

## Also by Collette Scott

##

## Hannah's Blessing

## Forever Sunshine

## If We Dare to Dream (The Evans Family, Book One)

## Through Winter Skies (The Evans Family, Book Two)

## Eyes on Tango (The Evans Family, Book Three)

## Kat's Last Chance

##

## By

##

## Collette Scott

## Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2012 by Collette Scott

# Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Cover design by Laura J Miller www.anauthorsart.com

For information address Marimay Publishing, P.O. Box 11821, Tempe, AZ 85284

ISBN-13: 978-1480066403

ISBN-10: 1480066400

ISBN-ebook: 9781301684373

Table of Contents

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Epilogue

Coming Soon

About the Author

# Dedication

To old friends and new, this book is for to you. For Terri and Aaron, whose names I've borrowed, and Kathy and Rich: I'm so grateful to have you in my life. Happy birthday, Kathy! Another special thank you goes to Elissa Ambrose for being there for me when times were tough. Thank you!

I've also been blessed to have met so many wonderful readers, via my website and especially my Facebook page. They have been a tremendous help in keeping me motivated, and I really enjoy interacting with such wonderful people. Thank you for shouting at me to keep those books coming!

While we writers spend a lot of time obtaining reviewers to comment on our books, I opted to take a word from the reading public directly. After all, it's the reader who counts the most, and their honest opinions mean more to me than any others. So, I also must send a giant thank you to my dear reader friends, who have volunteered to put an honest word in about how my writing makes them feel. Thank you all!

"Collette is on the top of my authors list. I so look forward to me time with her. She continues to produce energy, excitement, true-life details and feeling in her work. The stories are as if I am actually there. I just love her books."

  * C. Cooper

"Every book draws you in, and you get very involved with the characters. I love the Evans Family Collection, as each book goes into detail on separate members and keep you gripped from page one."

  * Su Warren

"Eloquently written with cleverly crafted plots, Collette Scott's imaginative romance novels immediately engage the reader. Believable characters – skillfully portrayed as knowledgeable, gutsy, fun-loving persons of integrity or devious bullies and dangerous aberrants – people her stories. Collette Scott writes with passion and depth as she weaves the intricacies of good and evil juxtaposed with each other into her tender romances."

  * J. Wheeler

# Prologue

"Black Escalade exiting the 101," a grainy voice said over the wireless microphone.

The team inside the spacious mansion moved like ghosts. Black-clad men worked methodically, efficiently placing minute cameras and listening equipment in obscure, well-hidden places. Like a scene from a movie, these men slithered gracefully through the house. Not a trace would be left behind; no one would know they were there.

At a silent signal, the men began wrapping up their operation quickly. One man reached in his pocket and withdrew a small bag. Holding his breath, he sprinkled a small amount of dust on the spot where his palm had rested while he placed the wiretap in the corner of the desk. He straightened when it looked perfect and nodded in the direction of another man adjusting a lamp shade.

"Done?"

"Just about."

"We've stalled him at the scene of a felony stop," the grainy voice said with a hint of satisfaction. "You'll have another five minutes or so."

The two black-clad men shared a smile of approval before turning to the man overseeing their actions. He nodded as his dark gaze spread over the rest of the FBI Tactical Operations team. "Almost time."

"One more to go."

They finished placing the bugs and hurried out into the marble-tiled hallway. The other men in black joined the rest of their team, and the overseer did a quick check to ensure everything remained in place. He bent to remove a piece of tape that marked where the leg of a table rested, adjusted the table properly and pocketed the tape in one smooth move.

"Everything in place?"

"Yes, sir."

"Clear the residence."

With suave skill and graceful silence, the team reset the house alarm system and eased outside. A neighbor walking his dog did not notice the men stealthily weave between the blooming bougainvillea's shadows and disappear into the raw desert beyond the North Scottsdale compound. A woman checking her mailbox did not notice the black government vehicle pass slowly down the dirt road and disappear into the evening.

It was as if they were never there, just as planned.

Mission complete.

# ****

Two miles away, Nathan Medina impatiently slammed his palm against the steering wheel.

"Hurry up," he muttered under his breath.

Everything had gone to hell, was still falling down around his ears. He had to clear up his remaining ties with JW and go clean. Now. Yesterday. No later than tomorrow. They were closing in, and all he had left was a final deal, one last shipment and then he would be free and clear of the remaining cartel traces in America.

Watching the driver of the black Mercedes touch his fingers to the tip of his nose would have been amusing if the multiple flashing lights did not remind him of the trouble he would be facing if he did not separate himself from JW and his group. Time was short.

After the events of the summer and the death of his sister, they were onto him. That damn FBI agent and his creepy girlfriend had started it all. If 2Tuff had not been so incompetent, none of this would be happening now. Of course, it did not help matters that his sister and Rocky Alvarez had to go and mess with that undercover DEA agent. Now all the feds thought it had been his doing. His house in Los Angeles, the mansion in Malibu, even the airfield where he kept his jet had been visited by the four agencies investigating him. He had to clean up his act or face the loss of more than just his freedom. Everything he worked for was at risk, and he would be damned if he would give it up without a fight.

He was not going down because of some dumb cop and minor gang member. There was no way in hell he was giving up everything he had worked for. He was getting out of the country, and JW could stay and take the fall.

# ****

Three cars behind Medina, Zachary Evans heard the team clear the residence, and their safe exit was relayed to the police. Smiling triumphantly, Zach began to whistle under his breath. He watched the driver receive his license back and the officer nod in approval before heading back to his cruiser to speak to the second officer on the scene. One less drunk driver on the road to worry about, Zach thought with a wry grin and shake of his head.

Their decoy worked beautifully – as expected. The Tactical Operations Team was excellent at what they did, and he doubted Medina would have any idea that his last safe haven had been as thoroughly bugged as his other residences. The amount of information he was gathering from his worst nemesis was priceless. No U.S. Attorney would shut him down when he laid out the case in his report.

What started with the tragic death of a SWAT member serving a warrant sent a missile racing all the way up to the highest levels of government. Had Brandon Nicholson still been alive, he would have been proud to know his death had brought about a huge investigation to take a bite out of the Arizona illegals trade. Zach and his team were on the verge of knocking out one of the largest drug and smuggling cartels in the United States.

Medina was in the center of it all, and Zach had been sure to handle that slippery SOB by the book. He would not be able to weasel out of the charges coming down the line once he compiled his case against him. Zach could hardly wait.

After apprehending Rocky Alvarez that summer – a government man Medina had corrupted – the former DEA Special Agent had spilled all in order to avoid the death penalty. What he told Zach sent shivers of disgust and relief down his spine. To know how close Medina had come to Emery was enough for Zach to want to snap his neck with his bare hands. But he had enough restraint to do his job and allow the courts to settle it for him.

Medina's crimes were almost as legendary as Alvarez's. While doing his background check, Zach had found financial inconsistencies that sent him digging deeper. While true Medina had inherited his stake in the hospitality business, he went a step further. Setting up his own idea of a timeshare business, he offered the use of his mansion in Beverly Hills complete with chauffeur-driven Bentley, along with the use of his private jet and climate-controlled garage of exquisite vehicles in a rotating ownership for a yearly membership fee. He was granting these men the appearance of wealth without the cost to maintain, and his membership dues were netting Medina a fortune. He reinvested the profits by hosting fantastic invite-only parties where he seduced new members with the lure of great wealth, great sex and great drugs. Supplying them with a weekend in his luxurious mansion on the beach in Malibu filled with beautiful escorts willing to do what these men's wives would not and his drug of choice, cocaine, smuggled directly in from the contacts Alvarez and Micaela had cultivated for JW, these men had little chance of refusing Medina's lures. It was, in fact, one of those parties that initially had convinced Alvarez, a once-decorated agent, into changing sides.

But it was all coming to an end soon. The Ghosts were in place, and Medina had no idea that he was under constant surveillance. Zach had almost all the pieces put together now, and all he needed was JW. With the bugs running in all of Medina's properties, he knew the elusive leader's identity was coming.

However, Medina was sweating, and his actions warned Zach that he was preparing to take off overseas. Though he kept a close eye on the funds shifting accounts, Zach knew he did not have much time left. The taps would be on that evening, and he was more than ready to take action as soon as he could.

As traffic began to move again, Zach focused in on Medina's low-slung, red Ferrari FF. His eyes narrowed as he watched Medina whip into the right lane to pass a car before shooting forward at a high rate of speed.

"Your days are numbered," he whispered in the silence of his unmarked sedan. He watched the red blur until it disappeared around a corner while he continued at a more sedate pace. "Enjoy your freedom while you can. The net's about to close."

# Chapter 1

"So... what do you think?"

Still hovering by the front door and feeling like a bull in a china shop, Ian Evans stared beyond the racks of tulle and chiffon, beyond the island of white commitment that made his heart race painfully and his mouth go dry, to finally locate his sister, Jamie. She stood in front of a wall of mirrors, her mahogany hair swept into a messy bun, freshly changed out of jeans ripped at the knee and a nondescript sweater into a gown that transformed her casual appearance into one of an angel. Ian blinked as he focused on her. Then he blinked again while she turned slowly for effect.

"Well...?"

The three women who stood off to the side sighed dramatically, but Jamie remained focused on Ian and his response. Shifting uncomfortably, he swallowed and licked his lips. What was the appropriate response anyway?

"Um, you look good, Jame."

Jamie rolled her eyes. "That's it? That's all you can come up with?"

"It's pretty," he replied with a shrug. Then he snapped his fingers as the light bulb lit over his head. "You look pretty."

The three women turned to stare at him. Though he was unconcerned with the seamstress and the salesgirl, he knew he was in trouble when Marissa glared at him.

"Ian, come in here so you can see your sister. They do sell tuxes here, too. It's not like you'll lose your man card or anything."

He frowned and returned her glare. "Trust me, my man card is platinum, baby."

Jamie's laughter broke the increasing tension, and Ian stepped deeper into the store. He gritted his teeth as he passed a mannequin beautifully arranged in an ivory sheath wedding gown. Just being in the store forced him to think unhappy thoughts, and he could think of multiple different places he would rather be than playing chauffeur for his sister and her best friend. Lunch had been tolerable. All he had to do was focus on his food while they chatted about the wedding, but he was ready to sink into the floor now that they were in the bridal shop.

He hated this.

"But do you like it?" Jamie asked hopefully.

Ian stopped several feet away and scanned his sister from head to toe. While he had no clue about materials and colors and what their meanings were, his sister was beautiful. Tall and lean like all the Evans children, Jamie was resplendent in the strapless ivory gown with the mocha strap. It cinched her narrow waist and draped down the front of the voluminous – what had they called it? – satin skirt. A matching tie laced up her back, and the short train spread out around her like a diaphanous white cloud that he wanted to steer clear from lest he step on it and tear the hem.

Nodding, he cleared his throat. "Of course I do. I'm sure Andrew will, too."

Apparently he had given her the right answer, for she beamed back at him. "Good, because this is it. I can't go back now."

"It fits like a glove," the seamstress said as she dropped to her knees and smoothed out the length.

Ian glanced at the ceiling, shifting from right leg to left. Marissa caught his fidgeting and patted the cushion beside her. "Come and sit. You're twitching like Hayden and driving me crazy with your pacing."

Ian crossed his arms over his chest and scowled at Marissa. "Next time I go watch the fights, I'm bringing you."

She laughed and tossed her dark hair over her shoulder. "Sorry, but my crush on you ended sophomore year."

Ian laughed. "You're just afraid to admit you still secretly care."

"Um, I have a husband," she replied saucily.

"Afraid Mike won't let you out of the house with a guy as handsome as me?" Ian teased as he sank to the small velvet couch beside her.

She waved her hand. "Are you kidding? He'd tell you, 'Take her and good luck.'"

"I'm surprised it took him that long to figure out."

"Hey!" Marissa playfully slapped his upper arm, causing Ian to duck dramatically out of the way. "Be nice."

He shrugged. "I've known you a lot longer than he has. I guess I should cut him a little slack."

"What about me? You should be cutting me some slack."

Ian pursed his lips together before shaking his head. "Nah, can't do that. You're more than capable of taking care of yourself."

She snorted. "I'm going to spin my tires next time you hang out around the school."

"I'll write you a massive ticket _and_ show up for the court date," he responded cheerfully.

"You would not," she accused.

"Try it and see."

Marissa was glaring at him again, but Ian merely smiled. In his eyes, Marissa was like another sister. From high school on, Marissa and Rae were Jamie's closest friends until his sister moved to Las Vegas for a few years. Since Ian and Jamie were only a year apart, they all grew up together. Of course, once the other two girls married and began having children they drifted apart slightly, but Marissa was still a major part of Jamie's life. Having known her in some form or another for almost twenty years, Ian no longer feared Marissa's threats. The sassy ex-cheerleader turned high school math teacher was all bluster where he was concerned.

Having lost their attention long enough, Jamie suddenly called out, "Can you two stop bickering and check this out?"

Marissa shot to her feet in guilt, but Ian was slow to turn his head. This was uncomfortable enough without having to be bored, too. Crossing his feet at the ankle, he leaned back on the sofa and watched Marissa and Jamie as they arranged the short veil on her head. Again his mouth went dry. This was it. The wedding of his little sister was just a few weeks away.

"Oh, Jamie, you look so beautiful," Marissa was saying.

Ian looked at Jamie, who was staring in the mirror. Through her reflection, he could see her biting her lip. Whether she was suddenly shy or having second thoughts, he was not sure, but he knew he'd better stem the rising emotion on his sister's face quickly.

"Andrew won't know what hit him," he agreed.

Jamie met his stare through the glass, her eyes suddenly welling. "Do you really think so, Ian?"

Oh good God, he thought miserably. _This_ was not what he wanted to see. Fighting the urge to flee, he searched his brain for something to say that would calm his sister. "C'mon, Jame, you should know better. The man worships the ground you walk on."

"I don't want him to be disappointed," she replied staring down at herself.

Ian began fidgeting again.

Marissa glanced at him and rolled her eyes. "Like he could ever be disappointed in you, Jamie, please... Don't pay her any mind, Ian. She's just having an attack of nerves."

"It's normal," the seamstress said with a friendly smile.

"A lot of brides get emotional during their last fitting. It's like it's suddenly real," the salesgirl added.

Gaze shifting between his tearful sister and her exasperated friend, Ian was not sure how to respond. Thankfully the jingle of the bell over the door drew the women's attention back to the front of the store. Breathing a sigh of relief, he rested his head against the back of the sofa and closed his eyes. It would be over soon enough. The dress fit – now they needed to bag it up and go home.

The salesgirl excused herself and joined the newcomers while Jamie hurriedly recomposed herself. Since they were no longer alone in the shop, Ian was hoping his sister would finish more quickly. Already his phone had vibrated several times, with both Hayden and Zach teasing him for hanging out with the women. Maybe Marissa was wrong when she said he was not in danger of losing his man card. It seemed to him that the other bachelors in his family were having a great time mocking him, and he would definitely be paying for accompanying Jamie for quite some time.

Go figure, he was truly the only bachelor, with Zach and Hayden pretty much wearing a woman-chain around their neck. He had not worn that necklace since... well. Nope, he was not going to go there.

"Yes, we're looking for something conservative and elegant. Nothing flashy or modern, mind you. This is a _nicer_ wedding."

The voice cutting over Jamie and Marissa's soft murmurings immediately tensed Ian's shoulders. What a demanding and cold battle ax, he thought grumpily. Unfortunately, his initial appraisal was proven further correct when she cut off the salesgirl's patient direction.

"No, we're not interested in discounted or discontinued dresses. The wedding will occur just before the election, so we need to see the most current, high-end dresses for next year."

The salesgirl's response remained tolerant, but when he cracked an eye he noticed Jamie and Marissa had disappeared into a dressing room. Apparently they wanted to finish up and escape. Good, he thought.

"Well, if you can't help us here, maybe we should try another store."

A quiet but firm voice reached his ears in answer, so low that he could barely make out the words. It prickled in his memory as though he had heard that voice before but remained too low for him to place. "I'd much rather try here, Myra. It's more convenient."

The resulting gasp made his lips curl upward. Apparently the battle ax just got her feathers in a ruffle. "More convenient?"

"Well, yes. The house isn't far from here."

"I would think that Curtis' convenience would be your first priority. Looking good for him is of upmost importance."

With a wall of gowns separating him from the newcomers, Ian could not hear the muffled response, but the women moved deeper into the shop and closer to him. He immediately came to his feet, having no interest in listening to an overbearing woman torment a young bride. Easing closer to the dressing room door, he cleared his throat meaningfully.

"You done, Jame?"

"Just a minute... Almost there."

Ian wondered what his mother would have been like at Jamie's wedding. Having lost both parents to cancer just a few years apart when he and Jamie were still in high school, Ian remembered enough to know she would have enjoyed the commotion of watching her only daughter tie the knot. She would never have been overbearing and rude to anyone, let alone Jamie.

He felt a twinge of pity for the young bride still being dominated by the woman with the sharp tongue. Though they had gone down to the end of an aisle to glimpse at a catalog, he could still hear her sharp voice. Poor girl.

The vibrating of his mobile drew his attention away from the newcomers, and he reached into his pocket to check the latest text. He suspected it was his brother yet again, playfully taunting him about his afternoon of golf. Ian frowned at the phone as he opened the message, wondering how Hayden found the nerve to tease him when it was common knowledge that he would be next to take a walk down the aisle. He typed a response pretty much summing up his thoughts and had just begun to surf the net when a sudden gasp caught his attention.

Glancing up at Jamie in question, he found her staring beyond him with her brown eyes wide and mouth open in astonishment. Shifting his gaze to Marissa, her outspoken friend sported a similar look of shock. The hair on the back of his neck prickled with awareness, but Ian's movements slowed as he turned to follow the direction of their amazed gaze.

The pale face and startled blue eyes that met his made him immediately wish he had continued to fiddle with his phone. But no, he had to go and allow his curiosity to get the better of him, and now he felt his stomach clench into tight knots. Standing just a few feet away was the face from the past that he had spent two years trying to forget. In the blink of an eye, his day went from bad to a helluva lot worse.

Her soft, clear voice broke the silence, sounding as friendly and hopeful as the look in her eyes. "Hi, Ian." While he was busy blinking away his shock, she turned to his companions with the same smile. "How are you, Jamie and Marissa?"

Now Ian knew why the voice sounded so familiar. Standing before him was Kathleen Woods, his high school sweetheart and first true love – until she had dumped him to attend college back east. Their attraction had been so strong that they had reunited after college, but two years ago she had fled once again for greener pastures, breaking his heart in the process. Judging by her appearance in a bridal shop, he concluded that she reached her goal of landing a wealthy husband.

His jaw clenched even as his eyes literally seemed to drink in the sight of her, like a lost man finding water in the desert. Still trim and petite, she had cut her long blond hair to a fashionable and sophisticated pixie with a fringe that not only suited her elegant, cream-colored sundress but also her striking face, with the oval, china-blue eyes and full pink lips resting under a small straight nose. Despite the trendy designer look, she had not changed much since he had last seen her two years ago.

Running home after a failed relationship, she had returned to the one person she knew would never deny her. And he hadn't. Almost immediately he had fallen back in love with her, but their final encounter overshadowed the good memories. Harshly spoken words on his part and unhappy tears on hers seemed to overtake the love they had shared since they were teens. He still regretted that morning and the things he said in anger, even though she apparently had moved on and was obviously doing well for herself.

The heavy silence was finally broken by Jamie brushing past Ian and hurrying to Kathleen with a wide smile. "Kat! It's been ages. How are you?"

Ian and Marissa exchanged disbelieving glances, though he privately hoped Jamie was only making an attempt to be polite for his sake. He realized he was wrong when Jamie bent and hugged Kat, and he scowled when Kat's arms went around his sister and hugged her back so tightly her knuckles turned white.

"It's been too long," Kat agreed softly.

Ian stared at the two women, conflicting emotions running through his head as he watched his sister hugging this glamorous stranger. It was not right. To add insult to injury, Marissa stepped forward and stood with the two, although not joining in the hug fest. He was left standing alone and feeling betrayed.

Marissa cocked her head to the side. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in DC."

Kat broke away from Jamie and glanced briefly at him before she turned to Marissa. He remained rooted to the spot, still sporting an unfriendly scowl. "I recently moved back. I live in Red Mountain Ranch now."

"Wonderful," Jamie gushed. Ian felt his fists clench when his sister spoke next. "We'll have to get together and catch up."

"I'd like that," Kat said with that same hopeful expression Ian glimpsed when she greeted him. This time he noticed she did not look his way. She had gotten the message loud and clear that he was not interested in joining.

"Me, too," Jamie agreed with a smile. "So what brings you here?"

Kat refused to look his way. "I just started dress shopping."

"Oh, so that was you over there?" Marissa asked bluntly.

Kat blushed, and she glanced down at her hands. Almost unconsciously, she began twisting the large diamond hanging heavily on her small finger. "I have Curtis' mother with me."

"Who's Curtis?" Marissa pressed. Ian saw Jamie elbow her as surreptitiously as possible, but Marissa ignored her.

"Curtis Reich," Kat said as she finally raised her head. "The state senator."

Marissa shrugged. "I don't keep track of them."

"He's running for a federal spot next year."

Ian swallowed the rage that was rising in his throat. While he was unsure why it bothered him that Kat had moved on, he realized that he was jealous. It was not as though he had not had his share of relationships after her, but he was realistic enough to understand that there had always been something about her. They had shared something special that had yet to be replaced with any of the women he had dated. None compared to the petite woman standing a few feet away, filling his nostrils with her fresh scent and sending his emotions on a whirlwind ranging from desire to fury. How could she stand there looking so cool and collected when he felt ready to explode?

"Good for him," Jamie said before Marissa could make another blunt comment. "Congratulations are in order, I guess."

Kat's smile was faint, but she nodded. "Thank you. I see you're wearing a ring, too."

"Yes, and you'll definitely have to come," Jamie exclaimed. "I'm sure everyone would love to see you."

Ian's eyes went wide at his sister's senseless treachery. Having had enough, he stepped forward with a warning look at Kat. "It's too late to add two more guests."

Marissa sent him a triumphant smile, but Jamie and Kat turned to him wearing matching frowns. He suddenly regretted not keeping his mouth shut. He hated the way Kat stared at him so eagerly with her wide blue eyes, as if she wanted to be his friend. Yeah, right, he thought furiously.

"Brianna's in Europe, Ian. They can take her and Cooper's seats," Jamie said meaningfully.

He had just been told to shut up and deal, he realized with irritation. In an attempt to hide his anger, he shrugged, crossed his arms over his chest and compressed his lips together in his best intimidating cop stance.

"I wouldn't want to intrude," Kat said hastily with a nervous glance at him. At least she had not moved on so far that she no longer remembered his temper, he thought. Albeit rare, it was something to behold.

"Nonsense," Jamie began.

"Kathleen! Where are you?"

The sound of the battle ax's voice caught all of them off guard. Ian's brows rose when the abrasive woman rounded the rack of dresses and stopped when she spotted Kat with the three of them. Her dyed black brows drew together over her sun-weathered face, and her pale-blue eyes narrowed in irritation.

"What on earth are you doing?"

Kat's eyes drifted closed briefly before she turned to face the imposing woman behind her. She was at least six inches taller than Kat, but Kat lifted her chin stubbornly when she addressed her. "Myra, I just ran into some old friends. May I introduce you to Jamie and Ian Evans and Marissa?" She paused and frowned. "I'm sorry, I know you're married, but I don't know your new last name."

"Rodgers," Marissa answered disinterestedly.

Though Myra was still glaring at them, Jamie stepped forward and held out her hand. "Hello, Mrs. Reichs."

Myra just stared, her mouth a thin line of glaring red lipstick. With a haughty glance at Jamie's hand, she lifted her chin before turning back to Kat. "You do understand that Curtis is having dinner at home tonight? We don't have all afternoon to catch up with," she pinned Ian with her hawkish stare, "old friends."

Marissa whistled low under her breath, but Ian remained unmoved. One eyebrow cocked sarcastically, and he stared back until the old hag looked away uneasily.

With a huff, she reached for Kat's arm and gripped it tightly. Jamie, still stunned at the rude snub, made a move to step forward, but Kat's eyes shifted to her with a slight shake of her head. "You're right, Myra. Let's get going," she said in a soft voice.

Ian watched as she allowed herself to be led away. The rigid line of her back remained stiff, as though she knew damn well that they were watching the older woman manhandle her as if she were a naughty toddler.

No sooner had they rounded the corner than Marissa was staring open-mouthed at Jamie. "Did you see that? Of all the rude people...and you just invited her to your wedding?"

"She was a friend, Issa," Jamie said impatiently.

"Who turned her back on all of us for greener pastures. Did you see her Donna Karan dress and accessories? Her handbag alone cost at least half my monthly salary. Appears she doing well now."

Ian's scowl deepened. "I'm leaving."

Jamie glanced at him, finally reading his tension and barely disguised fury. Throwing her arms in the air, Jamie cocked her head at him. "Not you, too?"

The look he gave her spoke volumes.

"You're not still bearing a grudge, are you?"

"Grudge? Grudge for what?" Marissa asked as she gathered up Jamie's bagged dress.

"Ian, it's been two years now," Jamie admonished gently.

Marissa stared at Ian curiously. "Two years for what?"

"Nothing," Ian said in a dangerously low voice. Turning to his sister, he spoke through tightly clenched teeth in warning. "Jamie, let it go."

She shook her head and turned back to Marissa. "When Ian finally asked her to marry him, she took off back east again."

"Jamie," he growled.

Jamie reached for Ian's hand and gave it a squeeze. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was still a sore spot for you until just now. I mean, you have dated..."

"So you're still hung up on her?" Marissa asked, loud enough for Ian to cringe.

"No," he said emphatically, the rushing in his ears warning him that he was about to punch something if he did not leave soon. "She was pretty clear when she left last time that I wasn't good enough for her, so why the hell would I want to be anywhere near her?"

With that, Ian spun on his heel and stormed out the door, not caring if they followed. Refusing to look back, he strode past the shiny Mercedes SUV and slid behind the wheel of Jamie's Volvo. His fingers gripped the steering wheel to prevent himself from punching it, and he took several deep breaths to calm the racing of his heart. What a nightmare this day had turned into. It was bad enough having to sit there and watch his sister grow emotional about her upcoming nuptials, but to have the only woman he had ever asked to marry appear out of the blue in the same store searching for a wedding dress to wear for another man was just too much. He needed to get home and punch something, and he needed to do it quick.

The fury radiating from him was both unwelcome and unusual, and he feared he would do something drastic if they did not appear soon. Clenching the steering wheel tighter, Ian glared at the dashboard, knowing if he looked into the store he just might go back in and create a scene.

Had he looked up, he would have seen the stricken china-blue eyes glistening with tears, watching him through the window. He would have known that his words had been overheard and had done an excellent job of striking her straight in the heart.

# Chapter 2

Kathleen Woods dropped her handbag on the marble table in the bright and open foyer and placed her keys in the Flora Danica soup bowl on display beside it. Sighing wearily, she ran her hands through her newly cut blond hair, not caring if the short strands spiked up with her jerky movements. In fact, after her afternoon with Myra, she was feeling rebellious enough to make it worse.

With a slight smile, she ran both hands over the strands furiously, using her perfectly manicured nails to mess up her flawless hairdo until she was satisfied.

What a day, she thought miserably. It was not even over yet.

Leaving her hair mussed, Kat wandered to Curtis' study, although she knew even before she knocked that he was not home. The house was quiet, with no hint of his boisterous voice coming from anywhere in the vicinity. When her knock returned no answer, she sighed in relief and returned to the foyer, mounting the curving staircase with heavy legs. Maybe she could lie down and gather her thoughts before facing everyone at dinner.

Still feeling the aftereffects of Myra's domineering, Kat climbed the stairs with a heavy heart. It did not help matters that she had seen Ian. Though she knew moving back to her home town would make it a probability, she had hoped she would not run into him so soon. After all, Mesa was a city of over 400,000 people. Of course, she knew she had moved into the same neighborhood as Ian and his family. But who would have thought she would run into him in a bridal shop? The irony was almost comedic, and she would have laughed had her heart not ached so painfully.

Kat blinked away the tears that had threatened all afternoon. Ian's parting words had cut her more deeply than his aloof demeanor. Though they had not parted on good terms after she hurt him so terribly, she still loved him with all her heart. Maybe she was foolish, but she had survived the years thinking he would always feel at least some fondness for her. The bond of love they shared always seemed too strong to break.

She learned that day that apparently it had. Ian had gazed at her with nothing short of disgust.

Kat wanted to sink to the floor and grieve the loss of the one person she held in the highest esteem, the only person who had truly known her. He was the only person who had seen the real Kathleen Woods, and he had loved her for her. Now apparently he viewed her as nothing more than a pathetic puppet belonging to her parents.

She could no longer deny that painful yet accurate accusation of his.

Throwing herself across the California king bed with the gray silk duvet, Kat kicked off her pumps and allowed them to fall in a messy heap that would surely irritate Curtis. Lying prone with her forehead resting on her forearms, she stifled a frustrated groan into the pale gray material. In what was surely a childish display of temper, she vented some of her torment by kicking her feet into the side of the bed and shouting furiously into the covers, "Why is life so unfair?"

"Kathleen! What in God's name are you doing?"

It was not the silence of the approach that caused her to startle violently; it was the harshness in the tone. Immediately freezing, Kat raised her head and met her fiancé's horrified stare. He stood in the doorway of her bedroom, still dressed in his golf attire and appearing as immaculate and well-groomed as always.

A full decade older than her, Curtis Reichs was a debonair man, handsome and charming, with looks that made up for his shallow personality and less than brilliant intelligence. The male version of his mother, he had just the right hint of curly gray hair around his temples and the right amount of laughter lines around his pale-blue eyes. With his swarthy skin that made his eyes all the more striking, he knew how to work a crowd. But that was where the appeal ended. Behind closed doors, Curtis was difficult, sullen and spoiled, and presently it appeared as though something had set him off. He glared at her, his face flushed with anger and his lips nearly white with fury. Shooting up off the bed, she smoothed her sundress over her hips and straightened her hair.

"I'm sorry, Curtis. I didn't hear you get home."

"Evidently." He scanned her from head to toe with the hint of a sneer. "Your behavior's as ridiculous as your appearance. Stand like a lady."

"I was just, uh, I had a bit of a headache and knew I had to change for dinner."

"Screaming and kicking like a spoiled child helps your headache?"

He continued scowling at her as he entered the room, his pale blue eyes focused on her intently. She swallowed hard. This would not be good.

"I was frustrated that I wasn't feeling well."

"It wouldn't have anything to do with those rednecks you spoke to today, would it?"

He came to stop before her, his hands balled tightly by his side. Kat felt a flash of irritation. She had hoped she could have spoken to Curtis before Myra caught his ear. Clenching her jaw, she spoke through stiff lips.

"I saw some childhood friends. We only spoke briefly."

"Mother said you appeared very interested in meeting with them again."

Though his voice was controlled, he still spoke sharply. Kat knew she had to appease him quickly before his anger turned into an all-out tantrum. She shrugged. "I was being polite. My old friend is getting married in a few weeks. She asked us to join her at her wedding."

"Certainly you did not agree to that," he sputtered.

"It would be a good way to start promoting your plans."

Hand unclenching, he reached out and grasped her upper arms in much the same manner as Myra had earlier that day. Stiffening, Kat's eyes flew upward to meet Curtis' furious glare.

"Since when do you schedule my social calendar?"

"I wasn't trying to -"

"All you had to do today is find a gown that would look good enough to make you presentable at my wedding. You can't even do that right? What's the matter with you anyway? Mother told me how difficult you were today."

He shook her slightly as he spoke and then abruptly released her. She stumbled and fell backward onto the bed. Hovering over her, his face flushed in anger, he glowered and made Kat flinch when she felt a moment of fear. Memories of her father standing over her, his fists, his belts, anything he could get his hands on... No, stop, she thought, squeezing her eyes shut. Curtis was not her father.

"You've embarrassed me in front of my mother," he said, placing his hands on his hips. "You acted childishly. I chose you out of all those other women because you were agreeable, Kathleen, certainly not because I wanted you to think for me with your simple mind."

The truth was that he had chosen her at her father's insistence. Curtis had his hands so deep in her father's pockets that he would have sat up and begged had her father told him to. Kat's lips thinned to prevent her comment and lay before him with what she hoped appeared meekness on her part. In all her years of dealing with her father, she learned it was the best way to cool his anger – at least in most cases.

"I'm sorry your mother didn't have a nice time today. Perhaps dress shopping isn't her thing."

"Apparently it's not yours."

True, she thought.

She opened her mouth to deny his sullen accusation, but Curtis suddenly turned and stormed from the room. She watched him go, wryly shaking her head. He reproached her for acting like a child?

Sighing, she came to her feet and hurried after him. Dinner would not go well if he continued to sulk. She would have to calm him down before her father arrived. Rushing down the stairs, she caught up with him just before he closed the door to his office.

"Curtis," she said soothingly. "Wait."

He was still scowling, but she noticed he did not slam the door in her face. Holding a hand out in case he did, she entered the room behind him and placed her fingers on his back. His lean muscles were coiled tight with tension, so she spread her hand out and rested her cheek between his shoulder blades, silently hoping his sullen mood would improve by dinnertime.

"Don't be angry," she said softly.

He remained unmoved.

"It wasn't as bad as your mother said. She wanted to see next year's dresses, and all they had was a catalog. While she was glancing through it, I wandered the aisles to get some ideas and bumped into some old friends. That's all."

His sigh was heavy. "She said you were uncooperative."

"No, she didn't like the shop I chose." As soon as she spoke, she bit her lip, wondering if she had gone too far by voicing her true opinion. But Curtis relaxed slightly. "She said it was full of common styles."

Rolling her eyes, Kat wondered where Myra had found the gall to make such a judgment. She was nothing but a poor widow without her son's power and influence. "But it's close, and they can order the dress I decide on."

"I think you should take her advice and visit a more exclusive boutique."

"My mother and I had planned to visit other shops."

"Do it," he ordered sharply.

Moving away from her, he went to sit on the plush suede reading chair. He was still pouting, and Kat's earlier twinge of fear rose again. She attempted a smile, but it was weak and trembling. If her father heard of today's activities, it would not end well for her. "I'll see what I can arrange."

"Choosing a dress doesn't take much intelligence, Kathleen. Just get it done before I have to."

Stung, Kat took a step away. She opened her mouth to object, but he had already turned away from her, dismissing her. It was useless, she thought in despair.

"I'm going to dress for dinner," she said abruptly.

He did not acknowledge her.

Striding back out the way she came, Kat froze when Curtis left her with one last parting comment. "Make sure you fix your hair. You look like a common slut."

She met the eyes of their newly hired maid, Carolina, who was standing just down the hall with a feather duster in her hand. The stout woman with the friendly eyes and easy smile stared back at Kat with a look of horror combined with unease. Her weathered face reddened slightly as she glanced away hastily, but not before Kat saw the pity reflected in her eyes.

Her own face flushing in embarrassment, Kat hurried past with a mumbled greeting and ran up the stairs. Could this day get any worse?

It was a question she should not have asked.

When she finally returned downstairs dressed in a draped, one-shouldered, pearl-covered gown to greet her parents, Curtis gave her an approving nod before dropping a new bombshell.

"Your sister's missing."

He stood by the front door waiting for her parents to exit their car and make their way up the walk. Holding a mixed cocktail in his hand and dressed in a tailored designer suit and pearl tie, he appeared as unconcerned as if he had just told her he had planned a vacation.

Stunned, Kat blinked up at him. "Pardon me?"

"Your sister. You know, Terri?" Curtis glanced down at her with one brow arched. "She took off last night, and your parents don't know where she's gone."

"How do you know this?"

"Your father called. There's been a change of plans, and _her son_ is coming tonight," he said with a scowl.

"Aaron?" Kat's brow creased in a frown. Terri would never take off and leave Aaron behind. "Where did she go?"

"If your parents knew, she wouldn't be missing. Goodness, Kathleen, can't you ever use your brain?" He sighed as he reached for the door and pulled it wide. However, despite his disgust with her, his smile was charming and filled with pleasure.

Over the sudden rushing in her ears, Kat could hear her parent's voices outside. Placing her hand on his arm, Kat tried to stop him from heading out the door. "Wait. You can't just walk away. Tell me what happened."

Brushing her hand away from his arm as though she was a pesky ant, Curtis frowned. "Not now. I'm sure they'll tell you what they think you need to know." He strode out the door, meeting her parents midway down the paved walk. "Good evening, John and Claudine. Come in and see the new house."

Kat moved obediently to stand by the door, but she was still reeling from this latest twist in her day. Doing her best to wipe the frown from her face, she plastered a small smile for her parents and looked beyond them to see her nephew trailing behind them. Her concern grew.

Terri was three years younger than Kat. Though they had grown up together and played as well as any children of the same age difference, they had grown apart as they aged. Their father did not approve of closeness, because that stemmed collaboration, and neither girl had proven brave enough to go against his wishes. Over time, they had become virtual strangers, and the rift had cracked when Kat had followed her father's directives and left Ian Evans a second time. Terri had been very vocal about her feelings that Kat had been a fool, and the two girls had barely spoken since.

Though Kat knew Terri had been right, she was the obedient daughter who did her best to appease her father while Terri was the rebellious one who set him off. Terri's rebellion had reached its peak when she announced that she was pregnant when she was twenty years old. Not only was she an unmarried sophomore in college, but the child she delivered bore the distinct appearance of having an African American father. Though Kat adored her nephew, the remaining family had been too shocked to consider bonding with him.

Aaron walked behind his grandparents quietly, appearing as uncomfortable to be there as her parents were to have him. Unable to resist, Kat crouched down and held out her arms in welcome.

"Aaron! So nice to see you."

The relief on his eight-year-old face was evident in the way his face crinkled into a smile. With the speed of a typical child, he rushed at her and embraced her in a tight hug, despite the gasps of protest from her mother and Curtis.

"Aaron, careful," John hissed.

Kat ignored everyone and gripped him tightly in return. She may not have made very many people happy with her on that day, but she was determined to put her nephew at ease. That was her goal, one she achieved when Aaron held on to her desperately.

A hand snaked around her upper arm and squeezed tightly. "Kathleen! Get off the ground," Curtis ordered firmly.

Holding Aaron at arm's length, Kat ignored the throb radiating up her arm and smiled at the boy. "I haven't had a chance to see you since you got to Arizona, and you look like you've grown another inch. How are you?"

Curtis followed up his order by jerking her away and pinching the soft flesh of her inner arm. She reluctantly let go of Aaron but continued to smile at him.

"It was hot when we first got here, but I like it."

"Where's your mom?" Another pinch made her gasp.

Her father turned to her slowly, the cold fury in his eyes holding her trapped. Kat shivered, troubled by how the mention of Terri made him angry.

"Kathleen," he said in a tone she was all too familiar with. It turned her blood to ice water. "Let go of the boy and say hello to your mother."

Kat obediently turned away from Aaron but held her hand out for him. He gripped it while she hugged her mother and turned reluctantly to her father. Their embrace was as brief and awkward as always, and Kat moved away quickly as her stomach churned with increasing unease. The sting from Curtis' pinches still remained, and the anger burning in both his and her father's eyes told her to tread even more lightly than ever.

Leading Aaron into the house behind her parents and Curtis, Kat bent and whispered in his ear, "Are you okay, buddy?"

He shook his head. "I don't think they like me."

"Nonsense," she whispered, although she knew in her heart he spoke the truth. "They're just not very good at showing it."

He cocked his head to the side warily. "I'm glad you're here."

Unfortunately, Kat could not say the same about him. She worried that he was staying with her parents. Terri would never have left him with them willingly.

She sat Aaron beside her at the table, allowing her parents to dominate Curtis' attention during the meal. Myra glanced once at Aaron and busied herself making snide comments about Terri's lack of appreciation for family values while Kat bit the inside of her cheek and continued to distract the boy from the discussion. One ear remained tuned in to them, for it never failed to irritate her how hypocritical they all were. Even her normally standoffish mother piped in, advising Curtis how wonderful she thought it was that they were saving themselves until after their wedding. At that point, Kat nearly choked on her wine. If only her mother knew, she thought resignedly.

In Claudine's eyes, Curtis was nothing short of perfect. Kat's father had worked hard to bag the ambitious politician and backed him publicly, using his wealth and influence to pave the way for Curtis' advancement. His daughter was the glue to cement their relationship, and Claudine basked in the attention her daughter's fiancé brought to her social circle. Fleetingly Kat wondered what her life would have been like if she had not turned Ian down and broken his heart. She would have been happy, she thought as she idly twirled her wine in her glass, but the tyranny her father would have brought down on his family made her sacrifice all the more vital.

The discussion around family values brought to mind how happy the Evans family was. Despite losing their parents when Ian and Jamie were in high school, their oldest brother Ford had returned to America from Italy and took the role their father had vacated. He ensured that Grady and Hayden completed college and steered Jamie and Ian through the remainder of high school and beyond. Each of the kids had become successful in their own right, making choices that were best for them.

Kat sighed. If only she had done the same.

However, her time of standing up for herself was long over. Ian viewed her with disgust and wanted nothing to do with her, while Terri had abandoned her to pursue her own life away from the family. Right now she only had Aaron, and Kat intended that he not suffer the way she had.

The conversation had steered to her nephew by the time she refocused on them. John and Myra were discussing children and how much of a nuisance they were, unmindful of the fact that Aaron had fallen silent and began pushing his asparagus around his plate silently. Reaching out for his hand, she winked at him when he glanced up.

"I have an idea, Dad. Why don't Curtis and I keep Aaron here until Terri returns?"

John turned to her slowly, his eyes burning with unspoken warning. The tightness around his thinned lips sent warning bells clanging in her ears, and the tingle in the skin of her upper arm returned as a reminder of the pain he was known to inflict. She knew firsthand how much worse it could be than Curtis' pinch.

For several long moments, the tension at the table was thick enough to cut with one of the outrageously expensive Shun steak knives as all pairs eyes turned to her. Not one pair was warm or welcoming. One of John Woods' firm rules was not to speak unless spoken to, but his scowl slowly eased as he processed her offer. Myra gasped and glanced at Aaron with distaste, but John suddenly grinned. His reaction alone prevented Curtis from speaking up, and for that Kat was grateful when she noticed Aaron's hopeful smile.

"You don't have anything going on this week from what I've seen of your schedule. That's not a bad idea."

Curtis' lips compressed, but he continued to hold his tongue.

"And Curtis will be traveling quite a bit this month. It may be good for you to have some company to keep you busy until your sister gets back."

Kat could not resist expressing her worry. "Where is Terri?"

"She'll be back. She's...gone on a trip," John replied abruptly.

Kat opened her mouth to question him further, even though the flash of fury in his eyes and the tightening of his fingers around the stem of his wine glass warned her to let the matter drop.

Curtis replaced his wine glass on the table and glared at her. "I think you've eaten enough, Kat."

Kat's brows rose as she glanced at the half-eaten portion of her meal, making a mental note of the way he changed the subject.

"Yes, you need to watch what you eat so you don't get any heavier before the wedding," Myra announced.

"I wasn't aware my weight was a concern." Kat glanced around the table, ignoring the sting their comments caused. "I thought we were talking about Aaron staying with us until Terri comes back."

Myra scowled. "If that boy stays here, I'm leaving. I refuse to stay in the same house as this child. I'm going with Curtis."

Kat bit her lips to stop the sudden smile from appearing. It would be her alone in the house, she thought excitedly, and a brief respite from the insults, stress and tension.

"It's settled then," John said triumphantly.

Across the table, Curtis swallowed hard, his eyes promising her a discussion later. She smiled back, although she knew he was angry. Their gazes locked, his holding promise of what was to come, but she felt his irritation with her beat her father's anger hands down. At least Aaron would be safe.

With John's mood greatly improved, the remainder of dinner passed peacefully. They left early, and Kat was able to slip away to give her nephew a brief tour of the house. After tucking him into the bedroom closest to her suite, she prepared herself for the inevitable visit from Curtis.

Though they did not share a bedroom, Curtis lived under the somewhat false pretense of abstinence. With his mother in the casita on the first floor, he preferred to sneak into Kat's room like a thief in the night for sexual favors that did not extend to intercourse. He obtained the release he demanded without caring for her needs, all the while claiming to live a chaste life. In Kat's eyes, it was just one more demeaning thing she tolerated to keep her father happy.

Arrive he did, no more than ten minutes after she had turned off her light. Knowing him as well as she did, she had her response all ready for him when he appeared. Rather than complain, she did not move when she felt his hand on her shoulder.

The sound of his robe dropping to the ground was followed by a blast of cool air when he pulled back the coverlet and climbed in beside her. His hand enveloped hers and drew it beneath the covers. When she complied, she noticed he was already aroused. Still battling the shock of seeing Ian and his cold reaction, Kat grimaced but accepted Curtis when he pushed her head down. In days past, she had always been able to close her eyes and imagine it was Ian's hand entwined in her hair. However, this evening when she closed her eyes all she could conjure was Ian's shuttered expression and angry glare. She went through the motions, hoping it would be over quickly. There was no way she could allow Curtis to see her tears.

Luckily she did her duty well. Stifling a groan, Curtis stiffened and gripped her hair tightly. Though she winced, she did not make a sound. His rough grip was better than the reprimand she knew was coming soon.

It was not long before he caught his breath and lifted her away from him. Without a word, he climbed from the bed and picked up his robe. She watched as he pulled it closed. In the darkness of her room, she could not read his expression, but the cold encounter left her feeling more hollow than usual.

He sighed. "You shouldn't have offered to take that boy here."

"It'll be good for you," she replied automatically. "With my father more relaxed, he'll be much more agreeable."

After a moment of silence, she saw Curtis' head incline. "You have no right making decisions about my welfare without consulting me. You should know better."

But she knew her father better than he did, she wanted to shout.

Without another word, Curtis turned and strode away, closing her door with a soft click behind him. Once he was gone, Kat rolled to her side and buried her face in her pillow. In the darkness of the fall evening, she allowed the silk pillowcase to capture the hot tears that streamed silently down her face.

The tears were not for her and her regrets. They were for Ian and the pain she had caused him, and they were for Aaron for the family he had been born into. Helpless to do anything else, she cried her sorrow until late in the night.

# Chapter 3

Although he wanted nothing more than to chug the beer in front of him, Ian nursed the bottle slowly and methodically. He was aware of Hayden's gaze on him, but he kept his attention fixed on the television hanging from the wall. Their favorite hangout had recently been updated, with new upholstery on the semi-circle tables and large, flat-screen TVs lining the rim around the bar. Currently they were displaying football on those new flat screens, and Ian pretended to be caught up in the game. But he knew his older brother was not buying it. Hayden's normally dancing brown eyes were almost as somber as Ian's.

"So I guess I can't tease you anymore about going to the fitting with Jamie yesterday?"

"Not if you value your life," Ian responded mildly.

Hayden chuckled and flexed his hand. It was the same hand that had been broken during a very close brush with death just a few short months ago.

"Still bother you?"

Glancing down as though just noticing what he was doing, Hayden grinned. "Actually, no. The reminder that if not for Dani I'd be dead does."

"Yeah, you were pretty lucky to have her there."

Hayden reached for his beer and turned to look at the screen. An injury on the field soon sent them to commercial and drew his attention back to Ian. "I was. She's a great girl."

"She is," he agreed soberly.

"So you're still upset that Kat's back in town?"

"What makes you think that?"

"Your charming personality, of course," Hayden replied lightly.

"Maybe it was playing father of the bride for Jamie that set me off."

Hayden laughed out loud. "Just think of all the complaining time you've banked. You can hold that against us for the next year or so until I'm married."

Hayden paused, and his eyes went wide. It was Ian's turn to laugh, and he did so until his sides ached. It felt good to let out a loud bout of laughter that overpowered the steady hum of the crowd. Several patrons glanced over at them, but he barely noticed. "Are you kidding me?"

Shifting uncomfortably, Hayden avoided looking at him, but his cheeks began to flush. His perpetual grin was replaced with an irritated scowl. "All right, enough."

"You're getting married?" Ian asked incredulously.

"If she says yes." At Ian's meaningful stare, he sighed and spilled all. "We're going to San Diego to move the rest of her stuff next week. I was planning on asking her then. Of course, between dinner with Brianna and Cooper and that wedding she's dragging me to, who knows if I'll have time. But I'm going to try."

"I can't believe it." He was stunned that Hayden had finally decided to settle down. Though he was only a year older than Ian's thirty-three years, Hayden was the perpetual free spirit, the middle child who stood apart from the rest of them. His leap out of character after meeting Dr. Danielle Ryan while on vacation in Mexico had taken them all by surprise, but this new twist really set Ian back on his heels. It almost made him forget Kat's sad blue eyes and hopeful smile.

"Listen," Hayden said quickly. "Don't say anything yet. I haven't had a chance to ask her. I don't need anyone calling to congratulate her."

"Or warn her away," Ian teased.

"Exactly," Hayden agreed reluctantly.

The rapid tattoo of Hayden's foot against the floor and the way he continued to avoid his gaze told Ian's trained eye that his brother was nervous about the whole thing. He chuckled again. "She won't say no, you know that. She _loves_ you, man."

"Kat loves you and look at what happened." Almost immediately, his brother blinked as though stunned from his slip, and he hastily tried to take his words back. "Shit, I'm sorry. That's not what I meant."

Feeling the blood drain from his face, Ian reached for his beer and downed the rest in two long gulps. Hayden watched, his lips compressed tightly, while Ian replaced the bottle roughly and waved to the waitress to get him another one. She nodded and moved off, intimidated by his harsh countenance.

"That was pretty low," he muttered.

"It slipped," Hayden said softly. "I'm sorry."

Still irritated, Ian glared at Hayden with narrowed eyes. "Why do you keep bringing it up?"

Shrugging, Hayden glanced down at his own beer. "Jamie saw her this morning at the grocery store. They exchanged numbers and made plans for dinner this week. Did you know she's two streets over from Ford? You're neighbors now."

"Great," Ian mumbled, making a mental note to change his jogging routine to an area _away_ from Ford's.

"She's on the opposite end of the ranch as you. She's actually across the green from Jamie."

"And you're telling me this why?" Ian snapped.

Hayden watched as the waitress arrived with Ian's beer. "I thought I should warn you."

"Why?"

"I know you well enough to know you're pretty angry at Jamie right now. I figured I should give you a head's up so you can avoid her a bit longer."

Ian drank again, knowing that if he kept it up he would have to get a ride home. It would not do for a cop to be pulled over under the influence.

"I am sorry," Hayden said with a shrug. "You forget that I was there last time."

Which was true. It was Hayden who had watched Ian drink himself into oblivion for several weeks before he stepped in and drew Ian out by making him laugh. It was not easy, but Hayden was nothing if not persistent. Ian smiled now at the memory of Hayden showing up at his house dressed in drag with a dozen red roses.

"I had to answer questions from my neighbors for months after that, you know."

Living in a small cul-de-sac not nearly as spread out as his older brother Ford's custom home, Ian lacked much of the privacy his brother was afforded. It did not help that his neighbors were all very friendly, including him in many of their block parties and holiday get-togethers. They were a tightknit group that missed little. He shook his head when Hayden laughed.

"They liked that, huh?"

"Um, first they thought I was gay. Then, when I told them you were my brother, they thought I was incestuous and gay."

"I'd better not join any of your block parties."

"Not until after you're married at least."

Hayden sighed. "Hopefully."

Ian waved his hand. "It was a long time ago. Chances are they've forgotten."

Hayden looked at Ian skeptically. "Ian, something as crazy as that will _never_ be forgotten."

"Then I guess I'll be the eccentric one on the block."

"Hold on, I gotta take a leak," Hayden said as he slid out of their booth.

Ian watched him go and considered Hayden's words. No one had ever mentioned Hayden's behavior after the initial questions. They seemed to have accepted his explanation, as brief as it was. Besides, it had been a long time since that episode, and he and his neighbors had celebrated many times in the meantime.

Yes, he thought sourly, it had been a long time. Too long for him to still be moping about Kat. How many women had he dated since? He had even begun to grow serious with a woman a year ago, but that had fallen through when she told him it was marriage or nothing. Ian sighed. The reason he had not offered marriage was, once again, Kat. He had never come close to envisioning a life with any woman other than her. It bothered him that she was just the opposite.

Damn her.

How could she just up and marry another man? Happily give herself away to a lifetime of droll daily routines and endless political pandering? It made no sense. He knew her. He knew Kathleen Woods better than she knew herself.

Or at least he used to. She could have completed that transformation into a hollow and shallow soul he feared she would become when they last shared words.

"Sorry about that. When you gotta go..." Hayden's voice trailed off when he caught Ian staring moodily into his beer. Sliding back into his seat, Hayden nudged him with his elbow. "Have you talked to Zach?"

"Actually yeah," Ian said, somewhat brightening. "He's finally getting the goods on Medina."

"I wish I was still working so I could feed you more info, but I'm out completely now."

"I know. I'm sorry."

Hayden shrugged. "I'm not. I'll be making bank now that I'm flying fulltime."

"You got the girl and the plane. You're a lucky guy, Hayden."

"Only because you and Zach saved my ass."

"We have to finish this up. I don't want our cartel here blowing up like it has in Texas. Mexico's drug war is trickling over the border daily. We start seeing that here, and I'm finding a new job."

"You'd never do that."

Ian sent him a sidelong glance. "Maybe... I want this done. I want that widow to have her closure, and I want these guys put behind bars. We have 2Tuff, and his gang is flailing. We have Alvarez, so Medina no longer has a good assassin. Next will be Medina and his financial backer."

Hayden nodded in agreement, but he appeared thoughtful all the same. "If Zach gets what he needs from Medina and puts him away, there will be others to take his place. You know that."

"Probably. But these guys are growing bolder with their violence. We had that beheading a couple of years ago, five burned bodies just outside Phoenix last summer and now Border Patrol. What next? The press? Us? I want to nip it, cut off the funding here so their network breaks. It may not stop them, but it'll cripple them for a while, and when they rebuild I'll be there to cut it again."

"You have the passion, Ian," Hayden said with approval. "But you also need a life."

"What does that mean?"

"Our waitress has been staring at you all night. Why don't you just ask her for her number? Take her home and forget about Kat – and most of all, forget about work."

Ian glanced up and confirmed Hayden's assessment. The blond waitress offered him a friendly smile and tossed her head once before sashaying over to another table.

Ian grimaced. "I think I'll just go home."

"She's hot. Just what you need to get your mind off things," Hayden encouraged.

Ian shook his head. "I'm not in the mood."

He reached for his wallet and tossed some bills across the table at his brother, but Hayden shook his head adamantly. "Put them away."

Ian left them where they were. "Whatever."

Sliding from the booth, his eyes swept Hayden from head to toe. "Are you going to hang here for a while?"

Hayden shrugged. "'Til the end of the game, I suppose."

"You good to drive?"

His grin was cocky. "Naturally."

Shaking his head, Ian returned his smile. "Sometimes I worry about you."

"You worry too much."

"I did almost lose you once," Ian reminded him.

"I never doubted you'd be there for me," Hayden said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Ian wondered what would have happened if he had not made it in time. It was a stroke of pure luck that he happened to be arriving at the airport when the vehicles kidnapping Hayden and Dani were leaving. But Hayden never looked at things that way. Every day was glorious in his mind. Maybe that was why he remained unaffected by the torture he had endured. In his mind, he had found the love of his life rather than a near brush with a painful death.

Ian did not understand, but he did love his brother for it. "All right, but call me if you need a ride. I don't care what time it is."

"Sure you won't stay?"

Ian shook his head. "I'm just not feeling it."

"I'll talk to Jamie. I'm certain she has no clue."

"No," Ian said quickly. "Her wedding's in three weeks, and I don't want to add guilt to her huge 'things to stress about' list."

"If she doesn't know, how will you manage to avoid Kat?"

"I'll figure something out," he said distractedly.

"If you change your mind, let me know."

