Page 40 of Cupcake of the Month (Just Add Peaches #2)

Jordan pulled up to the departures terminal at the airport, expecting Josh to jump out before the car even stopped moving.

After she dropped him off, she had to get back to the hotel.

She had sent the picture of the woman to Larry last night when she’d been getting dinner.

He told her he’d contacted the judge’s staff and explained the circumstances, complete with the police case report from Georgia.

The judge had been compassionate and was allowing Jordan to participate remotely.

Larry also promised to research the woman, starting with the lawyer’s family. It couldn’t be coincidence that they shared similar features. If there was any kind of connection, Larry and his associates would uncover it.

She put the car in park when Josh didn’t move and rested her hand on his knee. “You okay? Well, as okay as you can be right now?”

He offered her a wan smile and covered her hand with his. “Thanks for last night.”

“You’re welcome. I’m glad I could fill your belly and get you dressed.”

“For that. And for…being there.”

She filled in his pause. For pretending she didn’t see his tears. For nestling together and ignoring the heartache that came from being with him.

Nothing had changed between them, anyway.

He maintained eye contact for a couple more seconds as if he wanted to say more. She wanted him to say more. She wanted him to unbottle whatever he had controlled within himself last night. But then he gave her hand a quick squeeze and got out of the car.

“Good luck at the trial,” he said, then sped into the terminal.

She left the airport, wishing she didn’t have to leave him.

Once in her room, she brewed some coffee, letting the comforting aroma permeate the small space and surround herself with something familiar.

Drinking it wasn’t an option, not with her nervous stomach.

Maybe she should change her shirt. With her coloring, she should be wearing darker tones.

It would be more professional. But maybe also that she was trying too hard.

This indecisiveness was going to make her crazy before the trial even started. And wouldn’t that be a delightful thing for the judge and jury to see, while she was plastered on a large TV and visible to everyone.

She checked her phone to see if Josh had texted with an update.

Nothing yet. She took off her pale pink shirt and replaced it with one that was deep purple.

And too low cut. Thank goodness for being an obsessive packer.

She shimmied out of that one and settled on a blue button down, then checked her computer and the wi-fi and her notes and oy vey this waiting was awful.

Larry Weinscheck texted her emojis of cake and champagne. She’d take that as a good sign.

When she logged in, she was surprised to see a side view of the lawyers standing in a small room with a judge, who was leaning against a large desk.

Not a courtroom. A ton of books lined the walls and the front of two chairs made it into her view.

Someone sat in one of the chairs. Male, based on the cut of the pants and the style of the large dress shoes.

“Jordan,” Larry said. “Good morning. We’re in Judge Ford’s chambers.”

“Has the child been found?” the judge asked. Her body was covered with the traditional black robe, but her glasses were a wild red.

Jordan pushed her own glasses up on her nose. “No, ma’am. Not yet.”

“I hope to hear good news about it by the end of the day.” The confidence in the judge’s tone made it seem like an order, and one Jordan was willing to follow. “I have you in my chambers because of the information you sent Mr. Weinscheck last night. It’s a picture of…who is it, Ms. Bippen?”

“Her name’s Mandie Rosynsky.” The other woman bit out the words.

“And who is she to you?”

“My cousin.”

Jordan’s heartrate sped up and she drew in a quick gasp. Micah had dated Sherry Bippen’s cousin in college? The girlfriend that sued him?

“And Roger.” Judge Ford addressed the body attached to the legs that Jordan could see. He’d been the most vocal of Jordan’s detractors.

“Yes. Ma’am.”

“Mandie is your…” Judge Ford trailed off.

He leaned forward, giving Jordan a view of his face. “Sister.”

So Roger and Sherry Bippen were cousins. Interesting.

“According to Ms. Shoenover, Mandie sued her brothers over ten years ago because of a computer application?”

“That’s what my brothers told me, ma’am,” Jordan answered.

“And what Larry confirmed this morning.” Judge Ford tapped a folder next to her.

“That has no bearing on what’s happening now, Your Honor,” Ms. Bippen said. “We still contend that Jordan Shoenover had promised confidentiality, but worked with the owner of Niles Tech to weed out employees who didn’t agree with Mr. Niles’s opinions.”

“Do you, now?” Judge Ford peered at her from over her glasses.

