Page 21 of Winter

He nodded. “I’m so sorry, Inca, but we have to investigate the possibility that the woman murdered in Seattle was your birth mother.”

Olly lookedup as his sister Luna came into the police station balancing two cups of coffee. “Hey, haven’t seen you around for a while.”

Luna gave him one of the cups and sat down opposite him. “I’ve been staying in the city.”

“Okay.”

Luna was never very forthcoming about her movements and Olly couldn’t help feel concerned about his younger sister. She was the same age as Inca—twenty-eight—but somehow seemed so much younger. Her dark blue eyes and black hair made her stand out in a crowd, but Luna always seemed to be trying to avoid any interaction with her peer group. Only Inca had ever broken through Luna’s high walls, and now that she and Olly were no longer a couple, Luna seemed to be backsliding. It bugged Olly.

“Thanks for the coffee. You go see Inca?”

Luna shrugged. “She’s out to dinner with the billionaire, apparently.”

Olly grinned at his sister. “Don’t be judgy. You know Inca’s not a gold-digger. Why are you taking our split out on her? I’m the one who instigated it.”

Luna sighed. “Then you’re the idiot.”

“Sweets, we couldn’t have stayed together just for you, you know.”

“Don’t be patronizing; that’s not why I’m pissed.”

“Then, why?”

“Because she’s the best thing that ever happened to this family and you blew it.”

Olly blinked, surprised at the venom in Luna’s voice. “Wow.”

She relented. “Sorry, just keeping it real.”

“Luna …God. What the hell? Luna, I think you need to get used to the fact that Inca and I are not together. I have Molly; she has Tommaso Winter; but we both still love you.”

Luna rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You met the billionaire?”

“No, actually.”

Luna gave him a sly grin. “Scarlett told me Inca’s bringing him back to the Sakura later. Wanna go check the rich guy out?”

Olly glanced around the empty office. “Knox?”

His deputy poked his head out of another door. “Yep?”

“You good here? Okay if I step out for a time?”

“Go for it, boss.”

Olly stood and hitched his pants up. “Right. Time for a little stakeout.” He winked at Luna and together they crossed the street to the Varsity.

Inca and Tommaso were just leaving Levi’s restaurant. Tommaso had his hand on her back. Olly stopped. He couldn’t breathe for a moment.

“Wow.”

Luna pulled him into the coffee shop. Olly, walking backwards, collided with a table just as Inca came in. She grinned at him. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. The pale pink against her golden skin was luminous; the lights of the teahouse glinting off the beads threw tiny strands of light onto her face, into her eyes. Tommaso walked in behind her, a proud look on his face.

“Hey dude.” Inca touched Olly’s arm, breaking the spell. She walked behind the counter and grabbed the coffee pot. She filled three mugs and passed one to each of them. She grabbed a soda from the cooler for herself.

“Wow.” Olly repeated and she flushed. Tommaso sat down at the counter. Olly eyed him and nodded at Inca.

“That’s a nice dress.”