"I will," Ian said. Knocking his knuckles on the table twice for effect, he smiled at Hayden. "Drive safe."

"You, too," Hayden replied. As Ian began to stride away, Hayden leaned out of the booth one last time. "Hey, forget about it all. You've got enough to keep you busy. Just keep working on your new ventures."

Ian nodded. That was true. In addition to his job on the police force, he had taken up carpentry to occupy his free time and distract him from thoughts of Kat. He made custom pieces, and Ford's clientele was eagerly requesting his services. His name and reputation were becoming well known, and Ford had a long list of orders waiting for him to collect. Between the case and side work, he suspected he would have enough to keep his mind off Kat.

But as Ian dropped heavily into bed that night, he still saw her wide eyes staring up at him hopefully and her pixie hair cut surrounding her elfin features. He dreamed that night of their times together filled with laughter and love and awoke so anxious that he instantly jumped out of bed and donned some jogging clothes. There was only one real way to get her out of his mind. He needed to run.

It was a cool morning, and Ian set off away from the northern part of his development. It would not do to bump into her driving along the main road in search of a latte. Sticking to the main roads was not his idea of fun, especially during rush hour, but anything was preferable than having to see Kat again.

Still burning with frustration, he pushed himself hard. The air rushed into his chest through his nose and out through his mouth, and he paced the sound of his feet hitting the pavement with each breath. Focusing on his body this way eased the burn in his head, and soon he was enjoying the workout. It felt good to feel his muscles warm up and grow limber. The energy boost also cheered him. He was feeling better when he turned back into the development and began to head home.

As he neared the country club, Ian spotted a lone child walking to school. It was a bit late for walkers to be out, so Ian slowed his steps as he approached, wondering why the boy, who could not have been older than the third grade, was out alone.

The backpack he wore appeared heavy, and it was so large that the child's head could just barely be seen above the black handle at the top. Long, skinny legs were walking hurriedly, propelling the rest of the body forward. Ian's frown deepened as he approached. Buses were available for these young kids. Why was he not on one?

Just beyond the community pool, the kid made a sudden left turn on the sidewalk. As Ian suspected, the child was rushing to school alone. The boy disappeared among the branches of a Palo Verde tree, but reappeared a moment later in a flash of black backpack and rapidly moving legs. Ian watched as a commuter, driving far too quickly for the community's main road, barreled around the corner, straight for the boy who suddenly shot into the road.

"Wait!" Ian shouted.

He reacted without hesitation, lunging into the street. Ignoring the white grill of the large SUV that was suddenly frighteningly close, he scooped the kid under his arm, dove out of the way and landed with a grunt in the gravel on the opposite side of the road just as the SUV slammed on its breaks. Elbows stinging from where he tried to shield the boy, he rolled over and sat up to take stock of the injuries.

The SUV pulled over and parked on the road, hazard lights on. Immediately, a woman emerged, wringing her hands and looking distressed as she took in the scene. Ian scowled when he saw her. Unsurprisingly, she was wearing a power suit, and her hair was swept into a professional twist atop her head proving she was rushing off to work. But her deep brown eyes were terrified as she glanced at them, and her voice trembled when she finally found her voice.

"Are you okay?"

Though his elbows stung and he could feel warmth where they were most likely bleeding, Ian glanced at the boy. He had rolled over and was staring at Ian with huge and very striking pale-blue eyes.

"You okay?" Ian asked him.

The boy nodded his head jerkily.

"We're okay," Ian told the woman. "But slow down. You were going too fast."

"I'm so sorry," she said with a shaky laugh. "It's Monday."

As if that explained everything.

Ian watched as she hurried back to her car and grudgingly gave her a little credit. At least she stopped to make sure they were unharmed. A lot of people would have kept driving or angrily honked their horn at the kid as they passed.

Ian turned back to the boy and studied him. As he had guessed, he appeared to be no more than nine – too young to be making his own way to school. With curling black hair neatly trimmed close to his head and designer clothing, he did not appear to be maltreated.

Ian frowned. "You sure you're okay?"

He nodded again.

"Then let's get you on your feet."

Lithely standing, Ian ignored the twinge of pain in his knee, where another scrape was making its presence known, and reached down for the boy's hands. Though still frightened, the boy allowed Ian to pull him up. A quick once-over showed that he was fine, with only a bit of gravel stuck to his basketball shorts that he brushed away impatiently.

"Thanks," the boy whispered shakily.

Still breathing raggedly from his hard run, Ian bent over and placed his hands on his thighs. As he did so, the kid's eyes went wide.

"You're bleeding," he gasped.

Ian shrugged. "Better me than you. That driver would've squashed you."

"Are you hurting?"

Ian's gaze followed the direction of the boy's, and he shrugged again. "I'm sure it'll be fine."

"You need a Band-Aid."

The innocence of the child's comment brought to mind Ian's earlier concern that this boy was walking unattended. He glanced up and met his luminous blue eyes. "Where are you off to in such a rush?"

"I'm going to school." His eyes widened, and he suddenly jerked away. "Oh no, I'm going to be late."

Ian reached out and touched his shoulder lightly. "Slow down, buddy. No sense in getting hurt again."

"But I'm going to be late."

There were times when Ian was not sure why he did what he did, and this was surely one of them. He shook his head. "I'll walk the rest of the way with you and tell the ladies in the office what happened. You'll be fine."

The boy's eyes narrowed suspiciously. At least he had that right, Ian thought grimly.

"It's okay if you don't want to, but I do know the ladies in the office, and I don't really like seeing you out here alone. Why are you alone? Did you miss your bus?"

The boy shook his head, but he began walking alongside Ian. "No. I'm staying with my aunt and uncle, and my uncle had to go to a tennis match. He parked there and told me to walk the rest of the way."

Ian scowled. "Why couldn't he drop you off at school first?"

The boy shrugged. "He didn't want to get in the traffic."

He almost asked who his uncle was so he could search him out and give him an earful, but he held his tongue. Assuming he was just another jerk in a long line of jerks, Ian focused on the boy instead. "You shouldn't be walking to school by yourself."

"That's what my aunt said, but my uncle thought it would be fine."

At least the aunt had a lick of sense.

"Well, I'm not going to hurt you, and I'm not going to kidnap you, if that's what you were thinking."

The boy glanced up at him with a wide grin. "I was hoping you wouldn't."

Ian grinned back. "I actually live in the opposite direction, so if I was I would've grabbed you already."

The boy snorted. "I'm glad you didn't."

Liking the kid's wry sense of humor, Ian chuckled. "And I'm glad you're not hurt. Don't walk to school anymore, okay?"

"Okay."

They completed the final distance to the elementary school in silence. Ian was becoming more aware of the stinging in his elbows and knees, and the boy was busy throwing him surreptitious, awe-filled glances. Doing his best to maintain a straight face, Ian ignored the reverent glances and strode up to the office. Pulling the door open, he held it for the boy and followed behind him.

Photos lined the wall of the office employees, and the announcements were blaring over the PA system. However, it was not as busy as Ian had feared. The secretary glanced up first, and the smile she bestowed upon him was wide and friendly.

"Officer Evans, how nice to see you," she exclaimed.

Her announcement brought the other ladies over to the counter, and Ian felt the boy's stare even heavier. His gasp was loud. "You're a cop?"

Ian glanced at him quickly. "Yes, I am."

"He's a police officer, Aaron. He comes and visits us all the time," the secretary corrected gently.

Attempting to be his most charming, Ian smiled again at the growing group. "Good morning, ladies."

Their greetings were just as enthusiastic, but they all managed to glance between him and the boy he now knew as Aaron. Feeling he had better explain himself quickly, he stepped up to the counter.

"Aaron had a bit of an accident on his way to school this morning."

Gasps from all around. "He did?"

Ian nodded. "I was out running and saw him almost get hit by a car. I told him I'd walk him the rest of the way and explain."

The attendance lady frowned. "Why weren't you on your bus, Aaron?"

Aaron shrugged. "I'm staying at my aunt and uncle's house. We weren't sure when the bus got there."

"They didn't just drive you?"

"My aunt wanted to, but my uncle told her no. He dropped me off on his way to tennis."

The women exchanged knowing glances, and Ian wondered how they knew so much about this boy.

Shaking her head in what he assumed was irritation, yet for all outward appearances looked like sympathy, the secretary reached out and covered the boy's hand with her own. "When do you go back to your grandparent's house?"

Aaron glanced down at the ground. "I'd rather stay with my aunt."

"Then you need to tell her to get you on the bus or do parent drop-off and pick-up, okay?"

Feeling as though his good deed of the day was done, Ian turned to the boy. "You sure you're all right, Aaron?"

Returning his attention to Ian, Aaron nodded and smiled at him. "Thank you very much."

He nodded. "My pleasure. Just no more running across the street."

"I promise."

Ian nodded his farewell to the ladies and turned to the door, but Aaron called him back. "Maybe you should go see the nurse for some Band-Aids?"

Ian shook his head with a bemused smile. "I'll do it at home. Hey, maybe I'll see you around."

"I hope so," he called back.

Ian walked out into the bright morning sunlight and pulled his T-shirt away from his chest. As he debated whether or not to run the rest of the way home, he glanced one more time at the boy. Aaron's teeth flashed white in his dark face as he waved frantically at Ian. Unable to help himself, he waved back. It was a nice way to start his morning, knowing he had brought a smile to one person's face. If only the boy knew how unwarranted his hero worship was.

# Chapter 4

Kat waited for Myra to load the rest of her bags into the trunk of her Mercedes. Her heart was racing so hard she could feel it in her throat. Excitement was a feeling she had experienced very infrequently lately, and the idea of the freedom this week would bring was making her feel like an eager schoolgirl sneaking out to attend her first high school party. Nevertheless, she maintained her composure and refused to allow the silly grin to flicker across her face. Not until Myra and Curtis were gone. Only then would she run through the house screaming her joy and messing her hair.

"Kat."

Speak of the devil, Kat thought resignedly.

Turning around, she watched as Curtis came out the front door, his hands about his neck in an effort to straighten his tie. His navy jacket was folded in half and bent in his elbow, and his neck had a nick from his recent shave. Overall, he appeared slightly irritated and frazzled.

"Yes, Curtis," Kat answered benignly.

"Fix my tie."

Halting before her, he craned his neck and waited for her to finish packing his suit bag on top of Myra's luggage. After tucking the last of their baggage in the trunk, Kat wiped her hands on her slacks and did as he bid.

Once she had the tie straightened into a perfect Windsor knot, he glanced down at the trunk. "You packed my gray suit?"

"Yes."

"We have to go," Myra announced from her spot at the passenger side door.

Curtis sighed and placed a hand on her arm. "What are your plans for this week?"

"Nothing new since Saturday evening," she reminded him. "Although since you'll be away, I was planning to see if my mother was free to visit some of the stores your mother suggested."

She offered that last tidbit in an attempt to try to appease Curtis' irritation with the wedding dress disappointment. As she hoped, he nodded. "You think you can handle that?"

Kat's chin rose. "I'm pretty sure I can manage."

"Fine then." Curtis bent and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. As he lowered his head, Kat met Myra's eyes. Myra averted her gaze with a huff and a scowl. Kat almost stuck her tongue out at the older woman.

When they had first started seeing each other, Kat had hoped she would find that same happiness with Curtis that she had experienced with Ian. However, it was not long before his charm dissipated and she realized it would never be. Curtis' feelings for her were not so far off from her feelings for him. Their marriage would be one of convenience. His and her father's.

"Have a nice trip and good luck," she said as he pulled away.

Curtis released her arm and stared down at her. For some reason, his gaze was slightly suspicious. "I'll check in later this evening after dinner."

"I'll be here," she said cheerfully. In fact, she would make it a point to be home. Though as soon as they boarded their flight, she had every intention of heading over to visit with Jamie. She was counting down the minutes.

His eyes narrowed ever so slightly before he finally conceded to his mother's impatient fussing. "I'm coming, Mother." He turned back to her, and his lips thinned. "Behave."

"I always behave," she replied.

He harrumphed before spinning on his heel and striding to the driver's door. She stepped aside and watched with hand raised in farewell as Curtis pulled away. She was not sure why.

They never looked back. It was like she was not even there.

However, an hour later Kat had forgotten Curtis' slight and Myra's constant harassment. In fact, her smile was wide when she walked over to Ford Evans' house and climbed the steep driveway of his glorious custom home. Her step was light as she strode past Jamie's parked Volvo up to the heavy, wooden front door.

No sooner had she rung the bell than the door was opened by Jamie. Kat's childhood friend was grinning from ear to ear, and her chocolate waves were pulled into a ponytail that made the flash of her white teeth even more welcoming. Kat stepped forward with a matching smile and was immediately embraced in a tight hug.

"I'm so glad you could make it," Jamie gushed excitedly.

"I'm so glad to be here," Kat replied, surprised at how emphatically she meant it.

Her voice sounded choked even to her ears, so she was not surprised when Jamie released her and gazed down at her in concern. "Is everything okay?"

Kat waved her hand in dismissal before the tears that clogged her voice rose into her eyes. "Fine. Just happy to see you again. It's been a while."

"It has," Jamie agreed.

Kat noticed how Jamie's eyes remained narrowed and hastily looked away. Under the guise of glancing around the magnificent home, she smiled cheerfully. "The house is as lovely as ever. I've missed coming here."

Which was undoubtedly true. Some of her happiest memories stemmed from within these walls. There was a time when she had been a member of this loving family, when she had once belonged in their tight-knit fold. She glanced out the window to the pool in the backyard, remembering frolicking with Ian and his family members. The hidden grotto resting beyond the waterfall had set the scene for many stolen kisses going all the way back to their teenage years. Kat could not hide the resulting sigh. She had thrown it all away; those happy memories were just that now – memories.

"I think I speak for us all when I say we've missed you," Jamie replied.

Kat smiled ruefully. "Maybe not all of you."

Jamie opened her mouth to respond, but suddenly a strong voice slightly tinted with an Italian accent echoed down the hall and caused both women to turn.

"Catarina, you're here!"

Kat smiled as the stunningly beautiful woman hurried to greet her, her hands outstretched in welcome. Ford's wife, Isabel, had changed little since Kat had seen her two years ago. Perhaps the lines around her glowing eyes had deepened slightly, but otherwise she had not aged a day. Still statuesque and trim, her presence immediately captured the room with her full pink lips, honey-colored skin and delicate, refined beauty. She was so beautiful that it hurt, yet her beauty was not just on the outside. Kat could not think of a warmer, more loving woman in her life.

As soon as Kat grasped her hands, Isabel drew her forward and kissed both her cheeks emphatically. Kat inhaled her fruity scent deeply, reminded of pleasant memories of the raven-haired beauty who had served as both sister and mother to Jamie after the Evans' parents had passed away. Warm and welcoming, Isabel had been a good catch for the oldest Evans son, Ford, and they shared a healthy and happy marriage that served as an example to the other Evans children. One glance at Jamie's beautiful and radiant face showed Kat just how well things had turned out for her. She had heeded Isabel's example well.

"It's so good to see you," Kat gushed when Isabel pulled her into her arms to give her a tight hug. Feeling her eyes well again, she hastily pulled away and forced a wavering smile on her face.

"You look lovely," Isabel said as she gave her a once-over. "Your soon-to-be husband treats you well then?"

Kat swallowed. She had hoped to avoid talking about Curtis on this day. Not for the awkwardness of sharing her relationship status with the family of her beloved ex, but more to keep the conversation happy and lighthearted. Giving a quick nod, she swiftly changed the subject. "I can't wait to hear all about Andrew."

Once again Jamie's eyes narrowed, but Isabel laughed gaily and waved her hand dramatically. "Andrew's a wonderful addition to this family. I believe you went back to DC before you had a chance to meet him. Jamie has quite the tale to tell you."

"I'm eager to hear it," Kat said eagerly.

"Well then, you two go catch up, and I'll meet you on the patio. It's a glorious day to sit outside."

Jamie reached for Kat's arm and wrapped it around hers. The show of warmth nearly overwhelmed her again, but she managed to allow Jamie to steer her out to the second-story observation deck and into a plush upholstered chair without losing her composure.

Once again excitement reigned as she took yet another trip down memory lane. She and Ian had worked on a school project together, an astronomy lesson that had kept them up there for hours staring at the stars through Ford's telescope. It was there the confident senior and awkward junior shared their first kiss.

Kat smiled at the memory. After locating Venus, Ian had moved aside to allow her to look, only to reach out and touch her hair lightly. When she had glanced back in question, he had swiftly bent and kissed her. It was quick kiss, but at the time her heart felt as though it was doing somersaults. She had pressed her hand against her chest to prevent it from flopping right out, and when he pulled back he had flashed a cocky grin. "I've wanted to do that all night," he said.

Oh, she had wanted him to, too. For years she had harbored a crush on Ian Evans, and it had been that astronomy class that finally brought Kat into the Evans family. She had attended school with Jamie and Ian since her freshman year, but she was the quiet, brainy mouse who did not speak up – ever. At her father's insistence, she had become a flier for the cheer team, and that was where Jamie finally found her.

With boisterous fellow teammates such as Marissa and Rae, Kat remained silent, but Jamie had always been kind. As soon as the beautiful and popular Evans daughter noticed her, she had taken Kat under her wing, understanding in her intuitive way that she had her reasons for staying quiet and doing her best not to draw attention.

Between sports and her class with Ian, she was forever changed by the love in the Evans family. Realizing that not everyone had reason to fear their parents had done wonders for Kat's confidence. She blossomed in their enthusiastic acceptance, and Ian had seized the opening presented by their group project.

Though Kat had been the awe-struck teenager in the presence of the football star, she had not refused him that night and had never regretted their relationship. Ian had been one of the strongest and most confident people she had ever known. He was a man who never ran from a challenge, and yet he always treated others with respect. That was what had made him so popular in school and made it so easy for him to win her heart.

"So when did you move back here?"

Jamie's voice drew Kat back to the present, and she glanced away from the spot where she had her first kiss. Jamie had taken the seat across from her and slouched in her chair comfortably while she sat stiffly, her back straight. Clearing her throat, she met Jamie's astute gaze. "A few weeks ago."

"And you say Curtis is running for a federal seat?"

Kat nodded. "He is. My father's backing him."

A look of understanding flickered across Jamie's face. So, Kat thought, she remembered. Her suspicion was proven correct when Jamie's lips compressed. "He approves of Curtis then?"

Kat's eyes drifted closed painfully. This was not what she wanted to discuss, but at the same time she would never be able to deny her father's role in her and Ian's broken relationship. A police officer, no matter how brave he was, was not good enough for John Woods' daughter. The punishment she received in high school when she refused to break it off had been nothing compared to what she endured when he had tracked her down in Arizona two years before. That ordeal still haunted Kat's dreams.

"He does," she whispered.

"And that's all that matters?" Jamie pressed.

Kat managed a watery smile. "Curtis is a good provider."

Jamie scowled, and her dark eyes appeared to see all the way into her soul. "I know you better than you think, Kat."

Doing her best not to fidget, she avoided Jamie's intense stare. "What do you mean?"

"You told Ian that you wanted a wealthy husband. I know that's not true. You were happy." She grimaced. "It was your father...again."

Knowing she had to change the subject before Jamie learned too much, Kat shrugged and did her best to downplay what happened. She knew they would not understand why she never reported the torture she had endured for Ian. How could they? She was a grown woman, a woman with means of her own. Who would ever allow their parent to physically harm them when they could fend for themselves? It was not something people could understand. Not when they did not live it. And the Evans family did not. Their family was filled with love while hers was filled with abuse. Two totally different worlds that could never fully share space.

"I was happy, but you know how my father is. He wants only the best for his little girl."

Jamie sighed heavily, not buying her nonchalance but also knowing when to back off. "I wish you wanted the same thing."

Luckily Isabel joined them, easing the bitter tension with her cheerful greeting. As always, she carried a tray with delectable offerings, including elegantly displayed finger sandwiches, a fruit and dip collection and a pitcher of freshly squeezed lemonade with three glasses. Kat rose immediately to relieve her of the burden, but Isabel shook her head. "Nonsense, go sit. You're an honored guest."

"I wasn't always," Kat protested.

"But you are now."

Though Isabel's comment was innocent, it cut deeply into Kat's heart and made her wince. Jamie's lips compressed, and she shook her head with a flash of anger in her eyes.

"Have you been telling Kat all about our handsome Andrew?" Isabel asked.

Jamie grinned broadly, and a dreamy look overtook the anger on her face. Kat watched the transformation with a twinge of envy. If only she felt the same way about Curtis. But there was only one man in her life who had made her feel the way Jamie obviously felt about her future husband. The very same man who wanted nothing to do with her.

"Andrew's wonderful," Jamie breathed.

Kat chuckled. "I can tell by the look on your face."

"I'll agree with Jamie. Andrew is a man's man," Isabel announced proudly.

She poured out three glasses of the fresh lemonade and placed a glass in front of each of them before serving their sandwiches while Kat listened patiently as Jamie shared the tale of her and Andrew's meeting. Though she was shocked by the revelations thrown at her, she remained envious of the obvious love Jamie felt for her husband-to-be. It was bad enough that she had given up her beloved at her father's demand, but now she had to fear that Curtis and her father would hear of Andrew's past and refuse to allow her anywhere near them. That he had served years in prison for murder would certainly put an end to her already tenuous relationship with the Evans family. It would not matter that he had been falsely accused. They would only see the potential damage to Curtis' run for a senate seat.

"We suspect Hayden will be next," Jamie hinted as she finished telling her tale.

"Really?" Kat asked in surprise. She never would have thought the cheerful and fun-loving middle brother would settle down. Hayden was a well-known serial dater. That he had finally met someone who encouraged him to commit before the age of sixty seemed almost too shocking to be true.

"Yes, he met a girl down in Mexico and came back head over heels," Isabel announced proudly.

"What's she like?" Kat asked.

Jamie smiled. "Dani's wonderful. She's nothing like Hayden. She's very practical and down to earth, and that's good for him. She makes sure he behaves."

"Wow," Kat said wistfully. "So much has changed."

"I'm just eager for more babies," Isabel said. "We've only got Ana and David in my family, and Grady and Torie only have Kyle and Jon."

"That may change soon," Kat said with a wink in Jamie's direction.

Jamie chuckled. "Not too sure about that. Andrew still has a long road ahead of him. Who am I to complicate things?"

"Complicate?" Isabel said with a laugh. "Children add, not complicate."

All three women chuckled in unison, and luckily it broke the remaining tension. Kat turned her attention to the children, learning that although the youngest Evans, Jon, was older than Aaron, they could still be friends.

"How long is Aaron staying with you?" Isabel asked.

Kat shook her head. Yet another sensitive subject. "I didn't even know Terri was going away. I've tried to reach her several times, and my father's not talking about it. I just don't know."

Both Isabel and Jamie's eyes widened. "Have you reported her missing?"

Kat shrugged. "No. My father finally said she had to leave town for some retreat, but I would've thought she'd have returned my call at least."

"How long is the retreat?"

"No idea."

"That's weird," Jamie announced.

Kat winced. "Not really. Terri changed a few years back, especially after Aaron was born. She prefers to stay away from me."

Isabel's fine black brows drew together over her dark eyes. "I remember your family being a little upset."

"Aaron's a wonderful boy," Kat said defensively. "He's bright, happy, charming and strong."

"What more could you ask for?" Jamie piped in.

Isabel's concern eased slightly, but her dark eyes remained sympathetic. "So Aaron's thriving?"

"He's a normal eight-year-old boy."

Isabel and Jamie nodded encouragingly, and Kat allowed the topic to slide onto the upcoming wedding. In less than three weeks Jamie would marry the man of her dreams, and the way she continued to gush about Andrew increased Kat's curiosity.

"I can't wait to meet him."

"I was telling him about you, and he's eager to meet you."

Kat wondered exactly what was said, but Jamie's smile promised it was not anything too terrible. After all, neither of the two women seemed to hold her responsible for what she had done to Ian's heart. Perhaps he never fully divulged what had transpired between them that terrible morning. Now that she knew Jamie's tale, it could very well be that Ian had spared his family from his problems with the momentous challenges Jamie had taken upon herself to free Andrew.

"The kids have half-days for parent-teacher conferences next week," Isabel announced.

This was news to Kat. Never having been a mother, she had no idea what she was supposed to do. "I should probably email his teacher and let him or her know I'll be filling in for Terri."

"That's good," Isabel said. "Especially if Terri's unreachable right now. What if the nurse needs you?"

Kat's eyes widened, but Jamie merely chuckled. Leaning forward to escape the warm Arizona sunlight, she rested her forearms on the table and grinned at Kat. "I'm sure Aaron's fine. Don't panic."

Kat fanned her face. "You're scaring me. I don't have a clue what I'm doing."

Isabel grinned, flashing teeth that appeared almost unnaturally white against her olive skin. "I'm sure he's fine. However, you should let the school know that he's staying with you."

"I'll head in a little early this afternoon and speak to the office."

Jamie nodded approvingly. "That should do it."

The sound of the doorbell reached their ears, stemming further advice from Isabel. She frowned. "I wonder who that could be?"

With the grace of a supermodel, she pushed her seat back and came to her feet. Both Jamie and Kat watched as she glided in through the slider that opened onto the second floor landing and closed it behind her. As soon as she was gone, Jamie turned back to Kat.

"While Isabel's gone, I want to stress that I do want you at my wedding."

Taken aback by her rapid and emphatic words, Kat merely blinked in response.

"I mean it," Jamie pressed. Reaching a hand across the table, she took Kat's fingers in her own and pressed them. "You've always been a good friend to me, regardless of what happened between you and Ian."

"Thank you," Kat said softly. "That means a lot to me."

Jamie nodded. "Ian's my brother, and I know what happened between you hurt him terribly. However, I think it was a mutual thing and don't blame you."

"No, what happened was my fault," she said forcefully. "I did everything wrong, and I hurt him. You should hate me."

Jamie's lips curved. "I could never hate you. We go back too far."

"I know." Kat had to squeeze her eyes shut against the tears that threatened again. Jamie's fingers tightened in sympathy. "But what I say is true. Your brother was the best thing in my life, and I ruined that."

"I'm sure Ian played a role as well."

She shook her head. "No, really. It was _my_ fault. He was always wonderful."

"Well, he let you go."

"I ran away from him."

"He could've come after you."

Kat shook her head. "I think I hurt him too much. He's much better off without me."

"I don't agree," Jamie insisted. "He's never been as happy as he was when he was with you. He seemed to have lost something when you left."

"I feel the same," Kat whispered.

Sensing the sudden turn of mood, Jamie released her hand and sat back again, crossing her arms over her chest. "Then why are you marrying someone else?"

"I have to."

"You're a grown woman. Your father can't hurt you anymore."

Kat's sharp inhale and instinctive glance around to see if anyone had overhead made Jamie hesitate.

"Please, Jamie."

"All right, all right." Her voice immediately lowered. "Surely you're not still afraid of him?"

If only she knew how dangerous he was, how evil... But Kat could never admit that. Instead, she smiled weakly.

The sound of voices offered a distraction and saved Kat from having to respond. Isabel was calling to their unannounced guest from a room below them, "I think I have them."

The sound of a slider opening and shutting indicated that whoever had come to visit obviously was familiar with the house. Another slider opened below them as the guest entered the sunroom directly below them.

Jamie craned her neck in an effort to see over the parapet that surrounded the observation deck but met with no success. Waving a hand in dismissal, she turned back to Kat as the voices grew muffled below them. "It's probably one of Ford's guys."

Kat nodded.

"So now that you're here, what are your plans?"

"Plans?"

"Are you going to work?"

Kat sighed again. Here it comes, she thought. "No, I'll remain home to support Curtis and any children we might have."

Jamie's dark brows rose in surprise. "Didn't you go back to school to finish your Ph.D.?"

Kat shrugged as though it meant little to her, although deep inside not achieving that goal had left her feeling slightly bitter. "I stopped school when I met Curtis."

Jamie's mouth formed a small "O" of surprise. "You did?"

"It seemed like the best idea at the time. Curtis is very busy, and he needed my help."

Jamie's head cocked to the side, but once again they were interrupted from an awkward conversation by Isabel's voice below. "Jaimita, can you bring me my cell phone?"

Jamie pushed back her chair with a sigh. "Hold that thought."

The warning made Kat grimace, but she nodded obediently and watched as Jamie collected the phone and went to the spiral staircase. As soon as she disappeared from view, Kat's gaze returned to the spot where Ian kissed her for the first time. She closed her eyes, willed herself back to that chilly evening and dreamed she had done things differently right from the start. Perhaps she should have pushed him away then and saved him from all the heartbreak.

Kat smiled ruefully. That would never have happened. Ian had been larger than life in her eyes. So handsome with his dark hair and eyes and the sharp planes of his face already mature beyond his years, Ian made all the girls' hearts beat wildly. That he had been drawn to her had boosted her nonexistent self-confidence, and his steady support and love had helped her finish high school a more determined woman ready to face her future with him by her side.

They had made grand plans for when she completed college. A career in the cancer research field, marrying, starting a family, all those things that Kat had dreamed would be her fate in life. Until that evening her father had caught wind of their plans, her life was happy.

It had been a downward spiral since.

Pushing her chair back, Kat came to her feet and stepped out from under the umbrella. The sun was warm on the top of her head, taking the chill out of her suddenly cold bones. The memory of her father's actions two years before still haunted her. His threats still frightened her.

The voices mingled below, so Kat made her way to stand by the parapet while she waited. A slider opened to reveal their voices clearly. A male voice mingled in with Jamie and Isabel's, and it was so hauntingly familiar that the painful ache that occurred whenever she thought of Ian formed in her chest.

"I'll see you this weekend. We can talk about it then."

"Thanks for picking those up," Isabel was saying warmly.

Kat barely registered their voices over the furious pounding of her heart that began as soon as she heard him speak. The rushing in her ears drowned out any remaining conversation, and her hands gripped the edge of the wall when she watched him appear below. Either coming off a shift or starting one, Ian wore an ebony windbreaker with POLICE in large white letters over his black shirt. His tactical pants were neatly pressed, his black boots were polished to a shiny gleam and his fully loaded duty belt was snug around his waist. He was an intimidating sight dressed in black from head to toe, and she was unable to tear her gaze away as he turned back to grin at the two ladies.

"I'm meeting Scottsdale, Maricopa County and Phoenix tonight. We'll be up in the North Valley."

"Be safe, please," Isabel said.

"I'll tell Zach to watch out for me," Ian said with a chuckle.

Kat inhaled sharply at the sound.

Jamie called from deeper in the room. Her voice was slightly teasing. "Don't shoot anyone."

He laughed aloud. "Okay, Mom." His dark head bent as he glanced down at his watch. "Look, I've got to go. I'm almost running late."

"Drive safe."

"For you, anything." Ian nodded and closed the slider.

Kat continued to watch unnoticed from her perch above him as he spun on his heel and sauntered back the way he came. Her eyes eagerly drank in the sight of him, running up and down his length longingly. He appeared relaxed as he moved, despite the bulk of his gear, and his steps were purposeful and determined. She watched his every move, enjoying the sight even as her heart cracked for everything she had lost.

Eyes filling with tears, she memorized the grin she had spotted from above. The way his dark eyes had crinkled as he spoke to his sisters brought back so many happy memories that she knew her sleep would be filled with more pleasant dreams that night. She had hurt him with what she had done, but she could rest at night knowing he was still alive and healthy. In the end, that was all that mattered.

Just before he reached the slider, Ian paused. It was almost as if he sensed her stare. His entire body stiffened before his head slowly swung around. Turning slightly at the waist, he glanced over his shoulder and met her startled gaze head on. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as she stared at him.

If he was surprised to see her, he made no sign. However, his jaw tightened, and all traces of his previous humor disappeared as their gazes met and locked. His chocolate-brown eyes turned cold and unwelcoming, but she was unable to avert her gaze until he finally turned away as if he had never seen her standing there.

He reached for the door handle and pulled it open, quickly disappearing inside.

Then he was gone.

# Chapter 5

Zach pulled the government SUV behind Ian's bike as Ian was removing his helmet. Still shaken from his unexpected encounter with Kat, he did not return Zach's greeting wave or his satisfied smile. He was still reeling from seeing Kat at Ford's house and had left feeling as though the world had been pulled out from under his feet.

Yanking open the back door to the vehicle, he tossed his helmet on the backseat and briskly shut the door before climbing in beside his cousin and partner. "Hey."

"You look chipper today," Zach said with an appraising look.

"Let's just do this."

"Are you okay?"

Ian grimaced. "I'm fine."

Which did not describe how he felt at that moment. Feeling Kat's presence, knowing she was there even before he turned to see her staring down at him, had startled him almost as much as it seemed to have surprised her. That he had seen the tears swimming in her eyes just made him all the angrier.

He hated that she was integrating herself back into his life. She had broken it off with him, and he deserved the peace of mind in knowing that she would remain out of his life. A word with Jamie was definitely in order, now more than ever.

Without another word, Zach eased off the brake and steered the vehicle to the exit. The interior remained relatively quiet during their drive up to Scottsdale, allowing Ian time to control his irritation and regain his earlier enthusiasm about serving the warrant on Medina. They were that much closer to ending this case, and tonight was Zach's triumphant moment. Their arrests that summer had taken out a dangerous assassin, and now they were closing in on the leaders - the money source. It was just a matter of time before it was over.

At least for now.

"Any updates?"

"Nope. Five warrants and I finally have enough to nail Medina," Zach said with a grin. "We have Scottsdale and Phoenix meeting us at the staging point. Maricopa County will lead us in."

Ian nodded, feeling the familiar rush of adrenalin that always seemed to grip him when they did these types of calls. This was what made his job on the Task Force worthwhile. With one of their targets the primary suspect in the raid that had ended with an explosion that killed fellow officer Brandon Nicholson, Ian knew that everyone involved in this assignment was motivated and eager to wrap this one up. It had been a long time coming.

"Who's our contact?"

"Lieutenant Fierro will brief us. Scottsdale."

Ian nodded, having met the lieutenant several times in the past. Though soft-spoken and slightly standoffish, Ian had yet to meet a harder working and smarter man. This would be a day of triumph for Fierro as well, having been one of the fallen officer's closest friends. For him, it was personal.

"Is he going in?"

Zach shook his head. "No. He'll be dispatching and surveillance."

Ian reached for the folder resting on the center console and flipped it open as Zach pulled onto the highway heading north into Scottsdale. It would not be that much farther, twenty minutes in traffic. With the time left, Ian tried to review the case carefully in an attempt to regain his focus. He had an important job to do this evening, and thinking about Kat the entire time was a distraction he did not need.

Still, he could not forget the tears that had glistened in her eyes, nor the hungry way she had stared down at him from above like some modern-day Juliet. Hands clenching into fists on his thighs, Ian struggled to focus on the mug shots resting on his lap. Instead he saw Kat, her short blond hair blowing in the afternoon breeze and her hands gripping the wall as though forcibly preventing her from rushing down the stairs.

Gritting his teeth, he harshly went over their final morning when Kat had hastily thrown her belongings in the suitcase, her tear-streaked face glaring at him while he stood shouting at her from the other side of the bed.

She was the one who left, not him. He never would have left her – ever.

"Ready for this?"

Slapping the folder closed, Ian realized that it was a good thing that he knew every detail by heart. Apparently his training would come in handy tonight, for his thoughts kept straying in unwise directions.

"I'm ready," he said with an abrupt nod.

"It's gonna be a good night," Zach said with a grin.

Ian merely nodded.

He remained distracted all the way through the briefing, listening with only half an ear and hoping that Zach was taking careful notes. On the whiteboard in the front of a room, Fierro had drawn an organizational tree, with the faceless JW at the top and Medina directly below him. They now knew Medina was the one who found investors and distributors of his drugs and illegals through his mansion timeshare scheme. The funds he collected trickled downward with branches for his assassins, which Rocky Alvarez and the deceased Micaela had led, down to the local gang that provided the manpower for the smuggling and the sale of the product, which the now-jailed 2Tuff had controlled. All the links had come together, with the exception of the brains behind the organization, JW.

From his vantage point, Ian had a hard time connecting the emphatic words coming from the man with the lifeless-appearing gray eyes and closed countenance. Ian had met and spoken with Fierro on several occasions in the past, and it took him off guard to hear the tightly reined excitement in his voice.

"Let's end this tonight," Jose finished emphatically. "Go gear up."

He nodded briskly when the others in the room murmured their assent. Dismissed, the men came to their feet and met with their groups to rehash their roles in the evening's bust. Zach and Ian remained standing in the back of the room as Jose approached.

"Good luck tonight."

Ian inclined his head with a brief smile. "We're eager to get JW. Now that we have intel from Medina, we'll be on him next."

"I know you will," Jose replied. His hands closed in fists by his side. "Cher's counting on you."

Cher was the widow of the fallen officer, a tough and firm advocate for their long-fought battle. Ian had only met the perky redhead on a couple of occasions at Chuck's home, but Zach had become chummy with their cousin's close friend. He was smiling at Jose. "How's the battle on that end going?"

Jose's face nearly broke into a smile, and Ian's brows rose in surprise. "She's as tough as ever. I'm trying to earn her forgiveness, but I don't think I'll get it until we have all these creeps in jail."

"Chuck told me you tried flowers?"

Jose shook his head. "Tossed them on the counter."

"Ouch." Zach winced sympathetically. "And the repairs?"

"Still working on the house. She hasn't kicked me out yet."

Ian's surprise turned to confusion. "Repairs?"

Jose glanced back at Ian. "Cher moved into a house in South Phoenix. It's an older home and hasn't been taken very good care of. I've been trying to give her a hand."

"But she doesn't like him much," Zach piped in, earning a scowl from Jose.

When Ian continued to stare in confusion, Jose felt obligated to speak up. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "I was there that night."

No further words were needed. Ian nodded in understanding. "I'm sorry."

Jose sighed. "No more than I am." He glanced around the room before focusing on Ian again. "But we're going to end this, and I'll finally be able to give Nicholson's family the closure it deserves."

"And get in Cher's good graces," Zach agreed.

Jose managed another brief smile. "That remains to be seen. I won't get my hopes too high."

"I feel sorry for Wolffard," Zach said. "I'm the one in charge of arranging that meeting."

Fierro actually chuckled. "I hope he's a tough U.S. Attorney and can handle her."

As if given a silent command, the teams began moving out. Idle chat no longer an option, Ian once again felt his heartbeat quicken as the adrenalin started to pump in his veins. It was a high he never grew tired of. It was also a high that could become dangerous if not controlled.

Taking a deep breath, he reminded himself to remain focused and not let the sheer thrill overtake his common sense. He followed Zach out the door into the growing darkness with a firm purpose, and for the first time all afternoon he did not think of Kat.

Even so, Ian considered himself lucky that everything went off peacefully and smoothly. He and Zach finally had Medina in custody and had their leads on the identity of JW. Fierro had Juan Hernandez, the final lower-level gang member responsible for Nicholson's death and one of Medina's lieutenants, under his control. The cartel was being picked apart at the seams.

Once Zach finished compiling the data from the surveillance at Medina's home and office, they would know who JW was and snap the head off the turtle. He went home pleased with the evening's developments. The U.S. Attorney, Robert "The Wolf" Wolffard, was going to have everything he needed to charge these men. Ian and Zach would not quit until he did.

With these new exciting breaks to work on, Ian managed to make it to the weekend without pondering Kat too much. He completed an order for one of Ford's clients, and by Sunday was ready for a day of relaxation.

The only hitch with that plan was his ultimate confrontation with Jamie. With the family meeting for brunch, he hoped he could take her aside and reason with her, but with Jamie one never knew. Opting to jog over to Ford's, Ian wanted to be as loose and relaxed as possible when the time came to mention Kat again.

The cool morning air greeted Ian when he pulled his front door open. As he jogged the route down the main road, his mind drifted to the boy he had saved from being struck by a car the week before. Aaron had been his name. The little guy was somewhere in this development, he thought. Ford was a mile and a half north, and somewhere in between Aaron was probably watching TV with his family, luckily safe and sound.

Only Jamie's Volvo was parked when Ian finally made his way up the driveway. He breathed a sigh of relief, hoping to get the deed done before the rest of the family arrived to eavesdrop. Pausing outside, he took a few minutes to walk the length of the drive to catch his breath and loosen up before he pushed open the front door.

"Good morning, Uncle Ian," Ana said.

His teenage niece was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the foyer, her long black hair in its customary pigtails. He took note of the new slash of bangs that covered half her face and frowned.

"Don't tell me you're going emo on me."

Ana laughed lightly. "Everyone has bangs now, Uncle Ian. You should know that."

Shaking his head, Ian crouched down and tucked the bangs away from her youthful face. "That's better."

She immediately shook them back. Smiling impishly, she pushed his hand away. "No, this is."

"Careful now," he warned sternly. "I might go get scissors and fix them for you."

Ana sighed dramatically. "I don't know how Aunt Jamie put up with all you guys."

Taken aback, Ian laughed out loud. "You know what? I don't either."

She harrumphed in her dramatic way, fixing her dark eyes on him. "At least you can admit it."

Returning to his feet, he stared down at the tall youth. She had sprouted another inch or two since school began in August, and unfortunately she was growing into a beauty like her mother. With her heart-shaped face and eyes that bore wisdom beyond her fourteen years, Ana was bound to capture hearts. Maybe it was a good thing she hid half her face behind her long, silky hair.

"Where's your aunt?"

"In the kitchen. I've been told to greet our guests."

Ian froze, and his eyes narrowed. Ignoring the lurch in his chest, he swallowed back his dismay. If Jamie had invited Kat, he would strangle her with his bare hands. "What guests?"

Ana waved her hand in dismissal. "Just you guys."

"Since when are we guests?"

"That's what Mom told me when she kicked me out of the kitchen."

The sullen tone in her voice made his lips twitch, but the tightness remained in his chest. That had to stop. He should not have to be wary of going to his brother's house, and the sooner he cornered Jamie, the better.

"I guess I'll go find them and see what food I can steal."

"They told me you'd say that," she shot back.

Chuckling, Ian strode away in the direction of the kitchen. The low sound of female voices reached his ears. As he entered, he was relieved to see Jamie and Isabel alone. The two he wanted to talk to.

The granite counter was littered with covered platters, and the scent of eggs, syrup, pancakes and bacon tickled his nose and made his stomach growl eagerly. He turned his attention away from the beckoning food and leveled the two women with a solemn stare.

"Hey, Ian. You're early," Jamie said in greeting. Pushing off a bar stool, she came lithely to her feet and enveloped him in her arms for her customary hug. Isabel soon followed, giving him a motherly squeeze before releasing him.

" _Benvenuto_ , Ian."

Though warmed by their affection, the fact that he still viewed them as traitors kept his reaction cool. "I wanted to talk to you before everyone else showed up."

"Ooh, sounds serious," Jamie said with a wink.

Isabel did not return her smile. Taking a step away from him, she met his steady gaze with solemn dark eyes. "I understand."

He nodded briefly, realizing immediately that she did know what troubled him. She had always had that skill in reading him, ever since he was a teen. What once was a source of annoyance was now a relief, he admitted with a wry smile. How things changed as one aged.

"What's up?" Jamie asked. She frowned slightly at the unspoken communication taking place between him and Isabel.

"We've offended Ian," Isabel said matter-of-factly.

He nodded once when Jamie turned to him with a stricken look on her makeup-free, unblemished face. Ignoring the puppy-dog look of hurt in her brown eyes, he crossed his arms over his chest and braced himself for her ire. "I wasn't too thrilled to see Kat here."

"Kat?" Jamie blinked several times in confusion. "She was here for lunch. What's wrong with that?"

"I'd rather she not be around here," Ian said, suddenly feeling awkward and childish.

Jamie's look of astonishment did not help matters. "What?"

"Jame, you know things didn't exactly end well between us. It's not right to see her hanging around here like nothing's changed."

"Is she supposed to be like Clay now? No longer welcome here and having all of you guys staring her down?"

Ian shifted uncomfortably. "I'd never do that to her. That's why I'm asking you in private."

"It's not right. She was my friend, too."

"'Was' being the operative word, Jamie," he reminded her sharply.

The truth was that he was angry with his sister for pretending Kat's actions had not hurt her as well. She had been just as confused when Kat disappeared back to DC without a reasonable explanation. In her excitement to get married, Ian suspected that Jamie was overlooking the pain Kat had caused them all.

"She has nobody else," Jamie insisted.

Ian stiffened, and he could feel his jaw tighten. "She has a rich fiancé now. One that she took off on me to hunt down and snag," he said through clenched teeth.

"You've got it all wrong... She's not happy. I could tell within five minutes of seeing her."

"That's not our problem," he insisted firmly. "She made her choice and ditched this family. I don't feel it's right to welcome her back after what she did."

When Jamie opened her mouth to protest, Isabel stepped forward and held up her hand to stay her words. "Ian makes a valid request, Jaimita. We must give him the courtesy of listening."

Ian nodded his thanks in Isabel's direction before returning his attention to his self-righteous sister in all her fury. Pinning her with his most formidable glare, he tried to force her to back down. Instead, she tossed her shiny head and glared right back. He was reminded of their childhood, where being only a year apart either had them the best of friends or the worst of enemies. At that moment, he was remembering a particular incident where he had ripped the head off one of her dolls. It took her a week to forgive him for that.

"You've always been too softhearted for your own good. If you want to forgive and forget, that's your choice. I'm not saying you have to completely write her off. I'm just asking that you not invite her to family events."

"Our lunch was not a family event."

"Okay, well maybe keep her away from the family. I don't want to be uncomfortable coming here."

Isabel nodded in understanding. "That's not asking too much, Ian. If she contacts me again, I'll ask her to lunch elsewhere."

"So I can be friends with her, but only on your terms?" Jamie asked with wide eyes, obviously not feeling as gracious as Isabel.

Ian sighed with growing frustration. "If that's the way you want to see it, fine."

"That's not what he's asking," Isabel said sharply. Pinning Jamie with a frown, she placed her hands on her hips. "Think back to when you first came back here from Nevada. Were you not hurting inside about Clay and your divorce? Did you not need time to come to terms with everything?"

Jamie nodded reluctantly while he sighed. He suspected he knew where this was going.

"Unresolved anger still lies between them," Isabel said. "He's not comfortable seeing her here as though things don't need to be said. Until they clear the air between them, that emotion will remain."

"There's nothing left to say," he tried to protest.

Isabel shook her head, easily dismissing his untruthful denial. However, her words had done the trick – with Jamie at least. Understanding softened her fierce scowl, and she turned back to face him with a look of sympathy. "I get it."

Startled, Ian took a step back. Suspicion clouded his face. "Get what?"

Jamie's grin was wide again, replacing the anger that had threatened to ruin their morning. When she spoke, her voice carried the familiar smugness that promised he would not like hearing what she had to say. "Like I said in the dress shop... You're still hurting over this because you're still in love with her."

Isabel nodded conspiratorially, and Ian felt the flush blossom on his cheeks. He should have known this would turn on him. After all, he knew these women, and he should have known he could never win any argument when they were together against him. Placing his hands on his hips, he glared at them. "That's not true."

Isabel bit her lip as she tried to prevent her mischievous smile from blossoming. It did little to ease his irritation when she nodded sagely. "I know."

Jamie chuckled. "Really Ian, all you had to do was just say so in the first place instead of dancing around it and sounding like some overbearing chump."

"Jame," he warned.

Even as he spoke, he knew he was not going to win. The thought was firmly rooted in her head, and he knew his sister. He sort of wished he had Ford with him to offset the overflow of self-righteous estrogen, but he really had not wanted anyone else in the family to know what was going on. Either way, he was stuck, and he struggled to keep from cringing from the knowing look Jamie sent his way.

"It's okay. I understand. You two always had a bond, right from when we were kids. I should've known when I saw it on her face."

He hated himself for wanting to know what Jamie thought she saw, but he could not stop himself from asking. "Saw what?"

Jamie shrugged, suddenly and irritatingly evasive. "Nothing that I can put my finger on. Just that same loneliness you have."

He shifted again, denying the urge to squirm under her knowing gaze. "I'm not lonely."

Jamie laughed.

"Believe what you want, but the fact is that I don't want to be uncomfortable in my family's home. She has no business coming here after she took off on all of us, and I think she's got a lot of nerve showing up here like nothing happened."

Satisfied that he had finally made himself clear, Ian turned and strode from the room. He nearly tripped over Ana hovering in the hallway and scowled at her for spying. Were all the women in this house out to get him today? Whatever happened to respecting your elders and their authority? Behind them, he could hear Jamie and Isabel's conspiratorial whispers.

"Oh Ian," he heard Jamie call.

Refusing to go back in the room, he merely paused.

"Maybe you can take a few minutes with Kat at the wedding. She's sitting with Danielle and Brian in Brianna's spot. I can get you a place to hash everything out if you want," Jamie continued, as if knowing he lingered.

As Ian's eyes widened to the size of saucers, he saw Ana giggle behind her hand. Scowling again at the saucy youth, he stormed away without another backward glance. Knowing it would be futile to continue to argue against his sister's obvious love-struck ideology, he contented himself with searching out the sympathetic ear of Ford. What he needed was a good solid dose of testosterone to regain his masculinity.

Damn Evans women, he thought mutinously. They sure knew how to steal a man's pride.

# Chapter 6

With a gown on order, Kat's next challenge lay in choosing the bridesmaid's dresses. With twelve girls on the docket, most of whom she did not know, she was again contemplating giving up. Myra had taken it upon herself to appoint her attendants for her and have the final say in what they wore. Consisting primarily of distant cousins and some of Curtis' workmates, Kat knew only one girl well enough to serve as her maid of honor. The problem was that the girl was as overbearing and bossy as Curtis and his mother.

In every one of Kat's dreams, her wedding was a joyous occasion, one that she knew Jamie was experiencing. However, in reality, it was a stifling affair, where her every choice was diminished and derided. It was no longer her wedding; it belonged solely to Curtis, Myra and John.

Exhausted by Miss Emma Conroy's impertinent comments about the simple yet elegant gowns that she preferred, Kat insisted that Myra drive her home from their third shopping trip, pleading a headache that reached her heart more than her head. Not for the first time she dreamed of escaping this nightmare and running away to some hidden place where no one would ever find her, especially her father and Curtis. But she knew the first place her father would look would be Ian Evans' house, and it nearly killed her to think of what John would do to him.

Having returned from another futile shopping trip where all of her choices were disdainfully discarded, she looked forward to Curtis' departure for the east coast almost as heartily as she welcomed Myra's decision to go with him. Her displeasure about Aaron's continued presence encouraged Myra's decision to stay in DC with Curtis again, and Kat silently wished she would stay there until the wedding.

Having Aaron had proven therapeutic for Kat in more ways than one. However, his continued presence after over two weeks had also created cause for concern. No matter her and Terri's differences, Kat knew in her heart that her sister would never abandon her son. Aaron's thinly disguised worry only validated her concerns, though Curtis continued to mock her apprehension in much the same way he belittled all her thoughts.

She was weary and frustrated with it all. Where once she had held a glimmer of self-respect, it was rapidly disappearing with each scornful comment she received. Yet there was nothing she could do about it at that moment, not when Curtis was standing before her with a forbidding frown after summoning her to his bedroom for a private chat.

"I'll be home Tuesday."

Kat nodded.

"Now remember," he said, reaching for her arms and giving her a slight shake. She really hated when he held her like a doll. "This is it. From here on out if you can't make the right decisions, I'll have no choice but to get involved." His voice lowered to an even deeper pitch, a threatening sound that she did not like at all. "Your father's insisting that I take control. He's tired of hearing Mother's complaints."

Shivering against the implication in his words, Kat did her best to raise her chin in a meager show of bravery. "Curtis, this is our wedding. Must we have your mother involved?"

"Of course we should," he exclaimed in astonishment. "Why would we not?"

"Well, our tastes differ. I have my preferences, and she has hers."

"She's planned a grand wedding."

"But you haven't seen the things she's chosen. Her tastes are pretentious and border on hideous."

"Obviously she has better taste than you do."

"What?" Feeling as though he had slapped her, Kat tried to take a step away. However, Curtis' hands tightened around her upper arms, and he pulled her closer.

"Enough, Kathleen. Your childish reaction is unflattering and does little for my confidence in you."

"Perhaps this isn't going to work," she whispered.

"Don't be ridiculous. It's a done deal."

"Nothing's set in stone," she insisted, hating the sound of the tears forming in the back of her throat.

"What did you say?" Curtis' eyes narrowed until they were little more than slits in his face. As they narrowed, his hands tightened even more, becoming like a vice around the thin skin of her upper arms. Kat was reminded of her father and his rage and shivered. Did Curtis have the same tendencies?

"Curtis, let me go," she said firmly.

"I'm not going to have you start threatening me," he ground out fiercely. His eyes were smoldering with rage, and his nostrils flared as his face darkened. "Not now, not ever."

"I'm not threatening you," Kat said, resuming her struggle.

"What would you call it? Public humiliation is not a threat?"

"No, I'm trying to be reasonable."

"Reasonable?" Curtis asked incredulously. "If memory serves, you stopped being reasonable as soon as we moved here."

"That's not true," Kat cried.

With a final squeeze, he released her with an abrupt shove. She stumbled back a few feet, the backs of her legs bumping against the bed. Her hand reached behind her to prevent a fall as he continued glowering at her with no hint of remorse.

"Then you are dumber than I thought."

"Dumb?"

"Yes, dumb," he repeated. "If you try to take me down, not only will you face my ire but also your father's. I know that's the last thing you want."

Unable to deny his words, she glanced down at her feet. Curtis took that as acquiescence and nodded with satisfaction.

"Heed my words, Kathleen. If you don't, things will grow very difficult for you. You believe that you're having a tough time now? Trust me when I say it can get worse."

"I don't like threats."

"Neither do I," he snapped. "This is your final chance. Screw it up now, and I'll allow your father to post a guard to watch your every move."

Not knowing whether he was full of bluster or not, she considered standing her ground but found she no longer had the energy. Nothing was going right. All she wanted was to have some quiet. Her hands went to her temples, where she began to massage the pain away. Unfortunately, it did not work.

"Do you understand me?"

His voice was cold, his words abrupt and there was no sympathy in his tone. She raised her chin as high as she could and met his gaze with what she hoped was courage.

"I said, do you understand me?" Curtis snapped again, his tone rising in ire.

Nodding briefly, she was relieved when he spun on his heel and gathered up his bags. Sending her one last glance over his shoulder, he glowered at her a final time before reaching for the door handle. Kat sank to his neatly made bed and grasped the navy duvet in her fists when she saw Myra standing just on the other side of the door. The look she sent Kat was nothing short of triumphant, and Kat knew she had heard every word.

As the door closed behind Curtis, her humiliation was confirmed.

"Did you speak to her?"

"I did," Curtis answered. "She won't be a problem."

"I still like John's idea of having Emma come and stay here for a while. She's offered to monitor Kat's movements."

Their voices grew more distant, but Kat shot to her feet to do a little eavesdropping of her own as they approached the stairs.

"I've told her she has one last chance. If anything happens again, I'll call Emma myself."

"Good," Myra purred. "This close to the wedding, we can't have her misbehaving."

"If she knows what's good for her, she'll remain malleable."

"That's the problem. She's obviously not bright enough to know what's good for her."

Kat's fingers curled into her palm as their voices faded away. With her ear pressed against the door, she felt rather than heard the front door open and close behind them.

Sighing heavily, her head rolled until her forehead rested against the door, and her eyes slipped closed. Aaron had completed his homework and was playing a video game in his room. It was doubtful that he had heard any of the exchange, so she would not have to explain anything to him. That meant a quick nap would be okay. After that, she would have to sit down and figure out how she was going to get out of this mess.

Just not right now. No, she could not handle thinking of anything right now.

# ****

A man of not many words, Grady Evans did not often speak his mind. The quietest of the Evans brothers, Grady measured all possible outcomes before he spoke, and that meant he was usually the most level-headed. At the very least, he was the most thoughtful.

