Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“I love you too.”
Luc left in the early morning hours, pressing a kiss to my shoulder before departing. He’d made love to me again, slow and sweet in the middle of the night, once again expressing his feelings for me. After he left, I relived his words in my head, holding them close like a hug. It had been a long time since anyone had articulated that sentiment to me. My mom was wonderful, and we had been close, but she didn’t voice her emotions well. I had learned to show a more reserved side to the world, but to those I was closest to, I was more open. I liked hugs, gestures, and words. Luc gave me all of those freely. I had to dismiss the thought that I had witnessed Richard doing the same thing with his family. I was nothing like that man.
I got up, brewed some coffee, and grabbed my laptop. I typed Richard’s name into the search engine, waiting as it loaded. I found a ton of business stuff about him—his awards and accolades. His brilliant career in marketing. But he kept his private life private. There were a few scattered pictures of him attending events with his wife Katy, his boss Graham Gavin, or other coworkers. Some articles about his kids. Grace was a lawyer. Heather a designer. They both worked at ABC Corp—a division of BAM. Richard and Katy had a daughter married to a distant royal in England. A son who was a CFO in Alberta at a company not related to BAM or ABC. The youngest son was a doctor. Virtually nothing on his wife. I studied pictures of them together. Katy VanRyan had been gracious and kind when I met her. Quietly pretty beside Richard’s brooding good looks. Openly affectionate with her kids, friends, and husband. She looked happy—they all looked happy. Content with their life. Oblivious to my presence.
I scrubbed my face, shutting the laptop. I needed more information—and there was one person I knew could help me. He wasn’t going to be pleased when I asked, though.
My event ran late, and by the time I finished, drove to Port Albany, and met Luc, I was exhausted. He had rented a suite for the weekend, and he ran me a bath when I arrived, bringing in a glass of wine and setting it on the edge.
“I ordered pizza. We can just relax tonight.”
“You don’t want to go out? No bachelor thing?”
He shook his head. “Today was the bachelor thing. Reed isn’t into the usual stuff—I don’t think any of them are. The golf day was entertaining enough.” He took out his phone, scrolling and showing me some pictures, making me laugh with the antics as he explained some of them. The laughter died in my throat as I came to a picture of Reed and Luc with Van and Richard. They were all smiling broadly at the camera, four handsome men, carefree and enjoying themselves. I stared at the picture, somehow seeing myself reflected in Richard’s face.
Did no one else see it? Was I imagining it?
“What is it?” Luc asked.
“Nothing.”
He took the phone away, looking at the picture. “Ashley, love, I have a knack for reading people, so I know you’re lying. It’s Richard. Yesterday, I thought you were going to pass out when you met him, and you just went off again, seeing a picture of him. Have you met him before?”
“No.”
“Why the reaction, then? Did he say something to you that upset you?”
“No.”
“But it is Richard upsetting you.”
I drew in a deep breath. “Yes.”
He lifted an eyebrow, waiting for me to speak. I drew my legs up to my chest, the water splashing on the sides of the white tub.
I met his gaze. All I saw was caring and understanding. Concern.
“I think—” I swallowed “—I think Richard VanRyan is my father.”
15
ASHLEY
Luc sat across from me, staring at the shirt I had brought with me. He fingered the yellowed sleeve thoughtfully. He listened to everything I said, not commenting or interrupting. I finally fell silent, waiting for him to process it all.
“Your mom lived in Ontario.”
“She lived in BC for a couple of years. She traveled a lot with her modeling career.”
He lifted the sleeve of the shirt. “She could have picked this up in a thrift store.”
“Or she took it from Richard.”
He studied me. “Your eyes are the same color.”
I held up my hand. “I have the same cowlick. I have incredibly long fingers. So does he. My mom had short ones.”
“These could all be coincidences.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
He sat back. “Wow. This is unexpected. No wonder you looked so shell-shocked last night.”
“The moment he shook my hand, I knew.”
“Why wouldn’t your mom tell you his name?”
“My mom always refused to divulge any information about him. The only thing she said was that he didn’t want us and he was an awful man.”