“I wasn’t too sure it mattered,” he said, openly baiting her, but he was confused, hot and turned on, a combination guaranteed to mess with his head. “What with your overwhelming excitement and all.”

The sarcasm had her jaw tightening. “You want a reaction from me?”

“Please.”

“Are you certain that won’t be getting too personal?”

“Just tell me.”

“I think you’re moody and impossible to get along with.”

He couldn’t help it. He laughed. “I’m moody?”

She didn’t crack a smile. “I think it’s ridiculous to even think about anything between us when neither of us seems to be able to act maturely about the whole thing.”

“Assuming I agree with you,” he said tightly, not about to admit otherwise, “and we stick to the case, what did you think of what Dottie told us?”

“I think Eddie Kitze lied through his teeth. You won’t find him on any police department, because he wasn’t a cop. Eddie Kitze…Ethan Constance. They could have been one and the same.” She surprised him by showing emotion. Her voice revved up as she spoke. Her color heightened. “So assuming Dottie wasn’t lying and assuming Eddie was and that he was really Ethan, I could get Jacob. Also assuming, of course, that he wants to come.”

“Delia-”

“No, please, don’t give me empty assurances, because really, the truth is, he resents the hell out of me right now.”

Suddenly she sighed and hung her head, showing a weariness he’d only guessed at. She rubbed her temples. “God,” she whispered, “all the ifs. It’s killing me.” Then she lifted her head and gazed at him with haunted eyes, making him more than a little sorry he’d pushed her for a reaction.

“And then there’s you,” she whispered. “Driving me crazy. Coming. Going. Coming…” She sighed. “I really want you to just go somewhere and stay there.”

“I am going,” he said, but because he was still an idiot, he pulled her close, instead.

Her arms snaked around his neck. “I’m mad at you,” she whispered, pressing close.

“I know.” His hands slid down her slim back, over her hips, then up again. He couldn’t get enough of her.

Together they stood there, clinging, both in heaven and misery, and more confused than ever.

Scott was waiting for her outside Edna’s house. Delia parked and took her time getting out of the car. She was feeling a bit raw and shaky.

Standing by her car, she tilted her face toward the hot sun and took a deep calming breath.

For the first time she could allow herself to believe her hopes had some foundation. Her father could have been Constance Freeman’s son.

She could be the heir.

If so, it would give her everything she’d ever wanted in one shot. Self-worth, pride.

And Jacob.

With all that to dwell on, it seemed odd that her thoughts were miles away, on another problem entirely. A rugged tough sexy investigator.

There’d been quite a few firsts today. The hope about being the heir and now… For the first time in her life, she actually wanted a man, so much so that she trembled at the mere thought. Not a fearful tremble, either, but a sort of secret thrilling anticipating one that made it hard to function.

And Scott was watching her, gauging her worth for Jacob, and there she stood, lost in fantasyland, dreaming about warm arms and drugging kisses.

Smoothing down her dress, she took another deep breath, this one to steady her pulse, and moved up the walk.

“Good afternoon,” Scott said formally. Behind his polite smile, his eyes were quiet and assessing, but Delia knew he would find nothing faulty with her appearance, she’d made sure of it.

She was dressed neatly and conservatively in a sundress she’d made herself. No one would have guessed, and it wasn’t pride that told her so, but in fact, if there was one thing she could do well, it was look good. She gave a businesslike smile. “I didn’t expect to see you today.”

“You called for a visit with Jacob.”

“And my visits are always going to be supervised?”

“It’s a good idea, Delia, for his sake.”

“Do you think I’d hurt him?”

Annoyance flickered across Scott’s face. “It has nothing to do with you. It’s the way this works.”

“The system is overworked and underfunded. Jacob’s lucky to have such a dedicated social worker,” Delia commented.

“Yes, well, I am dedicated to Jacob. He’s a special kid.”

Delia felt a pang of guilt for her pettiness, because there was nothing but honesty in Scott’s eyes, nothing but true concern for her brother. She was the last one in the world to resent that. “The custody hearing is only a few weeks away,” she said evenly. “What do you think my chances are?”

“The judge will make that decision.”

“Yes, but that decision will be based, in part, on your recommendation and reports.”

“Are you asking me where I think Jacob should be?”

“Yes,” she said with equal bluntness. Pride had no place here. “That’s what I’m asking.”

“Edna has more money than Jacob’s inheritance. She can and will manage it well.”

“And I can’t?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“I can hire someone to handle his money. I would never touch it.”

He didn’t soften. “Then there’s the fact that you live so far away. You’d be taking him from everyone and everything he’s ever known.”

“Life has already done that to him,” Delia argued quietly. “I’d be taking him to a place where he could grow up with love and affection and wide-open spaces. He’d have everything he ever needed.”

Scott nodded in reluctant agreement. “That’s true. And to be honest, Edna’s age works against her, as does the fact that she didn’t go looking for him. He was pretty much dumped on her. Plus, you’re his half sister.”

“So you’re saying I have a chance?”

“I have nothing to do with the final decision.”

“Scott.”

“I won’t give you false hope, Delia. You have several things against you, mostly your lack of financial solvency.” Seeing the stricken look on her face, he sighed. “Look, you asked. Now let’s go. Jacob’s out back playing basketball.”

Burning with the need to prove herself, Delia followed Scott around to the backyard.

Jacob saw Scott and grinned. Then he saw Delia and his smile faded.

“Hi, Jacob,” she said, forcing herself to stay back when what she really wanted to do was hug him close. “It’s great to see you again.”

“Yeah.” He blew a big bubble from the wad of gum and shrugged. He’d turned slightly away from her, but glanced back at her as if he wasn’t quite sure whether or not she was real.

Her heart nearly burst, and ignoring the distance he clearly still needed, she moved closer, stopping directly in front of him and hunkering down to his level.

“I missed you,” she said simply.

He stared at his sneakers. “You came.”

A knot lodged in her throat because she could see that her presence was a surprise to him, even though she’d called. “I’ll always do what I say. I promise.”

His only response was a shrug. Delia imagined he’d had lots of promises broken in his past, but that, too, was going to change. “Want to play?” she asked, gesturing to the ball he carried.

“You any good?”

She laughed at his skepticism and kicked off her heeled sandals. “I grew up with a sister who was the best, and I couldn’t stand to lose. So, yeah, I’m pretty good.”

“Your foster sister,” he said.

She watched him carefully. Was he jealous? Excited? Indifferent? “Yes, one of my foster sisters. Zoe and Maddie were all I had for a very long time. Until you.”

“Foster sisters aren’t really related.”

“Not by blood maybe, but in our hearts we are.”

“We’re blood-related, but it doesn’t feel like it.”

“It does for me,” she said softly. “From the first moment I learned about you, I felt you in my heart. I’m hoping you grow to feel the same.”