“Good enough.” Lance sat down at his computer. “They’ll be history in a few hours.”
“Fine,” Harper said. “I’ll take you at your word for now. I want to get Amber out of here. She’s had enough for one day. I’ll be back tomorrow for those URLs. Bernie, can you take Blake back to our hotel?”
“Sure.”
“Good. I’ll take our rental. Come on.” He took Amber’s arm and helped her up. “Let’s get out of here.”
Chapter Seventeen
After picking up her car, Amber drove sullenly, Harper following her, to Karen’s house. Amber had long gotten over embarrassment in front of Harper. For him to see the cracker box she’d grown up in was nothing compared to those awful photos.
So this was what her life had come to.
A father she didn’t know because he wanted her mother and her dead. She still couldn’t wrap her mind around that one. She’d met the man.
Photos taken of her without her knowledge or consent, and a paper with her signature on it giving permission for the horrible things to be posted.
And Harper. Harper, who’d come to her rescue, but only out of loyalty to his sister. Not out of love for her. She still wasn’t the woman he’d thought she was.
“This is it,” she said as he got out of his car.
His dark eyes were sunken and sad. Was he feeling sorry for her? Well, she didn’t need his pity.
“You really grew up here?”
“We did okay.”
“Till she kicked you out?”
Amber didn’t respond. She didn’t want to think about that. Right now she wanted to go inside and have a cup of tea and figure out what to do. But inside was still a shambles.
“Is your mother home?” he asked.
“Probably. She’s not working. Most likely passed out somewhere.”
“Let’s go in and make sure she’s okay.”
“All right.” She was no longer embarrassed by her mother either. “In fact, there’s something I want to ask you about.”
“What?”
“It’s about my father.”
“All right.”
They went in and found Karen at the kitchen table. She’d actually gotten dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, and she almost looked like she’d showered.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hello, Mama. This is Harper Bay.”
“Nice to meet you. He your boyfriend?”
Amber’s cheeks warmed. She inhaled. “Just a friend.” She strode to the counter and put a pot of water on for tea. “Sit down, Harp. You want a cup?”
“Sure. Nice to meet you…”
“Karen. Nice to meet you too.”