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

“I…” Theo worried his lip between his teeth. “I don’t think I want to meet her.”


“What?” Ric cocked his head in question at Theo’s unexpected declaration.


“I don’t. You see, when it comes down to it, she’s notmy mother. Not really. I have a real one who devoted her life to making certain I became a decent human being. She loves me and shows me she does in every way possible. So did my dad. They were my real parents. I’m sure, for whatever reason, Lilliana did what she thought was best when she gave me up—and I honor that—but I’m not going to suddenly reappear in her life.” Theo shook his head. “She has a new life now, whoever she became. I hope it’s a happy one and I won’t ruin it for her.”


Ric took Theo’s hands in his, looking into his eyes as he said, “You’re a good man, and sure some of that is due to your parents. But mostly, it’s because you couldn’t be anything else, in my opinion. It’s not in you.”


Theo felt his face flush with embarrassment. “I just a normal guy.”


Chapter 40