his decision.”
“It doesn’t hurt to know as much as possible about the woman trying to get conservatorship. It’s your brother, after all.”
Her brother. Reese drew in a breath and went to get her laptop from Julia’s bedroom. There was a cowardly part of her that whispered it’d be far easier if the judge ruled in Eckworth’s favor. The thought had her shoulders snapping straight. Reese had never been faint-hearted. Her parents had constructed the trust, and Julia had assumed responsibility—albeit reluctantly—because of that fact. Regardless of her and Ben’s history, Reese could do no less.
She went to Julia’s bedroom and returned with her laptop. She was an adept researcher. Upon returning to the table, she sat down and started the same task she believed Hayes was engaged in.