It was because of this skill that Ian invited him over after dinner to shoot some hoops in the cul-de-sac. These one-on-one times were rare, but Ian had to admit that he enjoyed Grady's company almost as much as Hayden's because he was so reasonable. Not in the mood for Hayden's prodding, Jamie's teasing and Ford's frowns, Ian chose the best option. Grady's slightly clumsy but passable ability to play basketball was enough of a distraction to keep his mind off work, the wedding and – the most torturous of all – Kat. Unfortunately, the only thing she was not involved with was his work, and that was the last thing he wanted to talk about on his day off.

"When are you going to admit that age is better than brawn, Ian?"

They had only been playing for ten minutes, and already his older brother was running out of steam. "When was the last time you went to the gym, Grady?"

"Hey, I thought you were going to be pleasant tonight," Grady grunted, checking Ian with a shove that caught him by surprise.

"I take that back. You still have some strength in you... Unless it's your belly that's putting the weight on me."

Grady chuckled, responding to Ian's good-natured grin with one of his own. Though Ford was older than Grady by almost three years, at first glance one would think Grady was the eldest. With the same dark brown hair as all the other Evans children, Grady was showing his age by the rapid thinning that elongated his forehead and made his somber brown eyes seem worldly. His growing paunch and perpetual frown lines did not do justice to his empathetic character, but Ian supposed his job as a malpractice lawyer was nearly as stressful as his own as a cop.

He may appear older than his thirty-six years, but he was still fun to be around, and his two boys kept his subtle humor in fine form. It was peaking as they continued to play, albeit with Grady losing horribly. Despite the painful row, he laughed cheerfully and sank down on one of the camp chairs Ian had placed in the driveway.

"All right, you won, you won," he said as he wiped his ruddy face with a hand towel.

Ian smirked. "If only Hayden was as gracious as you when he loses."

"Hayden doesn't care if he loses. He just doesn't like to lose to you."

They both shared a laugh, and Ian disappeared into the garage to replace the bottled water they had guzzled during the game with two beers. Taking a seat next to Grady, Ian popped the cap and handed his brother a cold one before opening his own. Taking a long draught, he let out a satisfied belch before returning his attention to Grady, who was enjoying his own. Their eyes met over the lid of his beer, and Grady lowered it with a speculative look.

"So when are you picking up your tux?"

"Ah, the wedding," Ian muttered.

"Yeah, four more days."

"I'm going Thursday before work."

"I'll go with you. Have you spoken to Jamie this week?"

"No. I was afraid she'd insist I go somewhere worse than that final fitting." He deliberately avoided discussing his recent argument with her regarding Kat's invitation to the wedding. That was not a subject he had any interest in broaching. Having to see her again was punishment enough.

"Don't blame you on that one. Too girlie for me."

"You said it," Ian agreed with a grimace.

Grady cuffed him on the shoulder. "Hey, you were the brave one. The rest of us ran scared."

"Doesn't mean I want to repeat the experience. She _cried_ , Grady."

"Women tend to do that. They use tears to make us give in."

"Torie doesn't seem like that."

Grady chuckled again. "You don't see her at home after a day with the boys. You'd be surprised."

"All women are trouble," Ian said with a scowl.

"I take it you're still mad at Jamie for inviting Kat?"

Ian grimaced. "How do you know about that?"

"Torie talks to Isabel and Jamie, and both told her their versions of what happened," Grady said with a laugh. "Remember, women talk."

"Nothing is sacred anymore," Ian grumbled.

"Not with women involved."

"If it didn't bother me so much, I never would've mentioned it. You'd think she'd take her brother's side in this."

"Maybe..." Grady's voice trailed off as his gaze drifted beyond Ian's to the bushes at the end of his driveway.

"What?" Ian asked, turning to look.

Though he had not noticed it before, the movement in the bushes reached his ears before his eyes. There was a scraping sound, like leaves crumbling under a shoe. He sat up a little straighter and stared at the spot until he saw a flash of blue jeans contrasting sharply against the green leaves and pink flowers.

"You may as well come out," Ian called. Grady shot him a questioning glance.

While he knew he should be surprised, he did not flinch when Aaron appeared from behind the well-established oleander. His movements were shy and hesitant, but he came willingly when Ian waved him forward.

"So, Aaron, we meet again. What brings you out here?"

Grady glanced between the young boy and Ian in surprise. "You know him?"

"We've met," Ian said with a brief nod.

Aaron remained silent, his blue eyes wide in his face as he gazed between the two men nervously. Despite his discomfort, his head bobbed several times in agreement.

Ian was not moved. He was too impatient to hear his answer. "Well?"

Aaron approached ever more slowly, his new sneakers squeaking against the pavement and glowing white in the growing darkness. "I saw you from the end of the street."

"You did, huh?"

"I watched your game."

"Why were you hiding?"

"I didn't want to make you mad."

"Mad?" Grady asked, surprised.

Ian agreed. Why on earth would he make them mad by watching? "We wouldn't be mad. We would've asked you to join us."

Aaron smiled, revealing a mouthful of gaps and the hint of new teeth. Ian almost returned his smile, but he was still troubled. He pursed his lips together and glanced up at the sky meaningfully. "Isn't it a bit late for you to be out and about on a school night?"

Grady nodded in silent agreement, which only seemed to frighten Aaron even more. His dark head bobbed again, this time more quickly. "You're right," he said quickly. "I need to go home."

Exchanging a glance with Grady, Ian was pleased when his head inclined in agreement. Their unspoken communication told him all he needed to know. Something was not right with this boy. He was in distress.

"Yes, you should. But it's too dark for you to go home by yourself. How far away are you from here?"

"It's not far. I can run."

Ian specifically remembered Aaron telling him that his uncle had dropped him off at the tennis courts. The clubhouse was nearly a half mile from his house. He was not fooled. "Are you still staying with your aunt and uncle?"

The boy's head did its rapid jig, and again Ian was gripped with the feeling that they were inept.

"Where are they now?"

Aaron's startlingly pale eyes shifted ever so slightly left. He scuffed his sneaker-clad foot against the driveway while his mouth worked to put some words together. Grady glanced at Ian again, his concerned frown causing furrows in his brow.

"Is everything okay?" Ian asked, taking the unspoken question from Grady.

Aaron nodded again, but the fear remained. "I just went for a walk."

"And ended up coming farther than you thought, perhaps?"

"I guess so."

"Do they know where you are?"

Aaron bit his lip and shook his head at the same time, almost causing Ian to laugh. He held it back in order to maintain Aaron's trust but was reminded of his own wanderings as a kid and the fear he struck in his mother's heart every time he did not come home when promised.

"I'm sure your uncle is worried."

"Oh no, he doesn't care."

The words were spoken so matter-of-factly, Ian had trouble deciding at first whether he was serious or not. His brows shot up again as he pressed his point. "Well, your aunt then."

Aaron nodded, and a look of guilt and shame appeared on his face. "I should get home. I don't want her to worry."

Apparently the uncle was a jerk after all. Ian sighed. "Before you go running off again, maybe you should give her a call and let her know you're safe."

Reaching for his mobile, he held it out to Aaron and exchanged another glance with Grady when the boy took it. "Do you know her number?"

As Ian watched the boy wrack his brain in an effort to remember, Grady came to his feet and carried his empty bottle to the recycle bin. When it hit the bottom of the bin, the clang echoed in the quiet cul-de-sac and made Aaron startle. Ian cocked his head to the side and crouched down to be at Aaron's eye level.

"I do know it," he said eagerly. "She made me memorize it the first week I stayed with her."

Ian nodded and continued to wait, growing more intrigued by the story behind this wayward little boy.

"I'm not sure how to dial."

Reaching for the phone, Ian plucked it from Aaron's hand and opened the screen to dial. "I'll dial for you then."

Aaron was hesitant as he rattled off the number without the area code. Assuming it would be local, Ian plugged it in for him and then handed the phone back when it started to ring. As Aaron pressed the phone to his ear, Grady rejoined them and placed his hands on his hips.

"Pretty late for a young boy to be out running around," he said gravely.

"I agree."

"If it were one of my boys, I'd be out searching."

As they spoke, the frantic high pitch of a female voice echoed through the handset pressed against Aaron's ear. The boy's eyes were filled with guilt as he listened wordlessly. Finally he spoke, but his voice was barely above a whisper.

"I'm sorry. I went for a walk and got lost."

"Apparently she is," Ian said with a grin.

"At least one of them," Grady muttered.

Glancing up to find them both watching, Aaron's cocoa skin took on a pinkish hue. "What's your address?"

Ian's grin remained to reassure Aaron he was not in any trouble with him. He rattled off his address and quick directions while Aaron's head nodded as he relayed them back. When he was done, he handed the phone back with a stricken look on his face.

"She tried to hide it, but I could tell she was crying," he said mournfully.

"I'm sure it'll be fine. She'll probably forgive you as soon as she sees you."

Aaron's little fists clenched at his side in a show of overprotectiveness and self-loathing. "I just made her even more sad. She was having the worst day ever."

Not knowing what else to say, Ian shrugged. "Well, it'll end on a good note then. At least she knows where you are and that you're safe."

"They yelled at her something fierce today. I shouldn't have left her alone when she needed me. She has no one else, and I ditched her." Aaron shook his head. "I'm so dumb."

"You're not dumb," Ian said forcefully. "You made a mistake. That doesn't mean you're dumb."

Instead of answering, Aaron spun on his heel and strode to the end of the driveway. On the periphery of the garage lights, he appeared as just a shadow on the sidewalk, anxiously staring at the end of the street.

Grady laid a hand on Ian's shoulder. "How do you like that?"

"I don't at all. This uncle seems like a real jerk."

"I know I should head home, but I'm kinda curious to see what happens here."

"Well, it won't be a long wait. Here she comes."

Ian pointed to the flash of headlights turning onto his street at a far-too-fast clip for his quiet neighborhood. Forgiving the speeding on the basis that the woman was concerned, Ian made a note to remind her not to drive emotional in the future. The car slowed as it neared the cul-de-sac and Ian's house, approaching at a crawl as it came to stop at the end of his driveway.

"At least she didn't get lost," Grady said with a slight smile.

"Yeah, she found it fast enough. Must've been close by."

Ian stood just outside the garage with Grady by his side as the car door opened and Aaron hurried around the front. Though the interior dome light was on, all he could see from his vantage point was an oversized maroon sweatshirt as the woman behind the wheel leaned out and hugged the boy desperately. He could hear her rapid mumblings, and Aaron was quick to respond, his voice abashedly muttering over and over again, "I'm fine, really."

Ian's lips twisted, and he imagined Aaron was embarrassed to be gushed over like that even though he surely savored the hugs. In an effort to help the kid save face, he nudged Grady and jerked his head in the direction of the garage.

"Help me put these chairs away."

Grady chuckled. "You bet."

They folded the chairs, and Ian carried them back into the garage. Stacking them neatly in one of the cabinets that lined the fall wall, he kept one ear trained on the activity outside. The woman had exited her car and was thanking Grady in a low voice. He heard his brother awkwardly clear his throat and was about to rescue him when he suddenly caught a flash of maroon and gray sweats. He recognized the sweatshirt before the person wearing it and went completely still. The sight of the walnut stain permanently etched between the A and S in the letters ASU caused the blood to drain from his face. Where it had landed when resting on Kat's body had been the source of many sensual games in the past, and Ian felt as though he had been sucker punched in the stomach as the images flooded back like a home movie of happy past experiences.

The recollection of the first time he had given Kat the sweatshirt to wear thrust him back in time to when she returned home from college. They attended a football game, and she had not dressed for the weather. He had gallantly given her the sweatshirt, and somehow she subsequently adopted it for her own. She kept it throughout the years, even after that day of lovemaking when he had pulled it over her head and thrown it across the room, tipping the pint of oil-based wood stain over and forever marring the letters resting across her breasts. After the events that followed, Ian felt certain she would have discarded it.

That she was wearing it now was disturbing, almost as much as her very presence in his garage. What made it worst was that he had to battle the urge to tear it off her again.

He swallowed hard and met her gaze, and his voice cracked when he spoke. "You?"

# Chapter 7

Heart thundering in her chest, Kat absorbed the sight of Ian like a sponge in water. Evidently a glutton for punishment, she scanned him hungrily from head to toe, as if she needed the reminder of how handsome he was. His damp T-shirt clung to his chest, and it appeared even broader than when she held him last. His tanned face was ruddy from his exertion, and she loved the way his shorts rode low on his narrow hips.

Though she longed to embrace him as she had Grady, she stayed away from the sheer animosity in his brown gaze as he stared down at her. Evidently Aaron had not told him who he was, and, judging by the shock he was unable to hide, he would never be receptive to her thanks. If she was not so relieved to know that Aaron was unharmed, she may have been hurt by the sheer distaste with which Ian viewed her... He and everyone else, it seemed.

"Yes, me," she replied instead with a small shrug.

The stunned look on his face did not ease with her answer. Instead, he scowled. "What are you doing here?"

"Aaron called me," she reminded him.

"You're the aunt?"

If things had been different between them, Kat would have laughed at the stark confusion on his face. Already so handsome, it gave the angles of his face a more vulnerable look and softened the anger that she so disliked seeing when he stared at her.

"I am."

"Since when?"

"You don't remember Aaron?"

Kat fumbled nervously with her car keys as she watched the myriad of emotions flicker across his face. Everything from bewilderment to frustration appeared as he struggled to go back in time to place the once cherubic baby he had known with the lanky boy standing in the driveway next to Grady.

Though she had not seen Ian in over two years, she knew it had been longer since he had seen Aaron. A lot had changed in the four years that had passed. Aaron had grown from a chubby toddler into a charming young man.

"That's Terri's kid?"

Instead of speaking, Kat nodded. The look on his face told her that he was remembering bouncing the baby on his knee as they laughingly planned their own family.

"He's grown up," he said shortly.

"He sure has."

With the relief she felt, Kat was unable to prevent her tender smile. Ian noticed immediately, and his eyes flashed angrily. Refusing to return her friendly demeanor, he looked beyond her shoulder to the darkness outside. "I had no idea."

Stung by his continued coldness, Kat sighed and took a step away. The happy reunion that was never to be was obviously over. She wanted to continue to hug Aaron in relief, and Ian clearly wanted her out of his garage. "I wouldn't have expected you to. Thank you for allowing him to call me from your phone."

Nodding distractedly, Ian waved aside her gratitude. "No problem. But you shouldn't let him run around alone. It's a safe neighborhood, but you never know."

"I know that," she said wryly.

"He showed up here tonight. It wasn't me who let him take off."

Kat could feel her face burn. There was no way she would ever admit to him that she had slept the afternoon away after crying herself to sleep following Myra and Curtis' rude words. She still had a little pride left, and she never wanted him to know what they had turned her into. Placing her most haughty public face forward, she raised her chin and stared at a spot on his square chin, trying very hard not to remember what his stubble had felt like against her skin.

"He didn't take off. He went for a walk and got lost."

Ian shrugged, proving he was not buying the lie but did not want to deal with her any more than necessary. She took the hint and spun on her heel.

"Thank you again, Ian."

She did not see him cross his arms over his chest, but she felt the intensity of his stare on her back as he watched her leave. Grady and Aaron had remained cautiously outside while she and Ian shared their brief exchange, and Kat noticed how Aaron's gaze focused on her when she reappeared.

"I'm sorry I left you alone with them," he said solemnly. "I won't do it again."

She offered him a reassuring smile that barely reached her eyes, and then did the same for Grady. His face was cool, giving her no indication that he had heard Aaron's heartfelt apology.

"It was nice to see you again," she said politely, feeling as though she was in a den of hungry wolves.

He nodded solemnly, but his eyes warmed slightly. "You look great."

"Thanks, Grady. You do, too."

He chuckled and patted his stomach. "Middle age is starting to settle in."

"I think it happens to all of us."

Kat's smile was genuine then, but Grady's gaze flicking beyond her to the garage and shifting nervously caused it to fade. Aaron approached and placed his small hand in hers. He squeezed it tightly, and she glanced down. "Did you say your thanks?"

"Thank you," Aaron replied obediently.

Grady nodded and glanced again toward the garage where Ian still lingered. Not expecting him to reappear, Kat did her best to remain cheerful. "Would you tell Ian that Aaron said thank you?"

"Of course," Grady said.

He stretched out his hand toward Aaron, and Kat was pleased to see her nephew reach out and shake it firmly. Pride surged through her even though Aaron was not her child. He conducted himself with excellent manners, and she was delighted to see him so respectful. It gave her one small victory on an otherwise humiliating day.

Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she pulled him tighter to her side. "Ready?"

He nodded.

Sending a parting smile in Grady's direction, Kat turned and led Aaron back to her car. Though she refused to look back, out of the corner of her eye she saw Grady join Ian in the garage, and just as she slipped behind the wheel both men appeared.

Standing side by side with their expressions in shadow, Kat found it remarkable how alike they were. From a distance, they were of a very similar build and height, but Kat still would know Ian anywhere. He stood proudly, straight and formal, even when dressed in basketball shorts and a gray tee still damp from his recent workout.

The perpetual sadness she had fought ever since she had walked out on him returned in full force. Memories of what they once had and what could never be made her hand tremble and her keys almost drop to the pavement. Aaron glanced over at her.

"Are you feeling better?"

"I'm fine," she said in surprise.

"You were crying."

She gripped the keys tighter. How did the child know these things? "I was scared you were lost, Aaron."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I'm just glad I found you."

"Ian said you'd say that."

Grinding her teeth together, Kat started the car and roughly put it in gear. She was not sure how to answer his comment, so she held her tongue. Frankly, speaking about Ian's many good traits seemed counterproductive at that point.

"I think any mother would feel the same."

"I wish my mother was here," Aaron said as she circled the cul-de-sac and accelerated away from Ian's home.

Kat sighed heavily and nodded her head. A few short weeks ago she may have disagreed, but having cared for Terri's son and having been reminded of how many wrong choices she had made out of her fear to live the life her father demanded, she now heartily agreed with her nephew. They both needed Terri; Kat to take a lesson in how her younger sister was able to stand up to her bullying father, and Aaron to learn how _not_ to be like his aunt in his future.

It was time to hunt her sister down.

# ****

After spending the remainder of the week considering her situation, Kat was feeling refreshed and in control when Saturday morning arrived both sunny and cool. Curtis had only called twice since Tuesday, and each time he had been short and to the point, advising her he would be unavailable for the remainder of his time away. His lack of concern made it easier for her to devise a plan to locate her sister and get to the bottom of her disappearance. More than anything, she wanted to bring her home to her son and to make long-overdue amends.

She lay in bed pondering how to do just that when her phone rang. Reaching across the bed to where it rested on the nightstand, Kat gasped out loud when she spied the caller ID.

"Terri! Where have you been?"

"I'm sorry I haven't called sooner. I wanted to make sure you weren't working with them to find me."

"What's going on? I'm so confused."

"I heard something, something terrible, and Dad found out and took Aaron. He threatened to kill me if I told anyone, so I had to run."

Kat's eyes went wide with shock. "You left Aaron with him after he threatened you?"

"Mom promised me she would get him to you."

"He's here, but that was risky of you. You know you can't trust her."

"I had to," Terri said shortly. "You don't understand. What I learned is serious. I'm meeting with a federal agent to talk about it on Monday."

"Where are you?"

"Well, this is why I'm calling. I think you should be here."

"I can't get involved," Kat said softly. "You know that. You know what he'll do."

"It's time to stop him, Kat," Terri said forcefully. "I have the information to do that, but I need your help. You need to come up here and do this with me."

Kat grimaced but a glimmer of hope appeared in her subconscious. "Tell me what happened. Everything."

Twenty minutes later, with her mind made up to move forward with Terri's plan, Kat slipped from beneath the covers and pulled a small suitcase out of her closet, gnawing her lip in anticipation. Once Jamie's wedding was over, she would have two and half days in Sedona to spill it all to Terri's agent. If everything went well, Ian would forever be safe from her father, and she would finally get her life back. She would run and never look back again, content with the knowledge that Ian was no longer in danger.

Bolstered by her newfound courage, Kat took extra care preparing for Jamie's wedding. Her determination did not just extend to showing Curtis and his horrifying mother just how strong she could be, but also Ian. The man who held her heart in his hands would see a new Kat on this wonderful day for his sister. While she would respect his disdain for her, she would not be cowed by it. There was no reason why she should avoid watching Jamie's happiness, as long as she did not ruin it for Ian. Kat would make her appearance without causing a scene or any stress for anyone.

After applying just enough makeup to suit the day's events, Kat rebelliously tousled her short hair and allowed the spikes to air dry. With Curtis away, she had no reason to live by his standards. This was her day to spend with the family she had once belonged to and longed for every day.

Stepping into the smoky blue, figure-flattering ruched dress that she had deliberately chosen for the event, Kat zipped up the back and looked in the mirror. She was petite, but she had been blessed with just enough curvature to cause heads to swing. Today, she wanted them to swing in her direction with looks of appreciation rather than unwelcome frowns. Ian's especially.

Satisfied that the surplice neckline was not too low and the ruched back not too obvious, she smiled to herself and slipped into her shoes. The matching blue sandals were more suited to a summer event, but October in Arizona made her slight fashion faux pas forgivable.

When she descended the stairs and entered the kitchen, both Carolina and Aaron's eyes went wide.

"You look nice," Aaron said with a look of surprise.

"Just beautiful, miss," Carolina agreed breathlessly. Hands clasped to her chest, she smiled broadly at Kat, making her blush to her blond roots.

"Thank you both," she said happily.

"So you're off to the wedding?"

Kat nodded and glanced beyond Carolina to the deep blue sky outside the kitchen window. "It looks like she couldn't have picked a better day, doesn't it?"

"Oh yes."

Kat turned to face Aaron, smiling happily. "And you're going to behave for Miss Carolina while I'm gone, right?"

He nodded. "I am."

Though Kat had not been specific as to why she was suddenly making plans for a trip in connection with his mother, she assumed he knew that she was up to something. Always the well-behaved child, Aaron did his best to play along with her.

"We're going to have a great weekend, Miss Kat. We're going to visit my sister, and my daughter is going to bring her baby over."

"I like babies. We're going to watch a movie together."

Kat chuckled. "You'll have to let me know if the baby enjoys _Transformers_ , Aaron."

Carolina's eyes crinkled as she laughed gaily. "Oh, we'll find something suitable, don't you worry."

Kat had faith in her trustworthy maid. She grinned at her. "I'm sure you will." Turning to Aaron, she nodded her head in the direction of the stairs. "I packed your suitcase for you. Why don't you run up and make sure you have everything you'll need until you get back?"

With a quick nod, Aaron shot off the barstool and ran from the room, whooping as he went. Kat watched him go and then met Carolina's warm brown eyes. "So much energy."

Carolina chuckled. "He's a boy."

With the little overeager ears now gone, Kat gathered up her handbag and reached in, pulling out a wad of twenties from her hidden stash. Thrusting it across the counter, she ignored Carolina's wildly shaking head. "You take this."

"It's not necessary," Carolina insisted.

After the scare Aaron had given them both, Carolina had proven her trustworthiness by staying late that evening and calling every friend she had in the area to help search for her nephew. When Kat had returned with him safe and sound, the older woman had broken down and admitted that she feared Curtis had been behind his disappearance.

After staying up late discussing her concerns, Kat realized that Carolina had seen from the very beginning what she was just learning. Curtis was not worthy enough to be her husband, and she could not go through with the wedding. They had devised a tentative plan for her to take Aaron and hide long enough to distract her father and allow her time to end the engagement. Terri could not have had better timing when she called after the plan was in place.

"It is necessary. I want you and Aaron to go out and have fun. Take your daughter and grandbaby out to dinner, or go to the zoo. There should be enough there for you all to enjoy the weekend. I'll be back Tuesday afternoon before Curtis and Myra, and then my next move should follow from there."

"I'd rather not."

"I insist. This means a lot to me, and I couldn't do it without your help. Besides, the more distracted he is, the easier it'll be."

At this Carolina paused, so Kat gave the wad one last push toward her before slinging her bag over her shoulder. "I'm going to say goodbye to Aaron, but I want you to know how much I appreciate your help."

Carolina blushed and ducked her head, hiding her pleasure behind a nervous giggle.

Reaching across the counter, she gripped Carolina's hand and squeezed. "You're the only friend I have."

The older woman reached out and engulfed her in her arms. "You're a beautiful woman, Miss Kat, inside and out. You'll find the strength to obtain your freedom, and I'll do whatever I can to help."

"I hope you're right. Thank you."

That hopeful cheerfulness lasted all the way over to the church, through the parking lot where guests mingled in small groups and up the stairs to the open doorway where she was greeted by a towheaded boy of about ten.

He smiled, standing awkwardly in his black tuxedo and looking extremely bored in his role of attendant. "Bride or groom?"

Seeing that the groom's side had very few guests, she made a quick decision. "Groom."

No sooner had the boy seated her than she realized her mistake. What she thought would be a show of support for the man with no family and very few friends quickly appeared to be a great blunder. Not only was she several rows from the front, she would also be in plain sight of Ian and he of hers. Sighing, Kat debated making a quick exit to the back of the church, but the arrival of a fairly large group of Evans family members gave her pause.

She recognized Chuck Evans first, the portly oldest son of the four patriarchs. Though now in his forties, she remembered his tireless skill on the dance floor with a smile. She had danced with him at the weddings of two of Chuck's sisters back in her and Ian's happier days. Those were dances to remember, for not only was Chuck vivacious and charming, but he also had a way of swinging a woman around the dance floor as though they were alone.

She remembered visiting him after a motorcycle accident had almost put an end to his dancing ways, but it appeared as though he had healed completely. He strode proudly down the aisle, chin high, and he moved with the grace of a man who had no disabilities.

His two sisters followed, along with his son, CJ, and his wife, Tina. Their families sported the Evans shiny mahogany hair, brown eyes and broad happy smiles. Kat sank back to her seat and clutched her hands in her lap. Even though they seemed not to notice her, she could not help but wonder what she had gotten herself into. There were still only a handful of people on Andrew's side, and she feared she would stick out like a sore thumb if no one else appeared.

After several more minutes of sitting alone and worrying, finally more people arrived. They took the row directly in front of her, and Kat was again dismayed when she recognized yet another Evans. It was Zachary, the only child of the third Evans patriarch. She had not seen Zach in several years, but she remembered hearing that the handsome FBI agent now worked regularly with Ian in their gang investigation.

She went rigid in her seat, hoping Zach would not recognize her, but he appeared to be more concerned with the raven-haired beauty she recognized as Emery Flores and sat without glancing her way. She watched the pair with interest, taking note of the proprietary arm Zach wrapped around her shoulders and the way he leaned toward her when she spoke. As she wondered when their friendship developed into a romantic relationship, she felt envy steal into her heart. There had been a time when she and Ian had been unable to be separated like that and had shared the same ability to speak without words. A slight touch or simple gesture was all it took to relay a thought or intent.

She had made a huge mistake in letting him slip through her fingers, but what was done was done. It was too late now.

Dragging her snooping gaze away from the happy couple, Kat took a slow, deep breath and glanced at her mobile to check the time. The ceremony would begin soon. Steeling her shoulders, she decided that if she had an entire row to herself, so be it.

No sooner had she accepted the reality of her situation than a form appeared by her side. Kat glanced up in surprise to see a tall blonde dressed in a royal blue, silk chiffon dress take a seat next to her with a bright, friendly smile that displayed beautiful white teeth.

"I hope you don't mind my joining you, but I saw you were attending alone and thought I would sit with you."

Kat returned the cheerful smile with one of her own, ignoring the relief that flooded through her. "I'm glad you did." She reached out her hand tentatively. "Kathleen Woods."

The lovely blonde took her hand and gave her a warm squeeze. "Danielle Ryan. It's nice to meet you."

Kat chuckled. "The feeling is more than mutual."

Danielle released her grip and settled her small bag on her lap before turning slightly to face her. Kat was caught by the open friendliness in Danielle's eyes, and her warmth immediately put Kat at ease. "So, Kathleen, where are you from?"

"Here, originally. You?"

"I just moved here, actually. I'm from San Diego."

"I just moved back."

"So that's why you're alone?" Danielle asked with a friendly glint in her eye.

"My fiancé is out of town," Kat said, unable to hide the relief in her voice. But it was true that if Curtis had been home she most certainly would not be anywhere near here.

"What a bummer. He must be sorry to be missing Andrew's wedding."

"I haven't actually met Andrew yet. I'm one of Jamie's friends," Kat blurted, avoiding having to admit Curtis had no interest whatsoever in attending.

Danielle's brow rose in curiosity. "So you're sitting on his side because you're alone?"

Kat shrugged and glanced down at her hands. "I heard he didn't have much family."

"That's really awesome of you," Danielle said with a warm laugh. Kat could not help but like her all the more.

"Thank you."

"I'm so glad I found you here. Now I know for sure you don't mind my crashing your little party."

Kat laughed again. "Trust me, that's the very last thing I would have thought."

"Good."

Kat cocked her head to the side. "So why are you here alone?"

Danielle waved her hand in dismissal. "I'm not really. My date's one of the groomsmen."

Feeling as though someone had just pulled a rug out from under her feet, Kat felt the blood leave her face as her heart sank to her knees. She knew all the groomsmen, and every one of them was taken with the exception of Ian. She had not considered that he would have a date this afternoon, and the idea suddenly made the reception almost too intolerable to bear.

The largest problem lay in the fact that she had taken an immediate liking to the woman by her side. Biting her lip, she debated asking who her date was. Afraid of hearing the truth and even more afraid of not knowing, she finally sucked in a deep breath and met Danielle's gaze. "I know them all. Who are you seeing?"

Before she could answer, the music suddenly changed and all murmured discussion ended.

Danielle tapped Kat's shoulder and indicated to the side door where the groomsmen were just entering. She caught her first glimpse of the surprisingly tall and handsome husband-to-be. From what she had heard about his previous line of work and experiences, she could not believe the nervousness he displayed. Though standing erect, Andrew Sheehan fumbled with his jacket, shifting from one long leg to the next and glancing out at the crowd with wide, apprehensive eyes. His obvious anxiety almost made Kat smile. She would have if her heart was not still resting on her knees.

The remaining brothers filed in, with Ford, acting as best man, leaning in to Andrew's ear to mutter something that made the groom smile. Kat immediately liked what she saw. Andrew had one of those expressive faces that made every emotion clearly noticeable, and seeing his demeanor change before her eyes made Kat able to understand what had captivated Jamie.

Her gaze trailed down the line of grinning brothers to settle on Ian, who stood at the very end. The youngest boy in the family, Kat remembered his constant griping of how he was always last. Somehow she knew he no longer worried about that. Broad of chest and intimidating in height, only Hayden stood taller than Ian. She admired the way the black tux hugged his muscular form, and he had recently trimmed his dark hair. The scruff she had seen him sporting had been shaved clean, and she loved the smoothness of his cheeks. In fact, she loved everything about him. That this stunning blonde with the friendly smile and bubbly personality could be his date was almost as perfect as him. Though Kat wanted to be happy for him, the bitter, selfish part of her could not help but seethe with jealousy.

It did not help when Ian felt the force of her stare and slowly swung his gaze in her direction. After an initial double take in which his broad smile quickly faded, Ian's eyes went wide in disbelief. She watched intently as first all the blood in his face drained when he saw the two of them together, only to suddenly return until his cheeks were flushed a deep pink.

In Kat's eyes, the look and his reaction were all she needed to confirm her fear. Ian was seeing Danielle – he had a date. The remainder of the ceremony was one long, drawn-out moment of hell.

# Chapter 8

She looked beautiful, damn her.

Ian continued to stare into his champagne glass, now empty but a sight better than the lovely vision in the snug blue dress who had avoided him ever since he first spotted her at the ceremony with her adorable pixie haircut spiked in a sexy and provocative way that was driving him mad. He was not sure why it bothered him that she was shunning him. After all, he was the one who said he did not want to be near her, and he definitely had not been welcoming at his house earlier that week. But bother him it did, more than he was ready to admit.

That she was laughing at a family table with his cousins, Brian and Chuck, alongside Dani rekindling old friendships and making new ones was killing him. When she coupled up with young, single and handsome Brian as soon as the dancing started, he almost shot to his feet to stop them. She was having a good time, but he was not.

It was _his_ sister's wedding. He should be the one laughing and having a good time, not her. Feeling stifled in his tuxedo, Ian tugged at his neck when he caught a glimpse of Kat across the room, holding her drink up to a toast proposed by Hayden, whose arm was draped casually around Dani's shoulders. Ian grimaced. He never expected that brother to be a traitor, too.

"Hey."

The cheerful greeting came with a flounce of voluminous ivory material that brushed against his legs under the table. Ian shifted to find Jamie settling in Rae's vacated seat thrusting a fresh beer bottle in his direction. He took hold of it thankfully, liking the cold that seeped into his overheated fingers. Giving his sister a once-over, he had to admit she looked stunning with the flushed face that accompanied her breathlessness. Picking up an untouched glass of water, she took a long sip before setting it down.

"I'm hot."

As she began fanning herself, Ian chuckled. "Having a good time?"

"I'm having a blast. You?"

"I'm still trying to come to terms with the fact that my little sister just married a commando who knows more about weapons than I do."

Laughing, Jamie playfully punched his shoulder. "Ex, Ian. Ex."

"So you say," he replied with a wink.

They both knew about Andrew's vital involvement in Hayden's recent troubles, although it was not openly discussed due to the illegality of his presence there. Jamie of course refused to talk about it at all, still fuming over what the boys had done behind her back

"Ex," she insisted firmly. "I'll never allow it again."

Ian laughed aloud this time, knowing from his own experience that it was not that easy. Andrew's past and training would forever be a part of him, a piece he would never totally sever. But his sister was quite formidable when she wanted to be and could put up quite a fight. He almost pitied Andrew and probably would have if he did not love his sister so much. A better suited pair he had yet to meet.

"Okay, Mama Bear."

"I know you like him."

Ian nodded. "Of course I do. I wouldn't have stood up there with him if I didn't."

"You love him. Just admit it," Jamie said, laughing.

Sighing dramatically, Ian made a show of conceding. Jamie grinned at him, obviously sensing her victory. "All right, I'll admit the commando part doesn't bother me. He's a good guy, and I'm glad you're happy."

Leaning into him, Jamie wrapped her arm around his neck and kissed his cheek. "Never doubted it for a minute. Which is why I'd like to help."

"Don't," Ian began firmly.

"No, no, hear me out," Jamie said quickly.

"I'd rather not. This is your day. Stop worrying about me."

"I can't help but worry when you're sitting alone sulking."

"I'm not sulking."

One of Jamie's finely arched eyebrows rose in unspoken sarcasm. Ian frowned back.

"I danced with Rae. She took off to check on her husband, so I came back here to wait."

The second eyebrow joined the first.

Scowling, Ian turned his attention to the beer she had given him and took a sip, only lowering it when he noticed she was still staring at him. "What?"

"I'm not blind, you know."

"What does that mean?"

"Without mentioning any names, I've noticed you've been watching a particular blonde in a blue dress."

"I am not checking out Hayden's fiancé," Ian snapped.

Jamie laughed. "You know I wasn't referring to Dani."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You've been watching her all evening, especially since she and Dani became fast friends."

Jamie stated the obvious, which made him wonder how many others had noticed. Shifting in his seat uncomfortably, he did not respond.

"I've been keeping an eye on you since you weren't looking forward to seeing her."

"Gee, thanks," he replied sarcastically. "If you knew, you shouldn't have invited her."

"Remember what Isabel said? Maybe you two need to talk things out. I can set that up." Jamie's voice was low and sincere, but Ian had no interest in taking her up on the offer. Being alone with Kat would be a huge mistake, with either him being arrested for disturbing the peace or her being arrested for forcing him to jump out a window to his death. That she still had that much power over him reminded him of how dangerous it would be if they were to find themselves alone together.

Ian shook his head. "I'd rather not. It's uncomfortable enough seeing her here as though nothing happened."

"Did you ever consider that she's here because we're the closest thing she ever had to a real family?"

"I offered her that permanently, and she turned me down flat. As far as I'm concerned, it's not our problem anymore."

"I do understand what you mean," Jamie said, placing her hand on his arm and giving him a light squeeze. "If she was anyone else, I'd agree with you completely... But we both know how starved she is for love because of her creepy father."

"She should've told him to back off when she had the chance," Ian insisted.

"When you're terrified, it's not that easy. You, as a cop, know that."

"I told her I'd protect her," he snapped.

"But who was going to protect you?"

Ian glared, his words clipped. "I don't need protecting."

Sighing heavily, Jamie reached for his hand. "I get the picture." She smiled sympathetically, but her eyes glinted with mischief. "Be a good big brother and dance with me. I can't have you miserable at my wedding."

Draining the beer, Ian considered her request. His gaze wandered to the dance floor, where many guests were enjoying themselves. Brightly colored dresses flashed in the disco lights, and the myriad of suit-clad men made competition stiff. Though he caught sight of Dani and Hayden, Kat and Brian did not stand out in the crowd. He ground his teeth together in frustration. There was no denying that he was looking for her, eager to get the dance over because he was afraid to find her dancing with his cousin. Sighing, he decided that after he danced with his sister, he would go bury himself in some quiet corner with a few of the less sure-footed guys he knew and remain away from his Jamie's watchful gaze.

"You're still a brat," Ian grumbled. But he came to his feet and gallantly held out his hand.

When they were kids, he and Jamie had taken dance lessons for two years. Being only a year apart in age meant they were often in the same class, so they were comfortable when it came to dancing together. Ian appreciated the medium tempo of the dance, nothing too hip-hop and not slow enough for Andrew to search her out.

"When are you flying out?" Ian asked as soon as her arms settled loosely on his shoulders.

Jamie dipped before responding. "To Costa Rica?"

"Yeah."

"Tomorrow morning."

"That's pretty cool."

"Andrew's looking forward to it. He's been all over the world but never for pleasure. I can't wait to show him how to relax."

"A honeymoon is not for relaxing," Ian teased.

Jamie had the grace to appear slightly embarrassed, but she turned it around with her typical sauciness. "Trust me, there are many different ways to relax."

Ian chuckled. "That's not what I need to hear from my little sister."

Laughing, she allowed him to dip her again. "You asked."

"My bad," he admitted with a grin.

"I'm glad you're finally relaxing," she said more sincerely.

Ian was, too. In fact, he was just starting to enjoy himself when Chuck bumped into his back and leaned over his shoulder.

"I think it's my turn."

"Go away," Ian replied cheerfully.

"She may be your sister, but I haven't had a dance with the bride yet."

"Wait your turn."

Chuck laughed happily. "When this song's over, I get her for the next one."

"Fair enough," he said, smiling at Jamie's laughing eyes.

"I feel so popular," she joked.

Her gaze followed Chuck as he wandered through the crowd in search of a partner willing to be swept in a tornado over the floor while Ian did his best to not search out Kat again. Dancing had been a good idea. He had to focus on Jamie's feet and make sure he did not cause any dress emergencies by leading her into a milling throng. Unfortunately, the song did not last long enough. He was thoroughly enjoying himself when his shoulder was again tapped.

"Song's done. Time to trade."

Jamie wrapped her hands around Ian's shoulders and pulled him down for a tight hug as a slow dance began. "Thank you for being such a great brother," she whispered into his neck. "I love you."

"Love you, too. Good luck dancing to this tune with Chuck."

"I can't wait," she said with a giggle.

He could not stop the smile that curved his lips.

When she released him, her smile was just as wide, but it faded the moment Chuck reached for her. He realized why when he saw the flash of blue attached to the hand that Chuck placed in his. It seemed as dainty as a child's, and the force of recognition sent his heart into a tailspin of longing mixed with fury. As her fingers closed around his palm, he considered jerking away and leaving the dance floor, but two things prevented his instinctive reaction. The first was the stricken look on Jamie's face as Chuck pulled her away. The second was the challenging grip on his hand and the low voice that accompanied it.

"Let's not create a scene, Ian."

There it was. A subtle dare.

# ****

In what was becoming a common occurrence when Ian was near, Kat's heart began pounding so hard in her chest that she feared he would notice. If he did, he made no mention of it. Instead, he resentfully placed his hands lightly on her waist and began to lead her in the dance without a word. His grip was not welcoming in the least. In fact, he used his fingers to keep the distance between them rather than to pull her closer, but Kat did not allow that to intimidate her.

Resting her hands on the broad expanse of his shoulders, she allowed him to guide their movements while keeping her gaze straight ahead. Unfortunately, that meant staring at the muscular planes of his chest. Even with the insistent press of the other bodies around them, she was aware only of Ian. The scent of his cologne, the hardness of the muscles under her palms and the grip of his hands on the curve of her hips that seemed so natural. The feeling of rightness being in his arms again nearly overwhelmed her senses.

Although aware of the heat of his gaze on the top of her head, she still jolted when Ian spoke in a low and tightly controlled voice laced with fury. "Did you arrange this?"

Stunned, her gaze flew up to meet his. She swallowed when she saw the simmering dislike glowing in his eyes and the tight line of his jaw. "I – no!"

One of his dark eyebrows rose skeptically. "Chuck came up with this on his own?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she said hastily.

"I'm talking about Chuck."

"What about Chuck?"

"The switch off. He came up with that on his own?"

Kat blinked several times in confusion, understanding but unable to interpret his anger. She shook her head. "You mean making me dance with you?"

"Making _me_ dance with _you_ ," he corrected tightly. His hand slipped lower on her hip when she inhaled deeply, and he responded by tightening his grip around her waist.

"What's the big deal?" Kat asked impatiently. "It's only a dance."

"Did you ever consider that I don't want to dance with you?"

Stung, Kat compressed her lips together to bite back her hurt response. Inhaling again to give herself strength, she cocked her head to the side and tried to appear nonchalant. It would have worked if she came higher than the middle of his chest. "Who says I wanted to dance with you?"

"I assume you're continuing to make the rounds, considering you've danced with every other guy here the minute Brian lets you go for a second."

"So you've been keeping tabs on me?"

He scowled as soon as he realized his blunder, but it was too late. Kat had her small victory and relished it. "No, I haven't been keeping tabs on you."

She shrugged slightly. "I wouldn't have minded if you were."

To follow up her heartfelt words, her thumbs began to lightly stroke his collarbones, but he scowled again instead of warming to her. "Would you stop that?"

Her thumbs ceased their movement immediately. Beneath her hands, she felt the tightness of the muscles in his shoulders as they bunched up with tension. "Stop what?"

"Stop trying to flirt with me. It's not right."

Swallowing away the lump that formed in her throat, Kat silently conceded that he had a point. She was engaged to another man, no matter how unwillingly. "I wasn't aware that I was flirting with you."

"What would you call it then?"

"Trying to make light conversation between two old friends."

"Old friends?" Ian asked incredulously. He laughed, but the sound was as brittle as his movements. "That's rich coming from you."

"Why wouldn't we be? We go way back."

"Would the glaring rock on your finger be any indication? Where's the lucky guy anyway?"

To punctuate his point, he scanned the crowd over her head. The movement almost caused her hand to fall down his chest, and she instinctively gripped him tighter even though her reaction seemed to make him angrier. The scowl she despised so much returned to his face as he again held her away from him.

"He's out of town," she whispered under the weight of his glare.

"You would have the audacity to bring him to my sister's wedding if he was around, wouldn't you?"

No, she wanted to scream in frustration. Feeling perilously close to tears, Kat allowed her hands to drop to her sides. There was no use trying to make the best of the situation when he could only view her with loathing. It was the look in his eyes and the weight of the stares other people were sending them that forced her to take a step back, but surprisingly Ian tightened his grip.

"Don't you do it," he said through clenched teeth.

Beginning to feel her control slipping away, she frowned. There was no way she would ever let him see her cry, not when he detested her so much. "Why continue dancing when you can't stand the sight of me?"

"I won't have you upset my sister on her wedding day."

"We've danced long enough that no one would notice if we went our separate ways."

"Trust me, they would," Ian said in a low voice. "Everyone here knows how you went your separate way."

Kat bit her lip, intent on not creating a spectacle. Maintaining eye contact with Ian, she refused to look around to see if anyone noticed her dramatic display. Replacing her hands on his shoulders, she bit back the sudden urge to wrap them around his neck and snuggle into the strong chest only inches away. That would certainly cause tongues to wag.

But she was an engaged woman.

"What are you up to?"

Hearing the suspicion in his voice, Kat decided to be honest. "I was considering giving every one of your curious onlookers something to really talk about."

Ian's eyes widened in surprise, and Kat felt a moment of victory again.

"You wouldn't dare."

Laughing for the first time since they had come together, Kat smiled up at him. "I think you know me well enough to know I would."

"Actually, I don't," he said shortly.

"Should we try it out then?"

"Absolutely not."

Though Kat tried to move closer to him, the hands around her waist held her firmly in place. An overly modest distance of five or six inches separated her from his strong chest, a plane she had laid her head upon many times. She wanted to do it again, to tell him of her continued misery without him, but she held her tongue. No matter how selfish she could be, she was unable to prolong the pain she had caused him. He deserved so much more than that. Ian deserved better than her.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"You're right," he said shortly.

"Okay, so shall we exit?"

"The song isn't over."

Nodding her head slowly, Kat raised her gaze once more to meet his. He was still staring down at her coldly, his eyes spitting the venom that his words had so far held in restraint. She grimaced. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Ian snapped. "Sorry for saying something? Sorry for showing up today? Sorry for dancing with me with a ring five times the size of the one I gave you on your hand? How about sorry for coming back here after you threw that ring in my face and walked out on me a second time so you could find a rich husband? Or maybe sorry for trying to make friends with the family you hurt and abandoned? Should I go on?"

Blinking back the tears she had so far managed to hold at bay, Kat shook her head.

"Maybe I want to. Maybe I have the right to have a say in this game you're playing."

"I'm not playing any games," she said in trembling voice.

His hands tightened, drawing her up against his chest and holding her there as he steered them toward the far corner of the dance floor. Kat bit her lip nervously, but he stopped in a darker area and held her in place, staring down at her furiously.

"Don't look at me as though you're terrified," he growled. "You know I'd never hurt you."

"Well, I wasn't expecting you –"

"You know, let's cut through the bull and try honesty."

Kat could feel her body begin to tremble in earnest, and she feared her knees would give out without his tight grip around her waist holding her in place. But he was also close enough to feel her trembling, and she saw that he noticed it. His lips tightened until they were nearly white, a sign of the rage he felt inside.

Before he could continue his furious tirade, she raised her blurred gaze to him and accepted responsibility for his fury. She understood, truly she did, but she hated it and wished it was not so.

Of all the abuse she had suffered through her entire life, of all the belittling and bullying, seeing his hatred was the most painful injury of all. Oh, how that cut her to the quick, how it stole the last of her happiness. Thinking she would always have a piece of Ian's love even after she left had helped her cope with everything she had been though. Knowing she had lost that made her wonder if there was anything left for her to live for.

There was nothing. She was alone.

Feeling forlorn and miserable, she could no more stop the words that tumbled from her lips than she could stop her heart from beating. "How can you hate me so when I still love you so much?"

Releasing her abruptly, Ian glared down at her with a look of such revulsion that he did not seem to notice when she stumbled back two steps and bumped into a couple behind them. Shaking his head and holding out his arms in resignation, he swore under his breath. "I'm done, Kat. I've had it."

Turning on his heel, he strode away. Aware that eyes had turned in their direction, she smoothed her hands over her hips and attempted to appear normal. Her acting did little to appease the crowd when Marissa and Rae rapidly approached with Hayden and Ford following close behind.

"Haven't you hurt him enough?" Marissa snapped.

"Why can't you just leave him alone?" Rae said sharply.

Both women roughly brushed past her with looks of intense dislike. She accepted them willingly, for she was everything they had accused her of. It had been selfish of her to come here, and she had been wrong to take advantage of their generosity. Ford and Hayden passed by wordlessly, but she noticed Hayden's concerned gaze settle on her before he hurried after his brother.

Refusing to meet anyone's stare head on, she returned to her table and gathered up her handbag, spying Jamie out of the corner of her eye. As she straightened, she offered the bride a timid smile, but the look of pure devastation on Jamie's face made the guilt she felt almost unbearable.

Realizing there was no further welcome from anyone in the Evans family, she stumbled to the door with nothing less than adrenalin to fuel her steps. She had worn out her final welcome and lost the last of her friends. It was done; she was despised by all and completely alone.

She had to get away and get somewhere private before she lost it. No one could see her cry. No one.

"Kathleen!"

In her hurry to leave, Kat had not seen the limousine parked next to her car, but she recognized the tall men that exited the vehicle as she approached with keys in hand. Her heart sank even lower when she saw her father and his head henchman, Dave.

Heart pounding furiously, she blinked back her tears and raised her chin with as much bravery as she could muster. "What are you doing here?"

"Fetching you," John replied coldly. With a nod to his driver, he crossed his arms over his chest. "You made a big mistake coming here, Kathleen."

Under different circumstances, she might have laughed at the irony of it all. However, at the moment, all she could see was Dave approaching with a wicked gleam in his eye and a look of anticipation that spread his thick lips lasciviously. She shuddered and glanced hastily left and right, looking for the cleanest exit.

"Don't even think about it," her father warned. He glanced at Dave and nodded.

Ignoring her father, Kat bolted. Within three steps she realized her mistake, for her high-heeled sandals were no match for the former pro-wrestler in his dress shoes. His beefy hand landed on her head, grasping at her short hair and yanking her backward. Kat cried out, more from surprise than pain, but when his other arm wrapped around her waist and yanked her off her feet, the cry was cut off as all the air rushed out of her lungs.

"Get her in the car before someone sees us," John snapped.

Ignoring her futile kicks against his tree-trunk sized legs, Dave gathered her up in one arm, his hand conveniently cupping one of her breasts. She struggled and tried to cry out, but his sweaty hand wrapped tightly around her face. Once again she cursed her diminutive size as she struggled to breathe. They became more intense, but he merely tossed her headfirst into the back of the limo.

Kat braced her fall with her knees and palms, grimacing as her cheek struck one of the seatbelts nestled within the plush seat. She rolled over immediately, but her escape was blocked by her father. Standing in the open door of the limo, she watched in horror as he calmly unbuckled the belt around his waist and pulled it free with a sharp crack.

"Some things never seem to change, do they?" John asked grimly as he slid across the seat and closed the door behind him. She scooted to the other side of the limo, but the lock was engaged. Before she could find the release, Dave put the limo into gear and drove quickly to the exit.

She glanced out the window, gauging whether or not she could jump when a sudden crack filled the cabin and a searing pain raced up her back. Crying out, she raised her terrorized gaze to his. "What are you doing?"

"You dared to see those Evans after all the warnings I gave you?" John cried, lashing out again.

She bit her lip to keep from crying out against the pain that seared through her thighs. "Jamie's my friend," she said breathlessly.

"That Evans boy was there. Don't you deny it."

He lashed out with the belt again, striking her thigh and upper arm. Kat managed to hold in the sharp cry that threatened to escape, but the burning pain only intensified.

"He hates me," she said hastily. "You have nothing to fear from him."

"I don't fear him," John said coldly. "It's he who should fear me."

Several more blows landed, these around her arms and her waist. As he struck out, he continued to rant.

"You were warned last time. I told you I would destroy him like a cockroach if you went near him again. You disobeyed me, jeopardizing our alliance with Reichs. It's your fault that I have to take him down and take him out."

"Please, no," she moaned in a voice breathless from the pain. "He's done nothing wrong. I just wanted to see my friend."

John refused to listen. Sobbing openly in an attempt to play on his sympathy, Kat curled into a ball to protect her face, but her father was unaffected. In his fury, he continued to lash out with the belt, heedless of the angle or trajectory. The blows rained along her back and buttocks, all the way down to her ankles. Having no escape, she did what she had always done. She closed her eyes against his crazed, spittle-filled ranting and allowed the tears to fall into the plush black leather, once again taking one for the Evans family.

If they only knew...

# Chapter 9

"Dad? Dad!"

Burying his face in his beer at the bar in an effort to ignore Marissa and Rae's annoying attempts to soothe his anger, Ian did not look up immediately when CJ ran past him to his father. He stood bouncing from one foot to the other, urgently tugging on Chuck's jacket as though the building was on fire. Out of the corner of his eye, Ian could see the panicked look on the kid's face and raised his head slightly just as Hayden and Chuck broke off their conversation and stared down at him expectantly. They were close enough that he could hear their words over the pounding music of the DJ, still blasting songs that grated on his frazzled nerves.

"What is it, buddy?" Chuck asked lightly.

"I just saw some guy tackle a girl and throw her in the back of a limo."

Hayden laughed. "Did Andrew and Jamie already leave?"

"Yeah, the way they've been making eyes all afternoon said it all," Chuck replied with a conspiratorial wink.

"No, no, it wasn't like that," CJ insisted. His hands flailed wildly, and the flush on his cheeks grew darker with the exertion.

"You sure, kiddo? Weddings sometimes get out of hand."

"No. This huge guy chased her across the parking lot and caught her." The words were coming fast, and the kid's wide eyes displayed the fear for what he witnessed. "She tried to scream, but he covered her face with his hand and carried her under his arm to the car. The other guy just stood there watching."

"Whoa, what?" Chuck asked, suddenly growing serious.

Hayden frowned.

Ian sat up straight. This sounded real.

"I'm serious," CJ insisted.

"You mean some guy just grabbed a woman outside?"

"They weren't playing around?"

"It wasn't just a couple of the guests going home?"

The questions Hayden and Chuck shot at CJ like bullets from a machine gun had the poor kid looking from one to the other in utter confusion. Ian came to his feet and joined them, leaving Marissa and Rae behind with their silly frowns and sharp words of how awful a person Kat was.

"Start over again, CJ," he said evenly. "What happened? From the beginning, please."

Continuing his nervous dance, CJ glanced at the three men towering over him, his gaze finally focusing on Chuck. "I'm sorry, Dad."

"Don't be sorry," Chuck said. "Just tell us what you saw."

"I know you told me not to go outside, but it cooled off and it was so hot in here."

Chuck nodded impatiently. "I understand."

"I was on the edge of the stairs, and I saw that pretty lady with the blue dress come out. She was almost running, so I stayed out of her way."

Ian went rigid, knowing exactly who CJ was referring to.

Chuck nodded, though his gaze flickered to Ian. Without having to look, he was aware that Hayden was watching him as well.

"When I moved, I could see her going out to her car. She was walking so fast I thought she might trip." To punctuate his post, he imitated the power walk Kat apparently made on her way to her car. "There was a big black limo parked beside the car she went to. Two guys got out when they saw her."

"What did the guys look like?" Chuck demanded.

"One guy was old, but the other guy – the driver – was huge."

Once again CJ used his body to display his meaning, and he stretched his arms up above Hayden's head. Chuck and Hayden exchanged a glance before both of them turned to him.

Ian reached out and put his hand on CJ's shoulder. "What happened?"

CJ turned to him, and his eyes were still wide with excitement. "I couldn't hear their voices. They were too far away. But I did see the lady look around before making a run for it. The huge guy caught her by the hair and yanked her back. Then he picked her up in one arm."

A frisson of fear slithered down Ian's spine. He frowned, furious that something bad could have happened to Kat. Despise her he may, but she certainly did not deserve to be manhandled like that. "He grabbed her by the hair?"

CJ's eyes were huge at this point. "Yeah, honest. He threw her in the limo, Ian."

"Threw her?" Chuck asked.

CJ used both arms to demonstrate. Ian straightened and swallowed hard, biting back the guilt and panic that suddenly flowed through him with the speed of a tsunami. "What did the old guy do?"

"He climbed in behind her and they drove away."

"Which way did they go?" Chuck asked as he pulled out his mobile.

"They turned left."

Ian's mind was working fast. From CJ's description, the older man could be either the missing fiancé or her father. According to Jamie, Kat was planning to marry a man much older than her. He watched with fists clenched by his side as Chuck called it in, not noticing Hayden until his hand landed on his shoulder.

"If you want to go, I can make your excuses."

Of course he had to go. It was his fault she took off to begin with. He had vowed that he was not going to allow Kat to upset Jamie on her wedding day, and he had gone and started a childish argument right there on the dance floor. Glancing over at Hayden, he shook his head. "It was my fault. I screwed up."

