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but I do know where you live.”
    She looked out the window, chewing on her lower lip. He could see her profile whenever he glanced her direction. She was hesitant to trust. Rightfully so.
    It took about twenty minutes to arrive at her parents’ home in West County. When he pulled up, he turned off the car and dashed around the hood to help her out.
    “I’m a pretty good walker, you know.”
    “In those heels? I doubt it. I’d be remiss if I let you fall on your ass.”
    At the door, she pulled a set of keys from her purse, but before she could stick the key in the lock, the door swung open.
    Ashley’s father stood just inside, his smile fading as his gaze roamed over Evan. He did manage to step aside and permit them both entrance.
    “Daddy, this is Evan. Evan, my father, Paul Rice.”
    Evan stuck his hand out to shake her father’s as Ashley shut the door behind them. He wanted to fall into a hole the way the man was scrutinizing him. But it couldn’t be helped. He’d known what he was up against before he’d agreed to this dinner party. The road ahead was a rough one, wrought with distrust on many levels. He had no choice but to be up to the task. After all, the prize was Ashley and to do anything else was unacceptable.
    “Evan gave me a ride home. He’s Josh’s friend, the one who—”
    “I know who he is. Come in. Sit. I’ll get coffee.” Paul pointed at the sofa as he passed through the room. He knows .
    Evan had met with Paul and Laura Rice over a year ago when he’d taken over the investigation to find Ashley.
    “I’m going to go, um…” Ashley pointed over her shoulder.
    “Yes, you look exhausted. Go to bed. We’ll talk tomorrow.” Evan relaxed his shoulders as Ashley backed out of the room. Her sexy legs had goose bumps from the cold. Her cheeks were pink, though it was hard to know if that was from wind or nerves.
    When she was out of sight, Evan sat. Slumped was more like it. He’d been tense for so many hours, he couldn’t hold himself upright another moment.
    Paul returned a few minutes later with his wife behind him. “Laura, you remember Evan.” He set two steaming mugs on the coffee table.
    Evan jumped to his feet. “Ma’am.”
    “You’re the private investigator?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “How did you…? I mean—”
    They were skirting what all three of them were actually thinking. It would have been comical, if this meeting of the parents weren’t one of the most important meetings of Evan’s life. “I was with Josh and his mates when we found Ashley, but I never went inside. She was…distraught. She probably never noticed I was there. The moment I realized who she was to me, I backed off. I knew she wouldn’t be prepared to deal with that bombshell, so I let her go.”
    “That took a lot of courage,” Paul said.
    “You have no idea.” Evan smiled and resumed his spot on the couch as Ashley’s parents also sat.
    “So, what do you have in mind now?” Laura asked. She wrung her hands together the same way he’d seen her daughter do several times this evening.
    “Nothing that Ashley doesn’t expressly request. Don’t worry about that. I have only her best interests in mind.”
    “What if she can’t handle this…any of it?” Paul asked.
    “Then I’ll have no choice but to walk away. I’d never do anything to upset her or her progress toward healing.”
    Paul shook his head slowly. “That won’t be easy.”
    “No, sir. And frankly I’m hoping it won’t come to that. I can’t think of a worse fate now that I’ve met your daughter.”
    “She’s so fragile,” Laura muttered.
    “She’s stronger than we give her credit for, honey,” her husband added.
    Both of Ashley’s parents stared at him for several moments, assessing his worth as though they could judge him by looking.
    Laura finally spoke again. “You’re welcome in our home any time. Please don’t make me regret that decision.”
    “Of course, ma’am. And thank you.”
    “Tomorrow is