“Okay.” She crossed her arms and leaned against the railing, looking out to the courtyard and fountain below. All the while, she willed her heart rate to slow and the questions to stop. She had plenty of time to ask questions...like why? Why had Carrie worried about his father, or his father’s “powerful family,” taking Dylan if she’d already had that signed paper? Carrie had known who the father was all along, but...why was she scared of “his family” coming to take him?
“Beneficiary of a will?” The whisper made her gasp and step back to see Nate hiding around the corner. “That’s good, Wonder Woman.”
“What are you doing here?” she mouthed.
“He’s the father?” He sounded purely disgusted.
Liza felt the same way but couldn’t deal with those thoughts right now. She had to get that paper.
“I guess I’ll know in a minute. Get out of here.”
The door clicked, and she flashed a look at Nate and used her fingers to zip her mouth in warning. When she turned, she saw Jeff coming down the hall holding a legal-size document.
She hustled forward to meet him, praying Nate stayed out of sight.
“I can’t believe I found this, but here you go.”
Forcing her hand to be steady, she reached for the document, recognizing it instantly, along with the authentic seal of the State of Florida. She touched legal papers like this a hundred times a week and knew this was the real deal.
The signed real deal.
“Hang on,” she said, grabbing her phone. Aware of his gaze on her, she channeled her inner professional. “If you’ll just hold that for me so I can get a picture, Mr. Munson, I’ll be on my way.”
“I signed it because I was pissed at her,” he mumbled.
She clicked a photo of the signatures on the top page, not answering.
“But I still, you know, cared about her.”
She snapped the midsection full of legalese, the most important part. “I’m sure you did, Mr. Munson.”
“She was just so messed up, living in a dream world half the time, writing these ridiculous stories about meeting movie stars and shit.” His voice rose with frustration. “It was so stupid. She thought she was going to be some kind of famous author, and she made up these stories. Once she even...”
She lowered the camera and met his gaze. “Once she even what?”
“She liked to make up stuff that would make me jealous. And when that didn’t work, then she’d...do stuff to make me jealous.”
Like sleep with famous billionaires in limousines. “Such as?” she prodded, hoping he didn’t realize that no one in her position would ever ask that question.
“She cheated on me,” he said gruffly. “And made sure I knew it.”
She had to ask. Had to. “Then how are you absolutely certain this child”—she tapped the paper he held—”is really yours?”
“Oh, I’m certain of that,” he said.
“How?”
He snorted. “You think I’d sign a paper without knowing?”
She gave him another quick, professional smile and tucked her phone away. “Well, thank you, Mr. Munson.”
“So, you sure you don’t know how much I get?”
“I honestly don’t know.” She took a step back, ready to end the conversation, but he came with her.
“Wanna have a drink to celebrate?”
“Celebrate?” Was he serious? “A woman is dead. A woman who you say was the mother of your child. What’s to celebrate?”
All that doubt came back into his eyes as they narrowed at her. “Who the hell did you say you were again? What’s your name?” Doubt shifted to something more menacing.
“My name—”
“Give me your card.” He came too close, right in her face, forcing her back. He didn’t stop, inches from her now, slowly lifting a hand as if he was going to grab her.
“I told you I’m with the county.”
“Where’s this will? Where’s your proof?” He slammed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing. “Who are you, lady?”
“I’m with the—”
“Back off!” Nate shot forward from around the corner, reaching the man in three long strides, shoving him off Liza. “Get away from her.”
The legal document fluttered into the air.
Jeff’s eyes flashed, fear for a second, then anger. “What the hell is going on here? Who are you?”
“Just leave her alone or—”
“You can’t have that picture.” Jeff lunged at Liza. “Gimme your phone!”
Nate knocked him away, but Jeff reached out and got in a swing. He missed the punch, but rocked Nate’s sunglasses halfway over his face and flipped his baseball cap off his head.
“Nate!” Liza shrieked.
Stumbling backward, Jeff sputtered in shock, his long hair caught between his lips.
“Let’s go, Liza,” Nate said, scooping up his hat but keeping his eyes on Jeff.
The other man stared at him, chest heaving, eyes squinting. “Wait a second.”
Nate pulled Liza closer. “Let’s go.”
With no hesitation, he guided her away, fast, almost running, but Jeff flew forward again, throwing his whole body on Nate to try to pull him to the ground. Nate swung around to shake him off, but the guy gave a fight.
Liza stepped back, hands to her mouth, watching in horror as Nate lifted the smaller man off him and slammed him against the wall.
“Don’t make me hurt you.” Nate ground out the words, lifting the other man a few inches off the ground.
“I know you!” Jeff’s face was red, his eyes furious as he stared at Nate. “You’re in the tape! You’re the one! You’re the guy Bailey fu—”
“Shut up.” Nate shook him, veins popping in his neck with the effort to hold the guy still.
“No,” he said. “No, I won’t shut up. I know everything. I know everything.”
Very slowly, Nate released his grip on the guy’s shoulders, taking one step backward. “Leave us alone,” he said. “We don’t have any more business here.”
“I got shit on you, man. I got shit.” His feet hit the floor, but Jeff shook his head with an ugly smile. “I could do some damage, too.”
Nate held out his hands in something remotely resembling a truce. “Just let it go, pal. No harm, no foul.”
“Or you could give me some cash for my trouble.”