Free Scales: Of Justice (Broken But ... Mending Book 3) by Dale Mayer Page B

didn’t want their child, or who aren’t happy with the sex of their child, or…” Stopping mid-sentence, then her voice quieted. “You get my meaning.”
    He did. “That’s understandable. Especially as it’s something you really want and can’t have.”
    “Exactly. It also makes you wonder what kind of life those children are going to have if they are not wanted in the first place.”
    He peered closer at her, hearing a different note enter her voice. “Is that what happened to you? Were you and your brother not wanted?”
    “Who knows?” She shrugged. “Our mother took off when we were little.”
    “Maybe there was good reason?”
    “Sure.” Paris gave a short hard laugh. “She was a victim of domestic abuse and was strong enough to get the hell out.”
    Oh hell. “But not strong enough to take you with her,” he guessed.
    “Nope. And with her gone, who do you think he turned to next?”
    Shit. So much for trying to find a neutral topic.
    He squeezed her arm in commiseration and pointed out a fancy old car parked on the other side of the road. Anything to get away from the dangerous memories of her past.
    And his.

Chapter 12

    P aris wanted to laugh. She was outside in Vancouver walking with a very attractive man, about to go and have dinner. Not exactly a date, but better than the guys that belonged to the gang at work going for lunch. It’s not that she hadn’t been able to date – she’d had lots of opportunities, but she hadn’t been able to trust the men. So she’d brushed them off. Good men most likely, but because she was such a basket case, she hadn’t been able to take that step. It would have been too difficult to explain any of her problems to them even if she wanted to. Here Weaver already knew she had problems – hell, it was a given in a workshop like this. And he had his own issues to deal with whether he was ready to acknowledge them or not.
    That almost put them on equal ground. It removed that big elephant in the room when you went out on a date wondering how much you should explain. I’m a virgin. I’ve been abused. I have father issues in the biggest way. Or the steps that went way beyond that.
    I’m terrified of the law. I’m terrified that it made a mistake. That it’s waiting for me to screw up so it can get a second shot at me.
    None of those were conversational starters. Yet she could likely say that to Weaver.
    If he said things like that to her, she wouldn’t have a problem. She understood he probably shouldn’t have mentioned the report to her but at the same time, she’d rather know now instead of later. What a betrayal it would’ve been if he hadn’t said anything until later.
    And maybe there was more betrayal to come. Anything was possible and she had no idea.
    It was almost a given according to Sean. He’d been of the opinion that if you didn’t get involved, then you didn’t get hurt. At least that was his belief before he’d met Robin. That was funny to remember how much he’d changed. It was seriously a joy to watch how happy her brother was now. And…yes, she was jealous. She loved his partner, and that made it easier. If he’d dropped his sister in favor of a partner, that would have been very difficult for Paris. But he hadn’t, and the bonds between the three of them had deepened.
    Watching him grow gave her hope, and now her only concern was she didn’t want to be left behind.
    She wanted a partner too. Or at least know that there was the possibility of one in her life. Weaver wasn’t it, and that was okay too, for the most part. He was his own person with his own needs and he had seen too much of her ugly side. He’d also been involved with someone from therapy before and wasn’t looking for a repeat of that disaster. That was understandable. Likely it wouldn’t be a good choice for her either.
    Although it had worked out beautifully for Sean and Robin. Those two were made for each other.
    So who the hell was she made