"You can apologize once you find her. She needs you more than ever right now."

Ian nodded, too distracted to argue Hayden's line of thinking. "All right."

"I'll handle Jamie. Probably better if she doesn't know what happened."

"Yeah, she'd take off after her."

Hayden nodded solemnly. "I suspect it was her dad again. He's probably furious she came here."

"Maybe."

"I'd start at her house."

"I know."

"You okay to drive?"

"Yeah."

He patted his pockets to confirm he still had his keys and nodded briskly at both Hayden and Chuck. Still ignoring Marissa and Rae, who had joined them and immediately forgotten their anger at Kat, he brushed past and went straight for the door. Behind him he could hear Chuck still on the phone with dispatch, giving as many details as he could.

As he hurried in the same direction Kat had taken just minutes ago, Ian shook his head over the irony of it all. If only he could have behaved. If only he had kept his mouth shut as planned. But once again he had allowed his emotion to overrule his reason, and now he was in the middle of a mess he knew he should be avoiding at all cost. He would have, too, if it were anyone but Kat.

It was always Kat.

# ****

Kat eased gingerly onto the soft mattress as the door closed behind her tight-lipped mother, wincing when her tender flesh came in contact with the plush duvet. Hearing the bolt slide into place on the other side of the closed door, she sighed and glanced around. She had not spent the night in this room in over two years, and the memories of that visit were no more pleasant than her current ones.

She had stayed there the evening after she had thrown the beautiful engagement ring back at Ian. It was the night before her father had begun his "punishment" when she initially refused to leave Ian for Curtis. Closing her eyes against the physical and emotional pain the memories brought back, she reached for her handbag and checked the caller ID. No calls from Curtis and certainly no calls from Ian. She was truly alone.

Alone but not defeated, she told herself. This time she knew what to expect from her father, and she was not going hang around and wait for him to collect her this time.

She was locked her in her old bedroom while he prepared the cell, but what he did not realize was that she had found a route to escape back in her teenage years. She would not go down to that basement again. She would never go there – ever. An escape waited, luring her out the window and down the sturdy branches of the mesquite tree that led to the wall surrounding the property. From there it was no more than a seven-foot drop to the gravel below. Beyond that lay freedom. Scraped feet and sore knees were a simple price compared to what she faced if she remained. Although she was beaten and bruised, she knew she had to go now and get to a safe place. Then she could anonymously call in the threat to Ian's life to the police. Hopefully they would take her seriously.

She could still make the trip to Sedona and meet with Terri. After the evening's events, Kat was bolstered like never before to speak out against him for her lifetime of pain. She just had to wait for him to settle down for the evening, and that would not be long. When her mother was guiding her upstairs, she heard John advising Curtis that everything was under control. Snorting, Kat clenched her fists.

He was going to be in for a big surprise.

Within ten minutes, she heard the garage door sliding down over the limo and Dave whistling as he made his way to his pickup. She ground her teeth together, remembering the way he had groped her before unceremoniously throwing her in the limo. Still seething, she vowed she would land at least one solid kick to his groin before she disappeared forever. That was her final promise to the hulking moron.

To be safe, she waited another ten minutes in the darkness after the sound of Dave's truck disappeared into the night, still clutching the pajamas that her mother had given her to wear. She busied herself by using them to fluff up the covers on her bed to at least attempt to fool her parents if they decided to peek in on her during the night. Every minute would make a difference. Hours would be even better.

Giving one last fluff of the puffy duvet to make it appear as though she was snuggled under the covers, she stood back and appraised her handiwork until satisfied it was the best she could do. Buckling her sandals through the strap of her handbag, she slung it over her neck to keep it secure and made her way painfully to the window. She remembered just in time the way the handle release snapped when it opened and braced it with her hand so it would open silently. With a sigh of relief, no alarms sounded and no hurried footsteps pounded up the stairs. It was now or never.

The screen was her second obstacle. It made a scraping sound as she plucked it from the window, startling her. Rather than falling in as she had hoped, it clamored down to the ground, bouncing off the pool equipment and clattering to rest in the gravel below. Leaning partially out the window, Kat froze, and her heart pounded painfully in her throat. If her father heard the commotion in his current state of anxiety, she would be hurting a lot more than she was already.

Several tense minutes passed while she waited in terror, sweat beading on her forehead and body quaking with fear and pain. When no heavy footfalls landed on the stairs, she took the plunge and launched herself out the window.

Over the years, the frequent trimming of the mesquite tree had raised some of the branches, but she was able to make the three-foot distance and grab a hold of one a few feet above her head. Ignoring the searing pain in her arms and back where she had been struck, she determinedly went hand over hand until she reached the main trunk. Her back was on fire, and the material of her dress rubbed painfully against the more sensitive skin. However, when her thighs wrapped around the trunk she felt a sense of victory and hastily placed her bare feet on a scratchy branch below.

"Hey."

So intent on what she was doing, Kat never saw the shadowed form standing upright on the wall on the other side of the tree. Jerking back in fear, she nearly lost her tenuous grip on the trunk, and her terrified squeak escaped into the darkness.

Before she tumbled the ten feet to the ground, a strong hand reached out to steady her. She nearly screamed out her agony when it wrapped firmly around her waist to hold her in place. The pain buckled her knees, but somehow she managed to grip the trunk.

She bit down on her lip hard to hold back her moan and blinked into the darkness for several moments until she finally found her voice. "What are you doing here?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing."

Kat could not believe her eyes. Still dressed in the black tuxedo that made him rival the best-looking men on the cover of magazines, Ian Evans was perched on the wall with evidently the same plan as her. Years slipped away, and she felt as though she was dreaming. Perhaps the painful punishment in the car had addled her wits and sent her hallucinating back into her teenage days after all.

"Are you okay?"

That really was Ian's voice, so sexy in a deep whisper, and she recognized his firm grip on her waist. But how had he known?

Unsure of his motives, she glanced to the ground beyond him. "I'm leaving," she whispered, avoiding his question.

"I can see that. I'll help you down."

While he removed his hand slowly, she gripped the trunk to keep her mind away from the searing pain in her back. Once he was sure she had her balance, he reached out for her hand and guided her to the wall. The concrete that filled the blocks in the wall was jagged and rubbed the soles of her feet painfully, but it was a minor discomfort compared to the earlier humiliation she had suffered. She held her arms out to keep her balance on the narrow wall while Ian dropped lithely to his feet and held his hands up to catch her.

Crouching down, she launched herself at him, barely holding in her agonized scream when he caught her against his chest and held her tightly. Muffled against his neck, her moan of pain went unnoticed as he allowed her to slide down the length of his body to the ground. The gravel also bit into her tender soles, but she bravely followed him as he led the way to the sidewalk.

Pausing in the shadow of a trash can, he glanced back at her. "My bike's parked one street over."

Still unsure what was going on and how he came to be there, Kat cocked her head suspiciously.

Ian waved her on impatiently. "Do you want a ride or not?"

Breathless from the pain, she nodded.

He reached for her hand and pulled her along behind him at a quick pace. Jogging to keep up, she kept her eyes trained on his broad back the entire time. Ian Evans had appeared out of nowhere and come to her rescue, tall and dark like a thief in the night. Though how he knew was still a mystery, Kat suddenly did not care. He was there, and she was free.

As soon as they rounded the corner out of sight of the house, Ian reached into his pocket and pulled out his mobile. He never loosened his grip on her hand, and she was thankful for it. The strength in his grasp told her that at the moment she was not alone. It gave her the courage to realize that even if he despised her, he was still willing to help her.

"Hey, it's me. I've got her."

She frowned when she realized he was talking about her.

"She seems all right. We're heading to my place now. Can one of you swing in and grab the keys?"

Kat's frown turned into a scowl. Paranoid thoughts replaced her relief as she once again wondered how he had known. Was he in cahoots with her father? Jerking her hand free, she came to a quick stop. Ian paused and glanced over his shoulder.

"Hold on," he said into the phone before staring at her expectantly. "What?"

"Who –" Kat swallowed back her fear. "Who are you talking to?"

He sighed impatiently. "Chuck. He called it in."

"Called what in?"

His eyebrows rose in disbelief. "Your abduction."

She stared at him uncomprehendingly. "My abduction?"

Returning his attention to the phone, he once more reached for her hand and resumed their rapid pace. "She's okay. Just call it off and meet me at my house." A short pause followed while he listened to Chuck's response, and then he spoke again. "Great, thanks."

Though she was confused, he apparently had no intentions of filling her in. He continued to drag her behind him until they reached his bike. Handing her a helmet, he watched as she pulled it over her head and secured it from memory. His lips tightened briefly, but he secured his own and lithely mounted the bike once hers was secure.

As the engine purred to life, Kat staggered up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Remembering how tense his muscles felt when they danced, she kept her touch light and restrained the urge to hug him tightly.

He had come for her.

Hate her he may, but he had come nonetheless.

With only the sound of the motorcycle engine to break the silence of the night, she contented herself during the short ride with touching Ian. She would be lying if she had not dreamed of holding him close again, even though at the moment she only gripped him when she needed the balance and kept her touch light. Still overwhelmed with the knowledge that he had searched for her, she felt a glimmer of hope that there was yet a chance for them to make amends. Even if he could no longer love her, perhaps she could find some satisfaction in having a peaceful ending.

While he drove, he appeared not to notice her presence behind him or her pained whimpers when he hit a bump. His leg brushed hers several times as he placed a foot down for balance, but he seemed to be focused solely on driving rather than her. She did not know whether that was a good sign or not. However, she noticed that he brought her to his house rather than hers, and she was eager to ask him about his decision when he pulled in the driveway and waited for the garage door to open.

Finding the courage to speak when he finally shut down the bike, she leaned over his shoulder. "Why are we here?"

"They're picking up your keys to collect your car."

"Who is?"

Rather than answer, he pulled off his helmet and swung a leg over the bike. When he came to his feet, he held his hand out for her to do the same. Once again she was touched by his thoughtfulness and struggled to hide her discomfort from him, even though her back and legs screamed in agony.

"Either Hayden or Chuck or both."

"Why would they do that?" Kat asked after she removed her helmet. "You could've just dropped me off at my car."

For the first time since they had met outside her window like two teens sneaking out, he studied her. His gaze swept her from head to toe, taking in her now ruined dress and still bare feet with a frown. "You should've put your shoes on."

She glanced down and managed a short laugh. The front of her dress had pieces of bark interwoven in the soft silk, and several snags of loose material proved that it was ruined beyond repair. Moving lower, she noticed her feet now sported a darkened hue from her run along the heat-baked pavement. "I guess I wasn't thinking about that."

"Sandals wouldn't be much help anyway." He shrugged. "At least we didn't wipe out."

Unsure if he was joking, she decided to hold her tongue. Ian spun on his heel and reached for the garage door button. In silence, they both watched the door go down, locking them away from outside eyes and leaving them alone. The sudden silence that fell when the door completed its downward trek seemed to bring them both back to the present, and Kat's gaze flew to his as he reached for the door.

"Come inside."

It was an order rather than a request, but she followed. Though two years had passed since she had last been in the house, it was as familiar to her as her own home – every hallway, all the furniture he had carefully produced and especially the photographs lining the wall. She trailed behind him as he flicked on the lights, pausing in the living room with the familiar leather sofa.

"They should be here shortly," Ian said abruptly.

Kat nodded and wandered into the living room while he shrugged out of his jacket. Though Ian's home was certainly not as grand as the house she and Curtis purchased, to her it was perfect. There were just enough personal touches in the masculine pad to be charming, and the cozy size was far more suited to her than any mansion she would ever live in with Curtis.

Her gaze blurred as she took in the familiar sights, most noticeably the lack of the framed photos of them together. Not that she could blame him, but it did hurt to see every sign of her presence washed clean. Ian's home was back to being a man's domain.

"It looks like the back of your dress is all dirty," he said as he passed her to turn on a lamp. It added a dull orange glow to the room. "Give me a sec... I'll find you something to wear."

"Oh, don't worry about it," she said hastily. "I can change when I get home."

His lips twisted. "Maybe I don't want you getting my furniture dirty."

Color suffused her cheeks, but he did not seem to notice. In a flash, he was out of sight, returning quickly with some sweats and a sweatshirt for her. He held them out brusquely. "Seems like old times."

She snatched them away, not liking his tone diminishing the memories he evoked. Yes, she had often worn his clothes, had loved pulling on one of his shirts or a pair of his sweats to keep his scent close to her body. Many times they had joked about it, and he had taken great pleasure in reclaiming his wardrobe later.

"I think I remember how to roll the waistline," she quipped.

She watched the muscles in his neck work as he swallowed. He had taught her how to roll the waistline multiple times, following up every lesson with a skillfully placed kiss or saucy touch. "Touché."

Feeling only slightly better, she held the garments to her chest and nodded. "I know where to go."

"You said it, darling, not I."

Feeling as if he had struck her, Kat's eyes went wide with shock. Her life had been hell since she had left him; she needed no reminder of that. Turning sharply on her heel, she flashed him one last grim smile. "Don't you worry, Ian, I've been there a long time."

# Chapter 10

Did he really tell her in not so many words to go to hell?

Ian dragged a hand down his face and closed his eyes, remembering what Jamie said. Sure, maybe he did have things he needed to say, but he had been raised better than to kick someone when they were down. Ashamed of his behavior, he muttered some more insults at himself and scowled at his reflection in the darkened TV.

Giving her time to lock herself in the bathroom, he slowly followed in her footsteps to his own room so he could change out of the rented tux before he snagged it and turned it into a mess like her beautiful blue dress had become.

As he passed the bathroom, he found himself straining to hear her movements, but all that greeted him was silence. He wondered briefly if she had gone out the window again, but then discarded the notion. The window in there was too narrow. Still, it would serve him right if she ran away from him, too. He was proving to be no better than her bully of a father.

Feeling foolish for spying as well as for his peevish behavior, he continued to his bedroom, loosening his tie as he went. The door was partially open, and he pushed it the rest of the way only to freeze where he stood. Kat had not used the guest bathroom after all. She stood in the middle of the room with her back toward him and was bent over her dress, studying the damage as it lay stretched out across his bed.

He felt the bitter taste of bile rise in his throat. Not because she was dressed only in panties, which in another time and place would have had him lunging for her and throwing her onto the very same bed they had made love in countless times.

No, this time he froze because her back and thighs were covered in angry red welts. Visible even in the dim light of his reading lamp against the pale smoothness of her skin, some of the welts had broken the skin and left red smears across her back, causing him to flinch and burn with anger at the same time.

"What the hell?"

He would have used a stronger word had her startled yelp not followed his enraged shout. As she snatched the dress off the bed to hold in front of her, her eyes went wide with terror. Ignoring her completely, he crossed the room in three long strides and came to stand before her, ruthlessly snatching the dress out of her hands.

"That's not dirt on your dress, is it?"

She covered her breasts modestly with one hand and reached for the dress with the other. "Give that back."

Still stunned, he did not even notice the nearly nude woman who had been the object of his dreams for more than half his life. Shaking his head, he stared down at the dress in a mixture of horror and shock. Sure enough, what he thought was mud was actually where she had bled through the material. As a blazing-hot fury took a hold of his emotions, he threw the dress back onto the bed and turned to face her.

"Lie down."

She shook her head, her blue eyes huge in her elfin face. Suspecting his rage was only worsening matters he inhaled deeply and tried again.

"I want to look at your back... Please, lie down." His voice sounded clipped even to his ears, and she obviously did not buy his suggestion.

"I'm fine."

"Obviously you're not," he stated with a meaningful glance at the dress. "I know what I saw."

"Please go away," she insisted. "It's a little awkward standing in here with you like this."

"It's nothing I haven't seen before," he reminded her. Sensing her continued discomfort, he avoided giving her a sarcastic once-over. "Kat, I'm only trying to help."

Her chin jutted forward at the sound of her name on his lips. "Why?"

Caught off guard by the genuine curiosity behind her question, Ian shifted uncomfortably. Why indeed? It only took him a moment to retrieve a response, and he made sure it was heartfelt. "Kat, your back looks like you were run over by a train. I need to know if you need an ambulance."

"I'm not going to the hospital," she said hastily.

"Then lie down and let me look at it."

With a final huff, she caved in and eased herself down on the edge of the bed.

He noticed her continued reluctance with exasperation. "Scoot up," he ordered.

She huffed again but did as he asked, lying flat on her stomach and burying her face in his pillow. His eyes scanned her from head to toe, taking in the raised welts as well as the thinness of her normally trim figure. He could see almost every one of her muscles under her nearly translucent skin, and the outline of her ribs reminded him of a television commercial for the starving. It concerned him to see her waist so tiny and her back so lean.

He came to sit beside her, hearing her sharp inhale when the mattress sagged under his weight. Ignoring the sight of the side of her breast as it came tantalizingly close to his thigh, he focused on her back. "Are you eating enough?"

Her muffled response was sarcastic. "Are you a dietician now?"

His lips twisted despite the rage that still burned unchecked. "No, just concerned."

"I said I was fine."

"I disagree." With a tender finger, he reached out and brushed one of the welts that had not broken skin. In fact, only three had, and they were lower on her back where her porcelain skin was the thinnest. Nevertheless, she went rigid under his gentle touch, and he could hear her hiss.

"I'll get you some ice. Wait here."

Surprisingly, the urge to hit something – preferably the man who hurt her – was almost as strong as the urge to gather Kat into his arms. He grappled with both as he disappeared into the bathroom to find some pain reliever. The only bottle he had on hand was Tylenol PM, but he was content knowing that at least she would sleep well.

Stuffing it into his pocket, he hurried into the kitchen to pour her a drink and prepare a compress. Keeping one eye on the clock, he returned to the bedroom to find her in the same position. Only her head had shifted, turned to the side away from him and his approach. He wanted to see her face, just to see if there was any trace of thankfulness in her gaze or if it was still the customary disdain he had grown so familiar with over the past few weeks. A rush of frustration slammed into his heart as he realized it was his fault she looked at him that way. He had given her no other choice.

"It's not a fine chardonnay, but water should do the trick since it's just a pain reliever," he said abruptly.

She slowly turned her head in his direction and then used her arms to push to a semi-seated position. He barely had time to focus on the painting over his bed before her gloriously perfect little breasts were revealed while she took the pills he held out and washed them down with cold water. As much as he hated to admit it, she was still beautiful, so beautiful he could feel his breathing hitch in his chest.

"Thank you," she murmured before easing down again.

He followed her, taking a seat beside her and moving the bowl within reach. Dipping his hand into the ice cube-filled water, he was satisfied with the temperature and began to squeeze out one of the towels.

"Hold still while I put these on," he said, giving her only a slight warning before he placed the first cold compress over her skin.

"Jesus," she gasped.

Chuckling, he silently reprimanded himself for taking a perverse pleasure in her shock. Once again, he was kicking her when she was down. Bad form, he thought. "Sorry, but it should help."

"Yeah, whatever."

She knew him well enough to know when he was sincere, he realized as he laid a second towel over her mid-back. This was the area where the skin had broken, and he took a closer look before covering it. It was broken, but not so badly that she would need stitches or a trip to the hospital. As it settled the second time, she only sucked in a breath.

Bolstered, he squeezed out a third towel, aware of the chill seeping into his fingers. The third overlapped her skimpy black panties, and he swallowed as he tugged the material lower. She went rigid again.

"Relax, I'm just moving it," he mumbled, all too aware of the impact that touching her skin was having on his body. Changing the subject, he returned to the events of the night. "Tell me what happened."

She sighed. "Nothing."

"Doesn't look like nothing to me, Kat... You have to tell me."

"No I don't."

"Considering your abduction was reported to the police tonight, it would be in your best interests to cooperate," he reminded her firmly.

"Who reported the abduction?"

He spread another towel over the curve of her buttocks, swallowing hard at the sight of the firm skin there. Once again battling his more human urges, he returned to the matter at hand. "CJ saw what happened. We called it in."

"He's a good boy."

"He is. He was a great witness."

He paused to move the edge of her panties again, catching sight of another patch of broken skin around her hip bone. His jaw clenched at the savagery of the attack.

"You came looking for me?"

"I went to your house first, but no one was there. Your parents' house seemed the next logical choice."

"Why?"

"CJ said it was an older man who took you."

"No, I mean why did you come looking for me?"

Ian's hand hesitated over the bowl of ice water. That was unexpected. Again, why indeed? "Why wouldn't I when I suspected I knew where you could be? I'm a cop, remember?"

Kat snorted. "I figured you'd be glad."

She was referring to their argument on the dance floor, he thought with a twinge of guilt. What had Hayden said? And Jamie for that matter? Both insisted they needed to talk things out and come to a sort of peace.

Gathering up the last towel, he laid it over her calves where the least of the swelling was and inspected a cut on her ankle. How had he not noticed when he first found her? He dragged her down the street and had her ride his _motorcycle_ , yet she never said a word or complained. He hated that his admiration for her bravery went up a notch. Which brought him full circle again.

"Speaking of which..." The sound of the front door opening interrupted his attempt at an apology he was not willingly going to give, and he breathed a sigh of relief for the temporary reprieve. "Wait here."

"I'm not going anywhere," she said wryly.

He almost smiled. "Coming from the girl who just jumped out a two-story window."

"That was different."

He snorted. "It's Hayden."

Her voice was muffled as she buried her face back into his pillow. "I'll get dressed in a second."

Reaching out, he pressed a hand on the only spot of skin he had not noticed a welt. Unfortunately, her upper arm was resting very close to the curve of her breast. He watched as goose bumps rose on her skin and wondered if it was a reaction to him or just a reaction to the coldness of his fingers. Again he hated how the thought that she was still attracted to him brought a deep pang of longing to his heart.

His voice was rougher than he intended. "No, you won't. Didn't I just tell you to wait here?"

"I can't stay here. It's not safe."

"You can and you will – for now," he said sharply.

"You don't understand," she began.

"Kat, for once will you just do something I tell you to do? We can sort all this out in a minute."

She sighed. "My keys are in the bag on the floor."

Ignoring her petulant display, he came to his feet, grabbed her bag and strode from the room, pleased to see both Hayden and Chuck in his living room.

He smiled grimly in greeting. "Thanks for coming."

"Is she all right?" Chuck asked.

Shaking his head, he pressed his lips together to prevent an outraged outburst. "You should see her. Whoever snatched her gave her a beating. So help me God, when I find out who did this..."

The blinding fury that he had somehow managed to subdue while he was touching her soft skin returned in full force. Luckily Chuck and Hayden were sympathetic to his anger.

"Who grabbed her?" Hayden asked softly.

"I haven't gotten that out of her. She's not exactly receptive to being here."

Was the bitterness in his voice that apparent? Ian scowled when Hayden and Chuck exchanged glances.

"I'll talk to her," Chuck said. "I need a statement anyway."

"Wait, she's not dressed," he said hastily. Both men's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he could feel the flush rise on his cheeks. "Jesus, not because of that."

He watched Chuck's lips tighten, but the older man held in his smile due to the gravity of the situation. "I'll need to take pictures. Don't worry, Ian, I won't peek."

He scowled in return. "Her dress is on the bed, too, but good luck trying to get any information out of her."

Chuck winked. "Trust me, I have my ways."

"Have fun."

"Oh, I will," he said mischievously, smirking when Ian's eyes narrowed.

Sighing, he turned his attention to Hayden, refusing to give voice to the stab of jealousy. "I need a drink."

"Maybe we should move her car first?"

"You're right."

Hayden nodded and followed him through the kitchen and into the garage. He was silent while Ian fished Kat's keys out of her bag, but suddenly a grin spread across his face. "Look at us still dressed for the wedding."

"What a night it's been, huh?" Ian muttered.

"That it has." Hayden nodded as if suddenly making a decision. "I think I should drive."

"Fine by me."

Slipping into the passenger seat of Hayden's BMW, Ian reclined and closed his eyes. He felt Hayden's curious stare on him before he spoke. "Are you okay?"

"Have you ever been so furious at someone that you want to beat them to death?"

"Wait. Who are we talking about, Kat or the guy?"

Ignoring Hayden's feeble attempt at humor, he continued. "You should see her back. It's one long crisscross of welts. Like a belt. Who beats a grown woman with a belt?"

"We both know that batterers use whatever they can get their hands on."

He shook his head in bewilderment. "Why would she let anyone hit her like that?"

Hayden shrugged. "You know she had it rough when she was growing up."

"You think her father hits her still? C'mon... She's an adult."

"And he's a sonofabitch."

"True."

"What if it's her fiancé?"

"Don't even say that," Ian said coldly.

"You just said she wouldn't tell you, and you have your doubts about her father still hitting on her. Jamie said he was out of town for the wedding. Maybe he came back, found out she went and got mad. You know battered women often fall into the same pattern."

"I never laid a hand on her." He shook his head and turned his attention to the road, too frightened of what he would do if it was that fiancé of hers. His mind was swirling with questions, making his earlier anger at Kat seem trivial and childish. Obviously she was dealing with a lot more than a jilted ex-lover.

"It was good of you to go get her," Hayden said abruptly. "I'm proud of you for putting aside your differences to help."

Ian shook his head. "I was just thinking what a giant jackass I am for being such a baby about how things turned out. She did what she wanted to do, and I didn't like it."

"Well, you helped her tonight." He eased off the gas at their first red light. "Where did you find her?"

"She was climbing out her bedroom window as I was going in."

Hayden laughed. "You were going in the window? Aren't you two a little too old for that?"

"Apparently not. I guess old habits die hard."

"That girl has more pluck than we give her credit for," Hayden said as the light changed.

Ian realized that was true. He just had never seen it before. Evidently he was not much better than her father when it came to listening to her. In fact, much of what he did was order her around.

He grimaced as a new pang of guilt rattled through him, and he struggled to hold it back. It had not always been that way. They had faced each other's tempers in the past, and there were several times when Ian was at the brunt of her anger. Kat certainly could give as good as she got when given the chance. Somehow the chance to voice herself had been taken away from her recently, and for the first time he felt sad for her rather than angry.

The crime scene tape had been removed and there was no sign of the earlier police presence when Hayden pulled into the parking lot. Ian spotted Kat's car exactly as she had left it, third row back fourth from the end. The cute little Acura was well suited for the new Kat, but he squashed his resentment that she had chosen money over him. However, even as she lay in his bed in obvious pain, he could not control his fury knowing she never would have been in that situation had she married him instead.

What had he done so wrong two years ago? He knew they had been happy.

None of it made any sense. Kat was never superficial or shallow. In all the time he had known her, she had been as down to earth as any of his siblings.

It was all strange, and he was finally beginning to wonder if what Jamie had said was true. Maybe there was more to the story than he thought.

He pulled Kat's car into the driveway, remaining behind the wheel with the lingering scent of her perfume until Hayden pulled up alongside and shut down his engine. They exited simultaneously and met in the garage, where Ian immediately went for a beer in his well-stocked fridge. Hayden accepted his with a nod of appreciation.

"To another exciting Evans development," he said holding his bottle high.

Ian clunked it. "And to hoping Jamie and Andrew don't catch wind of this until they're back from Costa Rica."

Hayden shifted uncomfortably, his eyes roving dramatically around the garage.

"What?" Ian asked, suddenly suspicious.

"Jamie said she'd call you before they took off."

His eyes narrowed. "You told her?"

"We didn't really have a choice when a bunch of blue lights filled up the parking lot," he said dryly.

"Oh great," Ian muttered.

Hayden gave his shoulder a squeeze. "Relax. I told her you had it under control."

"She must've loved hearing that," he said mutinously.

Hayden chuckled. "You know, she said it was -"

His words faded as the garage door opened and Chuck reappeared. Ian's gaze swiveled immediately to his cousin's drawn face, taking note of the whiteness around his normally smiling lips. He was not smiling now.

"Everything okay?"

Chuck heaved a heavy sigh. "She gave me a statement, and I found a bag in your pantry to seal the dress in."

Ian nodded, although he knew Chuck was not asking for permission. He began to move toward the door, but Chuck's hand snaked out and reached for him.

"I'd give her a little time," he warned.

"Why?"

"You gave her some pills. She's out of it."

"It was only a pain reliever," Ian said when Hayden glanced at him accusingly.

"Well, check on her later." Chuck shook his head. "I'm sure she's out by now."

"Did she give you anything at all?"

"She was pretty vocal about _not_ wanting to file charges against her father," he announced. "Not a big surprise considering..."

Ian nodded impatiently. It was not unusual for battered women to change their story to something they believed was plausible when in fact it was just ridiculous. Or even more common was their all-out refusal to testify at all. He ground his teeth together. Never in a million years would he have expected Kat to back down.

"You're going to anyway, right?" Ian asked. "I saw her back. That should be enough to charge him even without her testimony."

Chuck nodded abruptly. "Damn right I am, as soon as I build the case."

"What case?" Hayden asked.

"Attempted murder."

"It was that bad?" Ian asked hoarsely, feeling tightness in his chest. What had happened in the hour between her disappearance and his catching her climbing out the window? Guilt once again surged through him. He never should have picked a fight with her on the dance floor. His jealous attack seemed so stale in light of these new facts.

"It could be."

"I don't follow," Ian said.

"I can book him on assault right now, but I'd rather hold out for the larger charge."

"Hold out?" Hayden asked.

Chuck nodded, this time more slowly and thoughtfully. When he raised his gaze, he met Ian's straight on. "He didn't just knock her around tonight, Ian. Apparently all this time he's been threatening to kill _you_."

"Kill me?" Ian sputtered. The absurdity of it all struck him first, and he tossed his head back and laughed out loud. "Where the hell did that come from?"

Chuck's face was grave. "Ian, I'm serious. John Woods plans to put a hit on you because Kat was with you tonight. Be prepared to have security from here on out."

# Chapter 11

Had she known the two tablets Ian had given her contained diphenhydramine, she would have refused, Kat thought drowsily. Jolted aware by the pain from the hands once again checking her back, she longed to open her mouth and tell him to leave her alone. But she was unable to pry her lips open long enough to form the words.

As she drifted back into unconsciousness, where her dreams and senses were overwhelmed with Ian, she felt his hand lightly stroking her cheek. Gentle fingers wiped the tears that clung to her eyelashes, fluffing them back to normal. His lips followed, warm and soft, as they brushed against her ear when he lowered his face and whispered, "Beautiful lady."

When Kat finally opened her eyes, she was alone in the darkness, a sheet covering her nakedness, and there was no sign of Ian anywhere. The entire house seemed quiet, bathed in darkness that told her the evening had come to a close without her. A quick glance at the alarm clock on the nightstand told her it was nearing four a.m. She struggled to remember what happened once Chuck had entered the room, but all she could remember was the overpowering exhaustion that forced her eyes closed. She had no memory of Chuck leaving or anything that followed once he talked her into revealing everything that happened. The only thing that made her finally open up was his promise not to divulge to Ian her innermost fears but make sure he was protected at all times.

Somehow, now that she was alert again, she doubted he would keep that promise. He was a detective, and she had just told him that his cousin and fellow officer of the law was going to be targeted for a hit. Kat sighed. She had not remained anonymous, but at least she knew he would be safe now.

The burning in her back had eased since she had first stretched out on Ian's bed. A dull itch remained, but it was not intolerable. She sensed she would be able to drive to Sedona and eased herself into a seated position with only slight discomfort. Though she would not be able to lean back completely without pain, she was determined to travel. Sedona would be the last place her father would think to search for her.

Slipping her legs over the side of the bed, Kat allowed the sheet to fall and inhaled deeply. Though not strong, Ian's scent remained. It tickled her nose and reminded her of the earlier dream that filled her belly with liquid heat. She needed to get out of here before she did yet another stupid thing. It was no secret that when she was with Ian, she lost all control.

Coming to her feet, Kat tentatively took a few steps. Once again she was pleased with the lingering stiffness in her muscles and tight skin of her back since neither gave her too much concern. She had survived this long; she could certainly do it again.

It took only a moment to pull the borrowed sweatshirt over her head, and the oversized top fell nearly to her knees. It was so baggy it did not brush against her back. As she slipped into Ian's sweats, she decided to ask if she could borrow them until she returned. He would probably refuse, she thought wryly, considering he had made it abundantly clear that he had no urge to see her.

Shrugging, Kat decided to ask anyway and limped to the doorway. It was dark, but the small light under the microwave cast a whitish hue down the hallway. She followed the trail of light, pausing in the entrance to the great room when she spotted Ian asleep on the couch. Dressed as he was in flannel bottoms and white T-shirt, his legs crossed at the ankles and head propped on his bent arm, Kat could not prevent the softening of her heart as she gazed at him.

Tears pricked her eyes as they drank in their fill of him, and the pain in her back eased as the love she felt for him bathed her body with warmth. Seeing him relaxed in sleep was a sight that left her palms moist and her heart thudding rapidly. This was the Ian she knew and loved, not the scowling man whose eyes spewed disgust at her. In all the years she had known him, Kat could not think of anyone who could so move her emotionally. She knew every inch of his body, right down to the light dusting of dark hair on his arms. She knew that his second toe was longer than his big toe, and she knew that he had a small mole on the tip of his right ear. In addition, she knew that his brown eyes were flecked with green rather than the gold the rest of the Evans kids had.

She knew all these things about him but still did not know him at all.

She could not understand how he could still be so angry at her for leaving, even after she told him it was for the best. It was beyond her comprehension how he could touch her so gently while he held her in such contempt. And she hated the way he neglected his own care while ensuring that she was safe and warm.

Closing the distance between them, Kat reached for a fleece sofa blanket thrown over the back of the loveseat. It was a blanket she had given him one year for Christmas, and she was surprised he kept it. It appeared to be the only reminder of her in his house.

As she shook it out, she wondered if that was the reason he was sleeping in the chilled house without one, but she did not allow the thought to sway her. Holding the blanket wide, she draped it over him lightly and curled her fingers into her palms to prevent herself from tucking it around him snugly.

Though he never moved or gave any inclination that he was awake, her tender smile faded when she took a step back and saw him watching her in the darkness.

"You're awake," she mumbled.

"I am now."

His voice was still drowsy, and Kat felt a pang of guilt when he ran a weary hand over his face.

"Sorry."

"No, it's time to get up. We should be heading out."

Kat frowned. "We? What are you talking about?"

Instead of answering, he buried his hands under the blanket and pulled it up to his chin. "It got cold in here last night. I should've closed the windows."

She placed a hand on her uninjured hip and cocked her head to the side. "Or maybe you should've taken the blanket when you lay down."

"You're not cold?"

"Not at all," she said wryly. She was wearing sweats.

She watched him scan her from head to toe. The sight of him almost drinking in the sight of her that way brought back many memories of days passed, and she felt that nostalgic twang again. Forcing it back, she waited for him to focus on her face again.

"Then why'd you cover me?"

She shrugged, suddenly feeling self-conscious. He had watched her tuck him in after all. "I was repaying the favor."

"I see."

Nodding slowly, he tossed aside the blanket and came to his feet. With a loud yawn, he raised his arms over his head and stretched, the action nearly drawing a smile to Kat's lips. It was yet another familiar sight.

"Why are you getting up? You can't function on a few hours of sleep."

Ian ceased his stretch and glanced over at her, one eyebrow cocked in question. The look was almost condescending if not for the softness around his mouth. "How well you know me."

Her lips compressed. Of course she had to go and say something silly like that, bringing up tender memories and breaking the tentative civility they were currently sharing. "I know you're grouchy when you don't get enough sleep."

"And I know that you can't drive up to Sedona by yourself."

"Who said anything about that?"

He shrugged. "You told Chuck, and he told me."

Biting her lip, she struggled to replay their conversation the night before. "I don't remember that."

Scooping up the blanket in one hand, he busied himself with refolding it while Kat waited for his explanation. He was slow in giving it to her. It was not until he had replaced the blanket over the back of the loveseat that he turned back to face her.

"I shouldn't have given you those pills, I guess," was his response, as though that explained everything.

"Why? What did I say?"

He did smile that time, either out of triumph due to her uneasiness or because she had said something he found pleasing. Kat was not sure what his game was, but she decided right then and there that she did not like it.

"Oh, relax," he said when he noticed her suspicion. "It wasn't anything bad."

"Hmm," she responded.

"You told him what happened, and you mentioned having to get home to get your suitcase and where it was. That's it."

She nearly sighed in relief that he had not said anything about her father's threat against him. Maybe Chuck did not say anything after all. "I mentioned Sedona?"

"You did. You said you were going to see Terri."

She nodded. "I had a reservation."

"Then we shouldn't keep them waiting."

Kat took a deep breath, steeling herself for the inevitable argument. "You can't come with me."

"Sure I can," he said firmly.

For a moment Kat thought about how nice it could be, putting aside their differences and just the two of them driving up to the beautiful red rock country of Sedona. It would be like old times again, where they would hop in the car and take off on some adventure. But then she remembered her father, the fury etched into the harsh planes of his face and the scorn in his cold eyes as he detailed the way Ian would die. If anything happened to him, she knew she would never recover. "I can drive myself."

"I'm not going to let you drive up there by yourself. I saw what happened to you."

"I'm fine now," she insisted. "It's just tender. I can do it."

"Not an option, Kat. Just deal with it."

"I don't want to deal with it. I don't want you to come."

He did not even flinch. With narrowed eyes, he towered over her. However, she bravely stood her ground. He was the only one she completely trusted, and she knew he would not hurt her.

"I'm not giving you a choice. Until you're safely out of the Valley, you're stuck with me. We've already swapped cars, and the stuff for your trip is here. It's a done deal."

"I don't want to be stuck with you," she cried in desperation. If her father caught wind that she was with Ian, it would only make things worse for him. The sooner he was able to return to his everyday existence, the safer he would be.

A muscle twitched in Ian's jaw as he stared down at her. "I already know that."

Kat winced. She had not meant for it to come out that way at all. But the damage was done. He turned and disappeared down the hallway to his bedroom, his broad shoulders stiff and unyielding. With a sad sigh, she gingerly sank down onto the sofa where he had recently slept and placed her face in her hands.

As the retained body heat in the leather warmed her, she thought about the amount of pain she had caused him – was still causing him – and hated herself even more. What a mess she had made.

# ****

Things were finally making sense in a sick, twisted way.

After what Chuck told him the night before, Ian understood that Kat was fiercely trying to protect him the best way she knew how. All this time she pushed him away in the misguided belief that her father would not harm him if they remained apart. Still, he was enraged that she had not confided the truth from the beginning. The lack of faith in him was almost as intolerable as her resulting actions.

Once Hayden and Chuck left, he had spent countless hours in the darkness by her side, staring down at her and resenting the lies by omission she had told him. Caught between wanting to forgive her and wanting to hate her, he was as confused now as when she first threw his ring in his face. He needed more time to sort out his emotions, and he finally believed Isabel and Jamie when they said he and Kat needed to have a serious discussion.

But not yet.

He was not ready for anything too serious with her. As it was, her presence in his house wearing his clothes was difficult for him to come to terms with. Sitting in a car with her for the drive to Sedona... well, he had not even faced that yet.

Obligations were one thing. In his line of work it was his duty to protect and serve, and he had always felt the urge to protect his family with his life if need be. But protecting someone who made his emotions scatter in different directions seemed like a terrible burden at the present. He still wondered what he had done to deserve the continued torment of having her so close without being able to touch her.

After a quick shower that did less to wake him up than the sight of Kat standing over him with a wistful smile on her face, Ian pulled on some jeans and a pullover and returned to the living room. She was sitting pensively on the edge of the sofa, evidently having settled there when he left the room. It was still dark, with only the small light seeping in from the kitchen to cast its shadow on her drawn face.

He paused and studied her wordlessly. There had been a time in the not too distant past when he thought he would greet every morning with a scene similar to this one. Even with dark circles under her eyes, she was truly beautiful. In fact, the short hair gave her heart-shaped face even more appeal. Her blue eyes loomed large in the darkness, appearing nearly black as her pupils dilated to focus on him. Seeing that he was dressed and freshly showered, she sat up a little straighter, but her resulting wince only served to bolster his determination.

No matter how many times she tried to tell him she was fine, he knew the truth. And the even more pressing truth that his dreams were exactly that, dreams. She had no interest in making this a permanent arrangement. She never had. He could still feel the sting where the ring he bought her hit his cheek.

Shoving the reminder aside, he focused on a spot beyond her shoulder. "I'm ready when you are."

"Ian," she began in a resigned voice.

He held up a hand. "Don't even try it. I'm driving you up there. Hayden's letting you use his car while you're there, and he's going to drive up this afternoon to bring me back."

Kat shook her head, and he read the confusion in her eyes clearly. "Why are you all doing this?"

"We think you'll be safer out of town for a few days. Your father can find you if you keep your car. They parked it in your garage when they collected your stuff."

"You guys were busy last night," she muttered.

Ian frowned, unable to hide his rage at her father. "He had no business doing to you what he did."

She refused to meet his gaze, preferring to stare down at her bare feet. "It's not your problem."

It damn well would have been if she was still his, he thought furiously. But instead of saying so, he screwed his face into his best authoritative look. "Getting you up there isn't a problem. I have today off anyway."

She blinked at him. "But you don't even like me."

If there was ever a loaded statement up on offer, Ian knew this was it. Biting back his immediate instinct, he paused for a moment to consider his words carefully. The silence remained heavy between them for several long seconds before he let out all the air in his chest in a heavy rush. "My personal feelings for you are not a consideration right now. You're in trouble, and I can't in good conscience stand by and do nothing."

"So you're doing this out of a feeling of obligation?"

He scowled. Leave it to her to twist things anyway. "Let's just say that I'm able to put aside our differences for today if you are."

"Ever the professional," she muttered as she came to her feet. Though again she tried to make it appear effortless, the tightness around her lips belied her actions. Again the anger burned in him, and he made a silent promise that if he was ever alone with John Woods, the man would feel the sting of a belt, preferably a studded one. Barbed-wire studs.

Pasting a false smile on his face, he executed a mock bow. "At your service."

One of her finely arched eyebrows rose in question. "Really?"

The sarcasm behind her words made his lips twist, but he refused to smile outright. "If you say so."

"Fine then," she said lifting her chin to a proud, arrogant angle. Giving him her most haughty look, she strode to the door. "Let's go, slave."

He remained standing, staring at her with his first real smile in what felt like days. When she hesitated in the doorway and glanced at him over her shoulder with a scowl, his smile only widened. "What?"

The suspicion in her voice tipped the scale, and he let out a short chuckle. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

She frowned. "No..."

"Shoes?" He pointed to the suitcase and the pair of running sneakers Hayden placed next to it and returned his gaze to her, deliberately making a slow head-to-toe sweep before settling on his rolled-up sweats hanging low on her slim hips and her dainty bare feet.

She glanced down and opened her mouth to respond, but her words were cut off when she saw the broad smile on his face. Eyes narrowing, she let out a huff and stormed over to the suitcase with her hands balled into fists.

His laughter startled them both. "You know, you may not enjoy my presence, Kat, but right now I sure am enjoying yours."

She snorted and carefully bent to pull on the shoes. "I'm glad you find me amusing. It's certainly better than the alternative."

As he passed her, he reached down and ruffled her hair. It was a mistake on his part, for her hair was still as soft as silk and tickled his palms. His fingers curled tightly, twitching to thread deeper into the short mane. It served him right for giving in to the urge to touch her again, but he refused to let her know how badly the need haunted him still. "I'll meet you in the car."

With that, he grasped the handle of her suitcase and her handbag and left her bent over her shoes stewing that he had once again one-upped her.

# Chapter 12

Where Ian was intense and serious, his older brother, Hayden, was the polar opposite. Always a prankster and ever the carefree brother, Hayden's personality was glaringly obvious in the vehicle he drove. Though the BMW indicated he enjoyed a good, solid ride, the flash of the bright red paint displayed his inner child coming out to play.

Kat shook her head when she saw Ian behind the wheel waiting for her. "It really doesn't suit you."

Ian's lips twitched. "Tell me about it."

There was that unspoken knowledge of their inner thoughts again, Kat mused as she climbed into the passenger seat. He knew immediately what she referred to, and the distressed look that replaced his humor convinced her that he was just as bemused. He was suddenly all business as he put the car in reverse, and an uneasy silence fell in the car until he pulled into a gas station. At her questioning look, a half-smile appeared on his face.

"You didn't expect him to leave us any gas, did you?"

Unable to help herself, she giggled. The sound echoed in the quiet interior, and her heart sped up when she noticed him smiling back. Maybe things were not going to be too bad after all.

Her laughter trailed off as the look in Ian's eye suddenly shifted from a shared moment of humor to something different. She could not put her finger on what it was, but she knew the moment was lost when he cleared his throat and shut down the car.

Opening the door, he left the key in the ignition and glanced at her over his shoulder. "I'll be right back."

She watched him through the tinted glass while he unscrewed the gas cap and plugged in his card information. Her gaze was drawn down the length of him, admiring the way his jeans clung to his backside. Strong and handsome, Ian Evans was in fantastic shape and certainly easy on the eyes. Once upon a time, he had been all hers to stare at whenever she wished. Now she had to sneak a peek when he was not looking, and she realized grimly that she was doing it every chance she got.

He had turned back and was placing the nozzle into the tank. Knowing she had a few minutes while it filled, she reached down for her wallet and glanced inside the station. There was fresh coffee, and she suspected they both could use a cup. When she opened the car door, he glanced at her questioningly. "I'll be right back."

He nodded and returned his attention to the numbers rapidly rising as the thirsty car no doubt emptied his bank account. Though she knew he would scoff at her offer, she fully intended to repay the Evans brothers for their generosity.

It only took her a few moments to prepare their coffee, but Ian had finished fueling and was behind the wheel when she returned. He reached over and opened her door for her, meeting her gaze with a furrowed brow. "Coffee?"

"Just the way you like it," she said proudly.

Easing herself back into the car, she balanced the two steaming cups in her hands until he reached out and took his from her. "What if I told you I stopped drinking coffee?"

She gave him a sidelong glance. "Then I'd dump it on your lap."

"I suppose I'd better make an exception today."

Not sure whether he was teasing her or not, Kat nodded solemnly. "Might be a good idea. It's pretty hot."

"I don't want to get burned."

The double entendre of his meaning was not lost on her. She placed her cup down and closed the door, carefully avoiding his gaze. As desperate as she was to tell him that she did not want to hurt him again, the mere fact that she was enjoying every minute they were spending together told her the truth. When push came to shove, she was selfish enough to hurt him again; she could not resist him if she tried.

The question was: would he try? She doubted it. Though making every effort to be polite, he had been honest when he said that he was only doing this to soothe his conscience. His earlier contempt was only replaced by his sense of justice. He was doing a job, and she would be wise to remember that.

With the continued silence stretching awkwardly, Ian finally relented. "I was just kidding," he remarked once he started the car. "I still drink a cup every day."

She nodded. "I figured as much."

"But I did switch to Splenda."

"I figured that, too."

He glanced at her hastily, and mingled in with the frustration was a glimmer of admiration in his look. "Damn woman, how do you do that?"

She shrugged, though inside she was pleased she judged him correctly. "I made the switch over. I just assumed you had also."

"Because we always thought alike," he finished for her.

Once again their gazes met and clashed, and a confusing jumble of emotions flickered across their faces. The intensity of his stare mingled with the hopefulness in hers finally created so much tension that they broke off at the same time. For a long time silence reigned.

Ian took the exit off the highway in Anthem, pulling into a twenty-four hour Denny's and finally breaking the silence. "Breakfast?"

She grimaced. "I'm not really hungry."

"I am," he insisted. "Humor me."

"You're always hungry," she griped.

"That's true," he said proudly. Patting his very flat and very tone stomach, he gave her an arrogant smile. "I have to feed this big boy regularly."

She rolled her eyes and reached for the door handle. "Fine."

He held the door open for her as they entered the restaurant, and she was secretly pleased when his hand settled lightly in the curve of her lower back. It was not only that he felt the urge to touch her, but also that he instinctively knew _where_ to touch her after seeing her injury the night before. Too afraid to break the fragile moment, she did not comment, but she sure did relish it and allowed her heart to sing over the tiny breakthrough.

She was feeling a lot better about their ride when the smiling waitress led them to a table. This early in the morning, there were only a few diners, mostly construction workers on their way to their job site. Kat carefully eased herself into the booth and waited while Ian took the seat across from her before smiling her thanks.

"What can I get you two loves to drink?"

She met Ian's surprised glance over the top of her menu and hid a smile. He appeared startled by the waitress' odd endearment and surprisingly unable to speak. Turning her attention back to the server, she rattled off their order. "He'll have an orange juice. I'll have water."

Nodding briskly, she promptly disappeared, and Kat returned her attention to Ian. He was staring oddly at her.

Feeling self-conscious, she frowned. "What?"

"You did it again."

"Did what?"

Setting aside the menu, he glanced down at the table before looking up at her. He was shaking his head. "You ordered for me."

"So?"

"You ordered what I would've ordered."

"Is that a bad thing? Do you want to change your mind?"

He sighed in exasperation. "No... But it's weird."

Her mouth formed a small "O" of surprise. "You don't like that I remember? How can I forget? I've known you forever."

Once again his brow furrowed. She liked when he went deep into concentration. His entire face turned serious when he considered something at length, and in her eyes he was pure male. "That's just it. You know a lot about me... But we're not together."

Kat swallowed away the ache that formed in her chest replacing the brief minutes of hopefulness. "So you think I'm overstepping a boundary?"

"Exactly," he said with a brisk nod.

Their server arrived with their drinks in hand, and Kat leaned back while she placed the water before her, smiled at Ian and then set down his drink. She straightened slowly before pulling out her pen. "Are you ready to order?"

"I'll just have a bowl of fruit," Kat murmured, all her previous cheerfulness replaced by the sudden hollow feeling in her stomach.

"Actually, she'll have pancakes," Ian corrected. "As will I."

The waitress shot Kat a brief smile which she did not return. She glared across the table at Ian. "I'm not hungry enough to eat pancakes."

"You need to try. You're far too thin."

The waitress laughed. "Gosh, I'd love my honey to tell me that one day."

Tucking her pen behind her ear, she moved off while Kat continued glaring. The waitress thought he was complimenting her, but she knew the truth.

"Seriously?"

The corners of his mouth deepened. "You really do need to eat something. Don't they feed you over there?"

Kat thought of Myra and Curtis' overpowering need to monitor her every bite and bit back the sharp retort ready on the tip of her tongue.

"They don't, do they?" Ian asked sharply.

"I eat enough," she said defensively.

"I beg to differ," he retorted. "I've never seen you so thin."

"Didn't you just remind me that we're not together?"

He leaned back in his seat with a heavy exhale. "That's true, but that doesn't mean I'm not concerned."

"But it's not your problem, is it?"

Chastised, he lowered his gaze. "I guess not."

Kat bit her lip, refusing to accept that his resigned comment hurt her more than his professed concern had. "Will you excuse me?"

Without waiting for his answer, she slipped from the booth and came unsteadily to her feet. With the last of the pain reliever wearing off, the tenderness in her back was returning in full force. Not that she would ever let Ian know that. She needed some privacy away from his intense, all-knowing stare.

In the bathroom, she eased the sweatshirt over her waist and gasped. While the swelling in the welts had long dissipated, the marks the belt left were no laughing matter. Her father had used a thin one, and long, purple bruises had formed where he had struck her.

For the first time she was fully able to grasp Ian's explosive fury when he first saw her injury. No wonder he was escorting her out of town. She would have done the same for anyone she saw appearing like she did. Wetting down several paper towels, she leaned over the sink and draped them over her back, hissing with the pain at the same time as the cooling effect eased the burning.

She took her time, feeling foolish and stupid. Throughout her life, she had disappointed so many people. Maybe Curtis was right when he called her dumb. Oh yes, she had made some mistakes, the first being leaving Ian after high school. They could have been happy. They should have been happy. It was no wonder so few people respected her when she could not even think for herself. The few times she did, she paid for it painfully.

When she returned to her seat, Ian was scowling. "I was just about to come looking for you."

"Why?"

"I thought you went out the window again."

If only he knew, she thought despondently. The fact that she had managed to get out the window the night before was an act of pure adrenalin-fueled desperation. There was no way she could manage it a second time. But he did not need to know that.

"When I checked, there wasn't a window in the bathroom," she said flippantly.

His scowl deepened. Apparently he did not see the humor in her comment.

"All right, I had no intention of going out any windows... promise."

"Are you okay?"

The sudden question caught her off guard. She gave him her most winning smile. "I'm fine, why?"

He was shaking his head, as easily able to read her as she was him. After a few seconds of silence, he sighed heavily. "You know, I don't know what to do. It's surreal that you're even sitting here."

She glanced down and busied herself by placing her napkin on her lap. The waitress appeared with two plates heaped with pancakes, which she placed down in front of them with another wide smile. Kat stared down at hers feeling queasy.

"Do you know what I'm trying to say?" Ian asked as soon as the server left.

She nodded slowly. "I told you I could make it on my own."

He snorted. "You don't see what I see."

"And what would that be?"

"That your face is as white as a ghost, and your lips are tight where you're trying to hide your pain... Kat, it's all over your face."

"If I'd gone alone, I would've made the drive straight through."

"As if I'd ever let you risk going off the road."

"At least I'd be out of your hair forever," she quipped.

"That wasn't what I wanted."

The stark reminder nearly brought tears to her eyes. Realizing what he had allowed to slip out, he hastily picked up his utensils and dug into his breakfast without another word. He ignored her stare and stabbed at his food, eating with gusto while she watched silently.

"Eat something," he muttered between bites.

She finally followed suit, managing to eat half the meal before her. His approving nod bolstered her a little and took the sting out their previous argument. Having a full stomach seemed to ease some of his grouchiness, and he managed a tight smile.

"I didn't mean to sound harsh," he offered. "I was just saying that it's been strange."

"Trust me, I never thought I'd be sitting across from you right now either."

"I'm just trying to come to terms with it all."

"And I'm trying to make the best of it."

He opened his mouth as if to say something else, but the reappearance of their waitress distracted him. He reached down for the slip she placed on the edge of the table, but she shook her head and covered his hand with hers. "Let me get this."

He stared down at her hand pointedly, but instead of pulling away he reached out with his thumb and captured hers. "I got it."

Her hand or the bill? Kat was not sure, especially since he did not release his grip.

"You bought gas."

"You bought coffee."

Her lips twisted. "A slight difference in the cost."

His eyes danced with amusement. "I've got it, Kat."

They both laughed, once again breaking the unsettling tension that rose between them. It was so easy to be natural when she was with him, and she could never remain angry with him for long. He was the genuine article, a truly decent man who only spoke the truth. Again she wondered why she let him go.

Because her father had detailed exactly how it would look when his head was cut off.

For a moment, his thumb stroked the side of hers, but then he slipped his hand out from beneath hers. He managed to keep hold of the bill as well.

"You can get the next one," he said as he slid from the booth.

"Next one?" Kat squeaked, her heart pounding in her chest.

"We'll see."

Spoken so mildly that there was little doubt he had no intentions of sharing a next one, he strode away. The moment again stolen, she followed him to the cashier and watched as he paid for her again. Guilt had her longing to reach out and touch him, but she kept her hands by her side out of respect for his inner turmoil. It was not his fault that the woman who jilted him so cruelly was suddenly back on the scene. She knew he was trying, for she could see it in his every movement, every stare and every comment. He was doing the best he could.

She respected him all the more for it.

After writing in a tip and scribbling his signature, he handed everything back and returned his attention to her. "Ready?"

She nodded.

He smiled his thanks to the cashier and held out his hand for her to precede him. She was aware of his stare on her back, but she twitched when his hand snaked past to push open the door for her. With him so close, she could not help but hear his low voice. There was an angry accusation in it that made her heart pound with fear.

"Why is your back all wet?"

She waited until he opened the second door that greeted the rising sun. "I put a paper towel on it."

"Oh no, it's not bothering you at all," he mocked.

She glanced at him over her shoulder and immediately wished she had remained facing forward. He was intimately close, perhaps six inches away, and he was scowling.

"Okay," she conceded. "It's a bit sore."

He grunted his victory, but his scowl did not fade. Following her to the passenger side, he opened the door for her but blocked her entrance to the car. "Hold on."

