The Bad Boy Next Door: A Red Hot Bad Boy Romance by Lacey Legend Page B

laugh.
    “Well if it gets the truth out in the open, I don’t see the harm in asking the little girl how old she is,” Ruby told her.
    “Let me know if you need anything else, and I’ll let you know when I hear from the PI.”
    Ruby tried to focus on her writing for the remainder of the afternoon, but found it hard. Her thoughts strayed often from the high flying danger her characters were finding themselves in, to the drama she was finding herself in. Ruby wondered, not for the first time, if it was worth it. She loved Isaac, but she didn’t think she could stand by and watch this woman take advantage. Maybe she would just have to get him alone and talk to him one-on-one. Maybe if Ruby framed her concerns in the right tone of voice, Isaac would be more receptive.
    It’ll be better though if I have something concrete to show him though, she thought to herself. Mentally, she crossed her fingers that Julia’s investigator would be able to find something to put her mind at ease one way or another.
    ***
    Amanda Johnson answered her cell phone that evening. It was her lawyer. “Hi, Bart,” she said brightly.
    “Hi, Mandy.” Bart’s voice was deep and soothing, like hot chocolate on a cold night. “I tried calling Genie Randles several times. She has yet to respond.”
    Amanda blew out an exasperated breath. “Figures. I went by her house yesterday morning and her car wasn’t there. It wasn’t there last night or this afternoon either. I’ll call Isaac and ask, but I bet she went to Texas.”
    “We can’t arrange any DNA testing until we speak to her. Your nephew will need to find a lab to take a DNA sample from him as well.”
    “I understand. Maybe I’ll just take a little drive down there ahead of schedule. I wasn’t supposed to go down until next weekend, but I want this mystery solved once and for all,” Amanda said with determination.
    “I agree. We are looking for her daughter’s birth records as well,” Bart said. “Do you know where Regina Randles was born?”
    Amanda looked at the ceiling, thinking hard. “Well, Genie left St. Louis after they broke up, and went to Nevada I think. Reno or Wells or some place. I honestly don’t know.”
    “No matter. We can do a state-wide search for Nevada and Missouri just to cover our bases.”
    “Thanks, Bart. I appreciate your help. I’ll keep in touch.” Amanda hung up her cell phone and scrolled through her contacts, coming to rest on Isaac’s number. She dialed it.
    “Hey, Aunt Mandy!” Isaac’s voice came on the line.
    “Hey there, Kiddo. How’s tricks?” Amanda kept her voice light-hearted.
    “Been great! Genie is here. I called her after you gave me her number. Regina is going to be here tomorrow. I can’t wait to meet her.”
    “That’s great, Honey. Listen, I have a question for you.”
    “Shoot,” Isaac responded.
    “Do you mind if I come down a few days ahead of schedule? Do you have room?”
    “Hell yeah! Come on down. I have three guest bedrooms; Genie is in one of them and you have your choice of the other two.”
    “She’s staying with you? Didn’t you tell me you have a new girlfriend?” Amanda asked.
    “Well yeah, but Ruby doesn’t mind. She understands.”
    “Oh, okay,” Amanda responded. “Did Genie tell you what she and I talked about before I agreed to pass her message to you?” She heard Isaac sigh on the other end.
    “No. I suppose it’s some warning about how she’s taking advantage of me for asking me to help pay Reggie’s private school tuition?”
    Amanda’s jaw dropped. “She’s asking you to pay for private school? What is wrong with that girl? Is she there?”
    “Yeah. She’s picking outfits out for Regina.”
    “On your dime?” Amanda’s voice rose a notch, her anger getting the best of her.
    “No,” Isaac answered after hesitating.
    “That’s a yes. Let me talk to her,” Amanda demanded.
    Isaac handed the phone to Genie who had an exasperated look on her face. “Hi,