"How did you meet her? Does Charlie know? G.o.d, you're such a pig. Do Mom and Dad know? Is it serious?"

Lake received the hairy eyeball again.

"Sorry. Um ... how did you meet her?"

"She was my patient."

"s.h.i.t. Are you serious? That's so unethical ... and completely romantic. Oh man ... you're going to visit her for a l.u.s.t-filled week and your little sister is tagging along. That's not cool. Sorry, Bro. My bad. Now I feel regretful."

"Now you feel regretful? When I told you it wasn't safe and you were putting yourself in danger, that didn't faze you. But now that you think you're putting a kink in my s.e.x plans you feel regretful."

"A bit. Yes. When did she move to Omaha?"

Luke bit his lips together, squinting a bit. "I'm not sure. Less than a year ago."

"Did you meet her before or after Jessica died?"

"Before."

"Oh ... Luke." Disappointment laced her words. "Please tell me you weren't cheating on Jessica."

"It's complicated."

"a.s.shole," she mumbled under her breath, turning her back to him to stare out her window.

Twenty Questions ended before she got to twenty. Just as well, he wanted Lake to think about Jessica. He wanted her to miss Jessica. He wanted to prime her brain for what he would tell her when they arrived in Omaha. Even then, it would be too much for her to comprehend.

A cold silence settled between them for the rest of the drive to Omaha. They stopped in Des Moines for dinner. Lake didn't say a word, didn't even look at him. He wanted to tell her, but not yet. The truth was irrational and Lake would need to be in that frame of mind before he could make her see it-make her accept it.

They pulled into the parking garage of the Element hotel, and Lake jumped out before he put the car in park. In an angry march she headed straight to the lobby. He took his time getting their bags and checking them into their room.

"Coming?" he asked, breezing past her to the elevator.

Her flushed face confirmed she was seconds from exploding. He slid the key card in the door and held it open for her. As soon as it closed behind them, she turned, hands fisted, eyes squinted.

"I hate you. You cheated on Jessica. Jessica! What the h.e.l.l is wrong with you? We loved her. The whole family. I think we preferred her to you. You were going to marry her. How could you? I'm going to hate this woman we're here to see. I don't care what you think of her. I already hate her for trying to steal you from Jessica. The only reason I'm not taking a cab to the airport right this second is because I want to see her. I want to claw her G.o.dd.a.m.n eyes out."

Tears streamed down her face.

"I idolized you. Jessica was a sister to me. I miss her so d.a.m.n much. The only thing I have left is the memories of her-of you two together and now you've ruined that! You can't be with this girl, Luke. You just can't. She's not Jessica."

"She is."

Lake shook her head. "Don't you dare say that. Don't you dare disrespect her memory like that. You're such a b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

"I'm here for Jessica."

"Stop!" She covered her ears. "Just stop. Jessica wouldn't want you here doing what you're doing."

Luke couldn't deny the probable truth in that statement.

"Lake?" He grabbed her hands.

She fought him, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Lake, look at me."

She opened her red eyes, the ugly-cry grimace still stuck to her face.

"Jessica didn't die."

"Oh my G.o.d ... you're seeing ghosts. This won't end well."

He grabbed her face. "If you never listen to anything I say again, please hear this."

She blinked, holding her breath.

"Her parents were murdered and her death was faked to protect her from being murdered too."

Lake blinked some more. Anger and fear converged into complete shock.

"I saw her at the hotel in Houston. I was taken by the people who are supposedly protecting her. That's why I stood Charlie up."

"Im-impossible," Lake whispered.

"I'm here to find her. She and Jude moved to Omaha, but some things have happened in her life and she's gone again. I need to find her and this is the only place I know where to start."

"They took you. What does that mean? Took you where? Who took you?"

Her words indicated enough acceptance that he let her go and took a step back. His chin tipped to his chest as he rubbed the tension in the back of his neck.

"That's a little more complicated. Let's just say they don't have much regard for my life or my family's. Being here puts my life in danger." He looked up at her.

Realization robbed her face of all color. "And mine is too," she whispered.

Luke nodded. "I think you should forget everything we've just discussed and get on the first flight out tomorrow."

"Is that what those people said to you?"

"More or less, just with a little more force and a lot more threat."

"But you're here anyway."

"I love her. I was miserable when I thought she died, but knowing she's alive is a different kind of pain-the kind that will kill me if I can't be with her."

"You're not cheating on her?"