Silence descended in the judge’s chambers, and Jordan felt the anticipation mounting from a thousand miles away. She wiped her palms on her thighs and glanced at the bed where she and Josh had spent the night. She wished he was with her, to shoot her that sardonic look that would make her smile.

“Roger,” Ms. Bippen said. Jordan couldn’t see her face, but her tone was weighted down with defeat.

It was fascinating to watch the different shades of red covering the skin on Roger’s face as he glared at his cousin. “You said there was no way they would ever find out!”

Sherry Bippen cleared her throat. “I’ll talk to my clients about withdrawing the suit, Your Honor.”

***

Josh wandered up and down the Jacksonville airport terminal, scrutinizing every passenger who waited to check in or wandered through the lobby.

It had been three hours since Jordan had dropped him off.

He checked his phone again. Based on the timing of her text about her court victory, she should be arriving at any moment.

And Zach still hadn’t been found.

What if they were in the wrong place? What if his parents’ note about Jacksonville was to throw Josh off the trail, and Zach had gone to Atlanta, or Savannah, or even Gainesville for God’s sake. What if he hadn’t made it out of Macon?

Plainclothes FBI agents milled about the lobby and the departures area. Josh supposed he should be thankful for his parents’ fugitive status, or law enforcement would be far less involved, since Zach wasn’t considered to be in immediate danger.

He stopped pacing and rubbed his eyes with his fists. This was so fucking messed up.

Shonda Durst, his contact from airport security, approached him. Her brown eyes casually swept the lobby and he forced down any expectations based on her casual pace.

“I’m just checking in, Josh. We’re keeping every camera feed monitored and all the counter agents have pictures of your brother and parents in case they get by the FBI.”

The same thing she’d told him when he had arrived that morning. He nodded, his eyes scanning the area.

“We’ll find him. Don’t you worry.” She handed him a bottle of water and continued on.

Her tone was so full of confidence that Josh willingly believed her. He went back to examining every person who walked through the silent sliding doors.

After a bit, Jordan walked in. His heart soared at the sight of her and he acted on instinct, wrapping her in his arms and taking comfort in the perfect way she fit against his body.

“Any news?” she asked.

Josh shook his head. “No, but I’m glad things worked out okay for you.”

“A revenge plot ten years in the making. Apparently Sherry’s cousin sued my brothers years ago, saying she had helped them create their apps and wanted in on the profits when they sold it.”

“Crazy what people will do, and that you got caught up in it.” Josh tightened the chain around his emotions. “You can go home now. I bet you can’t wait.”

“Josh.” Her voice had become a reverent whisper.

His body gave in to the call in her voice and he had a sudden urge to kiss her. Until his eye caught the blonde with large sunglasses and a man wearing a Yankees ballcap and sporting a beard.

And the kid with them, hair in a buzzcut and dyed blond. As if that would stop Josh from recognizing Zach. The disguises were good, but even after eight years, Josh knew Marian and Clint instantly. “Son of a bitch.”

Adrenaline propelled him forward with Jordan trailing behind.

He kept his eyes on his brother as he weaved his way through the people milling in the terminal between them.

Zach’s face lit up with a glow Josh hadn’t seen since he was little.

A knot formed in his throat, and raw pain raced to his core.

It would tear him up to rip Zach away from his happiness.

He could only hope his brother forgave him.

Zach turned to say something to his mom and locked eyes with Josh. His eyes widened and he tugged on Marian’s hand, trying to pull her away from the ticket counter. Clint saw Josh’s approach and sprinted toward the exit.

Oh, hell no. That bastard wasn’t escaping now. Josh ran, searching for a security officer. They were across the terminal, too far away to help.

“Get the police,” he yelled to Jordan.

He caught up to his stepdad and lunged, tackling him around the waist. Clint countered with a punch to the ribs as they tumbled to the ground. Pain radiated in Josh’s shoulder when he hit the floor, but he pushed it down and scrambled to his feet as Clint did the same.

“Josh, stop!” Zach wailed.

His anguished cries broke Josh’s heart. Nearly broke him. Josh turned to him, and Clint clocked him on the cheek. Josh’s head snapped and he stumbled, but he regained his balance and reversed course, charging forward and jabbing Clint in the gut and following with a cross to his jaw.