As she watched in surprise, he yanked his pullover over his head, leaving just a T-shirt underneath, and spread it over the back of the passenger seat.

"Get in."

Too surprised to argue, she did as she was told and watched as he reached in over her.

"Sit up a sec."

She sat forward, nearly pressing her nose into his neck as he bunched up the shirt behind her back. He was making a pillow for her out of his clothing. If she was not so flustered at his close proximity, Kat may have cried at the gentle show of kindness. No one had ever taken such sweet care of her before.

"Try that."

She cleared her throat. "I'm sure it's fine."

Pulling away far enough to rest his hands on either side of her thighs, Ian paused and stared at her. It took him almost as much by surprise as it did her that they were so close. In fact, their faces were just a few inches away, and the urge to lean forward and kiss him was nearly unbearable. Her gaze focused in on his lips and hers parted subconsciously, as if they were ready to taste him again.

"Just try it," he said roughly.

Jolted back to reality by his scowl, she leaned back tentatively and nodded her head. "It's fine. Thank you."

With a brusque nod, he backed out and closed the door behind him before hurrying around the trunk to slide in next to her. He did not look her way again, and she noticed how his hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he pulled out of the parking lot, only releasing it long enough to shift gears before tightening around the wheel again. It was almost as though he wanted to break something, and she suspected she knew what – or rather, who – it was. That hollow feeling returned to her stomach despite her hearty meal, and this time it extended all the way into her heart. Running away from Arizona and the anger in his eyes became all the more important.

Instead of pulling onto the highway, Ian surprised her again by driving past the exit ramp. Breaking the awkward silence, she returned her gaze to his tight profile. "Where are we going?"

He never looked at her. "Just another quick stop."

Pulling into an open space in the parking lot of a discount store, he left the car running and gave her a quick nod. "Wait here. I'll be right back."

Pursing her lips, she considered arguing, but he was already shutting the car door and walking away. Sighing, she leaned her head back against the headrest, almost dozing in the time it took for him to return. She blinked several times when he opened the door and tossed a few bags in the backseat.

"What's that?" Kat asked.

"Supplies." He climbed in beside her and refastened his belt. The noticeable tightening around his lips had not eased much. He seemed even more furious now.

"Are you okay? You look...angry."

"I am angry," he said shortly.

"Oh."

She fell silent, hoping he would let it go. However, no sooner had he gotten up to speed on the highway than he was glaring at her. "I need to know."

She twisted slightly in her seat to face him. It helped that the pressure was off her back, but the intent look on his face did little to settle her nerves. She decided to hedge for time. "Need to know what?"

"How many times has this happened?"

"What?"

He scowled and swore under his breath. "You know what I'm asking."

"A few times."

"A few?" Ian's laugh caused her to flinch. It was brittle and sarcastic, so unlike him.

"Yes," she said softly. Raising her chin ever so slightly, she met his gaze, unblinking.

"And does this new guy..."

"Curtis?" She hesitated as she remembered his behavior before he left the last time. "No."

"You say that with very little conviction," he warned.

"Where's this coming from?"

"I just spoke to Jamie. She told me some things."

Kat went still. "Like what?"

"About your father...and your _fiancé_."

She flinched at the way he spit that final word out even as she frantically wracked her brain to recall the conversation she had with Jamie. Their last lunch had been interrupted several times, but she was certain she had not revealed too much. What had Jamie concluded? "I don't know what you mean."

His foot lay heavily on the gas pedal, and even though the speed limit was seventy-five, the high-end sports car was gliding up over ninety through the winding, mountainous climb to the higher ground. She reached out and placed her hand on his forearm. "Please slow down."

He glanced at the speedometer and took his foot off the gas with another curse. "I just don't understand it."

Too afraid to speak, Kat held her tongue.

"You told me hundreds of times that you loved me, and yet you hid one of the single most important things a woman can hide from the man she claims to love."

As he spoke, a dull flush rose up his neck. Oh yes, he was furious. Almost as angry as he had been that morning she had thrown his ring at him. She bit her lip again and leaned back in her seat.

"You don't understand," she whispered.

"You're right, I don't." He turned his attention away from the road again, leveling her with his furious gaze and stubbornly set jaw. "But by God, I have all goddamn day to have you fix that."

# Chapter 13

Hayden's car was eating the miles as quickly as one would devour a bowl of pudding. Up they climbed, into the high territory of Arizona, through the mountain pass and past Black Canyon. Ian knew he had frightened Kat, both with his words and his reckless driving, but right now he was such a jumbled mess of emotions he was afraid he was going to drive them off the road himself. The sooner they got up to Sedona, the better.

Chuck had told him the night before that John Woods had threatened to put a hit on him, and now Jamie informed him that she was convinced Kat was marrying Curtis Reichs because her father forced her to. In light of what he saw the night before, Ian was filled with a burning rage that he was finding increasingly difficult to control. Not only was he wondering which goddamn century they were living in, but again he was wondering what the hell he did wrong to make her keep something that important away from him. Arranged marriages were not an American custom, and the last time he checked Kat was not a Muslim.

Did she really think he was that weak that he would have been unable to protect her from her father? If so, he could show her a thing or two.

Aware that his foot had depressed the gas pedal again, he opted for a rapid change of subject. Refusing to look at her again, at least for the moment, he spoke between clenched teeth.

"Which hotel is your reservation at?"

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as she shrank away from him. It appeared to be an unconscious move, but she did it nonetheless. It made the guilt he was trying to hold at bay even stronger. That nagging feeling that he should have demanded answers from her before now kept tugging at his conscience and made his breakfast sit uneasily in his stomach.

"Well?"

"It's under Dashwood," she responded slowly. "I booked the cottage."

He knew immediately the place she referred to. During the summer after high school, he had socked away money from every paycheck he had received during his stint as a golf caddy. By the time they were nearing her departure for college back east, he had saved enough to rent the cottage for an entire weekend. It was the first time they had vacationed together, and he had booked the reservation under Dashwood after Kat had fallen in love with Austen's _Sense and Sensibilities_ in high school English.

"Seriously?"

Her smile was wistful. "Yes."

"You're a piece of work," he muttered.

The exit approached, and he returned his focus to the road. Easing the car off the Black Canyon Highway and onto 89A, he drove instead of thinking about what she had just revealed to him. Not only was it a surprise, he also found it somewhat flattering.

He was a damned jackass.

Several minutes into the drive, he finally risked a quick glance at her. Her eyes were closed, which seemed to enhance the dark circles under her eyes. He quickly returned his attention to the nearly deserted road.

Setting his own speed, he drove into the Red Rock Country feeling some of the tension drain away. Sedona was one of his favorite spots, not because of the magical properties some claimed were present but because of the sheer beauty of the landscape. Sangria-colored spires towered into the sky along with buttes and monoliths that contrasted sharply with the deep blue sky. For the first time ever, he stared off into the distance and wondered if there was some truth to the magical vortexes, and if so he wanted to give it a try. Maybe it would help him sort himself out. Even more importantly, heal Kat.

The resort she had booked was before the main part of town, so his trip through the rotaries was blessedly short. He pulled in just as the security guard was coming on duty, and they waited patiently as he set down his coffee before greeting them.

"Good morning, folks. Do you have a reservation?"

"Dashwood," Ian replied, shaking his head and hiding his smile. He heard Kat snort beside him which made it difficult to keep a straight face.

"Gotcha right here, but you were due in last night." The elderly man glanced down at his list with a frown. "Did you have a problem?"

Ian shrugged. "Just a delay."

"I don't think they gave your room away, but there's no guarantee."

"I certainly hope not. We've stayed here before and have a...liking for that particular cottage."

He heard her snort again, this time with disbelief, and bit the inside of his cheek to maintain his poker face. He was pleased when the guard nodded him on. "I'll call down while you folks are parking and stress your request for the room. We'll see what we can do for ya."

Ian nodded his thanks and pulled away, refusing to look at her until they pulled under the awning. "Do you want me to go in with you?"

"I can manage," she said shortly.

"You sure about that?"

"Yes, I am."

He watched her try to storm off with her head held high, but the stiffness in her shoulders and hips and her slight limp made the gesture futile, and he would have teased her if things had been different. Instead, he sat and fumed until he distracted himself by staring at the property instead.

Not much had changed in the fourteen years since he had first visited. Perhaps a new coat of paint and some new outdoor furniture had been added, but the gardens were still as well-maintained and the colorfully painted sculptures of desert wildlife were familiar.

Two new buildings were erected by the streamside cottages, and he wondered if they were as private as they had been during their first visit. He remembered sharing the outdoor shower with her, and it remained one of his most erotic experiences to date.

Once again his hands tightened around the steering wheel. A lot had changed since that blissful weekend. Two weeks after their weekend trip she had left him to go to college, and a tumultuous relationship followed ever since.

Here he was, repeating his previous mistakes again.

Lesson still not learned.

If he was smart, he would put the car in gear and get the hell out of there. But his hands refused to move, and his gaze strayed back to the glass front of the resort, where he could make out Kat's diminutive form leaning heavily against the front desk.

For that reason alone he stayed. Not just because he still ached at the sight of her and wished things were different between them, but also because her current damsel in distress situation played too firmly on his sense of honor to abandon her. Besides, he reminded himself, they had quite a bit to talk about. This time he was determined to get the whole truth.

Kat's face was drawn when she returned to the car. He waited while she tenderly slipped back into the car, a map and room key in her hand.

"Which way?"

"They had a creek cottage. It's over there."

She pointed her hand in the direction his gaze had taken when she first disappeared inside. He nodded and put the car in gear, ignoring his desire to immediately search out the shower to confirm it was still there. He would have to wait to do that, after he had taken care of things with Kat.

Pulling into the only spot available in front of one of the cabins, Ian glanced at her again. "This okay for you?"

She scowled at him, evidently her discomfort taking its toll on her shining personality. "Fine."

Shrugging, he kept his mouth shut. After all, a woman's use of the term "fine" had multiple meanings, and he had long ago learned when to keep quiet. Turning the car off, he opened the door. "I'll get your bag if you want to get us inside."

She was already climbing from the car, her lips pressed tightly together. Ian whistled under his breath as he watched her hobble stiffly up the three steps to the front door of the cottage. Okay, so she was showing her temper. He kind of liked it.

With a suitcase in one hand and his purchases in the other, he pressed the lock button on the key fob and followed her, wondering what lay beyond the open door. Tensing for a battle, he glanced in the darkened entrance before entering. Luckily for him, she had already drawn the blinds and lay face down on the bed.

The room was very similar to the one they had stayed in, although that cabin was two doors down. A spacious room, it had a king-size bed and a settee with a blanket draped over the back. Above the wood-burning fireplace, a large, flat-screen TV was mounted on the wall, and a table with two chairs resided across the room next to the mini-fridge. Though there was no stove or microwave, he concluded she would be fine for a few days by herself. It would give her time to heal luxuriously and visit her sister.

Leaving the suitcase by the door, he carried the bags to the small table and set them down. As he unloaded the newly purchased items, he felt the weight of Kat's stare on his back. It was similar to the day he felt her presence at Ford's home. He just knew she was watching even though she remained silent. Jamie had teased him once that they had a mysterious bond. Right now he wondered if it was true.

"Take off the sweatshirt," he said.

"No, thank you," was her sarcastically cheery reply.

"Do it, or I'll do it for you," he replied just as cheerfully.

She swore under her breath, causing him to grin. It faded quickly when she hissed, "Fine."

There was that dreaded word again, he thought sourly. While he waited for her to comply, he went into the bathroom and retrieved the hand towels folded neatly on a rack above the sunken tub.

When he returned, he was gratified to see that she had seen the futility of arguing and had done as he asked, but again he was reminded of just how badly his body longed for her.

In the semi-darkness of the room, the marks on her back were not as prominent, leaving only the pale outline of her creamy upper body and the womanly curves therein. His hands began to tremble and his stomach muscles clenched as he struggled to keep from launching onto the bed and kissing every inch of exposed skin and beyond. Inhaling deeply, he steeled himself against reacting in a very human, very male way and instead turned on the overhead light.

"Do you have to turn that on?"

"I could open the blinds," he offered.

"I just..." She sighed. "It's just that it's –"

He tensed when he saw the marks in the light. Though no longer swollen, there was bruising that was not present the night before. Towels in one hand, witch hazel in another, he finished her sentence for her in a pained voice. "Horrific?"

"Exactly."

"I'll try to fix that," he said abruptly.

"You don't have to."

"I know I don't."

Scooping up the bottled water and bottle of pain reliever, he carried everything over to the side of the bed and set it down. "Let's start with this," he said, reaching for the bottled water. After unscrewing the cap for her, he handed it over and worked on the packaging around the pain reliever. He shook out two pills and held them out on his open palm as he sat down beside her. "They're not PM."

"Good thing," she replied. Propping herself up on one elbow, he noticed how she had pulled back the covers on the bed and held them close to her chest. While a part of him was disappointed, he was also relieved. Being this close to her was disconcerting, and her continued irritability was stirring his primal urge to pursue. He loved a challenge.

Scooping the pills out of his palm with cool fingers, she popped them into her mouth and took a sip of water before lying back down. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

The dramatic show brought a smile to his lips, despite the anger still pulsating through him. "I'll try to be gentle."

"Please do."

Her voice was muffled in the pillow, so Ian immediately set to work. With no bowls or ice as before, he had to content himself with dousing the towels in the witch hazel before draping it over her back.

She inhaled sharply. "That's cold."

"It should help them heal." With her lying peacefully, albeit on edge, beside him, he decided that it was as good a time as any to broach their discussion. "Where's Aaron?"

Her voice remained muffled. "At Carolina's."

"Who's that?"

"The maid Curtis hired."

He stiffened at the mention of his name, unable to deny the pang of jealousy. However, Jamie's words still rang in his ears. "Ah, Curtis, the missing fiancé. I wonder why he's not here taking care of your back."

She stiffened immediately. He felt her body shift before he saw her muscles tighten. "Ian, please."

"I have a right to know the truth," he said in a voice that was deeper than he intended.

"What truth are you talking about?"

"Have you told me that many lies?"

Though he intended it to be a joke, she did not take it that way. Raising her head out of the pillow, she turned to glare at him. "You know what, I'm tired. If you're done, I'd like to take a nap, and I suggest you take one, too."

Cocking his head to the side, he regarded her appraisingly. "Is that an invitation?"

She did not look amused. "Go ahead and try it."

Replacing the cap on the bottle of witch hazel, he shook his head. "You can delay, stall and use every trick in the book to try and prevent the inevitable, darlin', but the truth will set you free."

She blinked up at him, her blue eyes dull and exhausted. When she spoke, she used a matter-of-fact tone rather than one filled with self-pity, but the words still sent small, dagger-like shards of pain straight through him. "How do you escape from hell?"

# ****

The mattress sagged at the same time as knuckles brushed the side of her cheek. Still groggy, Kat moved to swat at the hand stroking her so lovingly, but her arm was caught in a firm grip around her wrist.

"Why didn't you tell me about these?"

She recognized Ian's voice and forced her eyes open. He was sitting on the side of the bed in almost the same position she had last seen him when she closed her eyes what felt like just a few minutes before. The only difference was that now he was frowning instead of trying to pry information from her.

He had pulled back the heavy curtain slightly, and a thin band of sunlight streamed in, casting just enough shadow over him to make him appear sinister.

"Can't I get a little sleep?"

"You've been sleeping for three hours. It's almost lunchtime, and Hayden's going to be here any minute."

She was suddenly awake. Grasping the covers with one hand, she scooted into a seated position and leaned gently against the pillows with a sharp inhale. The towel he had soaked with witch hazel had dried and fell off her back, but the material of the pillowcase did not cause as much pain as she had been in earlier before. She concluded she was already mending.

"Three hours?"

"Honest." He was still staring at her arm. "Now since I'm telling you the truth, how about you give me the same courtesy?"

"What would you like to know?"

"Many things, actually," he began. When he saw her face close down, he backed off. "But let's begin with your arm here."

"What about it?"

"I didn't notice your defensive wounds before." Her other hand was clutching the covers against her chest in a stubborn show of modesty, but he was able to see all he needed to know with the arm he held. He inhaled deeply. "Every time I look at you, I want to kill him even more."

She almost smiled. She believed him. "It doesn't hurt that much," she said in an effort to appease him.

"I wouldn't know," he replied sourly. Keeping hold of her wrist, he used the index finger of his other hand to lightly trace the crisscrossed red marks on her forearm. She had matching ones on her other arm where she had tried to protect herself. "How could you let him do this to you?"

Is that what he thought? She stiffened and jerked her arm away. "First of all, I did not _let_ anyone do this to me. I was thrown in the back of the car. I had nowhere to go."

His fingers reached out to press against her lips, preventing her from continuing. "That wasn't what I meant," he said softly. "I wish you could understand how seeing you like this tears me apart. Not just because I'm a cop and what happened is heinous, but also because it's you."

Kat swallowed away the lump that formed in her throat. Here was progress; this was Ian slowly forgiving her. If only she could tell him everything; God knew she wanted to. But if he knew the extent of her father's threats, it would change everything. He would feel obligated to do something reckless, and her father would be unstoppable in his desire for revenge. No, she had made the right choice when she broke things off with him. She needed to remember that and stop allowing her heart overrule her mind.

"It's okay," she said with a tender smile. "I'm going to find Terri and get back to Aaron. Then I'll move on and stay away from my father. It won't happen again."

"By marrying Reichs?" Ian asked abruptly. "You think everything will be okay if you marry a man he approves of?"

She was unable to meet his gaze. His words were too close to the truth, even though he had no idea that she planned to break it off with Curtis. Once again, it was better that he believe that was what she was doing rather than the alternative. She had to keep him off her father's radar in every way she could.

When she did not answer fast enough, he placed his hand on the other side of her hip and loomed above her. He was so close that she could see the green flecks in his eyes. "That's what Jame told me today," he continued. "She said you don't love this guy at all."

"I don't know why she said that," she hedged. Unable to meet his stare, she focused on the center of his chest, that hard plane that she wanted so desperately to touch.

"No?" His free hand reached out and caught her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Can you tell me now that you love this guy?"

She did not answer, and his fingers tightened ever so slightly.

"Can you?"

"Curtis will be a good provider," she lied softly.

The corner of his mouth deepened. "Then why did you ask me how I could hate you so much when you still loved me?"

Her gaze fluttered around the room as she struggled to answer without giving her heart away. "I just didn't understand why you were being so mean to me. I could never hate you... I thought we could at least be friends."

"Ah, but I wasn't the one who threw a ring in your face."

She remembered that day and would never forget the look on his face as she had done exactly that. Surprise that turned to shock, and then the anger to cover his hurt.

She had fled after that, and he had let her. Remember that, Kat, she told herself. He had let her go.

"I still believe I made the right decision for both of us."

Surprisingly, the smile that had threatened suddenly appeared, presenting her with a flash of his white teeth. "Do you want to know what I think?"

She eyed him suspiciously, knowing instinctively she would not like his answer. "Not particularly."

His thumb began to stroke her jaw lightly, and his chuckle warned her that he was undaunted. "Too bad, babe..."

Her eyes widened at the use of his former endearment. After all the time apart that he suddenly slipped into using the once-hated pet name proved that their continued company was dangerous. She had to get him away from her soon, before her father hunted him down.

"You know I hate it when you call me babe," she whispered.

"You know it's not derogatory with you, Kat," he said with a small, sexy grin.

Twisting her head in an effort to encourage him to release his grasp on her chin, all she succeeded in doing was embolden him to lean closer. His voice was low and husky when he responded to her weak struggle. "I've been thinking about it all afternoon while you slept, and I think Jamie was right. You're hoping that by marrying some old fart with political aspirations your father will leave you alone. I wasn't worthy enough for you, and I think I suspect why you've run away from me before."

She shook her head, dragging his hand along with her as she began to tremble in earnest. "You're so wrong."

"Am I?" He released his hold on her chin and placed his hand lightly around her neck. With a touch as light as a feather, he skimmed his way lower and allowed his index finger and thumb to rest on the beating pulse at the base. "Your pulse is racing, and you're trembling, Kat... That tends to indicate that I've hit pretty close to the mark."

"You're too close. You're getting me nervous."

"You've never been afraid of me before."

"You've never been so mean to me before," she squeaked.

He chuckled. "Mean?" Closing the gap between them, he brushed his lips against hers. She went rigid, aware that his fingers no doubt felt her heart leap. At the moment, her heart felt as if it worked all the way into her throat to land on his lap in an offering to him. "Let me assure you that being mean is the farthest thing from my mind."

She opened her mouth to respond, but he swiftly lowered his head. His mouth covered hers, and it was as though the past two years melted away. He was so familiar, the smell, the taste, and even the feel of him. She knew she had finally come home.

There was no hurry in his kiss, no wild or furious passion that punished her lips. Instead, he kissed her slowly, thoroughly, exploring and reacquainting himself with the dark recesses of her mouth while she lay helpless against the pillow unwilling and – good heavens – unable to stop him from reclaiming the territory that had always belonged to him. Releasing her tight grip on the covers, she reached out to touch that hard chest she dreamed of and then slowly slid her hands up the chiseled planes to wrap around his neck so she could draw him closer.

With a muffled groan, he angled his head and kissed her more deeply. His velvety tongue captured hers, drawing it against his and beginning a dance so familiar to her she felt tears prick her eyes. She sighed in contentment. This was where she belonged. More than anything, she wanted their breath to mingle and their kiss to continue. If they never parted again, she would be the happiest woman alive.

However, Ian had other things in mind. Just as their mingled breathing began to grow heavier, more ragged and urgent, he slowly drew away and sat up straight. His eyes were glazed, but she saw a look of triumph mingled with disappointment that warned her before he spoke.

"I guess you did make the right decision," he murmured. He reached up and lightly stroked her cheek again, but the tender caress did little to remove the sting of his words. "Because the fact remains that you never had enough faith in me to tell me the truth."

# Chapter 14

Ian watched Kat's face grow pale before he came to his feet, sensing his triumph with a pang of remorse. She deserved it, he concluded. If she still refused to tell him what he obviously knew, he had no choice but to force it out of her. Sooner or later she would break. She had never been this stubborn before.

Of course, a lot had been going on without his knowledge for a long time. Perhaps she was more stubborn than he thought.

With his back to her, he took a deep, steadying breath and listened to her rustle with the covers. When he heard her come to her feet, he waited at the ready and was not surprised when he felt her hand on the middle of his back. He turned slowly, noticing at first that she had donned his sweatshirt but was taken off guard when she pressed her face into his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. A part of him rejoiced that she was back in his arms again, but the more wary part of him remained tense and suspicious. As much as he longed to pull her close, he knew he could not. Too much damage had been done.

"You're right, Ian. I didn't tell you the truth," she said, her voice muffled against his shirt.

His arms remained at his side, but he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. She drew back while he fished it out and glanced at the display. "Hayden's here."

A ghost of a smile appeared on her lips, and, as always, he was struck breathless by her beauty. Even beaten and exhausted, she was adorable, with a graceful carriage and delicate features that sometimes pained him to view. At the moment she gazed up at him warily. "Maybe if I see you again you'll agree sit down and talk to me."

"I think 'when' would be the more appropriate answer," he said solemnly.

"All right, _when_ I see you again," she replied with a brief nod.

"My number's programmed into the prepaid cell on the table there. There aren't many minutes on it, so use it only in case of an emergency."

She glanced at the table with some surprise. "Where's my phone?"

"Chuck left it on the counter at your house so they couldn't trace you."

Her eyes widened. "I never would've thought of that."

His smile was grim. "That's why we did."

"Thank you." The look she gave him was so full of admiration that he cleared his throat awkwardly.

"You're coming back on Tuesday?"

She nodded her head slowly, and he knew again that she was hiding something from him. "That's my plan."

Unwilling to consider what it could be, he pointed to the white paper bag on the table. "That's a cold sandwich for you. Do me a favor and eat something while you're up here?"

With a shaky laugh, she stared up at him. "You were busy."

"Just making sure you're all set. Hopefully tomorrow you'll be feeling better."

He felt her hand come to rest on his arm and give him a slight squeeze. "Why did you do all this?"

Turning to face her, Ian resisted the urge to touch her and draw her close. He wanted to bury his face in her neck, smell her sweet essence and feel her silken skin. But he did not move, and his hands remained stubbornly at his sides. "Contrary to what you believe, I don't hate you."

She stared at him, her eyes wide and searching his for any inclination that he was teasing. When she found none, her lips parted slightly, and he fought the insane urge to kiss her again. A knock on the door broke the moment. Thankfully, just in time.

"I've got to go," he said brusquely.

Her hand fell to her side, and she took a step back to allow him to pass. But she followed him to the door and held it open while he exited. "Thank you again. For everything..."

He stared down at her, longing to say so many things but realistic enough to know that it was not yet time. He had gained a small concession from her. That should be enough for now. He could worry about everything else once she had herself straightened out. If she ever had herself straightened out. Kathleen Woods had more problems than he ever had suspected, and he was unsure whether or not she could overcome them. He needed to decide if he was willing to stand by and wait for her to find out.

"No problem. I'll see you when you get back."

She nodded distractedly, staring past him at Hayden, who had turned his back at the base of the stairs to give them privacy. "Fair enough."

He stood awkwardly for a moment, wondering if he should say or do anything else. When nothing came to mind, he inclined his head with a brief smile and walked away. He was almost to the steps when she came up behind him. "Wait."

He turned, unable to fight the goofy smile on his face when she again wrapped her hands around his waist and hugged him tight. She felt good against him, and this time he held her close with one hand cupping the back of her head and the other holding her upper arm loosely.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For believing in me, for taking care of me, for everything..."

His response was to give her a slight squeeze. "Just be careful, babe," he replied. "We'll talk soon."

Though slow to release him, she did once more break their embrace. When she raised her gaze to his, he noted the now familiar hopeful look in her eyes. They shimmered with unshed tears, and not for the first time he felt guilty leaving her up there alone. He had to remind himself again that technically she was not his problem and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "I gotta go."

She nodded bravely. "I know."

She went to stand at the railing where she could watch them leave while he took the steps two at a time. As he joined Hayden, his brother raised his hand to wave in Kat's direction. She smiled back but did not wave, and Hayden turned to him with a disapproving frown as they walked across the parking lot to Ford's truck. "She's as white as a ghost. Are you sure she's okay to be alone?"

He shrugged, forcing himself not to look back. "She didn't want a hospital."

"You're not just being a prick about it, are you? 'Cause if you are, I'll stay with her myself."

He felt a twinge of jealousy and glared at his brother. "Dani would have your head."

"Dani would understand," Hayden replied stubbornly, not needing to remind him that she was, after all, a doctor.

He scowled, disliking the reminder of how well-loved Kat was by his family. Even Dani immediately took to her, especially when Kat honestly admitted that she initially thought the tall doctor was Ian's date and spent the entire wedding ceremony jealous yet still gracious. "Let's just go before I do decide to stay."

"I think you should."

"I have other plans to help her."

Hayden unlocked the door and pulled it open, meeting his gaze across the cab. "Now that's more like it."

"Just get in," he muttered.

Hayden chuckled, but he did as he was asked. Slipping behind the wheel, he started the truck and secured his belt before speaking again. "You know I love drama... Please, spill it."

"I'll fill you in once we get going," he quipped, knowing that his brother's impatience would get them on the road before he had a chance to jump out of the truck and run back to Kat.

The effect worked, for Hayden let out a groan of dismay. "You're a pain, you know that?"

"That I do," he replied. "So drive."

# ****

Curtis picked up the phone on the third ring, waving away his campaign manager with a frustrated scowl. It was Sunday, for crying out loud, why could the man not take a break and go to church or something like all normal people did? He could hear his mother's voice upstairs; she was on the phone with one of her friends making plans for lunch. At least he could have some quiet in his study to take the call.

"Reichs."

"Woods here."

Curtis' hand tightened around the phone as he glanced at the clock on the wall. With the three-hour time difference, it was still early in Phoenix. Why was he calling now? Speaking with Kat's father on an already stressful morning was not his idea of a good time, and again he wondered about the soundness of his decision to marry Kathleen Woods.

The press may like her appearance, intelligence and humility, the people may like her beauty and approachable manner, but his mother's intense dislike was growing with each passing day, and Kathleen was withdrawing a little more with every barb sent her way. Not an unintelligent man, he knew that he was losing his grip on her and had to come up with something to get her back in line soon.

Forcing a smile and hoping it would show through the phone, he let out a boisterous greeting. "Good morning, John. How are things in sunny Phoenix?"

"Don't patronize me," John snapped.

Lowering his voice, Curtis waved away the lingering intern who was watching a story on TV about Curtis' slip in an interview regarding teen sex. He closed the office door behind him. "This sounds serious."

"It is."

"It's clear," he said, trying to mentally prepare himself for the impending bad news. "Go ahead."

"Kathleen attended a wedding on Saturday."

He frowned. John was calling about a wedding? Did he not understand what he was dealing with out here? "I was aware of her plans to go. I approved."

"You did?" John was incredulous. "Were you aware that her former lover is the brother of the bride?"

Curtis inhaled sharply. "No, I wasn't. Who is he?"

"Ian Evans."

"I see." He fumbled for a pen on his desk and hastily scribbled down the name. He would have to discuss this with Kat when he returned. If there was something brewing, a scandal perhaps, he needed to find out now before the press did.

"I don't think you do, Reichs. She saw him Saturday."

The fury underlying Woods' tone not only concerned Curtis but also frightened him. "And that's a problem? She's engaged to me."

"But not without, shall we say, some persuasion," he replied in a severe tone. "She didn't break off her engagement with Evans lightly. It took time."

Curtis did not like the sound of that. "What do you mean?"

"Suffice it to say that she had to be forcibly removed from Evans two years ago to be with you."

Distaste filled the back of his throat. While he liked people to do things his way, he was not a violent man, much preferring words than actions. A shiver ran down his spine, even though the room was warm. "So you think she's seeing him on the side?"

"Oh no, that much I got out of her when I caught her."

"Caught her?"

"Yes, we brought her home for punishment."

He was growing weary of John's evident pleasure in describing his methods. "May I remind you that you're speaking of my fiancé?"

"And may I remind you that you're in danger of losing her before your election? If you don't make it to the altar, my support's gone."

He bit the inside of his cheek to prevent the temperamental comeback that formed on his lips. Taking a deep, steadying breath, he concluded he needed to sort this out directly with Kathleen. "Let me speak to her. I can't have her talking to anyone about this."

A harsh laugh reached his ears through the phone, causing him to cringe. Would his day ever get any better? "That's why I'm calling, you fool. She escaped. She's gone... But she won't speak to anyone. She knows to keep family business private. I've taught her well."

Escaped? Gone? Curtis was not sure what this all meant, but once again he felt a shiver of dread race down his spine.

"I take it she hasn't called you?" John asked snidely.

He thought back to his last conversation with her and grimaced. When he left, they had been in the midst of their own argument. He had been clipped on the phone since and had only called in sporadically. While it was true he had been busier than normal, he had not liked her tentative question about calling their wedding off at all. Now he had even more doubts. Was this Evans character involved?

"No, she hasn't," he said shortly. "I'll fly home immediately and speak with her."

"I don't think you'll find her at home. I checked this morning."

"She's gone completely?"

"She left her car and mobile. That means she had help, and I think I already know who that help was."

Curtis grimaced. "Evans."

"Exactly. I see you're finally grasping my concern."

"You have to understand, John. I'm working, and there's some trouble here. I'm preoccupied."

"You may want to consider where your priorities lie. I can handle Evans, but there's Kat, too."

"What can I do?"

John chuckled. "Good man... I have it all planned out."

Curtis watched a leaf blow down the windy DC street as John spoke, alternating between excitement and distaste, wondering again what he had gotten himself into. As he learned more about Woods and his dealings, he was beginning to believe he had signed a deal with the devil himself.

# ****

After leaving Terri a message to let her know where she was, Kat waited to hear from her sister from her spacious room by the creek, alternating between sitting outside on the patio in the cool morning breeze and retiring inside to rest. She listened to the water in the creek and watched ducks lazily glide along the current while she thought about her future. She considered what her next step would be once she met up with her sister, and she thought about how she would manage to escape her situation. Everything pointed to running as far away as she could. But then there was Ian.

Though he had only spent a few hours with her inside the room, her memories of the last time they visited this spot seemed to invade her every thought. They had been happy then, full of youth, vigor and ambitious plans that she had hoped would one day come to fruition. They could have been married with children of their own now.

But things did not work out that way. She had made mistakes, and now he saw her as a duty to deal with. Though she wished she could tell him the truth, she knew he was too honorable of a man who would take her actions as more of an insult than his current belief that she did not trust him. Oh, if only he knew how much she loved him and had only tried to protect him.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she nearly missed Terri's call. Grasping the phone on the final ring, she was breathless when she answered.

"Where's Aaron?"

"He's safe, Terri. I'd never leave him alone with them."

"Oh, thank God..." Kat heard the sob in her sister's voice. "I thought since I left him, you might... Thank you for taking care of my baby."

She warmed slightly. "You're welcome."

On the other end of the line, Terri inhaled deeply, and her voice was steadier when she spoke. "You're in town now?"

"I am. I'm at the cabin. The prepaid cell only has a limited amount of minutes, though."

"That's fine. We'll come to you tomorrow at noon. Is there room to meet there?"

"Yes, it's perfect. Quiet and big."

"Be safe, Kat. You know we're doing the right thing."

Remembering how her father had attacked her, she had firmly decided her sister was right. "I know."

The following morning she braved a shower and was relieved to note that the sting was not nearly as bad as she feared. Even the snugness of her bra was tolerable, so she pulled on her clothing and decided to walk around the various shops in town to calm her nerves.

For a couple of hours she made the rounds, growing weary of walking from door to door, gallery to gallery. Studying whimsical Native American art mixed in with colorful Mexican pottery and New Age sculptures became one large blur of colors that brought her frazzled nerves back to the forefront and sent her scurrying back to the cabin to wait the final few minutes for Terri and the agent's arrival.

It was not a long wait. As soon as the alarm clock turned over to 12:00, a brisk knock sounded on her door. So accustomed to the silence in the cabin, she initially jumped, but she quickly acknowledged her silliness, came to her feet and smoothed her hands down her top nervously. How would Terri greet her? What would they say to each other? Would her sister ever forgive her for all the mistakes she had made?

Taking a deep, steadying breath, she reached out and pulled open the door. Her resulting gasp made two of her three guests exchange a glance.

"Kat?"

Kat blinked at Zachary Evans in a mixture of shock and embarrassment. How much of her situation did he know?

"Zach... I had no idea..."

"Likewise." He held out his hand, and she took it tentatively. But his fingers were warm and welcoming, and he squeezed hers gently before releasing her.

Throughout her shocked greeting, Terri watched passively. However, once Zach released her, she stepped forward with an expectant look. "Kat?"

Turning her full attention to her sister, she paused. It had been a while since they had seen each other. Admittedly, the last visit had also been a harsh one. Yet Terri was still Terri. Her long, light brown hair cascaded over her shoulders loosely, and she was still athletic and trim.

Kat hesitated only briefly before reaching out and awkwardly hugging her sister. "I'm so glad you're all right. I was worried."

Though siblings, the two girls were nothing alike. Where Kat was petite and beautiful in a classic way, Terri was the all-American girl next door. Kat had viewed her position in the cheerleading squad as one of necessity; Terri thrived on her participation in track and softball. Where Kat was solemn and self-sacrificing, Terri was outspoken and challenging. And right now, if it was not for Terri's courage, Kat would never be welcoming Zachary Evans and his fellow suit-clad companion inside her hotel room on a Sunday afternoon.

"I wasn't expecting three of you. I hope there's room."

"We can use the bed," Zach said. Then he immediately blushed. Clearing his throat, he jerked a thumb over his shoulder to the other man with him. Almost as tall as Zach, the other man was laden with equipment and a brown sac. Since his hands were full, he nodded in greeting. "My partner, Agent Viesca, will have the recording equipment set up on the table. The reach is enough that you two can sit on the bed."

He flushed as he spoke, and Kat almost wanted to smile. However, knowing that just a few days ago she was persona non grata with the Evans family encouraged her to hold back. If they discussed the meeting at a later date, she wanted to be remembered as remaining professional and calm. Nothing she did now was going to be held against her if she could help it.

"It's okay," she said with a nod. "Come on in. If it ends up being too tight, there are tables by the river that no one uses."

Zach glanced over his shoulder in question to his companion. The other man shook his head. "The water would introduce a lot of background noise."

Nodding, Zach returned his attention to the ladies as he closed the door behind him. "Viesca brought coffee and muffins. Is there anything else I can get either of you before we get started?"

Stomach churning already, the idea of food made Kat queasy. She shook her head no and glanced at Terri. Her sister was sizing her up with a bland expression on her face. "Are you eating at all? You look anorexic."

"I'm fine," she replied more sharply than intended.

Terri shrugged it off and stared meaningfully at Zachary. "I'm sure it's their doing."

Kat's lips tightened as a wave of discomfort washed over her. Feeling the heat of a blush warm her cheeks, she scowled at her sister. "Terri..."

Fully aware of Zach's astute blue gaze running down her length, she felt her face flame brighter, but Terri shrugged. "You've always been afraid to talk about him, but this is not just family business anymore, Kat. This is serious. We have to tell them everything, including what happened...you know, before. They need to know we're not exaggerating."

She knew her sister was right, and she knew she should have spoken out a long time ago. All the way back to when she was a teenager, she should have told the counselors at her school what had really happened at home when they questioned her injuries. Instead she had been pliant and allowed her father to move them to Red Mountain where she met Ian. While she had no regrets about that, she knew now that her silence had been a mistake. But how did one overcome the fear and talk about private family matters to strangers and Ian's best friend? How could she bite back her shame and share her terrible secrets?

She had told Chuck things already, the voice desperate for help reminded her. How was this any different?

An image of Ian's face, so painfully handsome even though he was filled with disappointment when he looked at her, flashed behind her eyelids. She had never been as brave as Terri, but her love for Ian was strong. She had already proven that she would do anything for him. Whatever he wanted, she would give him, and if that meant telling Zach about her father she would do it.

Nodding slowly, Kat met Zach's patient gaze. "All right. Let's do it."

# Chapter 15

Long hours had passed since Kathleen Woods had been in his house, yet he still felt her presence as strongly as if she stood beside him. Sighing, Ian set his duty belt on his bed and then sat down heavily. The night before had been hell, causing him to pull an overtime shift at dawn. Kat's scent had clung to his pillow, filling his senses and then his dreams with visions of her in their happier days. He had spent two years trying to get over her, and in a single day all his hard work was negated.

What was he going to do with her?

She was in severe trouble. Of that he had no doubt. The more noble part of him took her problem seriously and wanted to help her. The dilemma stemmed from the unfortunate reality that she belonged to another man. It should be her fiancé, with his power and influence, handling her issues with her father. But Ian suspected he would not intervene, and in fact might be part of the cause behind her current difficulties. So how could he prove it when she refused to talk?

Sitting in the darkened room, Ian struggled with his thoughts. How could a full-grown woman allow her father to beat her? More importantly, how had he not known it had happened before? He furiously went over every minute they shared before their first separation. While it was true she had been a quiet and timid girl, when she was with him he saw the real Kat. She was happy, outgoing, full of mischief and vibrant. He never suspected she was being terrorized by the man who brought her into being aside from what a normal teen seemed to fear. Apparently she was skilled in hiding things, so good at it that he never once thought anything was wrong except for an exceptionally authoritarian father.

Clenching his fists, he raised them to his eyes and pressed firmly. It was a good thing that he was alone right now, because the guilt and self-loathing he was feeling was pretty damned strong at the moment. Here he was a cop, a man trained to look for the hidden signs, and not once had he suspected Kat's terror of her father. Sure he knew that John was strict and intimidating, but the extent of his sadism nearly bowled him over. All that time he spent with her, he should have been the one to protect her and keep her safe. He had failed, and she had taken on the role of protector, sacrificing her happiness in a twisted belief that it would keep him safe.

Some hero he was. In his eyes, he was nothing more than an incompetent fool.

Bitter tears filled his eyes while he rehashed their final confrontation. It happened in the spot where he sat, and he glanced to where Kat had stood that fateful morning. As he stood there spewing insults at her, accusing her of being her father's puppet, disgust for his actions made his stomach rebel. She had stood there and numbly accepted his insults, had never spoken in her own defense or let on that she had an ulterior motive. She had allowed him to think the worst of her, even encouraged it. Always the people pleaser, she had done her best to make him feel better about himself at her own expense. She had thought she was saving him all along, and he had thrown that self-sacrificing love back in her face.

It was common for battered women to try to hide what was happening at home. For abused children, it was even worse. In hindsight, much of her behavior made sense to him. Of course she would not speak about it. Naturally she would do whatever it took to appease her abuser, even at the expense of her happiness. That she had handled herself as well as she had proved how strong she actually was.

Abuse victims were known to become addicted to drugs and alcohol, have a string of broken relationships, become depressive and have other issues that she seemed to have avoided. Although much of what she had done with her life was at the demand of her father, he still knew the true Kat. That person was a spirited, vivacious woman who was damned good at hiding the truth.

She was far too good for him.

Coming to his feet, Ian made his way into the kitchen for a beer. Not a great meal, but today he needed it. As he returned to his bedroom a flash of black went by his front window. Eyebrows shooting up in curiosity, he set the beer down on the sofa table and approached the window cautiously. The outline had indicated a person, and he had a niggling suspicion that he knew who it was.

Sure enough, as soon as he edged the blind aside he spotted a man dressed completely in black. A pro. He moved along the front of Ian's house with a stealth born of long years of training. Despite the lingering warmth of the day, the man wore gloves and kept to the shadows.

Unwilling to dance around this issue, Ian reached in his pocket and removed his cell phone. As he called it in, he returned to the front of the house and looked for a car. It certainly did not take Woods long to react, he thought grimly. He was already being watched.

His admiration for Kat grew even more as he rattled off his address and waited for backup. She had known her father would set the hounds on him, but he had not believed her. In the past, he had been willing to believe the worst in her because of his pain and broken heart. It had been easier to conclude that she was shallow rather than consider her fear of her father. Instead of trusting in her love and questioning her motives, he had taken the cowardly way out and allowed her to walk away. He had so much to atone for with her, and he wondered if she could ever forgive him for being such a fool.

It did not take long to set his house alarm and gather up his piece, and he did both those things while he waited for the troops to arrive. Though not afraid, he was not taking this new development lightly. From here on out he would remain on guard. And as soon as Kat returned, he would never abandon her again. John Wood would not touch another hair on her tough little head while he was still breathing.

# ****

"I'm not in Sedona willingly."

Terri's voice quivered as she continued, and her hand trembled ever so slightly when she reached for her coffee. It helped Kat to know that her sister was not so tough that she did not fear their father also.

"Can you explain?"

Terri nodded, and her eyes lowered to the coffee cup she held in her hand. "I had just flown in from Washington, and my mother picked me and Aaron up at the airport. When we got to their house, my father was on the phone. I overheard his conversation. They were talking about a shipment of illegals, and my father was telling whoever he spoke to that they had to bring them to the house on Scottsdale Road. Having grown up here, I know a bit about coyotes and human smuggling. I know how big of a problem it's been, but I never knew my father was involved in that. I mean, really? We grew up in a well-to-do neighborhood. Sure, he probably hired illegals at his construction sites, but I never expected that he would have a part in bringing them over."

Zach nodded, but Kat's eyes had gone wide at Terri's revelation. She never knew this either and, like Terri, would never have thought her father would dirty his hands taking part in such a slimy business.

"Apparently there was a problem with the house. Some guy named Medina had just put it up for sale because he knew people were watching him, and my father was furious when the person he was talking to said they couldn't go there."

Kat noticed Zach's hand tighten around his pen until his knuckles turned white, but his expression never changed. She glanced at the man with him, Viesca. He was staring intently at Zach, and Kat knew that this was a man they both knew well. She shivered, suspecting that something big was coming to light.

"My father hung up and called someone else, I assume this Medina character."

"Do you know the date and time?"

Terri nodded. "I flew in on the fifth around four in the afternoon. It would've been just before suppertime."

Zach's hand wrote furiously. When he was done, he nodded for her to continue.

"He got the other guy on the line and introduced himself as JW. I found that odd, too, because whenever one of his colleagues called him that he would become angry."

Zach's sharp inhale again captured Kat's attention. Despite his bland expression, the information Terri was giving him seemed to be very important.

"He started yelling at the man and calling him a coward, saying the deal was too large for him to back out of now, and he needed a place to store the brown heroin and illegals. The guy must've put up a fight, because my father said, 'If you're afraid of them, you should be doubly terrified of me. I've sent heads home to wives and mothers more handsome than yours.'"

Kat gasped when a sharp pain stabbed her in her chest. When her hand flew up to cover her pounding heart, everyone in the room turned to her.

"Do you want to add something?" Zach asked softly.

Although visions of Ian at her father's mercy brought tears to her eyes, she managed to take a deep, steadying breath and shook her head. "No, not yet. She can finish first."

Terri nodded, and her eyes landed on Kat as she finished. "I was shocked that he would say something like that to anyone outside the family." She glanced meaningfully at Kat. "And I actually gasped out loud. It caught his attention. He hung up the phone and waved at me to come in and shut the door. As soon as I did, he stood up. He looked at me so coldly." She shuddered. "He said, 'So now you know what I'm capable of, and you'll be next if you speak a word of this.' I just nodded."

Hot fire seared Kat's bruised and battered skin when she leaned forward, but she reached across the bed and placed her hand over Terri's. Her sister smiled faintly.

"He was so cold, and there was almost, like, enjoyment on his face."

"I know what you mean," Kat whispered.

"You mean he was happy about scaring you?" Zach asked.

"He gets off on intimidating people. He takes pleasure in their pain," Terri said with a sad shake of her head. "Usually it was Kat he would take things out on, even when we were kids. I used to wonder what would happen to my big sister. She was the puppet of the family and always bore the brunt of our father's anger. I was so angry when she turned Ian away because there was no one left to protect her. This last time left her completely and utterly alone."

Terri's voice broke, and she squeezed Kat's hand tightly. "I knew she tried to keep the peace in the family by sacrificing herself, and I always got so angry at her for doing that. I never understood just what he was capable of. That day I finally got why she did what she did, why she always took his crap. She was protecting me from him – all of us. All I ever wanted was to see my sister happy, and she was happy with Ian. That made my father insanely angry, and he was brutal on her when he found her back in Arizona with him. He was evil with her after she ended it. The way he –"

"Terri," Kat choked.

Terri shook her head. "You need to tell him what he did so they know what Dad is capable of." Tears trickled from her eyes as she met Kat's horrified gaze. "I never meant to create a rift between us. We should've stuck together and run away from him together. But I never understood how much you feared him. You knew. All along you knew what he could do because he did it to you. I'm so ashamed that I called you meek...soft-spoken... pliable. You're so much stronger than I am."

Kat glanced anxiously at the group in her hotel room. Both Zach and Viesca were staring at her as Terri sobbed her regret and guilt. Swallowing convulsively, she shook her head. "It's fine. Just tell them what you know."

"I'd like to hear what you know, Kat," Zach said softly.

"I can't," she said, suddenly filled with panic.

"What you say could be very important to our case. I'd really like to put an end to your father's abuse once and for all." He inhaled deeply, and his lips tightened again until they were a thin line of fury. "I need to put him behind bars."

"I don't think I can offer you anything on that. I never overheard any conversations like Terri did."

He continued to watch her until she shifted uncomfortably. She knew he was a trained interrogator and trying to hide the truth from him was useless, and he proved it to her by speaking levelly. "But you know something about the beheading threats."

She began to tremble and felt tears spill over her lashes. Terri thrust a tissue at her, and she took it with a small laugh of embarrassment.

"Kat," Zach encouraged. "Please."

"It was just a threat. He used it as a threat."

"Against who?"

Fearing the compassion reflected in Zach's eyes would turn to hatred for her as soon as she spoke, Kat hesitated. She knew if she told Zach more than what she had revealed to Chuck, if she spilled it all, he would want to know why she did not report it sooner. How could she admit that she was too afraid to tell the truth? Everyone would know how much of a coward she had been.

"Kathleen..."

Terri's whisper gave her a mental shake. She wished Ian had stayed. If she was going to spill it all, she wanted him there to witness it. Staring at the three expectant faces was overpowering, so she lowered her gaze to her tightly clenched hands. Maybe Zach could put her father away once and for all. If that was the case, she would have her life back. The temptation was great, but the fear was greater.

"It's okay. We're going to protect you."

"It's not me I'm worried about," she whispered. "It's Ian. My father told me if I didn't leave Ian and the rest of the Evans family alone, he was going to have Ian beheaded and send me his head via UPS and his hands to Ford."

Zach's nostrils flared, and his blue eyes flashed in a blend of horror and fury. Once again he bent his dark head and began writing furiously. The pen was held so firmly that he nearly ripped the paper, and she cringed away from his tightly leashed rage.

Terri reached out and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. Drawing her close, she pressed her lips to the top of her head. "I wish I'd known," she said softly. "I would've done whatever I could to make sure you and Ian were together where you belonged."

After a moment where Zach collected himself, he raised his gaze and offered Kat a sympathetic smile that did not reach his eyes. "Okay, Kat, it's time you tell me everything – from the very beginning. It's very important that you tell it all."

# ****

Kat shivered as she watched Viesca and Zach collect their equipment. Zach had pages of notes from the five-hour interview, and he made her promise that she would go down to his office once she returned to the Valley to identify Dave in a line-up. Apparently the charges her father was facing were not just coming from Chuck. Zach's fury told her that federal charges were coming down the line as well.

With a plan in place for her return to the Valley, Zach felt she was safe enough to leave Sedona for the time being. He admitted that he would tell Ian of the threat against his life, and she knew it was necessary even though she felt the shame down to her toes. Ian's safety was more important than anything else, and she was willing to trade his hatred for his safety. But long after the agents left and Terri disappeared in the wilds she had been hiding in, Kat sat in the darkness and worried about what would happen next.

After an hour of brooding, she decided to move. Using the remaining minutes Ian had bought her, she made her emergency call, and Chuck was waiting for her in the parking lot as arranged several hours later, his normally cheerful face grim. She pulled the borrowed car into an open space next to him and shut down the engine, taking a moment to rest her head against the steering wheel. The drive back to the Valley seemed to have taken forever, and her back was throbbing.

"How are you?" Chuck asked, tapping on the window lightly.

Kat raised her head and offered him a weak smile. He stood aside as she opened the door and climbed out. "Scared."

He gave her a concerned once-over, his lips grim. "I've already spoken to Zach and called a friend. She's going to meet us here. She's eager to speak with you."

She nodded wearily. In her current state of mind, she had no interest in speaking to anyone, but after everything Chuck and Zach had done for her, she was in no position to deny them anything.

His hand came to rest on the top of her head. "You okay, baby girl?"

Her smile was weak. "It's been a crazy few days."

He nodded. "I want a doctor to look at your back."

"No," she said, rapidly shaking her head. "I'm okay. I'm just tired."

"You've done too much these few days. Meeting Zach up in your hotel." He chuckled softly. "I bet Ian went through the roof when you told him that."

She swallowed. "I haven't spoken to him."

"Should I call him?"

Shaking her head, she considered his reaction to Zach's report. "I'd rather he not know yet. Zach's going to talk to him."

His lips thinned. "He's not as rash as you think he is."

"It's not that – it's not him. It's my father. He hated Ian so much, and Ian never did anything to deserve that."

One eyebrow rose sardonically. "Except love you with all his heart."

She waved his comment away. "But my father knows how he feels about me now, and he still insists on hurting him."

"Are you sure about that?" Chuck asked firmly. "Can you say you know how Ian feels about you?"

She considered his question carefully. The distaste, resentment and anger, all those things testified to as much confusion and inner conflict as she felt. But then there were the tender moments she had shared with him before he disappeared again. He had kissed her one moment and then told her she had made the right choice in the next.

Confused by it all, she shrugged and decided to avoid the question altogether. "I don't want him feeling obligated to help me when he needs to focus on staying safe. My father's going to go after him."

"I think you should leave that choice up to him. You never have before, and maybe that's why he's still angry."

"Maybe once things settle down," she said evasively.

"Which reminds me." He pulled out his mobile and glanced at the time. "She should be here any second."

Kat placed her chin in her hand and rested against the car. The hour was late, and her busy day was taking its toll on her. She wanted to climb into bed and go to sleep. Of course, that was not an option when she presently had no home to go to.

The vibrating of Chuck's phone distracted him long enough to allow her to gaze at her surroundings. They were in downtown Mesa, far from any area her father would pass through. The Big Lots parking lot was fairly busy, and the sight of all those people coming and going as if life was normal made her heart ache.

Hearing Chuck shift, she returned her gaze to him. He was staring beyond her now, and the hint of a smile announced that his friend had arrived. Sighing, Kat eased herself away from the car and turned to greet the newcomer. It came as a surprise to see a woman close to her age with long auburn hair striding purposefully toward them. Although she was as diminutive as Kat, she approached with a confident air, and her smile and eyes focused solely on Chuck as she weaved through the line of parked cars to greet them. Kat wondered immediately about this attractive woman who was so close to Chuck. The last she had heard, he was happily married.

"Hey, gorgeous! Thanks for coming."

"Anything for you, Chuck, you know that."

"How are the boys?"

"Doing well. And you?"

"Hanging in there."

Kat watched as Chuck closed the distance between them and embraced the redhead in an all-encompassing hug she had felt on several occasions. Again, her curiosity grew. When they broke apart, the woman turned to Kat with an inquisitive gaze and a friendly smile. She held her hand out.

"You must be Kathleen," she said.

"I am, yes." Kat reached for her hand and was surprised at the firm, warm grip. They shook quickly, but the woman's smile never wavered.

"My name's Cherisse Nicholson, and I'm here from A Better Place. Chuck gave me a call and said you needed a place to stay for a little while. I've come to take you there."

Kat blinked in surprise, her gaze flicking between Chuck and Cher in disbelief. "I, uh..."

Chuck reached over and placed a hand on her arm. "Cher, she's been through an awful lot today. Maybe you two should talk about it in the morning. I think right now she needs to make sure her sister's set to join you, and then she really needs to rest."

Cher grinned. She had a friendly face, full of enthusiasm and honest emotion. "I've spoken with Terri, and she's going to be coming down tomorrow. It took a bit of encouragement, but she did agree."

Kat was still confused. "I don't understand."

Taking both of Kat's hands in her own, Cher nodded at Chuck to join them. He approached and placed a hand lightly on her shoulder. It was a reassuring touch, but Kat could not put her unease to rest. She felt as though she was missing something important.

"Everything is voluntary, of course," Cher began, and Kat's eyes widened with concern and suspicion. "A Better Place is a woman's shelter, Kat. We have several beds waiting for you, your sister and nephew. If you need a place to stay, even for a night, I'm here to help."

"Help?" Kat asked.

"We offer many services, but as Chuck said we can talk about that later. For now, I'd like to reassure you that your sister and nephew are safely on their way and then get you home so you can rest."

Feeling wary, she glanced over her shoulder at Chuck. "Is this okay? I mean, I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow let alone next week."

Cher answered for him. Squeezing Kat's hands lightly, she offered her another friendly smile. "You can stay as long as you need to. There are no strings attached. We're here to offer you a safe haven."

"But what happens if he finds me there? I don't want to put you in danger."

"Trust me when I say we are a secure facility and there's no way of him knowing you're there. We don't announce anything."

"But..."

"I can tell you're still not sure about this," Cher continued. "But Chuck has told me a little bit about your case, and he feels rather strongly that you'll be at risk if you go to your home."

"My case?"

Chuck cleared his throat, and Cher's gaze drifted past her for the first time. Though she could not see his expression, Cher's slight nod told her they had communicated without words.

"The case I'm working against your father," he said softly.

"But I told you I don't want to press charges for what he did. Things are going to be bad enough for him when Zach finishes."

He cleared his throat. "You don't need to. Witnesses called in your kidnapping. It's an official matter now and charges will be pressed without your involvement."