Only Lake could bring a smile to his face in the midst of so much pain. "That depends on how you look at it. I'm searching for a woman with Jessica's build, but blond hair, and she goes by the name Jillian Knight."

"Jillian Knight?"

Luke nodded.

"I can't imagine her as a blonde. How does it look on her?"

"Hideous. Stunning. Disturbing. Mesmerizing."

Lake laughed. "Well, let's get some sleep. We have a blonde bombsh.e.l.l named Jillian Knight to track down tomorrow."

"I want you to go home."

"I know and I love you too, but by all rights I'm living on borrowed time, with a fake leg and a job that doesn't pay. I think doing anything but living on the edge would be a crime at this point."

"I'm serious. If anything happens to you-"

She pressed her finger to his mouth. "Shh ... I love her too."

He grabbed her hand and pulled her into him for a big hug. "Some guy, with my scrutinizing approval of course, is going to s.n.a.t.c.h you up one day and he's going to be the luckiest guy alive."

Chapter Twenty.

Knight With minimal convincing, Jackson talked Ryn into staying the weekend at his place. He hesitated for a fraction of a second when she reminded him Gunner would have to come over too. The that-dog-wants-to-rip-my-b.a.l.l.s-off look ended with a smile and silent acquiescence.

Jackson loved to eat. Ryn loved to cook. They were a perfect match by any standard. The pang of guilt she felt when he woke up early to go for a run while she nestled back under the covers disappeared the second she realized the kitchen was all hers. A Friday night trip to the store before coming to his place ensured she had everything she needed to make m.u.f.fins, bacon, seasoned hash, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. It did seem a bit excessive for two people, but Ryn couldn't resist.

Gunner gave a warning growl when the doorbell rang.

"The dope must have locked himself out." She wiped her hands and traipsed to the front door wearing nothing but Jackson's large T-shirt.

Ryn opened the door with a big grin that morphed into a grimace at the two strangers that stood on the opposite side of the storm door that thankfully fogged over within seconds.

"Shoot!" She held up a finger. "Just a minute." Closing the door, she ran into the bedroom and stripped the T-shirt from her embarra.s.singly-flushed body then slid into her jeans, a bra, and sweater. There was no time to deal with her hair, so she ran her fingers through it on the way back to the front door.

"Sorry about that. I was expecting someone else."

The man smiled. "That's fine. Sorry to disturb you so early in the morning. We're looking for Jackson Knight."

"He went for a jog."

The dark-haired man looked around at the snow covered ground and shook his head with a slight grin. "Of course he did," he mumbled to himself. "We're old friends. Would you mind if we waited for him?"

Ryn a.s.sessed them both. The girl looked young, maybe Maddie's age. Harmless.

With Gunner as her backup, she stepped back, welcoming them inside the house.

"I'm Ryn Middleton." She smiled and offered to take their coats.

"Luke, and this is my sister, Lake." They both slipped off their shoes then shook her hand.

Lake had a prosthetic leg. Ryn tried not to stare.

"Nasty car accident."

Her staring didn't go unnoticed. Ryn gave her a polite smile.

"Looks like you're lucky to be alive."

"Most days." Lake ginned at her brother before returning her attention to Ryn.

"So ... Luke and Lake. Your mother must have been a glutton for punishment."

Lake giggled. "You have no idea. We have three other siblings: Lane, Lara, and Liam."

"Wow." Ryn pulled the cranberry-orange m.u.f.fins from the oven. "So how do you know Jackson?"

"I was closer friends to his sister, Jillian," Luke said.

Ryn poured two gla.s.ses of orange juice and offered them to her guests.

"Oh no. We didn't mean to intrude on your breakfast." Luke had an earnest smile, mature but boyish at the same time.

"You're not intruding. I never get to cook for many besides myself, and I was just thinking how overboard I went for just two people. Here ... I insist."

Luke and Lake took the juice and thanked her.

"Have a seat." Ryn nodded to the table. "I have m.u.f.fins, bacon, and hash too. Unless you're vegetarians like Jillian."

"No, we're not," Luke grinned at his sister as if there was some sort of inside joke.

"So you're from New York too?"

Lake squinted her eyes a bit.

"Yes. Yes we are." Luke took a sip of his juice. "So are you and Jackson ... together?"

"I know what you're thinking. I'm older and he's ... younger and-"

"No." Luke saved her from her impending rant of insecurity. "I was just thinking the guy I used to know never had women making breakfast in his kitchen."

Ryn nodded. "He told me he wasn't much of the relationship type before ..."