‘He married my mother when I was eight. Jo came along two years later. They died six years ago in an avalanche.’
Phoebe’s heart squeezed. Her own family might be tricky but she couldn’t imagine life without them. ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’
Alex shrugged. ‘Don’t be. They were cross-country skiing at the time and died doing something they loved. I hope you’re not going to ask me how I feel about it.’
‘I wouldn’t dream of it.’ He wouldn’t tell her even if she had. ‘How did Jo take it?’
The change in him was almost palpable. He tensed and his eyes went blank. ‘She was devastated,’ he said flatly.
Now what was he hiding? she wondered, watching the familiar stony expression set in. Every inch of him was warning her to back off, not to pry any further. Perhaps Jo wasn’t the only one who’d been devastated. Perhaps the deaths of his mother and stepfather had had a greater effect on him than he was willing to admit.
Phoebe took a sip of sparkling water and felt the bubbles fizz down her throat. ‘You used to have a partner, but now you work alone. Why is that?’
‘It’s safer.’
‘In what way?’
‘Other people have a tendency to let you down.’
She could understand that. Letting people down, especially her fabulous overachieving family, was one of the little insecurities that walloped her from time to time.
‘Has anyone ever let you down?’ she asked.
‘Not recently,’ he said bleakly.
‘What happened?’
‘It was so long ago I can barely remember.’
‘I don’t believe that for a second.’
‘Do you ever give up?’
‘Nope. I’m kind of tenacious like that. A PR magazine once described me as “subtly yet ruthlessly efficient”.’
‘I can see why. Although personally I’d call it nosy.’ The ghost of a smile hovered at his mouth as he sat back and regarded her thoughtfully.
Phoebe shrugged and grinned. ‘It’s a useful trait to have in my line of work.’ She tilted her head to one side. ‘You won’t put me off, you know.’ His answers were spare and his face gave absolutely nothing away, but she’d get there eventually.
‘I know.’
‘And I won’t fail this evening.’
‘Sure?’
Phoebe threw him a confident smile. ‘Absolutely. I’ve done my research and I’m fully prepared. And besides, I’m a Jackson and Jacksons never fail.’
‘Never?’
‘Never.’
‘That sounds like a lot of pressure.’
‘Tell me about it.’ She rested her chin on her hand and smiled up at him. Maybe if she opened up a bit he would too. ‘Actually, I did fail at something once. I swear the look on my father’s face was not something I’d ever like to see again. My mother merely shook her head in disappointment and went off to her study.’
Alex visibly relaxed. ‘What was it?’
‘My fifty metres underwater swimming badge. I was ten.’