Seized by a vice of panic, she opened her mouth to advise them of how dangerous a game they were playing, but Cher shook her head. "I know what you're thinking, and I can tell you that everyone is human. They can fall. What matters the most right now is that you're safe while Chuck and Zach do their jobs."

For the second time that day, she began to feel that humanity had a chance. Here was a young woman offering a complete stranger a place to stay.

"Are you sure he won't be able to find me? I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me."

Chuck shook his head. "Only Zach, Cher and I know about you and Terri. No one else will know."

Swallowing hard at the kindness being shown to her, she raised tear-filled eyes to Chuck. "Why are you doing all this for me? It's not like I've done anything to deserve this."

Chuck smiled and reached out to chuck her chin. "Several reasons. It's my job, for one. You're family, for two. And last but not least, I really like you, baby girl."

Kat smiled tremulously. It was his second reason that caused the tears to spill through her lashes. Oh, what she would do to be a part of their family. "I don't know how to repay you."

"I do," Chuck said with a conspiratorial wink. "Talk to Ian and tell him the truth, so I don't have to."

# Chapter 16

Ian stared at his phone for the fifth time that day. Still no message or missed calls, and he hated to admit that he was worried. Tuesday had gone in a flash, and Wednesday began hectic with their final warrant coming down from the bench just after sunrise. Although it promised to be a busy day, Kat's continued silence wore on him. The Nicholson case was nearing completion, and he again faced Lieutenant Fierro for a briefing. Unfortunately he found little triumph in the breakthroughs when he was so preoccupied.

With Emery's return to the Valley, Zach seemed to be distracted. Nevertheless, Ian appreciated the companionable silence between them as they carried out their work. Luckily, this new arrest had gone off well, and he had settled back to watch the light mood of victory with Kat still present in the back of his mind. His paperwork was choppy, and his stomach was in knots from the celebratory pizzas some happy guys had ordered for the department. This latest victory was bittersweet, for nothing would bring back the man, husband and father of two. But at least Fierro could face his widow with the news that it was finally coming to an end. Her husband had been avenged.

Despite the steady progress, Ian was uneasy. He had expected to hear from Kat Tuesday afternoon. She never called. Concern battled with irritation, and he was pulling out his phone to check for a sixth time when he heard Chuck's voice across the room.

"Evans."

Both Zach and Ian glanced up then exchanged a wry glance.

"Which one do you think he's calling for?" Zach asked.

"Probably you. You did forget the coffee this morning."

"It was your turn," Zach said, scowling.

"You always say that when you mess up," he replied, tossing a balled-up piece of paper at Zach's head.

Zach dodged it and ran a hand down his face. "I overslept this morning."

Ian grinned. "I noticed. Third time since Emery came in to town."

"I was working..." Zach ducked his head as the color rose in his cheeks. "Okay, you know I don't see her every day."

"Long-distance relationships suck," Chuck said, coming to join them. He nudged Ian. "Can I have a word with you?"

Again Ian and Zach exchanged a glance, and Zach pushed away from the side of Ian's desk. "I need to go anyway. I have work to do."

Ian winked at Chuck. "He's going home to see Emery."

Chuck smiled at Zach, and the two exchanged a meaningful glance that Ian found interesting. "Have a great night, Zach. Give Emery my regards."

Still appearing a little red around the cheekbones, Zach nodded and turned to glare at Ian. "You get the coffee tomorrow."

Ian chuckled. "It's Thursday. I thought you were taking it off."

He laughed as Zach swore under his breath as he hurried off, appearing unusually out of sorts. He had been acting very strange, and Ian made a mental note to call him later to see what was going on.

When he returned his attention to Chuck, his smile slowly faded. "Did you hear?" Ian asked, unwilling to consider why Chuck was there in such a somber mood. "We made the arrest. The coyotes involved have all been taken care of. We got the lieutenants. Now Medina. All we need to do now is find JW, and we've managed to dismantle the whole cartel on this side of the border."

Chuck cleared his throat and stared at his feet before raising his gaze and nodding. "Yeah, it's been a long time coming." For a moment, he appeared sad, and Ian was reminded of how painful a loss it was for him. After all, Sergeant Nicholson had been his friend. "I was going to give Cher the news. I'd like you to come if your paperwork's all done."

Ian glanced down at his phone, unaware that he still held it in his hand. Chuck's astute gaze followed his movement. "I think you meant to ask Zach. He's the one who knows her."

Chuck was still serious as he perched on the corner of Ian's desk and leaned down on one elbow. "No, I meant you." He paused and leveled Ian with a somber stare. "We've had some developments."

"An update, huh?" Not knowing whether he was referring to the case or to Kat, Ian stared up at his cousin with a slight frown.

Chuck nodded. "Terri's been talking."

He froze. "Kat got a hold of her?"

"Yeah. She made it back Monday night."

Ian stiffened. Monday night, and she still had not contacted him. Feeling the familiar stab of pain at her lack of faith in him, he felt his jaw clench. "Hayden's got his car?"

"He picked it up yesterday."

Another barb in his irritated side. "He didn't tell me."

Chuck nodded. "I know. We had to work out a few things first."

Not knowing what was going on, Ian leaned back in his chair and tossed his phone on the desk. Crossing his arms over his chest, he leveled Chuck with his most formidable stare. "What's going on that you're all keeping from me?"

Instead of respecting his anger, Chuck leaned forward and slapped his shoulder. "Relax. C'mon and I'll fill you in."

Ian gathered up his keys and phone and pushed away from his desk. Still feeling stung, he shoved the chair in with uncustomary force. Chuck merely watched with one eyebrow raised.

"Lead the way," he crooned.

Ian led the way out the door, pausing only long enough to hold the door open for Chuck to pass. He fell in step beside his cousin as they made their way to an unmarked car. Fierro was already behind the wheel, and he raised a hand in greeting.

Not feeling conciliatory, Ian nodded stiffly and slid into the backseat without a word. They merged out into traffic in silence, but Chuck spun in his seat and leveled him with a serious stare once Fierro accelerated onto the highway.

"You have a tail."

"I'm aware of that," Ian said. After all, he was not born yesterday. He had enough years of experience to be able to detect one and knew it was the same man snooping around his house the day after he returned from Sedona.

"We still can't link him to Woods, but the timing seems consistent," Fierro said evenly.

"You're taking precautions?" Chuck asked.

"Yes," he admitted grudgingly. After spying the guy outside his window, he had parked his bike knowing he was an easier target on a motorcycle than in a car. Making use of Jamie's Volvo had been easy with her out of town.

"Reichs flew into town late Sunday evening... Apparently his trip was cut short," Chuck continued.

Ian's hands tightened into fists from the mere sound of the man's name. Without ever having met Kat's fiancé, he hated him with the intensity that he had loved her.

"He had a meeting with Woods Sunday night that lasted until close to midnight. He's back at his house without his mother."

Ian managed to restrain himself from asking whether Kat had joined him there or not. While he could admit that he was afraid of the answer, he could not tell whether he feared her going back or staying away more.

"I can't speak for Zach, but we're building a case of two charges assault, kidnapping and a potential attempted murder. The final charge depends on you, Ian." Fierro paused as he took the exit heading east.

"Two charges?" Ian asked.

"Terri," Chuck said with a heavy sigh. "She's added a whole new layer to this case, and she's been very open with Zach."

"How is Zach involved in this? He's FBI."

"Ian, this is pretty huge," Chuck said.

"I knew it would be too good to be true to close up a huge case and not immediately be thrown in the middle of another one," he said grimly, stung that Zach had been talking to Terri without telling him, and the rest of his damn family seemed to be withholding information as well.

"It's the same case, and the difference this time is that you won't be working it. You'll be the victim."

The car fell silent as Fierro's words slowly sunk in. Though he was not afraid for his own safety, he was wondering how Kat fit into this new mess. He could not protect her if she avoided him. Suddenly the urge to see her and make sure she was safe became almost overpowering.

Mind whirling with this thoughts, it took him a minute to comprehend everything that Chuck and Fierro had told him. He took a deep breath and voiced the question they all knew he was eager to ask.

"What does Terri have to do with all this?"

"She and Kat met with Zach up in Sedona Monday afternoon. They gave him a five-hour statement full of vital info."

"Is there anyone in this family who's not plotting against me?" Ian sputtered. Hearing his dismay in his voice, he compressed his lips together and changed the subject immediately. "About what?"

Chuck gave him a sympathetic smile. "Reichs, Woods, you name it. We have dates, locations and times. Everything we need to nail him."

"So you're certain they'll testify? I'm having a hard time seeing Kat speak out, considering she never has before."

Chuck's chuckle told Ian that he could see right through his righteous anger. "We had a reason for keeping you out of it until today. Like I said, Zach's busy checking things out and sorting through the information the girls gave him. We didn't want you distracted until we had more facts confirmed, and we're working hard on tying it all together..." he paused and met Ian's stare, "and so will you."

Ian was about to question what Chuck meant, but he noticed that Fierro had turned into a hotel parking lot. It was a Mariott, a nice hotel in downtown Mesa not too far from their intended destination.

"Where are we?"

"Making a quick stop to drop you off. I booked the room in my name to give you some anonymity," Fierro advised. "Room 1106. Chuck has the key."

As he spoke, Chuck passed back the electronic room key and nodded as Fierro came to a quick stop by a rear door. "We'll let you out here."

Ian frowned in confusion. "I don't get it. Are you putting me in some type of witness protection just because I have a tail? If so, I don't need it. I'm fine and have too many other things to do."

Fierro shook his head. "No, we're not doing anything like that yet, but you obviously need answers. Everything you need to know is inside. Go to work, Ian."

Still frowning, he pushed the door open and climbed out. As soon as it shut, Fierro pulled away from the curb, continuing his route around the building as though completing a pass. He appreciated their caution but did not see any other cars coming in their direction. Having no urge to hang around to test his luck, he slipped out the key, inserted it into the door's electronic reader and waited for the green light to appear. Once the lock released, he pulled open the door and followed the long hallway to the elevator bays, wondering what lay ahead.

# ****

Kat set aside the book she was trying to read for the third time, having grown frustrated with her attempt after scanning the same paragraph four times. Waiting was the hardest part, and since she had gotten in the car with Cherisse Nicholson Monday evening it felt as though all she had done was sit around and wait. And wonder. And fear.

Things were happening quickly even though it did not feel that way. When Terri had joined her at A Better Place the day before, she had made no hesitation in spilling everything else she knew to the police. Though Kat declared she did not want to press charges against her father, Terri was out for revenge. She opened up and told everything, from Kat's hospital stay that had preceded their move to Red Mountain Ranch when she was in the eighth grade to the torture chamber she had been locked in two years ago.

Kat felt as though she had not slept a wink. Every sound, every shadow indicated her father's presence. She jumped from the clicking of the heat, cried out when a door closed, and winced whenever a car sped past. She knew that when her father found out what Terri had done, she would pay dearly in her sister's place. She shuddered at the thought, wondering if she would ever feel safe again. Only when she was with Ian did her guard go down and her problems seem to fade away, but he had made it clear he wanted little to do with her.

Despite her fears, police presence had been constant since her return to the Valley. Their priority seemed to be keeping her and Terri safe. Chuck had returned in the morning with a higher-ranking officer, and her mind spun from all the hours spent reluctantly answering questions. Still reeling from having her private secrets out in the open, she had spent the day in a mixture of stunned disbelief and simmering anger.

Wishing she could have felt some sort of relief that people were offering to help her escape her father's clutches, all she felt was a lingering fear. Something was bound to go wrong. She could not depend on anyone, and she remained in that hotel room waiting for the final hand of fate to drop when Chuck left her there alone.

She wanted to go back to A Better Place, and she was tired of waiting for Chuck to collect her. She had been answering questions all day and was exhausted.

Where was he anyway?

Ready to burst into frustrated tears, she paused when she heard a fumble at the door announcing Chuck's tardy return. A quick errand? Yeah, right. "It's about time," she muttered.

She hurried to her feet just as the door swung open to reveal Ian on the other side. He held the room key in his hand and stared at her, mouth open in dumbfounded surprise.

"Kat?"

Just as startled as he was, she blinked. "Ian?"

A feeling of déjà vu seemed to embrace them both, taking them back to the dress shop a month ago. Was it already that long?

He obviously had not been told she was there, and she stood nervously shifting from one foot to the next as she struggled to comprehend his presence before her. Though she, Chuck and Zach had discussed her confiding in Ian multiple times, she had hoped to plan it out first. Apparently the perpetually pleasant oldest Evans cousin decided to force their hand.

"What are you doing here?" Ian asked, taking a step in the room and closing the door behind him.

"Waiting for Chuck."

His eyebrows shot up. "You're meeting my cousin in a hotel room?"

Unsure if he was making a joke, she vented her frustration with a saucy comeback. "Yes, and I ordered room service for two."

Ian's lips tightened as a flush stained his chiseled face, and she was gratified to see that he was not as immune as he wanted her to think. He did not have a comeback of his own. Instead he scanned the room speculatively, as if searching for signs of adultery. It was smaller than the cabin in Sedona, with only a king-size bed, a nightstand, a writing desk and a chair with a footstool placed under the window. None of the sparse furnishings contained any personal effects.

When Chuck had first suggested a meeting there for privacy, she had accepted his choice because A Better Place had women coming and going all day. Finding a hidden spot to have a quiet conversation was trying at best, but she had offered to go to the station. Now she knew why he had quickly declined.

She had accepted the idea at first. Now she was not so sure. If she had known Chuck had planned for Ian to take his place, a hotel room would have been the last place she had in mind. It was far too intimate, and seeing him so breathtakingly handsome dressed in a dark suit with a blue power tie made her feel weak in the knees.

Apparently nowhere close to feeling the same, he shrugged out of his jacket, strode over to the chair with the footrest and dropped down with a grunt. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her intently through narrowed eyes. "Okay, so what's going on?"

"I have no idea. I wasn't expecting you."

"Still looking for greener pastures?"

"Put that way, you make me want to say nothing," she replied.

"You're the one who just said you were meeting my cousin in a hotel room and ordering room service."

"I was joking." The corner of her mouth rose in a half-smile. "I didn't think you'd care."

"Oh, I care," he growled. "I cared enough to be worrying about you all week while you're off meeting with my cousins. Why am I the last to know that you came home? Didn't I give you a prepaid cell so you could call me when you got back?"

Kat grimaced. What he said was the truth, and she felt a twinge of remorse that she had not made an effort to speak to him. She was still a coward. "Things have been happening very fast. I haven't had a chance."

"To even text me?"

She had hurt him again. It was there in the liquid chocolate of his eyes, sadness, anger and betrayal. Moving to sit cross-legged in the middle of the bed, she folded her hands in her lap to keep from hugging him and met his angry stare. "I needed time to figure things out. I've had a lot thrown at me these last few days, and I really didn't know if you should be involved or if you even wanted to be involved."

His jaw clenched tight, and he spoke through stiff lips. "Don't you think I should be the judge of what I do and don't want to be involved in?"

"You told me to leave you alone," she pointed out.

"I also gave you a prepaid cell and asked you to call me."

Okay, so that did not work. She shrugged, though her heart was pounding with nervousness. "You want to talk, let's talk. I've been spilling my guts for three days now, what's one more?"

Once again his eyes narrowed, this time with suspicion. "Now all of a sudden you're going to stop being evasive?"

"I'm going to try. I've had to talk to everyone else." When he opened his mouth to respond, she held up her hand. "Just one condition."

"You haven't even started and are already putting conditions on this?"

Ignoring his sarcasm, she pressed forward. "I want you to promise me that you'll listen and not react."

As she watched him, the corner of his mouth suddenly lifted. "In react, do you mean that I not strike you?"

"I'm being serious."

"So am I," he replied coolly.

Kat cocked her head to the side. "If you're going to be like that, then we can forget it."

"I'm not sure I like this. I'm getting the feeling that I'm walking back into one of your games."

"It's not a game," she said earnestly.

She did not hide her emotions from her face, this time allowing Ian to see her desperation plainly. Sighing heavily, he unfolded his arms and placed them on the armrest in a position that would have appeared relaxed if she did not notice the tension in his hands and the stiffness in his legs. "All right then... talk."

Kat bit her lip, suddenly not knowing how or where to start. She glanced down at her hands, where her thumb was picking at the nail polish on her opposite index finger. She had not even realized what she was doing, and she curled her fingers into her lap tighter to prevent the nervous action.

Seeing her discomfort, Ian sat up a little straighter. "How's your back?"

Kat raised her gaze in surprise. "It's better, thank you."

He nodded abruptly. "I'm glad."

"I'm sorry," she blurted.

"So we're back to that?"

She inhaled deeply and continued after shooting him a warning glance. "I realize how you've misinterpreted my actions as indicative of my not trusting you or having faith in you, and I must stress that in no way was that the case."

"That was a mouthful."

Rolling her eyes, she continued hurriedly. "I thought I was protecting you."

"Protecting me?" Ian asked with a mild smile and an arched brow.

"Yes, you. My father was very explicit in describing how he would ruin you and even... hurt you."

"Is that right?"

That he did not seem to take her seriously did not sting as much as she first thought it would. After everything she had done, she had expected just that. Chuck and Zach knew she spoke the truth, and they were worried, so she knew he would eventually believe her even though he remained doubtful.

"Two years ago, he told me if I didn't go back to Washington he would have his guys kidnap you and videotape your beheading. Once it was on film, he was going to deliver your head to me and ship your hands to Ford. I was scared and ran away... I know it sounds crazy, but my father..."

To his credit, he did not even blink his surprise. He came to his feet and walked to the window, taking a moment to pull back the blinds and stare out into the city. On the eleventh floor, the view was far-reaching, and Kat stared beyond him, wondering if a new life was waiting out there for her somewhere.

When he glanced at her over his shoulder, his face was grave. "And then he beat you to make sure you stayed away from me?"

The way it sounded was so brutal and harsh that she could feel a hot flush rise on her cheeks. "Something like that."

He released his grip on the curtain, sending the room back into semi-darkness. "The guy's a sonuvabitch. We'll take him down."

Kat nodded, even though he had his back to her. "Now that Terri gave Zach all that information about his other... dealings, I promised I'd do my best to help."

At the mention of his cousins, Ian turned to face her. He stood staring at her, so familiarly handsome despite the strain that pinched his features. "You should've told me."

"I couldn't," she said. "I was afraid for you."

He cursed under his breath. "Look at how much he's hurt you... Look at what's happened to us. Have you ever considered how differently things could've been if you'd just told me the truth?"

She glanced down at her hands as the tears rose in her eyes. Though she tried to blink them away, they rushed in too quickly. Her voice trembled when she answered. "Every single day, Ian."

In two strides he was looming above her, reaching out to cup her cheeks in his hands. "I do, too," he whispered raggedly as his thumb brushed away her tears. "Every single day I wonder what I did wrong. Was it my chosen profession? The fact that I could never be a millionaire? Was it because I couldn't make you famous?"

"Oh, Ian." She tried to shake her head, but his grip was too firm. Her lips quivered, but she forced out the words she swore she would never verbalize again. Meeting his intense stare, she let all the love in her heart reflect in her eyes. "None of those things mattered to me – ever. You were – are – perfect in my eyes, and all I ever wanted was a life with you."

Releasing his grip on her face, he yanked her forward until she was on her knees before him. His gaze never left hers as he grasped her tightly and guided her lips to his waiting mouth. He pulled her close with one hand around her shoulders and the other around her hip, and she went willingly, eagerly opening her mouth to accept his hungry kiss. Too weak to deny her longing and too angry at the loss and the pain she had endured, she welcomed his hot claim on her. Never again would she reject her heart and play the martyr. She and Ian were true victims, suffering because of the love they felt for one another.

Though touching him from knee to lips, she pressed herself as close to him as she could. She needed – no, wanted – him like no other. His heat enveloped her, his musky, delicious scent enchanted her and his minty taste intoxicated her. Clutching him desperately, she wriggled against his hard body in an effort to get under his skin the way he felt to be under hers.

Groaning in the back of his throat, Ian's hand tightened around her hip until she felt his not-so-subtle desire pressing insistently against her belly. Her heart soared to know she still had an effect on him, and she opened wider when his mouth became more insistent. His tongue spread her lips to delve deep inside the warm cavity of her mouth, and Kat murmured her pleasure. Everything with him was so natural and familiar, from the hand that skimmed lightly down her back to the waistline of her jeans to the sensations his skillful tongue aroused deep in her loins.

The man was still a great kisser.

Her head was spinning so wildly that she hardly noticed when his hand slipped lower to lift the hem of her sweater. He broke off their kiss long enough to draw it over her head before catching her around the waist again and drawing her back to his eager lips. His velvety tongue stroked hers slowly and deliberately, making her squirm as her hunger for more grew.

"I'll never let you go," Ian said hoarsely. "Never again will that man touch you."

He continued to kiss her between his words, and she could feel his fingers lightly dancing across her back. The bruises were healing rapidly, and she barely felt any pain, but he remembered it all and remained cautious. His muscles were tight with restrained anger and hunger, and she ran her palms over the bulging strength of his back to smooth the tension away as she pressed her breasts against his chest.

"It doesn't matter anymore," she whispered as his head left her lips to press hot, open-mouthed kisses down the column of her neck. "Ian, nothing matters to me but you."

She wanted to believe that everything would be fine and that this was the beginning of a long future together, yet she knew they still had a long road ahead. He had not openly forgiven her yet, her father was still out there and her future remained totally unknown. But all that seemed so far away when Ian was kissing her ravenously, and her hands were urgent as she tugged his shirt from his waistband. All the loneliness of the past two years seemed to fade as she allowed herself to explore his chest. Just touching him removed the sting of the cheap acts she had been forced to perform on Curtis.

Loosening his tie, she pulled it over his head and moved immediately to the buttons on his shirt. Her fingers were skilled as she pulled them free, drawing his shirt over his broad shoulders and down his arms. In moments, they were chest to chest with only the material of her bra between them, and Ian was slowly pressing her back until she lay across the bed. He followed her down, coming to rest half-atop her, all hard muscle and warm, silken skin. Kat thought she would die of pleasure. How many times had she dreamed of this moment?

Ian's mouth was moving down her neck and pressing hot, wet kisses down her chest to the curve of her breast. As he moved the cup aside with his nose, his palm settled on her abdomen while his thumb and forefinger fumbled with the button on her jeans. She heard the zipper follow and felt her heart lurch in her chest when his hand slipped inside. She wanted him with an intensity she had never felt with any other, and excitement made her breathing grow more labored when his fingers began to move.

Moaning softly, she arched against him and gasped, "Ian, please."

As if just realizing what he was doing, he froze. Kat lifted her head off the bed, her breathing ragged in the sudden silence. For long, agonizingly quiet seconds, he did not respond, so she reached up and gave a light tug on his hair. Passion was replaced with confusion, and her voice trembled with the fear he would reject her yet again. "Ian?"

A sound between a sigh and a groan was his response, and he rested his head in the valley between her breasts. She could feel his breath warm against her skin. It was as ragged as her heaving chest.

"I can't do this," he said.

Kat's breathing hitched as she ingested his words. "What?"

Turning his head so that his ear was pillowed on her breast, he slowly withdrew his hand from inside her jeans, and she felt the loss intensely. His voice was deep with regret and strained by desire when he spoke. "You're not mine anymore, Kat... I think we both need to remember that you're engaged to someone else."

The breath she held came out in a sudden rush. "But –"

"No buts. I can't do this when you belong to another man."

Kat nodded her head. She understood his nobility; in fact, she never would have expected less. But as he pushed himself off of her and reached for his shirt, she could not stop herself from reaching out and running her hand down the satiny smooth skin of his back. Dear lord, how she ached for him with every ounce of her being. It was time to tell him she had no intentions of marrying Curtis. Perhaps not so he would continue making love but to clear the air once and for all. He needed to know everything.

"I haven't told you everything yet," she whispered.

She felt him stiffen warily but held him tight when he tried to move away. "Ian, wait..."

He groaned. "I'm not sure how much I can handle right now. I'm a bit..."

"It's not like that," she insisted. "You need to know that I'm not marrying Curtis."

He inhaled sharply. "What?"

"Before he left, we talked," she whispered. "I told him it wouldn't work."

The air left his chest in a loud exhale. "And you're just telling me this now?"

# Chapter 17

Propped against the pillows, Ian rested in a semi-seated position. Kat lay across his chest, and his hand idly stroked her back in a position they had mastered years ago. In the growing darkness, he was having a hard time remembering the two years that had lapsed; all he was aware of was Kat's even breathing. Every one of his senses was attuned to her presence in bed beside him.

Though her breathing was faint and steady, he knew she was still awake. Her hand rested near her cheek, directly over the steady beating of his heart. Her thumb and forefinger continued to play with the buttons on his shirt, but she was not making any further attempts to remove his clothing. Neither was he. For the past hour and a half they lay fully dressed, side by side, talking.

In happier days, their clothing would have been long gone.

However, these were not happy days, and his ears still burned with her revelations despite his intense yearning to claim her as his again. If he had been confused before, he was doubly or even triply so now. Still not sure if he should love her all the more for her sacrifice or despise her for hiding her pain from him, he remained quietly thoughtful once she finished speaking as he struggled to come to terms with everything she disclosed.

JW was her father. She was smack dab in the middle of his case, and he was a target of the head of the organization he was trying to dismantle. While not entirely uncommon – he had received his fair share of threats over the years – it was the situation. Like some modern-day Romeo, her father wanted to have him killed. It was hard to grasp.

Though the silence fell heavily inside the room, he was still painfully aware of Kat. He could smell the fruity scent of her shampoo, and her breasts pressed softly against his ribcage, reminding him that he was holding the only woman he had ever truly loved in his arms. They were where they belonged, but still he hesitated as serious questions replayed in his head like a broken record. Was there any hope left? Could they overcome the issues of the past and find happiness again? The most important question lay with him: would he ever be able to trust her?

At the moment, he was not sure.

Not for lack of wanting to, that was for certain. His entire body ached from the knowledge that she was lying pliantly beside him with their clothing the only barrier between him and release if he so chose. The clothing could be easily removed; the words she spoke were not so easily overcome.

Though Chuck had informed him of Woods' intention to put out a hit on him, which Kat confirmed, Ian was still shocked by the length of time the threats on his life had been taking place. She revealed that it started in high school, shortly after graduation. Where she, as a smart and ambitious girl ready to find her path in the world, was suddenly faced with the frightening aspect of her father murdering her boyfriend if she did not attend the college of his choice. She trembled as she spoke, and he could almost understand her youthful need to do whatever it took to protect him, for he would have done the same thing. However, he was still stung that not once had she told him the truth in subsequent years. Instead she preferred he think the worst of her than admitting to coercion.

A heavy weight filled his chest for all that they had lost, and he took a deep breath to ease the ache. Kat shifted slightly, her hand ceasing its nervous plucking. "Am I crushing you?"

He snorted, and his hand tightened around her back instinctively before she tried to move away. "Of course not. I'm thinking."

"About what?"

He would have snickered if he could. "The way you make everything sound so simple."

"Simple?" Kat chuckled. "Trust me, it's been far from simple."

"I thought I knew you inside and out, but I'm learning that you're quite the actress."

Propping her small, round chin on his chest, she searched him out in the darkness and focused on his steady gaze. For a moment, he considered closing the gap between them and kissing her senseless again, but his head still swirled with feelings of betrayal, anger and horror.

"I did what I thought was right at the time. My first concern was always your safety. I wasn't trying to act."

"Well, you had me fooled."

She nodded. "It had to be that way. If anything had happened to you, I don't think I would've survived it."

"Your father knew that and used it against you."

A bitter smirk curved her lips. "He's good at that."

Ian sighed again. If only she'd had enough faith in him to tell him the truth, her father could have long ago been put away. Though he never said it aloud considering what she had been through, he wondered how many others would still be alive if John Woods had been safely in jail. "I still wish you hadn't done what you did. So much has changed, and I'm not sure where to go from here."

She nodded, and her eyes were filled with sorrow. "I know. I feel the same."

When the silence fell again, Kat pushed away from his chest and sat up. The strong grip of fear that she was about to leave him filled him with so much panic that he held up a hand to reach for her again. His action was cut short when the phone in his pocket vibrated. Pulling it free, he glanced down at the display. "Meeting done. On our way back to collect you both."

When he raised his face to hers, she was staring down at him expectantly, her face hopeful and frightened at the same time. "They're on their way back."

She nodded and scooted to the side of the bed. It was then he remembered he had not seen any personal belongings.

"You're not staying here?"

She shook her head. "No. They brought me here for the interview because of the privacy. I didn't realize they wanted me to have this privacy with you."

Jealousy flared in full force as he realized that could mean she was back at home with her fiancé, regardless of what she told him. "Why do you need privacy? Where are you staying?"

She glanced at him over her shoulder, intuitively picking up his concerns. Her smile was gently teasing. "I mentioned ending it before the wedding, but I haven't seen Curtis since to make it official. I'm not staying at that house."

Running a hand down his face, he grimaced. "You don't understand what it's like for me."

"Believe it or not, I do," she said softly. Turning around, she climbed back on the bed and crawled to his side, reaching out with one hand to cup his cheek. Her touch was light and sent heat racing back to his groin. "When I was sitting next to Dani at the wedding, I thought she was your date and it nearly drove me mad... I know what I've done to you, and you never deserved any of it. How you've put up with me this long is still a mystery."

He caught her hand in his and held it against his cheek, torn between the urge to pull her closer and push her away. "To me, too," he said brusquely. "After you speak with your fiancé, maybe we can explore that conundrum."

"I was hoping to."

Releasing her hand, Ian found himself unable to drag his eyes away from the sight of her scooting across the bed and searching out her shoes. Gathering a worn paperback in her hand, she moved to the light switch and turned it on. "I'm ready whenever you are."

He nodded and smoothly rolled to his feet. It took him a moment to locate his mangled tie, and he pulled it over his head to readjust it. Without saying a word, she approached and brushed his hands away to retie it for him, and he busied himself by tucking his shirt back into his slacks. Still unnerved by her familiar intimate actions, he remained silent and watched as she finished with a light pat his chest.

"No matter what happens, Ian, I want you to know that the days I spent with you were the happiest of my life."

Though she spoke lightly as though completing an everyday task with a man she was comfortable with, Ian sensed her underlying fear. He noticed how her hand returned to her side and then clenched into a fist so tight that her knuckles turned white. He also noticed for the first time that her ring was gone. Unable to prevent his conflicted inner doubts, he wondered if she had taken it off because she knew how he hated the sight of it, or if she took it off because her words were true.

"Thank you," he replied.

He watched her shoulders sag under the weight of his words, but he was helpless at that moment to offer anything more. To repeat her words could give her false hope, and to deny them would be an outright lie. Luckily the vibrating of his phone broke the moment, and he glanced again at the display.

"They're pulling in now."

"Then I guess we should go," she said brightly.

Ian nodded his head and followed her to the door. She pulled it open and swept out into the hallway without looking back once. He did a final sweep and pulled the door closed, his eyes lingering on the edge of the bed where he had nearly lost all control and made love to her again.

As the door closed off the sight of the rumpled bedspread, his gaze searched out Kat. She was already halfway down the hallway and made no move to slow, and he was left wondering if he had done something wrong again.

It was all too much to think about now. He needed more time.

# ****

A Better Place was a mishmash of donated furniture, books and clothing, with three small offices on the lower floor containing donated desks and electronics. The upstairs held six bedrooms, four of which were currently in use, and a large open space at the top of the stairs that served as a children's playroom. Bins and brightly colored shelving units lined the wall and were filled with donated toys and puzzles. It was a homey scene that greeted the eye when one mounted the stairs, but this evening Kat found Cher sitting alone on the sofa, wiping away tears.

The sight of her guardian angel in a moment of weakness first took her by surprise, and then the concern hit with the force of a bullet. Despite her own problems seeming to bear a crushing weight on her heart, she could not ignore the sight before her. Rushing to Cher's side, she cleared her throat quietly to announce her presence.

Cher glanced up and smiled through her tears. "Sorry about that. I was just up here cleaning up for the evening..."

Kat moved closer to the striking redhead, taking note of the tears that caused her long lashes to bunch together and made her eyes glisten brightly. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, actually, things are good." She dropped to her knees in front of a puzzle that was scattered across the room, most likely by the resident who had a three-year-old daughter. Kat sank down beside her.

They worked in silence for a few minutes before Cher took a steadying breath. "My sister was in a situation similar to yours several years back now. That's how I came to know of this place."

Kat nodded. This much she had learned from speaking with one of the residents. "Shelly, right?"

"Yeah. She's remarried now and moved to California for a new start. I speak to her weekly, and she's doing well." She glanced up at Kat with a determined look on her face. "It is possible to move on."

Kat thought immediately of the dark look on Ian's face when he saw where Chuck and Fierro brought her. "It's for the best now," Chuck had warned him when Ian opened his mouth to protest. Kat had taken the opportunity to escape and ran into the house.

Would it be possible to move on? Right now, Kat was not sure.

As if reading her thoughts, Cher reached out and patted her hand. "They're good men, Kat. They'll work hard to help you."

"I'm scared," she admitted with a tentative smile.

"I understand completely. You're not alone. Many women are just like you, too afraid to hope and too afraid to trust. But remember, you have some of the state's finest officers working on your case, and you have us here to help. Take advantage of Dr. Stansfield. He's a godsend, Kat."

She could not hide the disbelieving smile. "A godsend?"

"Yes," Cher replied, completely serious. "He helped me through my ordeal."

Kat thought of Cher's tears, and a twinge of guilt for taking her lightly erased her smile. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

Cher nodded and waved a hand in dismissal. "It's okay. How could you?" Chuckling somewhat sadly, she resumed picking up the pieces of the puzzle. Kat joined her with the task. After another few minutes of silence, Cher glanced up again. "The case they just wrapped up today was regarding my husband."

Kat's hand froze over a piece with the glaring green eye of a cat. Scooping it into her palm, she gaped at Cher. "Your husband?"

"He was killed in the line of duty. They've been working together to arrest those involved in the ring that was smuggling illegals over the border. It wasn't an isolated group of coyotes. Rather, it was a whole organization with gang connections and ties to wealthy businessmen and even a law enforcement agency. It's been a lot of hard work for these guys, and they finally gave me some closure today." She again chuckled softly. "Hence the tears you now see."

Kat could feel her own eyes well, not an unusual thing for her nowadays, and knew in her heart that her father was one of those wealthy men Cher referred to. It filled her with disgust to fully comprehend what Ian meant when he said she should have spoken out before now. Perhaps if she had, Cher's husband would still be alive.

Before she could stop herself, she dropped the puzzle piece and reached for Cher's hands. Giving them a gentle squeeze, she blinked rapidly to hide her emotion and pressed her lips together. "I'm so very sorry."

Cher nodded her appreciation, but her voice shook when she spoke. "I was lucky, Kat. I had a man who loved me so much... and he was truly a great man. They say that all the time, don't they? Only the good die young? Well, he was that."

Kat thought of the vibrant and friendly woman being a widow at such a young age and shuddered. "I can't even imagine."

"There's not a day that passes that I don't wish he was here, helping me raise our boys and still loving me. I was so lucky to have him, even if it was for such a short time. I never take that happiness for granted. I cherish every day that we had together."

Kat considered Ian and what they had shared and paused. It appeared as though she and Cher had more in common than they thought. Kat had lost Ian as well, true by her own actions, but she had lost a truly great man. Her only consolation was that he was alive and well.

Cher made a good point. Had she taken his love for granted by not telling him the truth? She had done this to herself, ruined her single chance for happiness out of a misguided attempt to keep the love of her life safe. Though they had finally communicated, he had made no promises. When looking at Cher's broken-hearted existence, it made Kat feel all the more foolish. Cher had lost what Kat had discarded. No wonder Ian kept raising the walls of self-protection when she was near.

"Brandon used to use a phrase called 'tasting hope'. Have you ever heard of that, Kat?"

She shook her head.

"He once told me that you would have to reach out and grab hope because it was an elusive thing that could easily slip away. You're in that elusive stage now, where all the unknowns and the fear are forcing you to doubt. But the smartest thing you can do right now is reach out and grab that hope, taste it on your tongue. The rest will follow, I promise."

Kat smiled tremulously. "I'll try."

"We'll help you," Cher said. Sighing heavily, she gathered up the rest of the pieces and placed them in the box before returning the lid. Kat sat back on her haunches and watched her come to her feet and set the box on one of the shelves. "I should get home to my boys. It's getting late."

Kat rose as well and impulsively wrapped her arms around Cher's neck. "Thank you for everything."

Cher laughed and hugged her back. "It's okay. I like to help others, and being here brings me closer to Brandon."

"I'm sure he'd be very proud of you and everything you do," she offered.

Cher grinned. "Either that or he'd tell me to get home and take care of the kids."

"Okay, well maybe that as well."

They shared a laugh, but the sound of the opening door below and Terri's voice calling out a hello brought them both back to reality. Kat again thought of everything that had transpired in the last few days and shivered.

"Don't do it," Cher warned.

"What?"

"Despair. Everything will work out the way it's supposed to. Just have patience and faith."

"I'll try," Kat whispered. For at that moment, the sight of Terri coming up the steps with Aaron in tow and a FedEx envelope in her hand made her heart race with a mixture of fear and dread. This was the news she had been dreading and anticipating since she had first spoken to Terri.

At the top of the stairs, her guarded sister paused and glanced between the two of them. "Is everything okay?"

They exchanged a glance and nodded in unison before they both turned back to Terri expectantly. She cocked her head to the side and studied them with narrowed eyes.

"Well?" Kat asked impatiently.

"I have the results. Mary brought them in." As Terri spoke, she kept her eye on Kat. In Terri's hand could be her pathway to freedom. With bated breath, she watched as her sister approached, sinking down to the sofa when she held out the large, white envelope. "You do the honors, Kat."

She was shaking but smiled bravely when she felt Cher's hand land on her shoulder with a reassuring squeeze. "I can do this."

"You can and you should," Terri muttered. "Enough damage has been done."

When Kat's gaze flickered to Aaron, Terri held out her hand to her son. He approached immediately and wrapped his smaller hand around hers, smiling and happy now that his mother had been returned to him. Seeing the sight, Kat nodded. Terri was right. Enough damage had been done.

With trembling fingers, she pulled the tab and opened the envelope, withdrawing a sheet of paper. Mindful of Aaron's presence, she scanned the results. It was a confusing page, with numbers all over and strange percentage values. Nevertheless, one statement caught her eye. "Curtis Reichs is _not excluded_ as the biological father," she whispered aloud.

Cher's hand tightened on her shoulder. It gave her the strength to keep looking. Her eyes scanned lower to the final percentage remarks. "It's 99.352% probability."

Covering her mouth with her hand, Kat's gaze flew to Terri's. Her sister, miraculously back in cocky form, stood with her arms crossed over her chest and a satisfied smile on her lips. "I told you I was telling you the truth."

"I never doubted you," Kat said hoarsely. "I just couldn't understand how."

"You were with Ian – where you should've stayed."

Cher glanced down at the top of Kat's head, her gaze burning there as this new bit of information came to light. She felt it like a brand, especially with Cher's words of lost love still ringing in her ears. "I have to make a call."

Cher released her grip on her shoulder and took a step back, but Terri followed behind her as she made her way back to the room they shared. "If you go, I'm going with you. I'm not going to let them get their hands on either one of us again."

"This is my mess to clean up. Plus, you have Aaron to consider."

Terri was shaking her head with the enthusiasm of a toddler. "No, no, no," she said. "Look what he did to you and to me. From now on, we need to stick together."

Kat sighed. "I know we need to, now more than ever. I realize I've made mistakes, maybe too many to count. But I have to do this alone." Turning around, she gave her sister a gentle push toward the door. "Please, I have to make this call."

Terri appeared angry, but she did allow Kat to close the door behind her. Once alone, she went to the twin-size bed she had been sleeping in since Monday night and sat on the edge. Holding Ian's prepaid phone in her hand, she considered her next move carefully. She had seen in movies that she should remove the battery and dispose of the phone once she had used it, but she hesitated over losing the precious gift from Ian. It was a link, a connection, a sign that he cared enough to look out for her.

Biting her lip, she came to a quick decision. Right now, it was more important that she use the phone. Dialing the number from memory, she waited for the phone to ring.

He picked up on the third ring. "Reichs."

Taking a deep breath, Kat steeled herself. "Curtis, we need to talk."

# Chapter 18

Heart pounding rapidly in his chest, Curtis pressed the end button and glanced around. The house was quiet, but he knew that Carolina lingered somewhere. Ever since Kat's disappearance, the maid had been snooping around, and she admitted she was worried for her employer when he questioned her. While it reassured him that she had no idea where Kat was hiding, it also warned him that the nosy maid could be listening.

Choosing to go outside instead, he made his way to the balcony off his bedroom and closed the slider behind him. His panic was sufficient enough to warrant a call, no matter the risk of Carolina eavesdropping. At least outside he would be less likely to be overheard.

Pressing the number on speed dial, he was relieved when he heard Woods answer on the second ring. "It's dinnertime."

"I heard from Kat," Curtis said unevenly.

"She called you?"

In the background, Curtis heard a chair scrape against the floor, indicating that sure enough John was enjoying his supper. He heard Claudine's voice in the background asking John what was happening. "Is it Kat?"

John's response was curt. "Eat your dinner."

Curtis leaned over the balcony and rested his head on his hand, waiting for John to leave the room. It only took a moment for his clipped voice to return. "What did she say?"

"She wants to meet me tomorrow to return my ring. She's leaving me."

As he spoke, he noticed his voice trembled ever so slightly. This was damaging to his political aspirations as a man who was supposed to promote family values. However, the things he had seen and heard from John Woods warned him that Kat's father was more of a liability than a broken relationship. Nevertheless, he was scared of losing the financial support. There had to be a way to win her back. He had to keep her long enough to get into office. Then things could change.

"She claims she's leaving you. That's unacceptable."

"I tried what you said. I told her how concerned I was. I asked if I could collect her and said I'd protect her, but she was adamant. You went too far, John." The initial panic he had felt when Kat spoke returned in full force. A simmering anger brought back his spoiled side, his need to have things his way. "I'm holding you responsible for this."

John's response was to laugh coldly. "If you had made your relationship with her a higher priority, you wouldn't be in this position now. You didn't even know about Evans."

"What makes you think he has anything to do with this?"

"Of course he does. She's never been able to stay away from him. I've had to separate them forcibly several times."

"But you said you have a man watching him, and he hasn't been seen with her."

Curtis was confident Kat was not a devious woman. She would not have run to another man without showing signs. There had been no signs, just an increasing unhappiness that he felt stemmed from his mother's involvement in their wedding plans. No, she was not with another man. She was not strong enough to be deceitful.

"We have a tail on him, but that doesn't mean anything. He's clever. He could be in constant contact with her, and I wouldn't doubt that he is." John hesitated, and Curtis could almost sense the wheels in his brain working. "This is a disappointment. This is where things are going to get more complicated."

"What do you mean?" Curtis gasped. "The last thing I need is a scandal."

"Then you better do whatever you can to get her back. If not, I'll have to take action my way."

"I'll do my best."

"You do that. Where are you meeting?"

"Downtown."

"What time?"

"Lunch."

"I'll meet you there and escort her home."

Curtis compressed his lips together in a tight line when John disconnected their call without another word. Disliking his disrespect almost as much as he feared losing Kat's money, he was suddenly at a loss of what to do. If she saw John at lunch tomorrow, she could bolt forever. Debating whether he should call his campaign manager or his mother, he opted for the latter. After all, part of this was her fault.

# ****

Coffee was not doing the trick.

Stifling another yawn, Ian ran a hand over his face. The weight of his vest seemed overly oppressive rather than reassuring, and his mood was no different. He had spent the entire night tossing and turning, replaying his conversation with Kat in his mind and grudgingly admitting that he would have done the exact same thing she had if their positions had been switched.

It did not help improve his mood. All it did was prove that she had been of pure heart rather than all those things he had accused her of being.

However, his conclusions did little to settle the larger question. What was to stop her from doing it again? If her father continued to use her for his own ends, would she ever be strong enough to resist?

He glanced up when a paper fast-food bag was dumped unceremoniously on his desk. Hayden stood with one hip leaning against his desk, a jaunty smile on his face. "Wow, you look like hell."

"Who let you back here?" Ian snapped.

"I brought you some lunch."

"I was going out."

Hayden shrugged, undeterred by his grouchy reception. Reaching for a chair from the desk behind him, he pulled it over and took a seat at the side of the desk where he had recently leaned. Ian watched as he opened the bag and pulled out two wrapped sandwiches and two large orders of French fries.

As he placed them down, he winked. "Now you don't need to."

"You must've read my mind."

His stomach grumbled as the smell of the greasy burger invaded his sinuses. Unable to refuse, he reached for a fry as Hayden followed up with a large soda. He even placed the straw in the soda for him.

"So to what do I owe this uncustomary show of kindness?"

"I saw Zach and Emery this morning. He told me he had the day off. I assumed you'd be lonely without our best friend."

If Ian was in a better mood, he would have enjoyed the overture a little more. He could not find enthusiasm in anything, and he trusted his brother enough to spill the reason. "We made what we thought was our last arrest yesterday. Then I learn that John Woods is our JW."

Hayden sat back with a low whistle. "Knowing the guy, I have to say that it's no big surprise. I think I'm more stunned at how small the world is." He shook his head. "I bet Zach's pretty upset he can't put in for his transfer to Denver yet."

Ian shrugged as he unwrapped the burger. "Since the wedding, Emery's been considering staying here – reluctantly at first – but Zach's going crazy with this long-distance stuff."

"Been there, done that," Hayden muttered.

Ian thought back to when Kat left for college. His heart had ached when she had broken it off, and he had nearly blown his first semester when it took him a lot longer than he expected to get over her. The second time she had taken off had been even worse. He spent months drinking every night, hitting up the bars and using his charm to gather phone number after phone number. Anything he could do to wipe her face from his mind.

Now she was on it every moment again.

A heavy sadness settled around his heart as he again thought about all he had lost. "I kinda hope they work something out. He really cares about her."

Hayden's head bobbed in agreement. "Shouldn't let her go."

The words hit a little close to home, and Ian returned his attention to his lunch. The ringing phones and buzzing conversations continued around them, but briefly he enjoyed the silence.

Hayden, too impatient for his own good, was unable to enjoy it for long. After a couple of minutes, he was cocking his head to the side and staring at him appraisingly. "What did I say?"

"Nothing," he mumbled. "I didn't sleep too well last night. I'm a little out of it."

Hayden grinned with delight. "Partied too hard after nailing those bastards?"

"Unfortunately, no. I've had others things on my mind."

As though a light switch suddenly lit up over Hayden's head, understanding dawned on his face. "Oh, I get it," he said in a long, drawn-out breath.

There were times when Ian decided he did not like his brother. The dancing light in Hayden's eyes that followed his taunting comment made it one of those moments. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"How's she doing?"

"Didn't I just say I didn't want to talk about it?"

Hayden shrugged. "I'm just concerned."

"Forget about it. She's fine."

Luckily, the phone on his desk began to ring, and Ian reached for it with a warning glance at his brother. "Be quiet. I have to get this."

He nodded and sat back in his borrowed chair, crossing his arms over his chest while one of his hands held his drink to his lips. He began slurping up the last of the soda when Ian reached for the handset, but paused when Ian glared.

"Evans."

"Ian, this is Terri Woods."

The voice coupled with the name brought back memories of a smiling brunette of sixteen, wearing a ponytail and running garb. Ian remembered her blue eyes, so similar to Kat's, yet that was where their similarities ended. While Kat was blond and petite, Terri was tall and lean. Kat was the reluctant cheerleader; Terri was the popular jock. Though three years separated them, it could have been a lifetime due to the differences in their personalities.

"Hey, Terri. How have you been?"

"Better, frankly. Listen, the reason I'm calling is that I'm concerned about Kat."

Not again, he thought grouchily. Would he ever get any peace? Studiously avoiding Hayden's interested look, he reached for a pad of paper and a pen. "What's up?"

"She called to set up a meeting with Curtis yesterday with the condition that I'd go with her. But when I went to find her, she'd already left. She took a cab."

"She took a cab?"

"Yeah. No one even noticed she was gone."

"Where was she going?"

"She was meeting him downtown at his favorite restaurant to return his ring and break things off."

Ian's brows rose. So, she was going through with it. Somehow the notion pleased him. "And you're concerned about that?"

"I don't trust my father or Curtis. I'm sure the weasel would've called my dad as soon as he heard from her. I don't think she should've gone alone."

"You think he'd try something? In public?"

Terri's laugh was brittle. "After what he did to her two years ago, I wouldn't put anything past my father."

Two years ago? He sat up a little straighter. Kat had not gone into detail beyond his stated assumption, and he was curious. Tapping the pen against the pad of paper in a rapid tattoo, his voice grew more somber. "What happened?"

"He grabbed her as soon as she left your house that morning. He locked her in a room in the basement... and I'm talking chains."

"Chains?" Not sure whether or not to believe her, he hedged. "Kat never mentioned that."

"Of course she wouldn't," Terri muttered. "She won't tell a soul about it. It took her months and a hospital stay to recover."

"Why are you telling me this now?" Ian demanded. "Why didn't anyone tell me before?"

"We were terrified he would kill you. You don't understand my father. He's dangerous and doesn't make idle threats. But you know, when my terrified little mouse of a sister sat down on Monday and told Zach everything, I realized just how brave she is, too brave for her own good. That's why I'm worried now."

He tried to envision the courage Kat would have needed to go face Curtis alone. While he had heard some of the details of her bravery earlier that week, the way Terri put it into perspective tugged on his heart strings. "So you want me to go over there now?"

"Not you."

"Not me?"

"If they see you, it'll be worse for her. Can you send over a couple of uniforms? Maybe just pick her up and give her a ride home?"

Ian immediately thought of who he knew in the downtown area. "I'll make a call. Where is she and when are they meeting?"

"Uh..." Terri paused. "Darn, they're meeting any minute now. You'd better call quick."

Ian glanced at the clock. Sure enough, it was three before midday. Scribbling down the name, he tossed his pen on the desk. "I'll call now."

He hung up the phone, sending Hayden another warning glance. Dialing a friend over in the district, he instantly hung up with a muffled curse when the call went directly to voice mail.

"I'll go."

He glanced at Hayden. "What?"

"I'll go. If you can't, then I will."

"Hayden, you look a lot more like me than you seem to think."

"Nonsense. I'm taller and better looking."

Ian would have laughed if his mood was not so sour. "Not an option."

"You're working; I have the day off."

"I thought you were a civilian now," he grumbled, referring to Hayden's previous secret life. For years his brother had worked as an undercover DEA agent until his cover had been blown over the summer. His true vocation had been revealed to the family only when his life was almost lost, and Ian still resented him for never revealing the truth before that fateful day.

"I am today."

"Then I can't in good conscience send you over there. I'll call another friend of mine and see if he can send patrol over."

"I'm still going to go. I've always had a soft spot for Kat. She's like my little sister. I'll swing in on my way home and give her a ride back. It'll save her a cab fare at least."

Hayden was already on his feet and gathering up his trash. Shooting for a basket across the room, he grinned when it went in. "See? It's my lucky day."

Ian grimaced. "I'm still calling patrol to head over there."

"I'll give them your regards."

# ****

Kat did not smile when Curtis hurried toward her with his hands outstretched. In the low lighting of the fine restaurant, she noticed only a few diners. Much like Curtis, they were clad in perfectly tailored suits and appeared frazzled and stressed. Though not very busy for lunch, she was reassured that there were just enough fellow diners to prevent him from making a scene. Nevertheless, her hands felt like ice when he grasped them in his warm and somewhat clammy ones and drew her close. For the first time ever, he embraced her in a giant bear hug.

"Kathleen, darling, I've been so worried about you."

Darling? He had never used a term of endearment with her before. It was always formal. Kathleen, or Kat when he was feeling generous. She remained rigid in his arms, not trusting him or his words. Sensing her disquiet, he released her reluctantly, although one hand remained around her waist while he led her through the maze of tables, past the fine china and silverware to their waiting table. He continued chattering in a low but excited voice and only pausing when a diner looked his way. Then he was all smiles and friendliness, holding out a hand to shake and asking for a vote at the polls. She followed along behind him, silent as a sentinel.

"You look ravishing. I'm so relieved that you're safe."

Once again her internal warning bells rang. Gushing with compliments, attentive rather than scornful? She wondered if he knew more than he was letting on.

A waiter stood at the ready at a cozy table for two, holding her chair for her to sit and then sliding her in and placing a napkin over her lap. She glanced around, but there was no one else in sight. Strange, for Curtis always had an entourage. At the very least his simpering campaign manager would be hot on his tail.

A genteel clearing of the throat rose from the waiter, who appeared more like a personal servant than a server. "What would you like to drink?"

"She'll have a glass of your 2006 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon."

"Yes, sir," he responded quickly.

"And we'll start with the fresh oysters... You can place our lunch order now as well."

Kat frowned. Curtis knew she did not drink alcohol at lunch, let alone a heavy wine like that. She glanced up and caught the waiter's attention. "A glass of water, please," she corrected politely as she wondered what he had ordered for her to eat.

The waiter glanced between the two of them before nodding and moving off. As soon as he was out of hearing range, Curtis leaned forward. "I was hoping you would share a glass of wine with me to help us relax."

"I'd rather not."

He reached across the table and captured her hand. "I've been so worried about you, my darling. I came back as soon as I heard you were missing, and I've been distraught all week."

She pulled her hand away. "Who told you I was gone?"

"Your father called me to ask if I had heard from you. I know what happened, and I must state clearly that I do not agree with his actions."

"He told you what happened?" Kat asked evenly, her eyes narrowing. Something about that was very wrong. Her father never spoke of his cruelty to anyone. It was always the family secret; a situation kept behind closed doors.

"Not exactly. It was the way he alluded to certain things," he said quickly. "It made me very uncomfortable. Perhaps we need to talk about this."

She shook her head. "No, I'm here only to return your ring."

After reaching into her handbag, Kat slid a sealed envelope across the table. Inside held her elaborate engagement ring, a token of her commitment to a man she did not love.

Curtis' eyes widened ever so slightly. As she watched, the hard glint that appeared in his eyes was quickly masked. He sat back in the plush leather chair and tugged uncomfortably at his tie, loosening it as though it was choking him. While he did so, his mouth opened and closed several times in an effort to formulate his words. It was a sight she had seen multiple times during his appearances when someone asked him a question he was not prepared for and did not readily have an answer. This surprised her, for she had warned him the evening before that she was not going through with the marriage.

"I think you're being hasty, and I understand why," he said slowly. "You've been through a lot recently, and I wasn't here to support you."

When have you ever? Kat thought with a flash of temper.

"But I'm here now, and I'll do everything possible to make sure you're well cared for." Pushing the envelope back toward her, he shook his head. "I'm not going to take this back. You keep it."

"Curtis," she said wearily. "I'm not doing this."

"What?"

"The wedding. Being married to you. Curtis, I don't love you, and I feel you deserve better."

"You were a fine pick."

She shook her head. "That's just it. You don't love me any more than I love you. I was chosen for political reasons. Those reasons don't sit well with me."

"I'll provide for you," he said firmly, his impatience growing.

"I want more than that," she whispered. "When I marry, I want a man who respects and cares for me, not a provider."

He was shifting in his seat with growing panic. The man was turning into a child before her eyes, a child not getting his own way. "Well, what am I supposed to say when the press finds out that you're leaving me? Is it so hard for you to understand what a sensitive time this is?"

His growing tirade was thankfully interrupted by the return of their server. He placed a wineglass and a crystal goblet of water before Kat before doing the same for Curtis. While the young man stood by anxiously, Curtis reached for his glass and went through the motions of sampling the choice before the waiter filled their glasses from the cloth-wrapped bottle. The remainder was set in a bucket that magically appeared at their side by a silently moving sentinel who moved to stand behind her. She shuddered. Never one to warm up to blatant indulgences such as this, she felt the urge to escape the stifling situation.

