Free The Fountain of Infinite Wishes (Dare River Book 5) by Ava Miles

wink. “Yes. Plus, I’ll use any excuse to see that man. God knew what he was doing when he created that one.”
    Would Amen be an appropriate remark? Shelby bit her tongue.
    “Oh!” Gail threw out her hand like she was prone to do when she got stirred up. “I almost forgot. I also told Vander I’m paying for his investigation into your daddy’s whereabouts and the like.”
    “What?” Shelby said, blinking. “No, Gail. You don’t need to do that. Really.”
    Gail grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “Shelby, you just said how grateful you are to have me in your life. This is my way of saying how grateful I am for all you do. Please don’t fight me. You know you won’t win.”
    Since Gail kept a pair of old Southern dueling pistols loaded in her office, Shelby knew she was serious. “It’s hard for me to receive this.”
    “Land sakes, girl!” Gail exclaimed. “Think of it as a bonus. You were kind to me when I found out about this health condition. And you listened to me when I said how important it was for you to know your daddy’s medical history. Plus, I know you throw coins into the fountain outside for me all the time. I’m doing this, Shelby McGuiness, so you’d just better accept it.”
    Shelby’s mama had also raised her to be gracious, so she finally nodded. “Thank you, Gail. Truly.”
    “Good, then it’s all settled.” Gail traced the rim of the bourbon glass. “I might have one last sip. Now, since Vander won’t tell me one eensy-weensy detail about your daddy’s case, I’m supposed to ask you. Of course, you can keep it secret from me if you want.”
    Keep secrets from Gail? Shelby didn’t think that was possible. “Why would I keep it from you? If you want to know something, just ask. All I can tell you right now is that the initial search on Vander’s databases produced nothing. We’re meeting later today to discuss our next steps.” Which would mean more time and money. “Gail, are you sure I can’t pay at least half of Vander’s bill?”
    Gail gave her the fish eye. “Give it up, girl. No way you’re covering half when I offered to pay in full. You meet with Vander and tell him to use all his resources. Vander will find him or what happened to him, honey. He’s tenacious, that one.”
    Under Vander’s cool reserve, Shelby had felt a seething intensity. He’d been angry at the fountain today, not at her. She wondered again what had happened to him. To avoid thinking about him, she forced her mind toward practical matters. “Something’s been bothering me a little.”
    “What is it?” her boss immediately asked, throwing off her boa and turning all business.
    “Why haven’t I seen any checks to Montgomery Associates on the books?” she asked.
    Gail chuckled. “That’s a good question, Shelby. When it came right down to it, I didn’t want anyone to know I’d hired a private investigator to look into or clean up the…eccentricities in my marriages and families. I write Vander personal checks. None of the money comes through my business holdings. People might find out and not like it. Not that I did a check on you. You were as sweet as pie, so I knew I could trust you.”
    That made sense to Shelby, although she could have made some of it a tax deduction. “Okay, I just wanted to make sure I hadn’t missed something or you hadn’t—”
    “Trusted you?” Gail asked, shaking her head. “Shelby McGuiness, there are few people I trust as much as you. I mean, I trust you enough to see me naked at the mortuary and dress me for my funeral. That’s powerful trust for a vain Southern woman like me.”
    That image pretty much made Shelby’s insides shrivel up, but since Gail was prone to dramatic metaphor, she managed a weak smile. “Thank you, Gail.”
    “All right,” Gail said, ringing her silver bell for Jeffries. “Let’s talk business over the lunch I had prepared, and you can walk me through the projections on the new restaurant. Then you can dash off