Theo was twenty-five when he discovered something that would change his life -- his adoption certificate, with any information about his birthmother other than her given names, Lilliana Nichole, blacked out. His father is dead and his mother away on business, so he can't ask them why they hadn't told him he was adopted ... and why the certificate had been defaced. He decides his only recourse is to hire a private detective agency to search for Lilliana.<br><br>It doesn't take long for Ric Baron of Moore Investigations to determine that locating Lilliana might be impossible. But he's more than willing to give it his all for the interesting young man who asked for the agency's help.<br><br>Soon after Ric begins his search, he receives a threatening email from someone who wants him to stop looking for Lilliana. From there, things escalate as Ric and Theo deal with the aftermath of the threat and their growing interest in each other. Can they learn the man's identity before he discovers Theo is Lilliana's son and goes after him? Only time will tell.

A Secret Uncovered

With that promise, Ric headed out, using the back door and checking everything around him as he walked through the back yard, past the garage where Ethan parked, and then took the long way around to where he’d left his car, checking as he did to be certain that no one was watching.


Theo was looking forward to dinner with Ric. He’d even made it a point to get to the restaurant a little before six, and already had a table for two away from the other customers. Therefore, he was somewhat put off when Ric sat down opposite him with a brief “Hello,” and then flagged down the waitress to tell her he wanted a beer.


Theo ordered one, too, and when she left, he asked Ric, “What’s got your back up?”


Chapter 18