The waiter turned to greet yet another arrival, and a steaming plate of oysters was placed on the table before he disappeared again once Curtis nodded his approval.

"You can tell them whatever you want. All I want is to end this peacefully," she said softly. The paper with the DNA results was also in her handbag, but she was hoping it would not come to that. That was a card she would hold to the river and only show once her hand had been called.

"I'm sorry, but that's unacceptable," he said, scooping several oysters onto the plate before him. He glanced beyond her with a slight nod.

"What?" Kat asked tentatively, doing everything in her power not to look behind her.

"Silly girl. You never think, do you? You can't do this right now. Things are too tenuous. You know your father will never allow it."

She clenched her jaw. "I seem to remember becoming an adult over a decade ago. My father has no say in this."

"Au contraire, Kathleen." A heavy hand landed on her shoulder, the thick fingers squeezing her trapezius muscle painfully. She gasped, first from the sound of her father's voice and then from the pain.

Her gaze met Curtis' in a haze of betrayal. "You lied to me?"

"I need you to understand," he said as he scooped up an oyster. "Winning the election is my sole concern right now... and I need you to do that."

Kat flinched and once again sought out Curtis' gaze, admitting to herself that she should have known better than to think he would make it easy. With an almost imperceptible nod in his direction, she took a breath. "I'm sorry you couldn't handle this peacefully."

He shrugged. "I'll pick you up later this evening."

Still maintaining his painful grip on the shoulder he skillfully manipulated, her father pulled her to a standing position with a broad smile for any onlookers. The pain stole her breath away, and she stumbled to her feet with an overwhelming feeling of helplessness. Did she dare cry out or struggle? As though reading her mind, her father's hand tightened even more, nearly bringing her to her knees.

"Come, Kat, get the envelope and put it in your purse. Then we're going home."

"I'm not going with you," she whispered.

"Oh, but you are. We have a lot to discuss, mainly what you and your sister have been up to. I'm very disappointed in you. You've blown your last chance."

# Chapter 19

Ian was no more able to stay away than Kat had been during her initial first few days back in town. Despite Terri's warning and despite the concerned looks he received from Hayden, he pushed away from his desk with a muffled curse and followed his brother outside. There was that undeniable pull between them seemed insurmountable and definitely no more easily ignored than the urge to eat.

Terri may fear that things would get worse for Kat if he showed his face, but it could not happen if she remained with him. John Woods would never be able to put a hand on her again. Not while he was still breathing.

It was a quick matter to fill in Chuck and Zach, and he did so during the ride over to the posh restaurant. While Chuck was not happy with the jurisdictional restrictions, the fact that patrol had been called helped him breathe easier. Ian and Hayden entered the restaurant together as civilians and took up a spot by the bar while they waited for patrol to arrive.

From their spot, Kat and Curtis could not be easily seen, but that meant they were not easily detected either. That turned out to be a blessing when Ian spotted John Woods and an ugly, hulking giant open the door and enter one at a time. That Terri had appropriately called his arrival concerned him all the more, giving further credence to Kat's danger and manipulation by a man who should by all rights have protected her.

John Woods appeared the same as he had the last time Ian had seen him. He had perhaps a little less hair and a few more sunbaked wrinkles, but otherwise he was as fashionable and handsome as ever. A man of slightly less than average height, his designer gray suit and slicked-back blond hair made paler from the swarthy color of his sprayed-on tan gave him the appearance of being larger.

Hayden nudged him in the ribs. "That's him, right?"

"Yes, that's JW," he replied, suddenly filled with the urge to throw himself at the dangerous felon who dared to hurt his own daughter in such a heinous way. Hayden must have sensed his muscles coiling, for he reached out and grasped his arm.

"Don't be hasty," he warned softly.

Nodding abruptly, he leaned back against the bar stool. Although he appeared casually relaxed, his attention was rigidly fixed on the two men hovering by the door. He watched as Woods impatiently waved away the attentive host, his eyes never straying from the direction of Kat and Curtis' table. Ian wished she had not sat with her back to the door. She should have been more cautious. He would have to talk to her about that later.

Turning his attention to the giant, he frowned with distaste. The man with him had no redeeming qualities; in fact, with a face that appeared more like a side of beef rather than a human countenance, Ian felt as though he was far better suited to a horror flick than a bodyguard. Of course, his ugliness probably boosted John Woods' need to appear threatening.

Seeing both men stiffen with readiness, Ian pushed off the stool. "They're making a move."

After tossing a twenty down on the highly polished bar, Hayden was by his side. "I see."

Ian glanced back toward the doorway as the two men weaved their way through the tables to approach Kat. There was still no sign of the uniforms, but the idea of her father going near her again was so revolting that he was in pursuit before Hayden had a chance to stop him.

Hayden caught up to him before he had turned the corner to the main dining room. Mingled voices, the clinking of crystal goblets, and the scent of well-prepared gourmet food greeted them first. Ian scanned the room, taking note of John's hand on Kat's shoulder and the hulking man looming behind her. To all appearances, it was a friendly touch, but to Ian it was an outrage. That the man would dare touch her again...

"Ian, they're not here yet."

Ignoring his brother's voice, he inhaled sharply as his heart began to race. Kat was rising to her feet, her father's hand still on her shoulder and a smile that one could only describe as triumphant plastered on his lips. Curtis Reichs, political candidate for family values, watched on as he continued eating, his face cool and collected. Rage overcame reason, and he was shoving his way past hovering servers and startled diners, uncaring if he caused a scene. Perhaps that was what was needed at this point.

Behind him, Hayden muttered their apologies and excuses as he followed on his heels. In a voice choked with fury, Ian spoke as soon as he was within range. "It would be in your best interests to let her go."

All eyes turned in his direction, and he managed a tight smile at the amount of surprise displayed in all four pairs of startled eyes. The bodyguard reacted first, taking a threatening step forward. Hayden moved just as quickly, his teeth bared in challenge until John waved the other man back.

"Well, if it isn't two of the Evans boys," John said in a subdued voice. "Nice of you to join us."

"I didn't realize it was a party," Ian replied through clenched teeth. The man still had his hand on Kat's shoulder, and judging by the strain on her face, it was not a gentle grip. "Let her go, please."

"Or what, Ian?" John said mildly.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Curtis' eyes widen with recognition of his name. Briefly he wondered if Kat had mentioned him, but when Curtis' gaze flickered to John he squashed that notion. His information came from other sources, most likely not good ones.

"Ian, what are you doing here?" Kat asked in a strained voice.

He glanced at her, taking note of her pleading eyes and tense posture and ignored her attempt to sound casual. Returning his attention to Woods, he frowned severely. "Or the scene that follows will not be good press for your politician here or you."

Curtis pushed back his chair and shot to his feet so quickly that his forgotten napkin fell to the floor. Spreading his hands out appealingly, he forced a smile. "Now, now, there's no need for that..." His voice trailed off as he glanced over at Woods uncertainly. "John?"

In a move of deliberate slowness that had him taking another step forward, John leaned in to press his lips against Kat's ear, mumbling something so quiet that he could not hear but that made her eyes widen. With a final show of domination, he gave her a final squeeze that caused her knees to buckle, and then he was thrusting her in Ian's direction with a look of pure hatred.

"You have no idea what you're doing, Evans," he hissed.

Ian reached for Kat and pulled her against him, using his body to shield her from her father. He took note of the sag in her shoulders but dared not speak directly to her. Not until they were out of the restaurant. "On the contrary, I know exactly what I'm doing."

John's smile was feral, an exhibition of bleached-white teeth. "I have many connections."

"How convenient that I do as well," he countered coolly.

"Yes, I heard about your successful arrest yesterday. Job well done, officer," John pressed.

Knowing that he was attempting to threaten him, Ian shrugged. If John knew of the case being built against him, he would not sound so arrogant, he thought in amusement. His connections would run for the hills when that indictment came down. "It's what I do every day."

As if on cue, two uniformed officers approached, smiling directly at him. Recognizing one of the guys from a bust they made together, Ian smiled back. "Hey, Gus."

Gus paused, taking note of the finely-dressed men and bulky bodyguard, one brow lifted in question. "Everything okay over here?"

Ian nodded in John's direction. "We've just been having a nice chat."

Gus' partner stepped forward. "Gentlemen?"

Aware that other diners were taking note of their display now that two burly officers had joined them, Curtis promptly adjusted his tie and held out his hand. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said quickly. "Curtis Reichs, senate candidate for 2014."

Neither officer appeared interested. Curtis' hand fell weakly to his side, and he glanced around the dining room nervously.

"We're just leaving," Ian said with a cool smile at Reichs.

He felt Kat reach surreptitiously for his hand. As he entwined his fingers with hers, he felt her trembling for the first time. A new wave of anger slammed into him like a tsunami, and he returned his attention to her father. "I'll be seeing you again soon, Woods."

John threw back his head and laughed. "Oh yes, you certainly will, Evans."

To his left, Curtis' mouth was opening and closing like a fish out of water as he struggled for something to say. With his eyes darting between the other diners and the uniformed police officers, he was suddenly at a loss for words.

With a nod at Hayden, Ian dipped his head at the other three men. "Have a nice afternoon."

"Yes, enjoy it, Evans. We never know how long before the storm arrives."

John stared pointedly at Kat as he spoke, and Ian felt her shiver. One of his eyebrows shot up in challenge. "Are you threatening a police officer?"

The older man laughed. "I don't need to threat."

"That's good, for threats will only bring you trouble."

Giving her hand a reassuring squeeze, he drew her along beside him as they walked away. The two uniforms hesitated a moment before following them outside where they all congregated in the parking lot to murmur in low voices.

Kat's eyes remained wide, almost dazed. Although writing up their report, the uniforms watched her carefully while Ian thanked them for coming. They jotted down a quick statement from him and promised they would share with Chuck if the need arose. Ian felt bolstered, finally turning his attention to Kat when they walked off to the waiting cruiser.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded weakly.

"Once I drop you off, I'm going to bring her home," Ian told Hayden.

"It's about damn time." Hayden smiled his approval and hopped in the backseat.

They remained silent during the ride back to Ian's office, but once Hayden climbed out of the car with a jaunty wave, Ian heard Kat inhale shakily. Twisting in his seat, he reached out and touched her cheek.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Instead of answering, she placed her hands over her face and hunched over her seatbelt in a position of such forlorn misery that he was at once nervous and concerned at the same time. He had never been any good at handling a woman's show of emotion, and now was not any different.

"Aw, hell," he muttered.

Fumbling with his seatbelt with fingers that suddenly felt as fat and useless as the hulking bodyguard's, after several failed attempts he finally managed to release it and reached across the car to do the same for Kat. Drawing her gently into his arms, he lightly stroked her back to ease the trembling that still continued to seize her. She buried her face in his chest, drawing in a long, shaking breath.

"Ian, you have no idea what you've done," she said in a tone so full of desolation he almost felt a twinge of guilt.

"I got you out of there," he said firmly.

"But you don't know what he's like."

He snorted. "It appears as though it's all coming to light now, no thanks to you."

Ignoring his slight jab, she shuddered again. "Oh, why did you come?"

Chuckling with little mirth, he rubbed his cheek against her soft hair. "How could you expect me to stay away?"

"But he's seen you," she cried.

"So?"

"Don't you understand? He could kill you."

Despite her terror, he did something that even he did not expect. Feeling the bubble start in his solar plexus and force its way up like a loaded canon on a short fuse, he laughed. The noise startled Kat enough that she jerked against him, but he continued to hold her while he laughed away her worries.

"He's not going to kill me, babe," he said when he regained his composure. "He isn't that good."

She raised her face away from his chest. Still as white as a ghost, her eyes loomed large against her pale skin. "He takes pleasure in hurting people."

Smiling widely, he cupped her cheeks in his hands and wiped the moisture away from her eyes. "He can try, but he won't succeed. You forget, I'm an Evans."

# ****

Once again, because of her father's actions, Kat was thrust into Ian's company, and she wondered if he had any inkling that he was the cause of their continued interaction. She sat quietly in the chair recently vacated by Hayden as Ian scooped up the remainder of his lunch and tossed it in the basket with a fluid move that she had seen many times over the years. Then he was off to clear things up with his lieutenant before he brought her home.

Sitting with her hands in her lap, she focused on his desk for a rare glimpse of what he was like at work. Unfortunately, his desk was bare of any personal touches. A pad of paper, a pen, a half-empty cup of coffee and a phone were the only things on the torn blotter in front of the computer. It was hard to believe that he was working on a case that he was in the process of wrapping up with so little information on his desk.

Shifting her gaze, Kat studied the remainder of the room. The sea of cubicles was sparingly populated, with other investigators either on the road or off to lunch, but the camaraderie she spotted at one of the desks between a group of hovering men made her wonder if Ian socialized like that. Quickly she concluded he probably would have joined them if she was not there; he was too friendly not to.

She was angry, angry at herself and angry at the world. In those few moments while she was gripped with terror, she remembered what Cher had told her. Taste hope, she had said. Take hold of that hope before despair sets in and never let it go. She had wanted to do as Cher commanded, but the fear was so monumental that she had nearly buckled under the weight of her despair. Knowing that the two men who were supposed to love and protect her were using her for their own ends had been the lowest blow.

Then she had heard Ian.

Yes, the man she had hurt over and over again was there for her, coming to her rescue like some sort of modern-day knight in shining armor. Although his armor was a suit and tie, he had marched bravely where no one else was willing to go, standing up to her father like a real man.

As if her very thoughts conjured him, he stood before her. His short, immaculately trimmed hair was spiked, making her wonder if he had run his hand through it as he was prone to do when distressed, and his necktie was pulled loose. Despite his slightly disheveled appearance, Kat was entranced. She slowly raised her gaze to his and found his brown eyes studying her with concern.

"Ready?"

"I can call a cab if you're too busy."

"No you won't." As he spoke, he reached for the pad of paper and pen and pulled open the middle drawer. He tucked them both inside then gathered the half-full coffee cup, carrying it over to the trash can and dumping it in before he returned and held out a hand. "Let's go."

Amused by his need to tidy up before they left, she managed a slight smile as she placed her hand in his. His fingers were strong and warm as they closed around her hand, and she could almost feel his strength enter her body like a force of emotional and subliminal power. She wanted to lean against him like she had in the restaurant but hesitated. He had come for her again, but was he still just doing his job?

Ian was silent as he guided her through the office. He nodded in the direction of the several people who called out to him, but his face remained grave and almost unapproachable when she peeked at him. Obviously he was still angry, either at her or her father.

He held the door open for her to pass and fell in step beside her. Pacing his stride to move at a more leisurely speed, he steered her in the direction of the Volvo she recognized as belonging to Jamie.

"You have Jamie's car?"

He nodded. "Just while she's enjoying her honeymoon."

Once again Kat marveled at the close-knit nature of the Evans family. She had barely spoken to her sister since she had last left Ian, and even now there was a power struggle starting between the two of them while they sought to escape their father's clutches. Oh, he had done a fine job in ensuring they had a strained relationship, one they were struggling to repair. Unconsciously, she patted her handbag. The damning evidence of her father's manipulations still lay within, thankfully not in his clutches. Her family fit the profile of dysfunctional to the letter.

"That's nice of her," she said softly.

Sensing Ian's gaze on the top of her head, she glanced up to see him staring at her with a strange smile. "What do you mean?"

"It's nice that she let you use her car."

e drheShrugging, Ian opened the door for her and walked around to his side, slipping his length behind the wheel with the same liquid grace she had witnessed countless times. He remained silent as they pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road, only glancing at her once to make sure she had fastened her belt. Respecting his need for quiet, she turned her attention out the window as they merged into the afternoon traffic on the highway, watching the cars pass as they sped to unknown destinations. An airplane loomed overhead on its way into Sky Harbor Airport, and the sound of the engines echoed in the silence of the car.

"I spoke to Terri today."

Startled from her mindless reverie, Kat turned back to face forward in her seat. "I wondered how you knew where I was."

"She sounded good."

"She's going to be fine, I think."

"I understand she's working with Chuck now, too. He'll get with Zach to compare notes."

She nodded. "Yes, she's given a full statement."

She watched as his hands tightened over the steering wheel and felt that there was something more he wanted to say. Sure enough, he finally turned to face her, his face unreadable. "Want to tell me about the basement?"

A ghost of a sad smile, so brief she almost felt as though it never appeared, preceded her words. "She told you about that?"

"Not everything," he said shortly.

"Are you angry?"

"That you didn't call the police afterward, yes. That you made it out alive, no. Jeez, woman, you should have told me."

She chuckled. "How could I have called you after I'd just broken your heart?"

"I wish you had," Ian admitted.

"You'd already done too much."

"Apparently I've never done enough."

She placed her hand on his arm and rubbed slightly. "That's not true. Don't ever think that."

He sighed heavily, and Kat could feel his muscles tighten under her hand. She did not pull away, could not pull away. The urge to touch him was ever-present, like the need to drink or eat.

"I can't stop thinking of how different things would be now if we had both made different decisions. Things never would've become so complicated if we had both handled things better."

"There's no fault on your part," she said firmly. "It was all my doing. I should've been more honest with you, but I just couldn't. I know it's hard for you to understand, but not only were we always told to keep quiet or else, but I was also so ashamed. I was a grown woman..."

"I do understand even though I can't relate." His lips tightened in what she was now realizing was anger with himself more than with her. No matter what he was realizing, she doubted he could ever fully understand what she had gone through. Even now she was reluctant to speak of her private shame and pain.

Patting his arm one last time, she allowed her hand to fall back in her lap. The loss of her touch seemed to shake him from his internal reverie, and he glanced in her direction again. "I should've known you well enough to know there was more going on."

Kat wanted to agree. There had been times when she had wished he had refused to allow her to hurt him and demanded answers even though she knew in her heart she never would have spoken. Not then. But the fantasy that he would come to her rescue had always lingered in her subconscious. It may have taken him years, but he was certainly stepping up to the plate now.

Though caught in her thoughts, she glanced out the window. They were deep into Mesa now, and Ian was showing no signs of taking the exit to A Better Place. Assuming he was still distracted with thoughts of guilt, she pointed to the quickly approaching exit.

"Ian, don't miss –"

"I'm not bringing you back there," he said abruptly.

She waited for him to elaborate, but a long silence descended in the vehicle. Fidgeting in her seat nervously, she finally broke down and asked the question she knew he was waiting for. "Where are you taking me?"

There was no hint of emotion on his face when he turned to meet her questioning gaze. "You're coming home with me."

He spoke matter-of-factly, almost as though it had long been planned and agreed on. However, she did hear the defiant edge in his tone as well, a silent dare for her to deny him. Remembering their recent encounter in the hotel room where in one breath they were fighting and in the next in each other's arms, she was unsure if that was a good thing.

As though sensing her discomfort, Ian leveled his most threatening stare at her. "Before you say anything else, just know that this is not up for negotiation."

"Since when?"

"Effective immediately, until this mess is straightened out," he growled.

She opened her mouth to retort but then paused. If he was anyone else in her life, she would never talk back, and here she was gearing up for an all-out defiant battle of wills with him. It took her a moment to come to terms with what her heart already knew.

Ian would never hurt her, no matter how angry he was, no matter how many times she did something stupid. He loved her as deeply as she loved him. Even though he accused her of not trusting him, the truth was that she trusted him as much as her abused self could allow.

Now she just had to prove it to him.

# Chapter 20

Ian allowed Kat to precede him into the luxurious house she had briefly lived in. According to her, the stout Hispanic woman with the weathered face that belied an age much older than her sturdiness made her appear was the faithful maid, Carolina. She stood aside nervously as they entered, eyeing Ian with a mixture of interest and fear. He would have smiled if time was not of the essence. His plan was for them to gather as many belongings as they could while the civil stand-by officer who accompanied them was in place and waiting patiently behind him.

"Is Myra home?" Kat asked.

Carolina shook her head.

"Oh good," she breathed. "I want to get out of here fast."

She scanned the openings before them, apparently listening for anything that would indicate another presence in the house. Ian followed her gaze, inspecting the house she had barely had time to settle in. The luxury inside was not as understated as it appeared from the front. Though not as grand as Ford's, the marble flooring and African black maple staircase advised him that certainly no small amount was spared when decorating. He felt uncomfortable seeing that Kat fit in this environment as perfectly as she had on the television.

Aware Curtis could be on his way home after their lunch in Phoenix, Ian gave Kat a slight nudge once she embraced Carolina. "Let's gather as much as we can carry and be done here."

Carolina blinked back the dampness in her eyes. "I already filled two suitcases for you, Miss Catalina."

She pointed to a spot underneath one of the magnificent Corinthian columns that separated the foyer from the spacious rooms that extended off in all directions.

Kat smiled and pressed the woman's hands in thanks. "Thank you so much." She turned to face Ian. "I have a few things upstairs that I don't want to leave here."

He followed close behind, not willing to take any chances that Curtis could be lingering somewhere in the house. Despite Kat's haste, he could not help but pause when they reached the second-story landing. A full kitchen lay off the family room at the top of the stairs, and hallways extended off in both directions from there. He began to turn left, but Kat called him back.

"That's Curtis' room," she said. "Mine's this way."

He hesitated in disbelief, his eyebrows arching high on his forehead. "Pardon me?"

She turned around with a look of exasperation. "We weren't married yet, not that it's any of your business."

"Actually it is," he reminded her. "Considering you left me for him."

"If it makes you feel any better, Ian, you're still the only one," she muttered before hurrying down the hallway and leaving him standing alone with his mouth opened in surprise. Although he felt a bit remorseful for forcing her to admit the truth, he could not deny that he loved what he heard. But he had no time to dwell on the ego boost she just delivered him; they had too much to do. However, this small peek into the life she had been living was giving him more food for thought.

They did not share a room, he thought giddily.

Though she could be fibbing, he was still bolstered with the knowledge that they were never as intimate as she had been with him. A bit of his lingering jealousy was eased.

Striding past the black granite-covered kitchenette that almost perfectly matched the wood in the banisters, Ian followed her down a plush carpeted hallway to the opposite end as the main master. She was already rummaging through a chest of drawers. After tossing a pile of undergarments onto the luxurious king-size bed, she disappeared into an enormous walk-in closet that was nearly the size of his spare bedroom. He waited in the entrance while she rummaged through the morass of expensive designer evening gowns and pantsuits, all neatly hung and pressed. Once again a feeling of inferiority took a hold.

"Got enough clothes?"

Kat snorted. "Curtis insisted that I not wear the same outfit twice. It was a huge waste of money, in my opinion."

He felt the corner of his mouth turn up. Once again, he liked what he was hearing. This was the Kat he had known and loved a long time ago.

A grunt reached his ears when she emerged from under the mass of floor-length gowns with a box in her hands. It appeared to be a shoebox, but when she opened it he saw that it did not contain shoes. Instead, it was a mass of items evidently saved as mementos.

"Hand me that bag, would you?" Kat asked, pointing to a pink designer hobo hanging from a rack on the wall. Several other handbags of various colors and sizes rested alongside the one she indicated, and he fumbled with the straps before handing her the one she requested as it dangled from his finger.

Her eyes glittered. "Too girlie for you?"

He nodded and crossed his arms over his chest, maintaining a serious face for her benefit. "Absolutely."

"I'm just about done."

He resumed watching as she dumped the contents of the shoebox into the bag haphazardly. Several items he recognized immediately. The ticket stub from their prom, a faded and brittle corsage he gave to her for homecoming, an ASU keychain he had sent to her for Christmas following their first breakup, and most importantly, a well-worn photograph from Christmas over two years ago, during the time they were briefly engaged. She was sitting on his lap, her hair long and draped over her shoulder and her face alight with laughter. He was pressing a kiss against her neck when Isabel had taken the picture.

The memories flooded back in waves. Memories of how attuned they were, how much their lives intertwined on a daily basis. Perhaps it had just been a sign of youth, which was something he had attributed their previous breakup to. But when they had come back together as naturally as if they had never been apart, they were mature. More importantly, they had been happy.

The image burned into his memory long after Kat had hastily stuffed it in the bag with her other tokens. She continued to rummage for just a few more moments, plucking more hidden stashes from hidden recesses in the closet until the bag was nearly full. Tossing it over her shoulder, she came to her feet with a determined nod. "I'm ready."

He glanced around them at all the clothing she was leaving behind. "Anything else you need? I'm still free to carry anything."

She took a final glance in the closet, and then her gaze drifted past him to the elegantly furnished bedroom. Shaking her head emphatically, she bore a look that bordered on disgust. "No, there's nothing here for me."

Unable to resist, he reached for her when she brushed by. Pulling her up against his chest, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close. Before he let her go, he buried his face in her hair and whispered into the top of her head. "I'll second that."

Briefly he felt her relax against him, and her arms went around his waist, resting in the small of his back before she hastily pulled away. Spinning on her heel, she nearly ran for the door. "I just want to get out of here."

He followed, his body tingling where she had touched him and his mind buzzing with the amount of memories she had stashed in her closet. Feeling a touch raw and emotional, he decided that now was a good time to get her out of Curtis Reichs' house once and for all.

"Take one last look, Kat," he warned, "because you're never coming back here again."

Her eyes flashed with unconcealed anger. "You can say that again."

He was again pleased. Perhaps things were finally changing in her frightened mind. Maybe she was realizing the mistakes she made were not her fault but rather a learned behavior from a lifetime of abuse. Behavior she could change, and he was going to help her do just that.

He followed her down the elegant staircase and back to the foyer where Carolina and the uniformed officer waited.

"Everything all set, Evans?"

Ian nodded. "Thanks for coming."

"Not a problem," Small replied.

Officer Jeff Small was anything but small, a simple twist of fate that gave him a brawny build with a diminutive name. They had attended high school together, and Small had at one point vied for Jamie's affections. A few dates ensued but nothing solid came out of it, and they went their separate ways during junior year.

Ian knew Small was aware of his broken relationship with Kat and was thankful he kept his curiosity under control. He suspected Small would be in touch later and hoped he would have some concrete answers by then.

Kat was silent but smiled her thanks before returning her attention back to Carolina. Giving her one last hug, she pulled back and gripped the older woman's hands tightly. "I'll find you a new job, I promise."

Carolina chuckled and waved away her concern. "Don't worry about it. All I care is that you're away from these horrible people." She turned to Ian and leveled him with a look of motherly concern. He wondered why it was Kat seemed to evoke that response from every woman she came in contact with. "You're going to keep her safe, yes?"

"I am," he responded confidently.

Kat glanced up at him with wary eyes, but he avoided her gaze and reached for the suitcases. "Let's go."

Without looking back, she turned and walked for the last time out the front door of the Reichs residence with her head held high. Ian followed, bearing two of the suitcases, while Small graciously took the third. They piled everything in the back of Jamie's Volvo, and then Ian turned to thank Small.

"You holding up, Evans?" Small asked as they walked back to his waiting cruiser.

"We'll see," he said with a shrug.

"I heard you're being tailed. We've had an undercover keeping an eye on you."

"Yeah, he's been pretty overt about it, definitely wants me to know he's there. Now that she's staying with me, I'd appreciate you guys beefing that up. Can you arrange a drive-by here and there?"

Small clasped him on the shoulder with a good-natured chuckle. "C'mon, you know we won't let anything happen to you."

Ian nodded his thanks and glanced back in the direction of Kat. She sat waiting in the car patiently.

"Hey, you give us a call if you need it. This guy seems like a real jerk anyway. Family values? Yeah right. He's talking about saving America, and yet he's threatening our wages again. Damn politicians."

Ian bit back a smile and nodded sympathetically as Small continued his tirade about stealing food from his kid's table and no college funds due to the raise-freeze. Patience growing short after listening to his rant for five minutes, he held out his hand one last time for a shake. Small gripped it firmly before releasing him with a grin. "Take care and good luck this time, buddy."

"Thanks," he muttered. "I think I'll need it."

# ****

Though not normally a man with jittery nerves, Ian could not help the nervousness that made his palms moist as he led Kat back in through his garage in a scene they had practiced not even a week before. While he had always prided himself on being realistic, at the moment he felt anything but. Right then he could not help but wonder what their future would bring. Dare he hope they could have another chance?

Unsure if that was even what he wanted, he led her straight to the guest bedroom. It was a simple room, perhaps half the size of his master and bearing only a queen-size bed with a nightstand on either side and a dresser with a TV resting on it. The second bath, which he had intended she use the night he caught her climbing out her window, lay directly across the hall. She would have everything she needed without having to intrude into his space. Or rather, without him intruding into her space. There was no denying his continued attraction which had his eyes track her every move.

She glanced at him questioningly as she entered the room, a room they had made love in once when he had first purchased the bed. He avoided her stare, not wanting to know if she was remembering that day or had had forgotten all about it. That had been a night he would not forget anytime soon, and still he could hear the echoes of her moans as if they had imprinted into the walls.

Clearing his throat, he pushed back the memory and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "I'm going to get the rest of your stuff. Be right back."

Nodding absently, she went to sit on the side of the bed. Ian retraced his steps, retrieving the two remaining suitcases before closing the garage door behind Jamie's Volvo. While he watched it slide closed, he scanned the cul-de-sac and the street beyond to see if his ever-present tail had resumed its position. For now, all seemed clear.

He knew it was just the calm before the storm.

Keeping his tail hidden from Kat was his next challenge. With her so close now, he would have to work extra hard to ensure she did not catch wind of Woods' attempts to intimidate him until she felt safe. Chuck had sent a text an hour before, advising that they were scrambling for the search warrant they needed to put the pressure on Woods. Zach was pulling overtime now that the Tac Ops team had been inside his house to plant bugs, and The Ghosts were on his tail gathering intelligence on the Federal side. Ian hoped they would get what they needed quickly. The man could only be described as evil.

Kat was still sitting on the edge of the bed when he returned, but he noticed she had kicked off her shoes and was wiggling her toes. They were painted a pale pink, and like a fool he was transfixed at the sight. Such a simple gesture, but with her nothing was ever simple. Even her dainty feet attracted him, and he was at a loss why.

Clearing his throat, he pushed aside all thoughts of kissing those digits one by one. "Here you go. Want a hand unpacking?"

She continued staring at her feet, so he placed the suitcases down and went to sit by her side. Throwing an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her close and rested his chin on the top of her head.

"How are you holding up?"

She turned and buried her face in the middle of his chest, her hand forming a fist around the material of his shirt. Though she was not crying, the amount of emotion in her grasp seemed equal to a flood of tears. Although she had been keeping it together, even teasing him at one point, the mood swings were overwhelming. He was not so great with emotional females.

Rubbing her back with one hand, he used the other to press her head closer and decided to try to reassure her first. "It's over now. You don't have to be afraid of him anymore. You're safe here with me, and I'm sure you'll be much more comfortable than when you were at the shelter."

"He'll be back."

"He can't touch you while you're with me, no matter what connections he claims to have." He inhaled, hating that he had to even mention the man's name. "And your Reichs proved useless today."

"Curtis is a puppet for my father. If I never see him again, I'll be a happy woman," she said angrily.

"A puppet, huh? I once called you the same."

She lay against him in silence for what seemed a long time. Her breathing was steady and even, and he reluctantly admitted that it felt good to have her in his arms. He continued to rub her back until she relaxed slightly.

It made her next words all the more frustrating to hear. "You don't know what my father's capable of. It's not over yet."

He wished Kat knew Woods' days of freedom were limited. He would be jailed long before he had a chance to retaliate.

Sighing, he rubbed his chin against her hair in an attempt to be reassuring. Would he never be able to stop the urge to touch her? "But I'm not going to let him near you."

"He'll find a way to hurt you to get back at me. I know it."

He smiled. "It really bothers you that much?"

She raised her head and focused on his face. She blinked once before speaking, and her voice was low and serious. "I know that you've spent the last two years hating me and everything you thought I stood for. I can accept that. I made a choice that hurt you deeply. But by God, if he hurts you now, after the unspeakable hells I've been through to protect you, I will hate you forever."

He jerked back in surprise.

Seeing the shock on his face, her lips twisted slightly. His eyes narrowed as he struggled to determine whether or not she was serious.

Then a smile spread across her face.

Allowing his hand to drop to her waist, he gave her a light squeeze. "Tell me you're joking."

She laughed briefly. "Yes and no."

"What does that mean?"

"If you get hurt now, I'll never forgive you for not listening to me."

"Oh, I'm listening to you," he said softly. "And I'm hearing you clearer now than ever before, what you say aloud and what you don't."

An impish smile appeared, and her eyes danced with hope. "Does that mean you're going to forgive me?"

He sensed the danger approaching but was unable to stop it. "I wish I could look at you and not want to touch you."

"Really?" Kat asked in surprise. "So that's good, right?"

Her smile, the welcoming look in her eyes and the soft bed beneath them told him he had everything he could ever want right there before him. The thundering of his heart warned him that he was close, so close, to losing the battle of his longing. "I'm considering it, but it all depends on what you do next."

She laughed with more mirth, a cheerful giggle that brought a relieved smile to his lips. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He dipped his head ever so slightly, suspecting he would regret it later. Much later. "I'll show you."

Understanding dawned in her eyes just before he closed the gap separating him from the woman he ached for. Despite the warning bells ringing loudly in his ears, he captured her eager lips with his. It was too easy for him to press her back against the soft mattress, and this time he did not hesitate to follow her down. Two years of restrained longing suddenly found the opportunity for release, and he was no longer strong enough to deny the urge. Nor did he want to. Reichs was nothing, certainly no competition for him. He would not be seducing a woman belonging to another man. She was free.

Continuing to reclaim the familiarity of her delicious mouth, he allowed their breaths to mingle while his hand left her waist and crept to the hem of her sweater. Slipping a hand beneath it, he spread his fingers over her smooth abdomen before raising his head ever so slightly.

"You're no longer engaged?"

"I wore his ring, but you were my only fiancé. It's always been you."

His hand was roughly drawing her sweater over her head before she completed her final sentence. Kat was eager to help shrug it off before turning her attention to his shirt. Her hands were everywhere, wandering over him with an urgency that sent tingles of pure lust down to his groin. After yanking his tie over his head, he recaptured her lips, unable to get enough of the taste of her or the smell of her skin. Her fingers urgently unbuttoned his shirt and drew it off his shoulders, prompting him to reluctantly draw back for a second time.

He was breathing raggedly when he shook his arms free, but he paused long enough to run his hand from the soft planes of her abdomen up over the white-clad mounds of her breasts to cup her chin. "I want to believe you this time."

She reached up and took a hold of his shoulders, her eyes pleading. "I never wanted to lose you. These two years have been hell. I just want one last chance to prove it to you."

"I've heard that before."

"But this time you know the truth." Her hands ran over his shoulders and down his back, and she drew his hips closer to hers. There was no hiding his desire even if he wanted to.

"I only know half of it," he warned her, reaching down to nip her lip gently. "I won't accept anything but full disclosure."

"With your help, I'll never have to hide anything from you again," she replied earnestly.

Her hips pressed against his in unspoken question, and Ian was not one to refuse to serve. Raising his head, he stared down at her accusingly. "Why can't I refuse you?"

"Because you love me too much," she whispered gently, her hands clutching him tightly.

It was as good an answer as any and one he was unable to question when she was so eager to touch him. He removed the remainder of her clothing with the same urgency her hands had shown him, and he reacquainted himself with every slope, valley and crevasse on the body he once knew as intimately as his own.

When her murmurs of pleasure turned to moans of need, he finally ceased his torture. Staring down into her eyes, Ian thought briefly of all the trouble she had caused and all the pain he had suffered by her betrayal. But here she was again, brought back to him as though by fate. She lay beneath him, watching him with eyes glazed over with desire and love. It was no use. He could no more deny her than she could him. Once again, the instinctive pull of their combined hearts had brought them together.

Heeding the instincts within his body, he claimed ownership of her, plunging deep inside with a muffled groan that matched hers. His heart felt full, as if it knew that this was home. Right there, buried inside her, was where he belonged.

# Chapter 21

Curtis walked into Kat's bedroom, taking note of the empty boxes in her closet and the dresser drawers that were partially open to reveal they had been emptied of the fine lingerie she preferred wearing but that made him blush uncomfortably. Fists clenching at his side, he considered his actions at lunch, but surprisingly the remorse that he assumed would set in was rapidly being replaced with a burning rage. She was once so pliable and willing to do whatever it took to make him happy, yet she had immediately run to a former lover and willingly turned him down.

What did that other man have that he did not? He was certainly not making a run for the White House. Nor did he have the connections and funds to grant her the pampered life she was accustomed to. All she had to do was make public appearances by his side and smile, and in exchange she had everything she could ever need. Yet she threw it all away to be with that tall, handsome cop.

Sitting on the side of her bed, Curtis glanced around the room critically. Though sparsely furnished, the room had every amenity Kathleen could ever have wanted. Whirlpool bath, deep sinks made of the finest stone, and a bedroom set carved out of a pristine African walnut. She had lived in luxury, wanting for nothing. And the thank-you he received was the sight of her passing his ring carelessly across a table in a restaurant?

Seething, Curtis came to his feet and swept the few remaining items left on her dresser to the floor with an angry roar. The effect was not as dramatic as he had hoped, for the plush carpeting sent the exotic perfume, hairbrush and framed photographs bouncing instead of shattering. He stared down at the photo of him and Kat with disgust. On the day he made his announcement for the federal seat, she had behaved flawlessly, flashing a shy but lovely smile, her hair done up professionally, her clothing above criticism. Everything about her that day had been perfect. Lifting his foot in a fit of temper, Curtis slammed his heel down hard on the frame, smashing her beautiful pixie face under a rain of sharp glass shards.

Feeling slightly better, he stared at the scratched and torn photograph, hoping that Woods had everything under control and that soon Kathleen would be in much the same condition.

# ****

Awakening slowly, Kat wished immediately that morning would not come. She felt so warm, so protected, so content to be held in the arms of the man she adored. For that brief moment before dawn set in, she felt as though she no longer had to fear. There would be time to consider where Ian would stand when he awakened, but for now she could relish in the joy that she had been able to spend another night in the arms of her timeless love.

Always a serious man, Ian was not one to take things lightly. He had not taken her casually that evening, and she was touched by the thoughtfulness with which he had stroked her and the murmured encouragements he had whispered in her ear. As if he knew words could drive them apart, he had refrained from questioning her further, leaving the night as one of pure love rather than anger and blame. She felt complete, sated and truly cared for. After the manipulations of her father and Curtis' betrayal, all she had left was her tenuous relationship with Ian, and she refused to throw it away again.

On separate occasions, Curtis and her father had warned her that she was on her last chance. They had been right. She was going to make sure this final chance with Ian was her best effort ever. She would do everything possible to keep him safe so that they had the chance to heal the rift she had created and possibly even have a future together – assuming he wanted one.

Everything could change in the blink of an eye with the coming of the sunlight. Sighing softly, she realized that there was still a monumental amount of work ahead of her. It would be a long road ahead.

Shifting ever so slightly, she felt Ian's hand tighten around her waist. "Don't go yet."

His voice was thick with the remaining tendrils of sleep, husky in the darkness and the most wonderful sound to her ears. Smiling, Kat whispered back, "You're awake?"

"Mmhmm" he mumbled.

She leaned back against his chest, snuggling deeper into the curve of his body. He was warm in the late-October chill of the room, and his body enveloped hers in an easy fit despite the difference in their size.

"Stop wiggling or we'll never leave this room," he warned.

She stilled but her smile remained. "Would that be such a bad thing?"

"As much as I'd like to say no, reality is never far away. I think the troops would come out in full force if I don't drop you at Ford's this morning."

"Ford's?"

"Isabel's going to keep an eye on you while I'm at work." As he explained, the hand around her waist began to lightly stroke her abdomen.

"Why aren't you telling me about these plans you're making?" Kat asked with a vengeful press of her backside against his hips.

His hand stilled, but only for a moment before tightening again. "If I remember correctly, we both had other things on our minds last night."

She turned to face him. The room was still dark, so she could only make out the outline of his face. But that was all she needed. Reaching up, she kissed him lightly, pulling away with a wistful smile. "Thank you."

His voice was deep when he answered. "For what?"

"For not hating me, for rescuing me, for letting me stay here with you, for giving me another chance."

He chuckled. "I sound like a saint."

"You are a saint," she whispered.

Drawing her close, Ian buried his face in her hair. His voice was slightly muffled, but she heard his urgent tone. "Kat, I need to know... did he beat you more than once to make sure you left me?"

She hesitated only briefly. This was the deciding moment, and it was up to her to come clean. Shuddering against him, she closed her eyes in memory, hating the shame and terror that gripped her as she struggled to put it into words. If he had any idea how difficult it was to discuss, let alone share her shame, he would never need to ask. "After high school, he feared we'd marry young. He told me to break it off."

His hand tightened around her, encouraging her to continue. There was no sense in hiding anything now, not when he already knew most of the truth. "When I came back and he found out, he began threatening me that if something happened to you it would be my fault. When we were engaged, he went another step further and punished me severely. I had no other choice."

"So you're saying yes?"

"He was physically violent, yes. All throughout my youth, he was physical. It was because of his violence that I came to your school my freshman year. My old school was keeping track of the bruises and then found out I was hospitalized and reported him. We moved immediately."

Ian cursed, but his hands were gentle as he held her closer.

"It's not just the bruises, Ian. The emotional damage was worse, but I'd rather not get into that. Just know that some scars never fully heal."

He was tense; she could feel each of his muscles tighten as she spoke. Yet he remained tender when he reached out and smoothed her bangs away from her face. "I'm learning that now, and I'm trying to understand. It'll take me some time because I wish you'd told me. I never would've allowed it to happen, and it's killing me that it did. I should've been there to protect you, and I'm so sorry that I wasn't."

"We were young, and I knew that you'd do something rash and probably get hurt trying to help."

"So you sacrificed yourself?"

"I could live with myself knowing that I was hurt because of my actions, but I couldn't live knowing that you were."

He ducked his head and kissed her hard, almost punishingly. But she was not afraid. She had never feared Ian. Opening to his searching lips, she allowed him to vent his frustration and welcomed his displeasure.

When he lifted his head, his voice was ragged. "There was no you and I; it was always us and we. Did you ever think about how I lived knowing you were gone?"

Having to give him up had pained her enough; realizing that with his good looks and intense personality he would not remain single for long nearly drove her mad with jealousy. She ducked her chin. "I thought you'd move on, find someone else and have a million babies. You're so handsome and such a catch. I figured some lucky woman would grab you and make you hers. I thought you'd be happy and safe."

He snorted. "How could I when you held my heart?"

"I thought I'd hurt you enough that you would put 'us' behind you and move on. Isn't that what normally happens?"

The hand around her waist pulled her against his hips, and their legs entwined beneath the covers. Memories of many weekend mornings spent in much the same position, talking and laughing and loving one another for hours, came flooding back like a tidal wave of joy. Unable to deny the surge of happiness that she was again with Ian so close, Kat sighed in contentment.

"Since when has anything between us been normal?"

He had a point there. She giggled. "Touché."

"We've been saying that a lot to each other these days haven't we?"

The humor in his voice sent her heart into spasms. "I guess."

"Do you understand where I'm coming from?"

"Do you understand where I am?"

It was his turn to chuckle, and this time there was no hint of sarcasm. "I get it. But do you?"

She reached for the hand at her waist and wrapped her fingers around his. Drawing it up to her cheek, she pressed his palm against her. "Not once have I faulted you for being angry at me. As much as I couldn't understand how it would be possible for you to hate me, I never doubted that I hurt you in much the same manner as my father hurt me."

His fingers spread over her cheek, brushing his fingertips over her cheekbone and down toward her ear. The touch was as light as the stroke of a feather and as elusive. He withdrew his hand as fast as he had touched her, leaving her feeling the loss. To make matters worse, he tossed aside the duvet with a reluctant groan.

He fluidly rolled into a seated position. "We'd better get moving."

"That's it?" Kat protested.

Glancing over his shoulder at her, he nodded briefly. "For now. We can talk later."

She huffed and rolled onto her side away from him. Aware of his heavy stare, she pulled the covers up to her chin and curled her legs up to her chest.

He sighed heavily in response to her temper. "I need some time to ingest all this, Kat. Can you give me that?"

"I'm not sure we have much time. I need to get far away."

"You're not going anywhere."

"I can't stay here," she said incredulously.

"You can and you will, at least until things are safe." His voice was firm and brooked no argument. Kat grimaced as she rolled over and sat up. He was still seated on the side of the bed, the broad expanse of his back a pale glow against the gray light of dawn. Coming to her knees, she reached out to touch the warm skin of his shoulder, remembering how wonderful he felt in her arms.

"Ian, have you not heard anything I said? My father will do everything he can to destroy you."

He turned again, his eyes studiously staying above her chin as he regarded her with a mixture of frustration and sarcasm. "And have you not heard anything I said? I know about my head being shipped via UPS or the Postal Service, and I'm still not afraid of him. He has more to fear from me. This house is secure, and I have security watching us. You're safe."

"He's evil," she whispered.

The corner of his lips curved up. "And I'm good. Don't you remember all those stories? Good always triumphs over evil."

# ****

"Ana, David? _Pronti per la scuola_?

Two voices shouted down the stairs. "Almost Mom...sheesh!"

Unable to hide her smile, Kat watched as Isabel turned her attention back to the array of food before her as she prepared her family's lunch, muttering under her breath in a long stream of Italian that made Ford silently raise his eyebrow cynically from across the room.

After Ian dropped her off with a brotherly peck on the cheek at Ford and Isabel's house, he left for work. Though she knew when she woke up that things may not be any different between them, she still felt impatient with their lack of progress. Too many things remained unsaid, and she felt no closer than she had before, leaving her an interloper in his family's domain.

This early in the morning, Isabel Evans put aside her glamorous side to become a mom. Standing in the kitchen in her bathrobe, her long black hair hastily pinned up, she seemed more the doting wife and mother than the well-to-do former cover girl for Italian fashion. Kat sat at the dinette with Ford, watching him sip his coffee and stare surreptitiously at his wife over the rim of the large mug.

Feeling even more like an intruder for watching a happy family's interaction, she hid her envy when Ford turned his attention to her. "Did Ian behave last night?"

Unsure where that comment came from, she could feel her cheeks flame with color. Had he behaved? She thought back carefully. "Behaved" would not be the word she would have chosen; "performed" would be better. And, oh my yes, he had performed magnificently.

Hoping Ford did not notice her blush, she stared down at the coffee Isabel had placed before her. "Ian let me stay at his house."

Ford nodded. "I know. That's why I asked."

Unable to meet his gaze, she bit her lip. "What do you mean?"

"He's been a bit grouchy lately, so I wanted to make sure he wasn't giving you any grief."

"Yes, Catarina," Isabel said as she bent to reach something in the back of the fridge. Kat noticed Ford's eyes following her every move. "If he gives you any trouble, you stay here. We have plenty of room, and we have security as well."

"Oh my," Kat stammered. "He's been very gracious."

Returning his attention from the sight of his wife's backside, Ford raised a brow at her this time. The silent question in his eyes was very similar to the glance he had shot at Isabel when he listened to her cursing in Italian. Kat almost smiled.

"Ian and gracious in the same sentence? _Io non ci criedo_ ," Isabel announced.

Ford's nod told Kat that he agreed with his wife of sixteen years. Biting back a smile, she glanced between the husband and wife. "He's been very kind."

Ford's lips compressed. "I'm aware you and Ian have had your arguments, and this is a difficult time for you. If things are too tense with him, we want you to know that you're welcome here."

Isabel came to stand at Ford's side, and her hand lovingly rested upon his shoulder. She gave him a slight squeeze as she smiled at Kat. "We want to help in any way we can."

"You are helping," she insisted, "just by allowing me in your home today."

"Nonsense," Ford said firmly. "You're family."

"Well, not quite," Kat admitted sheepishly.

"Pah," Isabel said with a flamboyant wave of her hand. "You've been a part of this family too long. We'd never turn our backs on you."

"Like I turned my back on you?" Kat asked softly.

Ford leveled her with his steady gaze. Always a formidable man, only Isabel seemed unconcerned with his presence. She bit her lip again, fearing a stern talking to, but instead he shook his head. "We understand your reasons."

Feeling overwhelmed by the generosity of the family she admired and that still accepted her after everything she had done, she blinked quickly to hold back the tears. A heavy silence fell in the kitchen, thankfully broken by the arrival of Ana and David. Both raven-haired children were bickering in the way siblings do when feeling hurried.

"Mom, will you _please_ tell that little cretin to stop stealing my headphones?"

"Those are my headphones," David protested.

"No, they're mine. Mom ordered them online."

"They are not. You lost those last week. Now you're just trying to claim mine."

"That's not true!"

"Is so. You do that every time."

" _Basta_! We have company," Isabel snapped.

Kat watched as Ana blew her bangs out of her face and glanced over in surprise. "Oh! Sorry, Kat."

"Sorry." David was slightly more sullen.

Kat rewarded the kids with an appreciative nod. Now a sophomore in high school, Ana had turned into quite the beauty with her mother's long black hair and dark eyes. At thirteen, David also had black hair, but his features were more like his father's, a true Evans. He had grown several inches in the two years since she had seen him last, and she was reminded of Ian as a younger man.

Before she could fully greet the kids, Ana reached over and swatted at David. As the bickering started again, Kat glanced over at Ford and smiled. "You have your hands full."

"You have no idea," he muttered, returning his attention to his coffee.

Isabel playfully slapped his shoulder. "Don't listen to him. He works all day."

In retaliation, Ford's hand nimbly left the table and reached for Isabel's thigh, slipping between the folds of her robe and moving upward. As he played out his revenge, he leveled Kat with a steady gaze. "I may work all day, but when I get home this woman gives me no peace."

"Ford!" Isabel gasped, jerking away and readjusting her robe with a laugh.

"Eeww," David groaned. He pressed his hand over his eyes and turned his back on them.

"Mom! Dad! That's just gross," Ana said in a disgusted voice that matched the dismay on her face.

Ford watched as Isabel shooed the kids off to pack their lunches and winked at Kat. "Works every time."

Try as she might, she could not contain her laughter. Oh, how good it felt to feel true humor after all the tension in her life.

"I heard that, Ford Evans," Isabel warned in a sarcastically cheerful voice.

"I'll catch hell later," he said in a conspiratorial whisper.

She was grinning when he pushed back his chair and collected his empty breakfast plate and coffee mug. Carrying it back into the kitchen, he rinsed the dishes and loaded them in the dishwater while Isabel packed the rest of his lunch for him. Kat continued to watch the homey scene, wondering if life with Ian would have been like that. If they had married, how many children would they have had?

All teasing aside, Ford wrapped both his arms around Isabel's waist and turned her until she faced him. He was smiling as he stared down at her. "Are the little terrors coming straight home today?"

Isabel nodded as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Today's a day off. Both have practice tomorrow, though."

"All right, I'll try to get out early so we can all have dinner."

"Ian told me he'd be here by five."

Kat's eyebrows shot up; he had not told her that. Apparently he still was not comfortable discussing everything with her yet. Of course, she was not much better. She had not shared her plan to run away with Terri and Aaron to somewhere her father could never find them again.

The quiet that descended as she lost herself in her thoughts brought her back to reality. Swinging her head back in the direction of Ford and Isabel, she was surprised and uncomfortable to find Ford and Isabel in a deep embrace, seeming oblivious to her presence. Once again she wondered if she and Ian could have remained that close after all those years of marriage. Children, lives, jobs – none of that seemed to have impacted Ford and Isabel's love for one another.

Ford was grinning when he raised his head and released her. Giving his wife a pat on her backside, he pressed a loud kiss on her neck and returned his attention to his lunch.

"I'm off to drop the two monsters. Thank you for another delicious meal. I keep telling Andrew you're going to cook me into a heart attack."

Isabel laughed and reached up to pinch his cheek. "It's those trips to the Mexican restaurants with all their cheeses and beef that'll do that, not me."

"Ah, you know me too well," he murmured.

" _Ciao tesoro_ ," she replied smoothly.

He chuckled. "Have a good day." Glancing over at Kat, he raised a hand. "Enjoy your day with my lovely wife. I'll see you at dinner."

"Thank you," she said earnestly.

Ford gave Isabel one last pat on the backside and then strolled out of the kitchen, his bagged lunch tucked under his arm. Kat could hear him ordering the kids to get into his truck, and as David and Ana's now peaceful voices disappeared among calls of "bye Mom, bye Kat," the house soon fell silent.

Sighing, Isabel poured herself a cup of coffee and joined her with the pot, topping off Kat's mug and offering her creamer and sugar substitute.

"Finally, it's quiet," she said with a sigh.

"It's organized chaos here in the morning," Kat said, smiling.

"It is," Isabel agreed. "But I wouldn't change it for anything."

"It's so nice to see a happy family," she said softly.

Isabel took a sip of coffee, her dark eyes studying Kat over the rim. When the mug lowered, her face was serious but still beautiful in the sunlight streaming in through the line of glass behind Kat. "You'll be happy again soon. Ian will come around."

"What does Ian have to do with all my troubles?"

"Everything." Taking another sip of her coffee, Isabel crossed her legs and leaned her elbows on the table. "Once he takes care of your father today, he'll feel much better about everything. He's a moody one. He has to brood for a while. You know that already. He's always been that way."

After she heard Isabel mention her father, she heard nothing else. Taking care of her father today? "What do you mean?"

Isabel shrugged. "You know him as well as I do. He's always been like that... He needs to absorb things slowly. So different from Hayden, who reacts first."

"No, no," she said hastily. "You mentioned my father."

"They're serving a warrant today."

"They are?"

Isabel chuckled. "I take it Ian didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Your father's going to be arrested for multiple charges as soon as the indictment comes down. They're serving a warrant for evidence."

A mixture of fear and excitement mingled in a jumbled mass of emotion that brought heat to her face. Her heart began to pound a rapid tattoo against her ribs. "Charge him with what?"

"Oh, there are multiple charges. I'm not sure of them all." Isabel frowned, but it was one of concern rather than anger. "I'm sorry, does this bother you?"

Dropping her head in her hands, she shook her head. "So much has happened so fast. I just don't know what's going to happen next, and it's... overwhelming."

Reaching across the table, Isabel touched the top of Kat's head before slipping her fingers beneath her chin and raising it from her hands. "You have nothing to worry about. You're safe with us. We'll take care of you."

"I have to take care of Terri and Aaron."

"We'll take care of them, too. Neither of you girls will ever have to worry about that horrible man again."

Kat took an unsteady breath, but somehow Isabel's words managed to calm her.

Perhaps because Ian was exceptionally tender with her the previous night combined with the warm reception into Ford's home, she was feeling less alone than she had in a long time.

Now she wondered, would it continue?

# Chapter 22

Chuck's hand came up against Ian's chest hard, restraining him. "I'm saying this for your own good. You need to go."

"Let go of me," Ian said in a deceptively low voice.

Instead of releasing him, Chuck's hand tightened. "You've been doing this for far too long to screw up now. If you lose your cool, you can jeopardize everything."

Ian's jaw was clenched so tight that he thought his teeth may crack. However, what he had just seen... The extent of John Woods' cruelty to his children was so shocking that his primal instincts were overwhelming his common sense. Taking a deep breath, he glanced once more at the tiny boiler room in the custom basement of the luxury home belonging to John and Claudine Woods before spinning on his heel and storming out.

Terri had not been exaggerating.

Chains.

He had used chains on her. The man had locked his daughter, a lovely and caring soul who only ever tried to please him, in a tiny boiler room. She had been chained to the pipes of a hot water heater and left to sleep on a small pallet with the cockroaches, earwigs and scorpions, and there was only a black light to light the room. Was the black light another form of torture, joining the array of whips, belts and paddles lining the wall, by allowing her to spot a scorpion if one made its way inside with its eerie fluorescent glow?

Ian felt nauseous. He wanted to walk outside and throw up his lunch in their perfectly manicured front lawn. But not yet.

"He's been in communication with Medina and 2Tuff according to phone records. We just located a list of names that no clean business owner would have any need to associate with. I'm perfectly legit in being here as a member of the gang task force."

"You're too close to the case," Chuck pointed out softly. "Don't screw up."

"Those names could be connected with me, too."

