A Silken Thread - Brenda Jackson [26]
He’d always felt capable of taking on a wife financially, which was one of the reasons he’d always found it rather amusing when Erica’s mother insinuated that he was not. The woman knew nothing about him, and evidently she knew nothing about her daughter, either. Especially if she assumed a man’s wealth was all Erica cared about.
One of the first things he’d discovered about his future wife was that even with her wealthy upbringing she didn’t have a snobbish bone in her body. She was one of the last persons who would flaunt the fact that she’d been born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She was sweet and genuine, which was why he’d fallen hopelessly in love with her so easy and so quickly. Their love was solid and wasn’t dictated by occupation or social status.
And he meant what he’d told her earlier. He couldn’t wait until she joined him in Dallas permanently. Now that he knew he was even more capable of taking care of her, he felt wonderful and couldn’t wait to see her again to celebrate all his good fortune.
“My mother indicated you wanted to meet with me, Mrs. Sanders.”
Karen removed her reading glasses to glance up at the man her housekeeper had escorted into the study. Although they were distant relatives, she always encouraged him to address her in a formal fashion. She remembered the day Jaye Pittman was born, close to thirty-five years ago. There had been some who’d wondered if he was really Lester Pittman’s son, but they figured even if he wasn’t they could overlook that little transgression, since everyone knew just what a skirt chaser Lester had been both before and during his marriage to Aggie. It seemed hilariously fitting that his wife might have done to Lester what he’d done to her all those years. There were a number of Lester Pittman’s bastards walking around Hattersville.
“Yes, Jaye, good seeing you and I’m glad you could drop by. How’s your father?”
“He’s doing well.”
Lester was confined to a wheelchair these days after an auto accident had left him paralyzed. He had been drinking and lost control of the vehicle. The embarrassing thing about it was that he hadn’t been alone. A woman, probably his flavor for the evening, had been killed instantly.
“That’s good.” Karen paused a moment and then said, “The reason I wanted to meet with you was to hire you. I need you to find out something for me. And it’s information that I’d rather not use any of the local agencies to uncover.”
“And what information is that?”
She was trying to get a feel for him and couldn’t. She needed someone she could trust to keep her secrets, and who’d do what they were told without asking questions. She decided to take a chance since she was somewhat desperate at this point. Erica’s wedding was in three months.
“As you know, Erica is getting married in August. I’m also sure you’ve heard that I am totally against the marriage. Although the man is a successful attorney in Texas, I don’t think he is good enough for my daughter. It was always my dream that she find a good man here in Hattersville.”
Jaye didn’t say anything for a minute and then asked, “What is it that you want me to do for you?”
She lowered her guard somewhat. “It’s my belief that most men have a past they prefer not revealing. I want you to find Brian Lawson’s before the wedding.”
“And you think there’s something in his past that will be severe enough for Erica to call off the wedding?”
“I’m hoping so. It’s obvious he might have once been a ladies’ man. I’d like to find out about one or two of these ladies. See if they’re really out of his life completely.” She met his gaze and then added, “And even if they are, I want to know if—for a price—they are willing to return to stir up some trouble.”
Jaye Pittman didn’t say anything for a moment, but from the look in his eyes, she knew he had understood fully what she was asking of him. He leaned back in his chair as if to consider her business proposition. Then he asked, “And you’re willing