"I'm aware of that and working on it. Just go outside and wait."

With a curt nod, he retraced his steps up the stairs to the main landing, hearing Claudine Woods raging at one of the officers stationed with her. He brushed past them both and strode out the front door, refusing to meet her lethal gaze.

Standing outside, he blinked against the sunlight that burned his eyes almost as hard as the scene he had just witnessed. Several uniforms had gathered as Chuck's team exited the house with numerous bags tagged and marked appropriately while Mrs. Woods stood wringing her hands and shooting the evil eye in his direction.

Ian had never been so tempted to strike a woman.

Most of the homes in the Valley were built upon a slab, and it was a rare occurrence to find one with a basement. Those who did have basements installed usually finished them with fancy playrooms or home theater equipment, using the additional space for living rather than storage. The Woods' home was not much different, with the exception of a separate, soundproof area where the rooms were not installed with air conditioning or even carpeting over the concrete slab.

When Kat had climbed out her window that night, she had done so just in time. The room had been replenished with everything John Woods would have needed to restrain his daughter in the darkness again.

Ian felt the sudden urge to see her, to make sure she was truly safe and unharmed. Then he felt the urge to fall on his knees and beg her forgiveness for being such an insensitive ass, for refusing to question her motives, for not believing in her enough to realize that there had to be a much deeper motive for her decisions.

"You're not going to believe this. The arrogance of this man is without measure. He made no attempts to hide anything. I have names, addresses, a list of dummy corporations that these houses are owned by, and I bet you anything we'll find they're safe houses once we check them out."

Ian's head swung in the direction of Chuck's voice. His cousin was grinning triumphantly, his eyes crinkling at the sides as though with some tantalizing secret just waiting for release.

Still reeling from everything he just saw, Ian nodded absently. "I hope they're good."

Chuck waggled his brows. "Zach's going to go through the roof when I hand him the financial records we're finding. This guy doesn't stand a chance in hell." He waved a handwritten piece of paper in his hand. "I'm on my way to check out some addresses now, and on my way I'm going to talk to some of the names on this list."

"You know them?"

Chuck's nod was solemn. "Not very nice guys. I've had some run-ins with them in the past. I've never been able to build a case against any of them, but rumor is they kill for hire. They could be Micaela's replacements."

Ian nodded. This could be helpful or easily explained away. He could understand Chuck's desire to speak to them quickly. As it was, Woods was no doubt currently assembling a legal team to rival that of Andrew's when he was released from prison. "Will you let me know what you find?"

Glancing down at the paper in his hand briefly, Chuck gave a short laugh. "As soon as I track them down, you'll be the first to know. Can't have anything happening to you if Woods decides to have your tail strike out at you."

"I appreciate that," Ian said dryly.

Beaming a wide smile that lit his eyes and made Chuck the man he was, he winked dramatically as he clasped Ian warmly on the shoulder. "Wouldn't have it any other way, cuz."

Aware that his continued presence was drawing stares, Ian bowed his head to Chuck. "Thanks for holding me back. I appreciate it."

"You didn't do anything, right?"

"I'd much prefer to see this done the right way, so I managed to restrain myself."

"Good work." He glanced down again. "Now that Woods knows he can't run, I want you to keep your head down. I think you'll be his first target."

Ian nodded. "I have the weekend off. Maybe I'll take Kat out of town."

"Hopefully we'll have Woods in custody by then but be careful anyway."

"With all you guys protecting my back, I'm not too worried."

Chuck shook his head. "We can't have your back all the time."

"I know," he conceded, thinking of Kat. "I'll watch out."

"And watch out for Kat. She's the key to it all. When Woods' lawyers see what evidence we have, he's going to want to get at her and Terri to shut them up... Keep Kat motivated."

Pursing his lips, Ian wondered if it could be done. She had proven to be ruled more by her father's dictates than his on more than one occasion, he thought bitterly. This would be the true test to her motivation for escaping his clutches once and for all. Tonight he would finish their discussion and find out what her plans were.

After taking his leave from the scene, Ian drove the short distance to Ford's house. As he drove, he wondered about the list of names they had seized. It seemed foolish and reckless to leave the contact information of known lower members of society lying around. Especially in written form. Was John Woods really that oblivious and arrogant?

He suspected the answer to that was an unequivocal yes.

Smiling to himself, he wondered what Woods' high-ranking friends would have to say to that. Perhaps they were all in cahoots, which meant an even larger investigation could soon be in the D.A. and U.S. Attorney's hands. Either that or his friends would soon be scurrying for the hills. Feeling a familiar rush of adrenalin brought on by the excitement of busting bad guys, he pulled into Ford's driveway with a grin that grew wider when he saw one of Ford's largest guys sitting out front. Ford was taking precautions to protect the girls, and his respect for his older brother rose even higher.

Things were coming together quickly. If their good luck and good work kept up, Kat would be free of the man who had tormented her all her life.

When he slipped inside, the house was quiet, but he could hear the music playing upstairs, announcing Ana's new love of hip-hop. Grimacing, he wandered down the hallway leading to the kitchen, ears straining to hear of any sign of Kat and Isabel. All was silent, and the kitchen was empty when he entered the spacious area where the family always converged.

Frowning away the feeling of unease, he mounted the steps two at a time and knocked on Ana's door. Moments later she pulled it open, and her eyes widened when she found him standing in her closely guarded territory.

"Hey, Uncle Ian," she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him quick. "What's up?"

"Where is everyone?"

Chuck's warning rang in his ears. Suspicion slowly replaced his earlier smugness, coiling like a snake around his spinal cord and squeezing until he thought the fear would paralyze him.

"I dunno. They were downstairs a few minutes ago."

"They didn't mention going out?"

She shrugged again. "No, Mom was talking about what we were gonna have for dinner."

As soon as she said the word his stomach gave a grumble. It was then he realized he had barely eaten at all that day. With his love of food, it gave testament to his preoccupation.

"Stay here," he ordered.

Ana rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I wasn't planning on going anywhere."

Pulling the door closed behind him, he hurried back down the hall. Taking the stairs at a rapid jog, he paused at the landing and allowed his ears to tune in to any noises. Once again he was struck by the silence on the lower level of the house. It made no sense. There was always activity in Ford's home, and the guard posted outside seemed completely at ease.

No sooner had he reached the front door than it swung inward silently. He froze, and his hand reached for his weapon as the new arrival walked through the door.

Standing just a few feet away was Kat, her short blond hair windblown and spiky. After what he had seen that day, that she could be standing just a few feet away, her face relaxed and the ghost of a smile on her lips, nearly knocked him flat with relief. She was unharmed, she was safe, and he was an idiot for immediately fearing the worst.

When she saw him she froze, her hand coming to rest over her heart. "Ian! Jeez, you just scared me to death."

If only she knew, he thought ironically. Glancing behind her to the empty driveway beyond, he pulled her inside and closed the door behind her.

Kat gasped. "What are you doing?"

"Where were you?"

Confused, she blinked up at him several times before she bit her lip. "Did something happen today?"

Rather than answer, he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. She was tense, but her arms went around his waist, and her head came to rest against his chest.

"No, nothing happened today," he muttered, still feeling foolish. Aware that she could hear his heart beating a rapid tattoo against the soft shell of her ear, he knew he would not be able to brush this off. Sighing, he ran his hand up and down her back. "I was startled when I couldn't find you."

"You were?"

"I think you're going to be the death of me, Kat, one way or another," he grumbled.

"I could say I'm sorry, but I don't even know what you were thinking," she said wryly.

"Where is everyone?"

"We were in the guest quarters. Isabel's showing me the rooms."

"Why?" He paused, pulled away and stared down into her clear blue eyes. "You're not staying there. You're staying with me."

One finely arched brow rose in response. "Is that so?"

The corner of his mouth turned up slightly. "I am the alpha, after all." She laughed, and he felt some of the lingering tension ease out of his body. Releasing her completely, he took a step back and ran a hand down his face. "It's been a helluva few days."

Her laughter eased, but her smile remained. Reaching up, she patted his chest. "The guest quarters are for Terri and Aaron. Isabel was showing me the security features in there – the alarm and Ford's guys who are staying here in shifts."

"I'm glad to hear that, because I think I would've thrown you over my shoulder and shown you just how alpha I can be if you said you were coming here."

"No need for that," she said, her white teeth flashing. "I promise to remain civilized."

"I don't."

He reached for her then, but footsteps on the stairs stopped him from closing the gap between them. David popped into view, his dark eyes wide and a flush staining his cheeks. As he passed them on his way to the kitchen, he rolled his eyes. "What is it with the adults in this house? Everyone's always kissing."

Ian glanced down at Kat's smiling face. Joining in her amusement, he glanced over his shoulder at David. "Just wait until you're my age, kiddo."

David groaned and continued on his way, muttering under his breath until he was out of sight. When Ian returned his attention back to Kat, her eyes were alight with humor, glowing in the late afternoon sunlight streaming in through the windows. For a moment, he allowed his eyes to memorize the sight of her contentment. It burned into his memory like so many other occasions where they had shared a simple joy. He was reluctant to release his grip on her, for he knew that by the time the evening was over they would know for certain if there could be any future between them.

When she stepped away, he finally accepted that he really hoped there would.

# ****

In a happy family, the dinner table would be awash with discussion, with children speaking of their day and parents listening attentively. In Ford and Isabel's house, that was the scene that Kat viewed with both longing and envy. Amid the discussion of which parent would drive which child to whatever function were the updates of which project was due and when. Mind swirling with confusion, she remained silent throughout most of it but took pleasure in watching how Ian interacted comfortably with his niece and nephew, gently teasing and offering his opinion when asked. It was a cozy scene, and there was plenty of laughter going around the table before the meal was done.

For the first time in a long time, she relaxed during a meal and happily devoured the mountain of food Ian loaded onto her plate. There was hardly anything left when she finally placed her napkin on the table beside her almost-cleared plate.

He raised an anxious eyebrow. "Did you get enough?"

Her lips twisted in response. "Are you trying to make me gain weight?"

Nodding matter-of-factly, he leaned over and bent his face toward her ear, keeping his voice low so no one would hear as his hand came to rest on her shoulder. "As beautiful as you are without clothes, a few extra pounds wouldn't hurt."

As he spoke, his thumb began a light exploration of the back of her neck, where her short hair ended. Face flaming, Kat sent a questioning glance in his direction. His body language was speaking an entirely different tune from his cautious words early that morning, and she wondered about the change of heart.

Ever since he had walked in the door that afternoon, he had been attentive and warm. Unlike the preoccupied man who had dropped her off that morning with the announcement that he needed time to think, he was almost being, well, flirtatious.

"Most men prefer emaciated women."

"Not this one." He sat back with a hearty chuckle that drew Ford and Isabel's attention his way. They stared between the two of them, taking note of his relaxed countenance with approval.

"You may be excused," Isabel announced to the children.

Both Ana and David gathered up their dishes, carried them to the sink and then worked together to rinse and load them in the dishwasher. So different from the morning's bickering, the two kids worked with a fluid smoothness that announced their knowledge of their chores. Kat watched, amused, as they scurried out of the kitchen to complete their homework and chat on the phone, most likely not in that order.

"Kat and I are picking up Terri and Aaron tomorrow morning," Isabel announced.

"Good," Ford said with an approving nod. "They'll be safe here."

"At least until we get everyone settled where they need to be," Isabel agreed.

"Speaking of which," Ford said, turning his attention to Kat. "Have you been thinking about your next step, Kat?"

She could feel the heat of Ian's stare on the side of her face, but she refused to look at him. Too afraid to see what emotion burned in his eyes, she opted on watching Ford swirl the ice in his sweet tea.

"I have," she said with a brief nod. "A new start will be good."

"Reichs is out of the picture?" Ford asked.

Remembering lunch and how Curtis had betrayed her to her father, the idea of ever seeing him again filled her with so much anger that she wanted to claw his eyes out. That, coupled with the knowledge that she still held as her final trump card, told her that she was done with Curtis Reichs and his overbearing mother. "Absolutely."

"And what about your father? I spoke to a few friends of mine in the building community today, and it appears as though he's been neglecting his sites as he courts his political contacts. He has no true friends there."

She stiffened at the mention of her father, and Ian was quick to react. The thumb that had been stroking the back of her neck tantalizingly was joined by the rest of his fingers. Resting lightly, his fingers gave her a gentle squeeze before he straightened in his seat. "I think we've all had a long day. I'd better get Kat home."

Ford and Ian's gazes met across the table, and she noticed a silent communication take place between the two brothers. Isabel remained oblivious to it, perhaps from viewing it on too many occasions to count. She nodded sympathetically at her while she pushed her seat back and began gathering the remaining plates.

"It's been a long day, and I admit that I've kept her busy, too," she said with a conspiratorial wink sent Kat's way.

Joining her in the clearing process, Kat carried her and Ian's dishes over. While Ford and Ian continued their discussion, Isabel and Kat cleaned up, rinsing and loading the dishwasher before wrapping the leftovers and storing them in the fridge.

"You're a good help," Isabel said approvingly as Kat wiped down the counters. "Thank you."

Grimacing, she shook her head. "I should be thanking you. You prepared a delicious meal."

Beaming, Isabel glanced over at Ford. "You see? She enjoys my cooking."

Ford rolled his eyes. "Everyone enjoys your cooking, Isabel."

"You told me this morning my cooking was going to give you a heart attack."

He heaved an exaggerated sigh. "I was teasing."

"You better be careful where your teasing leaves the mark, or it might move on to someone more appreciative," Isabel teased.

Shaking his head, he returned his attention to Ian. "She's a piece of work, isn't she?"

Ian shook his head and snorted. "You already know you're a lucky guy."

Ford angled his head to study his wife, and there was the hint of a smile on his face. Kat was again overwhelmed by the amount of devotion between the two of them. When she turned her attention back to Ian, she noticed he was watching her watch them. There was something hidden in his gaze, an intensity that concerned as well as excited her. He was near to bursting about something, but what it was she could not pinpoint.

Finishing her chore of wiping the counter, she rinsed the rag and set it out to dry just as Ian came to his feet. Letting out a muffled belch hidden behind his hand and shooting a sly glance at Isabel, he muttered, "Excuse me," before joining her in the kitchen.

"Thanks for dinner, you two."

Ford nodded. "Anytime."

Isabel smiled. "Ian, you know you're always welcome."

She turned and embraced Kat next, smiling when she released her. "As are you."

Feeling suddenly choked up, she hastily turned to Ian. His brow was furrowed, but he did not deny Isabel's warm welcome. Somehow she suspected that very same topic had come up between them before. She held her breath, hoping he would not repudiate her words. When the silence continued, she realized that he was not going to deny her his family. The tears burned as the joy spread.

"Thank you," she said hoarsely. "I'll see you tomorrow."

# Chapter 23

The house was a silent and dark sentinel when Ian pulled into the garage. Kat glanced around at the neighbor's houses, all seemingly dark and deserted. Though it was early evening, the lack of movement anywhere on his street seemed strange and lonely. This time Ian immediately closed the garage door behind them, a move that followed his constant checking of the rearview mirror during their short trip back to his house. She was tense, knowing that there was more going on than he was telling her, but she held her tongue in the hopes that it would all come out soon.

Ian led the way into the house, switching on the lights in the kitchen after a cursory search of the rest of the empty rooms. Removing his jacket, he tossed it down across the back of the sofa and turned to face her, crossing his arms over his chest in a move that she had seen countless times yet still intimidated her.

"We need to talk," he said firmly.

Though she knew it was coming, she felt suddenly unsure. Feeling vulnerable after seeing the happy family interact, the idea of him taking that away from her was too painful to comprehend. Drawing a trembling hand over her brow, Kat sighed wearily. "Can we do this another time?"

Ian's face darkened. "No."

Setting her jaw in a stubborn line, she stared up at him. "Okay then. Let's get this over with."

"Get this over with?"

"Frankly, Ian, it's all catching up to me," she whined. "I'm tired of people yelling at me. I'm tired of people telling me what to do. I just want to be left alone for a little while."

"So you think I'm going to harass you?"

"Well, aren't you?"

"Believe it or not, no," he replied. "I want to sit down and talk to you the way we used to, not hiding anything and just being honest. Can you do that?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure I trust this."

His brow furrowed. "I'm not going to hurt you."

Rubbing her temples wearily, she closed her eyes. "I just don't know what's going on with you. One minute you're nice, and then you're pushing me away. I'm afraid of what you've decided."

He sat on the sofa, dangling his hands between his thighs. His fingers appeared long and strong, and yet she knew from experience how gentle they could be. For a moment he hung his head, staring down at his feet as though there was something fascinating resting on the plush throw rug. "You're referring to this morning?"

He sounded regretful, truly and honestly regretful. Through squinted eyes, she stared at the top of his head, taking note of a cowlick swirling his dark hair perilously close to the sharp widow's peak. She felt the urge to straighten it and curled her fingers in her palms. "For starters, yes."

"I admit I was a little abrupt this morning," he said, slowly raising his head and meeting her gaze. "But I had my reasons."

"And those are?"

"Two years ago you stood in my bedroom and threw my ring in my face, telling me that you could never marry me. I've lived with that and the words we shouted at each other that morning ever since. Then you come back, as beautiful as ever, engaged to a filthy rich man that I could never hope to compete with.

"But all is not as it seems, is it? I find out you're engaged to a man at your father's insistence, and that he's been beating you to make sure you comply with his demands. It's been a pretty big shock to my system."

"I told you why I said what I said," she muttered defensively.

He waved his hand dismissively. "That's not the point." Coming to his feet, he crossed the distance between them and towered over her. "Don't you realize what it's like for me? I've been learning things – horrific things – about you that are making me question every decision I've made over the last two years."

She blinked. "You have?"

"Don't you see? All these things could've been prevented if I had just questioned you more or refused to allow you to walk out on me so easily. If I had just followed and asked, I could've prevented him from hurting you. I failed you, Kat."

She felt her legs give way, and he watched her sink to the sofa. Blinking rapidly, she shook her head. "No, you can't think like that. It wasn't – it's never been your fault."

"I saw the chains," he said gruffly.

An intense rushing began in her ears, and for a moment she wondered if she had heard him correctly. Raising her gaze back to his, she saw the anguish in his eyes and knew that she had. Face burning with shame, she turned her attention to the front window where the blinds were securely closed. Only a small gap remained from which the streetlight outside could cast its orange glow.

He fell to his knees before her and placed his hands on her thighs. His hands moved slowly up and down, his thumbs easing as much of the tenseness out of her muscles as he could. His voice was low. "How long?"

Even though her head shook in a negative, her lips formed the words, "three weeks."

For several long, tense moments, silence reigned. Only the sound of their mingled breathing broke the hush as they both thought back to those days two years ago.

Finally, Ian sighed. "I spent those three weeks in a drunken stupor when I should've been tracking you down. I selfishly abandoned you into the clutches of a sick man."

"Please stop saying that," she whispered. "What's done is done."

"I screwed up, Kat."

"You're only human. I was persuasive."

"The fact remains that I gave up on you too easily."

"Let's leave the past behind."

His fingers tightened around her thighs. "Not until I say this. Then we can figure out where to go." When she gave a slight nod, he sighed. "I accused you of not having enough faith in me to be honest about what was going on with you... Well, I was guilty of the same thing. I didn't have enough faith in you to question your motives. I immediately thought you were your father's puppet, never fully comprehending why that was and never having the balls to ask. I'm sorry for that."

"I guess we've both made mistakes," she agreed solemnly. This was progress and a step in the right direction. He could finally understand her motivation, and for that alone, she could walk away from him with a happy heart.

"So where do we go from here?"

Smiling brightly, Kat raised her hand to his cheek, her thumb rubbing his cheekbone tenderly. "I'd love to be able to call you my friend again."

"Friends, huh?" He sighed. "Let's see how it goes."

# ****

Curtis answered the phone on the second ring, grimacing when his mother entered the room behind him. "Reichs."

"The police were at my house this afternoon with a warrant."

Curtis sank down to the plush leather of his desk chair and closed his eyes. Things were spiraling out of control, too quickly for his liking. Damn Kathleen, he thought angrily. "What was it for?"

"Names, connections, evidence in support of the kidnapping of my daughter. My lawyers say a charge is coming."

"I thought you said she wouldn't tell anyone about that... unpleasantness."

"The officer in charge of the investigation – another Evans, I should add – is handling it based on eyewitness testimony. It could be hers or others."

"You were seen?"

"Apparently."

"This is bad, Woods." He clenched the phone in his hand, aware that his mother was watching his side of the interchange intently. The scowl on her face spoke volumes.

"Call it off," Woods said in a deceptively mild tone.

"I can't do that."

"You'd better try. You're as tied into this as I am."

"This is Kathleen's doing," his mother interjected tightly.

"We have to get her to call this off," Curtis said, meeting his mother's gaze as he spoke to Woods. Between the three of them they could come up with something.

"She's with Evans now, and he's not letting her out of his sight. When he went to work, he left her at his brother's house, which is being guarded by some of Ford's men."

"Stupid, stupid girl," Myra muttered furiously.

Curtis waved at her to be quiet. "There's got to be some way to speak to her."

"You're her fiancé."

He clenched his teeth. His fiancé, as Woods so bluntly put it, was shacked up with another man. Squeezing his eyes shut against the images of her in the arms of another man, he struggled to find his voice.

"I'll call you back," he muttered. Disconnecting the line, he glanced at his mother. "Any ideas?"

"Where is she?"

"At her former lover's house."

Disgust caused Myra's lip to curl. "Why am I not surprised?"

Curtis sighed. "It's partially my fault. I called her father to pick her up and talk some sense into her when we met for lunch. I should've handled it myself."

"When do you have time to handle a girl who's no better than a spoiled child?"

"I have to make the time," Curtis said wearily. "Things are getting out of hand. We must keep her quiet or all will be lost."

"I'll talk to her myself. I'll visit her tomorrow."

Curtis nodded. "That just might work."

# ****

Kat smiled her greeting to Cherisse Nicholson as she pushed in the door to A Better Place. Though certainly not regretting moving in with Ian, she held a tender spot for her brief time there. A sense of freedom had presided there, a blanket of safety and the warmth of caring embraced whoever entered. She had never fully understood that brief impact until she once again stood in the entry of the shelter she briefly called home.

"Welcome back, Kat!"

Mary, the founder of A Better Place, appeared behind Cherisse, her long dark hair pulled back with several random gray hairs poking out like pipe cleaners around her forehead. Sporting a smile as wide and as genuine as Cherisse's, she held out her hands and pressed a kiss on both of Kat's cheeks before turning to Isabel.

"I'm Mary," she said warmly, holding out her hand in greeting.

"Isabel Evans," Isabel replied, her sultry voice crisp and clear.

"You're taking Terri and Aaron home with you today, I understand?" Mary asked.

"We are," Isabel said, smiling. "They need to be with family."

Kat stared at Isabel with a mixture of gratitude and hesitancy. After her conversation with Ian the evening before, she was hopeful she could maintain a friendship with the Evans clan – but family? That was too good to be true.

"That's wonderful news. They're all packed up and ready to go. I'll go get them."

Turning to Cher, Kat leaned over the desk where she sat with a pile of papers in her hands. Knowing that her deceased husband's case was now in the hands of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Kat felt sorrow for the tenacious young woman. "How are you doing?"

Cher was smiling broadly when she turned around. "I'm doing great. The case is strong, thanks to your Evans boys. I think it's just about a shoe-in for Brandon's memory."

Kat clasped her hands in front of her, smiling her relief. "I'm so glad to hear it."

"I'm having dinner tonight with Lieutenant Fierro. He's going to update me on all aspects of the case."

"Dinner, eh?" Kat asked.

"Oh no, nothing like that," Cher stammered, her cheeks turning pink. "Jose and Brandon were best friends."

Kat nodded in understanding. She could never see herself with any of the Evans brothers except for Ian. There was just a line there that one did not cross. But she still wished Cher would someday find love again. She was too young, vivacious and beautiful to remain a widow.

Just then, the door opened with a blast of cool, fall air that preceded their visitor. All eyes turned in the direction of the front door, and Kat's mouth fell open when Myra Reichs turned and closed it behind her.

"Myra?"

"Hello, Kathleen."

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you."

"How did you know where I was?"

"I followed you."

Isabel and Cher glanced at Kat questioningly, but she could not respond. Aware that her legs had begun to quiver, she reached to rest her hand upon the desk. She could not fall. She was safe among friends.

Myra adjusted her handbag from one arm to the next. "A word with you, if I may?"

Raising her chin in a show of false bravado, Kat did her best not to fidget in front of Curtis' mother. "Why?"

"Really, dear? Can we not speak like adults?"

Dear? Kat's gaze flickered to Cher and Isabel, but both women appeared very displeased. Nodding her head, she crossed her arms over her chest, risking her wobbly legs when she saw Isabel's hand dip into her handbag in search of something.

"Go ahead," she said with a nod.

"In private?" Myra insisted with a haughty glance at Cher and Isabel.

Cher pushed away from the desk and regained her feet. Though she was not a tall woman, her presence bespoke of strength. Her voice was as strong as her confidence, and she leveled Myra with a look that would have put Kat in tears. "This is a haven of safety. If you would like to speak with Kat, then you can do so in front of us."

"Very well," Myra spat with a toss of her head. "I'm here because you have caused Curtis a lot of trouble. I've come to collect you to bring you home where you belong."

Kat blinked her surprise away. Surely Curtis would not have sent his mother in the hopes of winning her back? She wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all. "Curtis' home is no longer mine. He knows I've called off the engagement."

"Nonsense. At this stage in the election, we cannot afford to have any scandal," Myra announced.

"He should've thought of that before he betrayed me," she replied, suddenly remembering the anger that had given her strength before.

"I beg to differ. It's you who has done the betraying, you foolish little twit. You think we don't know about your whoring?"

"Keep your insults to yourself," Cher interjected coldly.

Isabel had pulled free her mobile phone and moved to stand in the corner of the room where her fingers nimbly moved over the keyboard.

Taking a deep breath, Kat shook her head at Cher before the other woman escorted her out the door, forcibly if necessary. If Cherisse was one thing, it would have to be determined. Knowing the time had come for her play her hand, Kat felt a sense of liberation. This would be one battle she won.

"Perhaps you would like to explore that word a little more clearly? After all, it has come to my attention that Curtis has some mixed blood in his veins."

Myra's lips tightened in frustration, and she tossed her head arrogantly. "That's nonsense, Curtis was born in Maryland. He's the son of a true American."

"African American?"

"What?" The heightened color on Myra's face drained away, leaving her pale and suddenly less arrogant and sure of herself.

Kat forced herself to steel her spine and say it. They had the DNA results, two of them now. Fodder for her protection, Terri had called it. "I've learned that Curtis was not entirely focused on family values, Myra, and I suspect you knew about that all along, didn't you? The son of my sister, my nephew, is actually your grandchild, isn't he?"

From behind her, Kat heard Isabel's sharp intake of breath, and the low hiss and startled glance from Cherisse bolstered her. Saying the words aloud gave her the strength to continue.

As Myra's face turned multiple shades of red, Kat pushed her advantage. "Aaron is Curtis' son, conceived during Terri's sophomore year at Georgetown following a night when he got her drunk and took advantage of her innocence. She was his original intended bride until Aaron was born, wasn't she?"

"How dare you?" Myra hissed. "This is blasphemy. You should be ashamed of yourself for slandering Curtis so horribly. It's not true!"

Kat shook her head. "I have the DNA results, Myra."

"She pursued and seduced him shamelessly. He was only human."

"Terri tells an entirely different story. She says that my father and your son had an agreement, but that you demanded an abortion. When Terri refused and gave birth to a son who had African American features, Curtis broke off the relationship, and that was when my father hunted me down in Arizona to be offered up to him instead... That's why he's against having children."

"You vindictive little worm," Myra hissed. "I want to see those results."

Kat shook her head. "No. The only eyes that will see those results, and the results regarding his parentage, will be the press. I won't allow you to smear my name any longer."

Still seething with fury, Myra's entire body began to tremble. "Threats will be met and punished severely," she hissed.

"I'd caution your words, Myra. We have witnesses, and your son has a very public profile. Do you want everyone to know of your infidelity?"

"You wouldn't dare," Myra gasped.

"The nerve of Curtis to so openly claim to promote family values," Kat said mockingly. "Yes, I would dare considering you both have lied so grievously."

A heavy silence fell in the room as Myra ingested Kat's threat. She studied her closely, looking for any sign of weakness, but Kat remained still. Despite the pounding of her heart and sweaty palms, she knew she could hold her ground.

"This is not over," Myra snarled. "In fact, it is just beginning. You've threatened the wrong people."

"I want you out of my life," Kat said in a low voice.

"It's too late for that. You're in too deep."

"Then know I'll be prepared to fight back."

"We shall see," Myra huffed.

Spinning on her Dolci heel, Myra strode back to the front door, gripping the door handle with tentative fingers and wiping them on her Karan slacks before sending one last glare over her shoulder. "We could have handled this peacefully if you had just done what you were told. Now you've forced us to use more drastic measures."

No sooner had the door slammed behind the furious woman than Kat sank onto the edge of the desk. Terri and Mary hurried down the stairs at the loud bang, concern etched on their faces.

"Is everything okay?"

Cher's eyes were still wide, but she nodded coolly to Mary. "Everything's fine. We had a bit of a bully here, but she's left."

"Bully?" Terri stared at Kat, alarmed.

"No, it wasn't Mom," Kat said reassuringly. Now that the adrenalin had run its course, she began to tremble. Her astute sister noticed immediately.

"Are you okay?"

Raising a trembling hand to her brow, Kat nodded her head. "I'm fine," she said. Lifting her gaze to scan the room and the four very different pairs of eyes, she managed a short laugh. "You know what? I am fine."

Isabel clapped her hands together. "Bravo, darling."

"You did great," Cher said with an approving nod.

"Will somebody please tell me what happened?" Terri asked.

# Chapter 24

Heedless of the cars angrily honking their horns at him as he weaved through the thick afternoon traffic, Ian had only one goal in mind. The text message from Isabel, advising him that Curtis' mother had followed them to A Better Place, had sent him into a spiral of panic, the likes of which he had only seen once in his cousin Zach when they had raced to reach Emery in Colorado. He remembered telling Zach to remain a professional and calm down, and now he understood why Zach had not heeded the warning. Knowing that Kat could potentially be in danger presented him with only one thought: get to her quick.

He pulled into the lot, the Volvo's tires squealing, and was out of the car before he noticed that only familiar cars were present. Taking the stairs three at a time, he rushed through the door. Out of breath and sweating, he shouted, "Kat!"

He heard footsteps on the stairs and hurried in that direction. Kat was coming down, appearing alive and safe. Reaching out, he grasped her three stairs above him and wrapped his arms around her. He swung her into his arms, burying his face in her neck. "Are you okay?"

She gasped as his grip tightened, but he refused to let her go. "I'm fine."

In several strides he was in Dr. Stansfield's office, and he slammed the door behind them before setting her down. Cupping her face in both hands, he stared at her, aware that his heart was still beating a rapid tattoo against his ribs. It was pounding so hard that he struggled to breathe. "What the hell happened?"

Seeing his distress, she reached out and cover one of his hands with her own. "I'm okay. It was just Myra."

"She was threatening you. Isabel told me," Ian snapped.

"It's okay. I've called Chuck. If the threats continue, he'll file harassment charges."

"What did she do to you?" Ian pulled her close again, pressing kisses over her face in a rain of emotion that he could not control. "I was scared to death that I wouldn't get here in time."

Kat made a low noise in the back of her throat, and suddenly her arms went around his neck. She was pulling him closer, and he reacted immediately by searching out her lips with his. It was such a natural movement that they connected, even more natural that her mouth opened to him, and before he knew it she was pressing her body against his.

Deepening his kiss, he lifted her and set her on Stansfield's desk, moving between her legs and holding her close. Though they were not speaking aloud, their bodies told them what neither had wanted to admit prior to that moment. Ian had agreed to a friendship, but as he held her in his arms, cupping the back of her head with one hand and her waist with the other, he knew he wanted so much more than that.

His life just was not complete without Kat, for better or for worse.

Slowly lifting his head, he stared down into her eyes. "I can't do what you want, Kat."

Offering him a bemused smile, she shook her head slightly. "I don't understand."

"I can't be your friend," he said, his hand reaching around to wipe the moisture away from her puffy lower lip. "I need so much more from you, babe."

"Why do you always want to talk?" Kat teased. Drawing his head back down to hers, she used surprising force to maneuver him back into her arms.

"I need to say this," he protested.

"Friends don't kiss like this," she murmured.

"No, they don't," he agreed.

As usual, he gave in to her demands and lowered his head to hers. She was within his grip, and he would be a fool to allow her to walk away. Not when he knew he could never function completely without her. There was no way.

A polite knock on the door broke them apart guiltily. She buried her face in his neck, giggling lightly as Isabel's muffled voice reached their ears. "I'm going to bring Terri and Aaron home. Should we expect you for dinner tonight?"

Lifting her head, she shook it violently. His body responded with a lurch, wondering and hoping at the same time that her thoughts were traveling in much the same direction as his. Naturally, his bedroom was involved.

Clearing his throat, he continued to stare at her as he answered. "No, we have a few things to discuss tonight. We'll be by in the morning."

He could hear Terri on the other side of the door sniggering, but Isabel remained as cool as ever. "Very well. Have a nice evening."

"Thanks, you too," he replied.

Their voices moved away, leaving them alone again. Rather than kiss her again and risk not being able to stop, he rested his forehead on hers and took a deep breath. "Let's go home, Kat."

God, how he loved saying those words.

Her impish smile appeared. "Yes."

Pulling her to her feet, he grasped her hand in his. He pulled her along behind him and drew open the door, scanning the area carefully before allowing her to follow. This time no one was in sight.

Placing his hand on the small of her back, he guided her down the steps and into the parking lot. The late afternoon traffic was still thick, and he turned his attention away from the tantalizing blonde to scan the area for any threats. Knowing Myra Woods had tracked them down was a clear example of Kat's continued risk, and he was even more convinced than ever to keep her close. One more day and the weekend would be upon them. He would not breathe easy until he was able to watch over her himself.

They reached the car without incident, and Kat slipped in beside him with a sigh. She rested her head back against the headrest and closed her eyes. "I told Myra that I knew Curtis was Aaron's father."

"What?" Ian asked, nearly dropping the keys in shock.

Chuckling, she watched as he fumbled to get the key in the ignition. "It's true."

Shaking his head, he absorbed this new information while he pulled onto the road. "I can't believe it... Terri?"

"My father set them up. She was young and thought she and Curtis would marry. She was only a sophomore in college, and he was her first serious boyfriend."

"But Aaron is..."

"Exactly." She glanced out the window. "Apparently genetics are a crazy thing. Curtis is swarthy skinned, but he definitely takes after his mother. Aaron apparently takes after his grandfather."

"Well, I'll be damned."

"Myra is, and she's in a panic now."

A lot made sense now. The Woods family was entrenched in a dark family secret, and it suddenly clicked the reason why they wanted Kat under their thumb. But she had shown her hand that day. "I wish I was there to see it," he admitted. Reaching across the seat, he playfully tousled her hair. "I'm proud of you, babe."

When she did not answer, Ian glanced her way. She was smiling at him.

"What?"

"I'm just happy to hear you say that."

"Who would've thought we'd be caught up in a drama as intense as this?"

"At least I know why my father went to so much trouble to keep me away from you. At first it was because he was breaking the law and knew almost your entire family was in law enforcement, but then he needed me to keep his connection in government – a senator, for crying out loud. More security, a means of getting out of trouble if the need arose. Curtis is just paranoid enough of scandal to hide things if it came to it. It's all making sense now."

"You feeling good about what you said?"

"I feel fabulous." She took a deep breath. "They can't hurt me anymore."

He was more in awe of her bravery than ever, but he knew in his heart that Woods would be after her all the more intently now that the secret was out. It was more important than ever to keep her safe. Reaching across the seat, he gripped her hand as it lay in her lap. Squeezing warmly, he pulled it up to his lips and kissed it softly. "You're right," he said softly. "It's sick how he used his children for his personal gain, but I'll never allow anyone to hurt you again."

# ****

Though Ian meant it with all his heart, they still had one more day to be apart before his time off. At the crack of dawn, he was again strolling up to the front door of Ford and Isabel's. This time he felt whole. Though they had not spent much time speaking the night before, a certain level of understanding grew between them during the night. It was acceptance. The knowledge that they could not deny their bond passed unchallenged for the first time in two years.

Ian was beginning to think they could have a future together, and it showed in his happy smile when David opened the door to greet them. "Anyone kissing inside?"

David rolled his eyes. "No, thank God."

"We can't have that." Pulling Kat close, he bent her over his arm and placed a hearty kiss on her lips. When David groaned and Kat laughed, Ian grinned at them both. Winking at his nephew, he released her and gave her a gentle push inside. "I'll see you this afternoon."

She was flushed and her lips still slightly puffy from his hard kisses the night before, and he felt as though he could go to work a happy man. Shaking her head wryly, she lowered her thick lashes coyly. "Dinner?"

"Just you and me," he said with a grin. Sending her one last smile, he turned on his heel and returned to his car, idly wondering if the time was close for his watcher – lingering openly at the end of the street – to become his assassin.

# ****

It all happened so fast.

In the blink of an eye, or perhaps in the beat of a heart, everything changed. One moment everything was fine, with three women sitting around the dinette in the kitchen, relishing in the warmth of the morning sun as it streamed in through the blinds. In the next a loud bang more suited to an Iraqi street bomb than suburbia America rang throughout the house. Startled gasps and sloshed coffee resulted while Isabel shot to her feet. Kat and Terri stood, glancing this way and that in confusion.

Kat's heart raced in her chest when she met Terri's gaze. The silent communication between them said it all. They had been found, and this time it would not be pleasant.

"Isabel, go!" Kat managed to cry.

Only hesitating briefly, Isabel reached for the slider behind her as two men burst into the room. Kat cried out again when she spied her father's favored henchman, Dave, the same man who had groped her before throwing her unceremoniously into the limo. He lunged for Isabel as she opened the door, but the older woman was nimble on her feet. Without looking back, she ran into the yard and around the side of the house before Dave could grasp her.

"Let her go," John said with a nonchalant wave of his hand. "We have who we need right here. Grab them and get the boys before the guards wake up and call the cops."

Staring at his two children without a glimpse of warmth, John Woods crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. The smile that appeared on his lips was cold and cruel, a twisting of the lips rather than a true smile. Terri and Kat again glanced at each other, and Terri sidled closer to her when Dave turned around.

"What a surprise to find both of my dear children here at the same time... I should've known you'd be together." He watched Terri as Dave came up behind them.

Kat could feel herself tremble when she felt his menacing presence behind them. Reminding herself to remain strong, she inhaled deeply and met her father's stare. Praying Isabel was calling for help, she did her best to stall. "Why are you here?"

Her father latched on to the minimal show of weakness, a tremble in her voice that belied her fear. He sighed and leaned against the counter, crossing his legs at the ankle. As he spoke, he continued to shake his head slightly. "There was a reason why I was getting rid of Terri, Kat. She threatened to talk. Apparently she did, and to you. I thought I made myself clear when I told you that family business is family business... not to be shared with anyone. Do you know what you've done? Do you know the trouble you've caused? I stand to lose millions and the support of the highest levels of government!"

The tone of his voice escalated, and Terri's hand reached for Kat's. They gripped one another, moist palm to moist palm, but Kat refused to back down. "I think I speak for both of us when I say that all we want is for you to leave us alone."

"But that doesn't work for me, Kathleen," John reminded her coldly. "You've always been of a single use for me, and that is to marry Reichs."

"I'm not marrying Curtis."

"How can you even consider that I'd ever allow you to marry Evans? He's a liability."

"I'm not allowing you to force me to marry anyone. I'm an adult."

"You will do as I say. One way or another, you will agree..."

"You would forsake your own flesh and blood – your children – for money?" Terri interrupted incredulously. "What kind of a man are you?"

"I'm not speaking to you, you filthy whore," John spat.

"We're not going anywhere with you," Kat said firmly.

"I beg to differ," John said with a nod in Dave's direction.

Before she could bolt, Kat felt Dave's meaty paws grip her forearms with the strength of a vice. Grimacing against the pain from his fingers digging into the soft muscle of her arms, she lashed out as much as she could with her bare feet, struggling to reach his knees, thighs or even higher if possible. He merely chuckled, pulling her up against his beefy chest.

"Let her go!" Terri cried. She punched, clawed, slapped and kicked, but the giant of a man barely noticed.

John pushed away from the counter then, strolling with a laziness that belied his anger while slowly pulling his arm back. With a cruel smile, he backhanded Terri. She skidded before falling to the floor with a thump and a sharp cry, but he stood above her with hatred glowing in his eyes. "Stay out of this, or your punishment will be just as harsh."

Terri's eyes went wide, watching helplessly as Dave wrapped his arms around Kat's chest and carried her toward the door.

Unable to break free, she forced herself to go limp. She heard him grunt slightly from the shift in her body weight, but he continued to move forward. He was strong, too strong for her to take on by herself. Behind them, she heard Terri's cry and saw her father dragging her back to her feet by her long, chestnut hair. Fury produced spots behind her eyes. She had to get free to help her sister.

"Take her directly to the rental. We'll have to get her out of town until Reichs makes this go away. The sedative is set up and ready."

Out of town? Kat began to feel true panic at that point, knowing without a doubt that if they went out that front door the chances of anyone finding her were slim to none. Her father would never speak, never break and certainly never reveal her whereabouts.

"Evans should be handled just about now, so they're going to be hot on my heels. Get her out of here."

Evans? Did that mean that they were going to hurt Ian?

Jerking free of her father's grip, Terri turned and ran. Kat knew she had to act now. With her arms pinned to her sides, she could not use them as a weapon. But she still had her legs. With Dave's attention focused on her father, she wrapped both around his thighs and squeezed tight. The move was effective, for he stumbled and loosened his grip long enough for her to slide from his arms to the floor. He was fast in reaching for her, but Kat skittered across the hallway to the battering ram they had used to break through the door lying on the floor by the front door.

She was dragging it toward her when Dave's hand clamped around her ankle. Although stunned by the weight of the device, she managed to swing it at Dave's hand using all her strength. He jerked back with a muffled grunt; her father had lunged and caught her around the neck before she could escape. Biting back her pained cry, she brought the ram down on the top of his patent leather shoe, crushing his toes.

Disbelief mingled with pain on his face, and he released his grip, screaming, "Damn you!"

Kat drew her legs under her and scooted back toward the open door, but she stopped when she saw Terri reappear in the hallway. Scowling, she shook her head, indicating with a jerk of her chin for her sister to flee. Indecision flickered across her younger sister's face, and then her jaw set stubbornly and she advanced with a determined shake of her head.

"Terri, get out of here," Kat demanded as she finally scrambled to her feet.

Her father was glowering at her, but she hefted the ram and swung it with all her might in the direction of Dave's face. She was satisfied when it connected before he was able to jerk away, and blood erupted from his split lip. He fell back on his knees with a muffled roar that echoed her father's furious one as he again lunged for her.

Although the sweat beaded on her forehead and her arms shook under the weight of the battering ram, Kat held her ground, feeling rage overtake her panic. Years of torment by the man who should have loved and protected her seemed to build into this final faceoff, and every insult, taunt and demand combined with every punch, kick, slap and pinch to ring in her head like the clamoring of a fire truck's alarm.

She knew if she left with him now she could be killed, for she would never agree to do his bidding again. She belonged with Ian, and she refused to give him up again. In that moment, she was ready to die defending herself if need be.

Swinging the battering ram with all that was left of her strength, she watched him take a hasty step back out of her reach. "Never again," she cried. "You'll never touch me again."

"Kathleen, don't continue to dig yourself in deeper," he said through clenched teeth. "I brought you into this world – I can just as easily take you out."

"I will kill you first if I have to."

He laughed then, a look of amusement replacing the fury. "Is that right?"

"You're my father. You're supposed to protect us. Instead you've tormented us our entire lives. I'm not going to allow you to hurt us again – ever again."

"Don't be ridiculous. You respect your elders."

"You haven't earned my respect."

"I don't need to earn anything from you. You listen to me, not the other way around," he said disdainfully.

With a confidence born of years of having his own way, John took a step forward. Kat wavered under the weight of her fear of the man who had tortured her time and time again. "Don't make me do this!"

"I'm not afraid of you. You're a coward," he sneered.

"You hit women and children. If anyone's a coward, it's you."

John's eyes widened as his face turned a dull red. "What did you say?"

"You should be ashamed of yourself. You think you're so tough, but you're just a coward and a bully," she continued, her fear driving the words from her lips. If she was going to go down, she would not do it without a fight. Not this time. Ian counted on her to remain true to them.

"You'll pay for that," John whispered menacingly.

"Stay away from me."

But he did not stop. He made a mock lunge and then laughed derisively when she swung the battering ram wildly. It trembled in her hands, and she feared at any moment that she would lose her grip as the sweat on her palms made it slippery and hard to control.

A scornful smile curved his lips, revealing too-white teeth that brought back memories of pain and torment, and she knew that he had no intentions of backing off. Squeezing her eyes closed tightly, she heaved the battering ram back, knowing that her next move could bring freedom forever as well as a lifetime of guilt.

"Freeze!"

The sound was so unexpected that the heavy battering ram fell from her hands with a loud clatter to the tile floor. She glanced down, dismayed to see that one of the beautiful marble tiles had cracked under the impact. Her hands flew up to cover her face. Bending over, she burst into tears when she realized she had damaged Ford and Isabel's home. It was a surreal feeling that she was more concerned with the tile than the multiple uniformed officers who had barged in through the open front door. Guns drawn, the look on their faces begged her father and Dave to make one wrong move.

The cavalry had arrived.

"Get down on your knees!"

Not knowing if she was included in that order, Kat did as she was told. Spewing venomous hatred in her direction as he dropped to the floor and placed his hands over his head, her father reluctantly did the same. Dave continued to roll on the floor, pressing his hands to his jaw and crying out that it was broken. She hoped it was.

One face loomed in front of her, and Kat remembered her civil standby, Officer Small. The hulking former linebacker came down on his haunches in front of her, and his burly brow was creased in concern. "Are you okay?"

She focused on him and reached out to grip his arm tightly. "Ian. You have to find Ian. He said they were going to do something to him."

Small patted his hand and smiled triumphantly. "Ian's fine. We've had a tail on him for days, and today we picked up two guys when we serving warrants. I already called him, and he's probably breaking every traffic law on his way here now."

As she sagged with relief, she felt Terri's hand on her shoulder. "I'm so proud of you, Kat."

She turned and clung to her sister. "You should've run."

"I couldn't leave you," Terri said. "All these years we should've stuck together against him instead of bickering. Never again will I let you face him alone."

"We're lucky they came," she said, turning her attention back to Small with tears shining in her eyes. That she had come so close to feeling the urge to commit a murder left her shaken and terrified. A shudder wracked her body as she imagined what could have happened if they had not arrived when they did. "I can't thank you enough."

Small nodded. "Thank Isabel. She called us."

Releasing her grip on her sister, she spotted Isabel outside giving her statement. Still holding onto Terri's hand, she watched as Isabel broke away and hurried to them, wrapping them both in her arms. "Are you okay?"

"Thank you, Isabel," Kat whispered, sagging against the other woman. "I broke one of your tiles. I'm sorry."

Isabel's hand was trembling as she stroked her back. "I'm not in the least bit worried about a silly tile. All that matters is that you are safe."

"Do you know if Ian's okay? Have you spoken to him?"

Isabel snorted. "Ask him yourself. He's coming now."

Kat drew away from Isabel and Terri and turned around. Her gaze locked immediately with an intense brown stare. Ian weaved determinably through the growing crowd drawn by the flash of blue lights in the normally peaceful cul-de-sac. His face was dark as he pushed and shoved a path thought the onlookers, but it was the most glorious sight she had seen. Running to close the distance between them, she flung herself into his arms. "I'm so glad you're safe."

He held her tight, one hand holding her in place while the other roamed up and down her back as though needing to confirm she was really in his arms. When he spoke, his chest heaved and his voice sounded breathless as though he had run miles. "I got here as soon as I could."

"I'm okay." She took a deep, shuddering breath. "But I was ready to kill him, Ian. I think that scared me the most."

"We can talk to someone about that."

"I think I should. I need your help," she whispered. She wanted to have a productive life; more than anything she wanted to be normal. It would be a long road ahead, but she knew she could do it if she had the support of such a loving family.

Ian sighed heavily and drew back slightly to stare down at her. "Kat, you're seriously going to kill me... I just can't do this anymore."

Kat's heart seemed to stop beating. "What?"

"We have to end this," he said softly.

His face was solemn and regretful, leaving her more fearful than when she faced her father. Her heart plummeted to her feet. "End it?"

She noticed then that he was trembling. Most likely it was the effects of the adrenalin, for when she had hugged him she felt his heart racing against her ear. Feeling the sting of tears prickling against her eyelids, she blinked up at him. The strain on his features said it all. He was so honorable and wanted to help, and she knew that it must have made him crazy when he was not there for her. The pressure would break a normal man, but Ian still stood solid despite his stress.

"I can't keep doing this with you. I don't want to be your friend." Feeling as though he had just ripped her heart from her chest, her face fell. Her hands fell from around his waist, and she nodded briefly. But he was not done. Still cupping her cheeks in his hands, he leaned forward and kissed her forehead then her nose and finally her lips lightly. "Friendship is important, but I want it all. I want my best friend and lover, and the way I see it is that they'll continue to haunt you until you're no longer single. I want you to marry me. Marry me now. Today. This minute."

Overwhelmed by his offer, she shook her head and patted his chest, her eyes swimming with tears. "I don't think he's going to be a problem anymore. He's being taken into custody now."

"Then marry me because you feel the same way."

"Ian, you don't need to marry me to keep my father away," she said, smiling tenderly.

He rolled his eyes. "Will you just admit that you love me and aren't complete without me in your life and let's just get this over with once and for all?"

Kat blinked in surprise. "Is that how you feel, or are you just trying to offer me protection?"

"Are you serious?"

"I'm a little confused," she admitted.

"I can't just be your friend. I love you far too much to settle for that. I want a life with you, the way it should have been all along. I'm telling you I love you. Isn't that enough?"

Tears streaming down her face, she nodded eagerly. "That's more than I ever thought I'd hear."

"Then you agree? If so, we're going now and not coming back until it's done."

"Playing the alpha again?"

"Damn right I am," he said firmly. "I'm doing what I should've done ten years ago."

"Better late than never."

Drawing him close, she kissed him the way he had kissed her, hard, urgently, and filled with so much love and relief that she felt her heart would explode with joy.

It was Terri who drew them apart, whistling in her boisterous way to remind them that they were in public. Ian raised his head and looked beyond her to her sister.

"Are you two ever going to come back over here?"

"No, we're going to Vegas," Ian announced.

Terri's eyes went wide. "Huh?"

Kat wrapped her arms around Ian's waist, unwilling to let go. Burying her face in his chest, she let out a shuddering sigh. In her arms was the man of her dreams. Sure he was grouchy, yes, he was moody, but he was also perfect in her eyes. She loved everything about him. He was her man, her love, the only person in the world she could truly be herself with. And he was right. They should have been together all along.

But he was offering them time to make up for her mistakes. She had one last chance, and this time she was going to do it all right.

# Epilogue

"I leave for my honeymoon, come back and find out that you're married! How could you?"

Jamie stared at Ian with her hands on her hips, glaring at her older brother like a mother hen reprimanding her chick. He bit back his grin.

"Calm down, Mama Bear," he teased. "It's all good."

"All good?" Jamie sputtered. "But I wasn't there!"

Ian laughed and looked beyond his irate sister to where his wife – yes, wife – was chatting with Andrew out on the patio. The size difference between the two was laughable, making them appear more like father and daughter than brother and sister-in-law. Kat barely came up to Andrew's nipple line, and one of his hands was larger than both of hers put together. But Ian loved her petite stature, and he knew intimately that she was not a child.

"That's not fair, Ian," Jamie wailed.

Returning his attention to his sister, he chuckled. "Things happened pretty fast."

"They couldn't have happened fast enough that you couldn't have waited for me to get back."

"We had witnesses, and at the time that's all we were looking for. Terri and Brian were amusing to watch," he said with a chuckle.

"You brought Brian?"

"Yeah, he came along... Fought the entire time with Kat's sister. It was fun."

Jamie huffed. "I cannot believe you took our cousin instead of me."

As much as he loved his sister and as tight as they were, there was no way he could have waited when he had finally reached his longest-cherished goal. When the opportunity presented itself, he had grasped it with both hands, and the idea of it slipping away in the blink of an eye again was too terrifying to consider. No, he was glad he had swept her away. Like Ford, he was a one-woman man, and he finally had the only woman he had ever loved bound to him by marriage.

"It's not like we didn't all know that you were going to do it anyway," she said sullenly.

"You all knew, really?" Ian asked dryly.

"As soon as she danced with you at my wedding we knew you would do something about her farce of an engagement."

"So everyone knew this but me?"

Jamie waved a hand dismissively. "Well, maybe Kat was oblivious. I think she was so scared to say anything that she wouldn't have believed it had we told her you were still hopelessly in love with her."

He rolled his eyes. "You make me sound so obvious."

Jamie began tossing the salad she was preparing with vigor. "I hate to be the one to tell you, but you are."

"Really?"

"I think I owe Grady five bucks. I think it was him who said you'd be married within a month. Hayden gave you two."

"You were taking bets on me?"

Jamie grinned. "Absolutely."

"I don't believe it." Instead of feeling angry, Ian glanced back outside. Andrew and Kat were finishing up at the grill, and he watched as Andrew hefted the burgers onto the plate Kat was holding. In the week since he had swept her off to Vegas, more of the old Kat appeared. Her father was safely behind bars, a restraining order had been issued and the dark circles that had lined her eyes were now gone.

She was happy. Her smile was genuine, her laughter unforced and the way her eyes shone with pleasure warmed Ian all the way to his bones. While he may not be the most romantic hero of her dreams, he had finally stepped up to the plate when she needed him the most. Now they had the rest of their lives to prove just how much they loved each other.

Deep pride filled his chest. Oh, yes, he would show her. He would never again be afraid to tell her exactly what he was feeling, and he would never again allow her to hide her feelings from him. They made a vow of openness and a promise to tell no secrets.

They had been given another chance, and this time they were going to make the best of it.

The End

# Coming Spring 2013

# Terri's Gift

Single mother Terri Woods worked hard to earn her reputation as a cool and unapproachable woman. The truth of the matter was that she had long ago learned to hide her deepest emotions from others as a form of self-protection because of her traumatic past. The only one who knew the truth was her beloved son, the child of a man who had trampled her soul.

Then Terri meets her son's new teacher, and she begins to question her lifestyle for the first time ever. Brian Evans, former pro-baseball player turned elementary school teacher, exhibits warmth and generosity with such ease that she initially mistrusts him. However, his ability to triumph after difficulties and still retain his spirit slowly earns her respect and weakens the towering walls around her heart.

When Brian's young daughter faces a life-threatening challenge, Terri learns that she could be the only one to save her. Fearing her growing feelings for the charming pair, but fearing the risk of failure more, she must decide. Does she open her heart and let Brian and Avery in, or does she continue to hold them at bay?

Even more importantly, will Brian let her?

Once again, the power of family reigns when the Evans family pulls together to help Brian and Avery find luck, health and happiness in book five of the Evans Family Series coming March of 2013!

#  

# About the Author

Always composing stories in her head, Collette began her first novel at the age of eight. Since then, she has obtained her bachelor's degree in English literature and master's degree in education while squeezing in her writing whenever possible. Kat's Last Chance is the fourth in her Evans Family Series and her sixth published novel, including the highly acclaimed drama, Forever Sunshine, and hugely popular contemporary romance, Hannah's Blessing. The best-selling New England native now resides in Arizona with her children and multiple family pets, hanging out with her readers online when she's not writing.

# For more information visit: http://www.collettescott.com

# Facebook page: AuthorColletteScott

# Twitter: @collettescott

