"What she said," he said quietly. "Anything you need?"

Zack studied Aidan, the way the T-shirt he wore stretched over his biceps and broad shoulders. Damn, he looked good. He'd sure kept in shape over the years. Beneath the hem of his knee-length shorts, his calves were muscular and tanned. A day's grown of dark beard shaded his square jaw-his weekend look, no doubt. He'd always been a confident guy but now had an air of assurance, a guy who'd experienced success. A guy who got things done. "Not that I can think of at the moment," Zack finally said.

"Okay."Aidan straightened from the doorframe where he leaned. "You've been through hell and we're here for you. It's good to see you, Zack." He gave him a searching look. "Really good. See you in a bit."

Aidan closed the door behind him, leaving Zack alone in the elegant bedroom with the stunning view out the window, the same wall of windows that curved around the living space. Lake Michigan stretched out endlessly blue to the horizon.

He rubbed the back of his neck and took a deep breath.

He was here. He'd made it this far. He could do this.

Chapter Three.

Aidan paused in the hall before joining Maddie in the kitchen. He leaned against the wall and bent his head, hands shoved into his pockets. Seeing Zack again had messed up his head.

During the weeks Zack had been missing, he'd thought a lot about what Zack meant to him. He'd missed him all these years. He'd been pissed off at him all these years too, for leaving and never coming back to visit. And yeah, there'd also been an element of hurt there. Now, seeing him again, he realized just how much he cared about the guy. But everything had changed since Zack had left.

He straightened, pulling in a long breath, and walked into the kitchen.

Maddie whisked something in a bowl and looked up as he pulled out a stool at the counter and sat. He took in the droop of her mouth and the unhappy shadows in her eyes.

"He's so thin," she said quietly. "They must have starved him."

"Yeah." He'd noticed too. Zack was a couple inches shorter than him and had always been more muscular. Now he was painfully lean compared to his old self. "Damn. It's good he came here."

She nodded, dipping a spoon into the concoction in the bowl to taste it. "Yeah. We can make sure he's okay. Shit, Aidan." She flattened her palms on the counter and leaned in.

"I know, I know. But he's here."

"He had hardly any stuff. He said he lost almost everything he had. That must include his cameras."

"I'll see if he needs any money," Aidan said slowly. "If he needs help to get back on his feet, we can definitely do that."

She bit her lip. "For sure. We'll ask him. I mean..." She sighed. "There was a time when the three of us could talk about anything. He seems so...closed off."

"He's just been through a traumatic ordeal. Give him time."

"It's not just that." Her lower lip pushed out. "He's different. He seems...harder. And even though he's lost weight, he seems...bigger. Does that make any sense?"

Aidan thought about that. She was right. Zack had lost weight but nonetheless radiated an intense energy, a puzzling mix of powerful confidence and cool remoteness. Maybe that wasn't any different than when they'd been in college. Chicks had all dug that artistic, brooding vibe he gave off.

Actually, quite a few guys had dug it too, which had irritated Aidan. Through college Zack had gradually come to open up about his bisexuality. Aidan hadn't been shocked by that, and he wasn't homophobic, but he'd been confusingly annoyed when Zack expressed even hesitant interest in another guy. Now, Zack seemed to have settled into himself, his personality bigger. Stronger.

"Yeah. I know what you mean."

"We've hardly heard from him in seven years. It felt like he deliberately distanced himself from us, even though he kept saying he was just busy. I just don't understand why."

"Maybe we'll find out."

"He doesn't seem very inclined to talk."

"He never was one to talk a lot." Zack had been a very private person.

"That's true. I remember in college, wanting to know more about his family and his childhood, but all he would say was that his parents were dead and he didn't want to talk about it."

Aidan glanced toward the bedrooms, hoping Zack wasn't going to appear while they were talking about him.

"Yeah. That's true." Zack had told him more than that. He'd also asked Aidan to never tell Maddie. When Zack had eventually confided in him, it had made him feel stoked that his friend had trusted him enough to share his tragic past, trusted that he wouldn't look at him any differently because of it, and trusted him that he wouldn't tell anyone else. When Zack had told him that shit, it had brought them closer together. It had also made him pissed as hell on behalf of his buddy. He liked to fix things-but how could he change Zack's past?

He couldn't. All he could do was...care. Look out for him.

When they'd met in college, and ended up as roommates, neither of them knew a single other soul on campus. Aidan had been excited to meet new people and did so easily. Zack had been more standoffish, his crappy childhood a big chip on his shoulder that gave him attitude. The bad boy attitude, shaggy hair and good looks, the artistic vibe with a camera seemingly always around his neck, had attracted tons of girls, but he'd kept people at a distance. Aidan soon had a big circle of friends, but he always made sure to include Zack, who'd gradually relaxed with people and opened up a bit. And they'd become friends.

"This dressing needs more vinegar." Maddie splashed some from a bottle into the bowl in front of her and resumed her whisking, maybe a little more vigorously than she had to, blinking rapidly.

Fuck. This was hard for all of them. After so long, to see Zack like that... Well, they had to make the best of it. They just had to be glad he was there and he was alive.

"I'm still pissed at him." She bent her head. "But it's kind of hard to stay that way when I see him and it really hits me what he's been through."

Yeah, he knew exactly what she meant.

Aidan studied Maddie. There'd been a time when he'd wondered if Maddie had been one of those girls crushing on Zack. The three of them had gotten tight, hanging out a lot. They'd all dated other people at times, but never anything serious. Aidan had been half in love with Maddie since the day they'd met, but she'd been gun shy about guys and dating after that fucktard ex of hers had tried to rough her up. And he'd seen the way she looked at Zack sometimes, which made him even more hesitant to make a move on her. She'd been devastated when Zack had left.

And so had Aidan. He just hadn't been as open about it.

He sighed. "I need a drink."

Maddie looked up at him and smiled, her eyes softening. "Great idea. Let's open that bottle of Malbec."

He rose off the stool and crossed to the wine rack in the dining room where they had an extensive collection. He selected the Malbec she'd referred to and proceeded to uncork it. Maddie slid two large-bowled wine glasses with slender stems across the marble counter toward him. When he'd poured it, he pushed one over to her. "Here, sweetheart."

She leaned against the counter and sipped her wine. Her brown hair brushed over bare shoulders. She lifted her wine glass with a toned, slender arm, lightly tanned from their weekends at the beach or cycling or relaxing out on their balcony. Christ, she was beautiful. And smart and kind and funny. He was so fucking lucky.

"Love you," he said quietly.

She met his eyes and her lips curved into a smile. "Love you too." She took another sip of wine then set her glass down with a clink on the stone counter to check the lasagna in the oven.

"Something smells great."

They both turned to see Zack standing there. He'd showered and changed into a different T-shirt and jeans, both of them obviously new. Yeah, he was thinner, his eyes wore shadows, but his shoulders seemed broad and strong and powerful.

"Seafood lasagna." Maddie straightened from where she peered in the oven. "It'll be ready soon. How about a drink? We're having wine. Want a glass of that? Or something else?"

"Got a beer?"

"Hell, yeah. Open the fridge right beside you."Aidan gestured. "Take your pick."

Zack did so and took a moment. "Wow. Quite the selection. How about a basic Budweiser?"

Aidan snorted. "Dude. Bitching about the brand of free beer in your buddy's fridge is totally against the guy code."

For a moment, Zack looked startled. Then he smiled. It looked tight and uncomfortable, but he smiled. "Jerkoff," he muttered. "Fine. I'll drink one of your fancy microbrewery beers." He pulled one out and popped the top off.

"Want a glass?" Maddie asked.

"Nah. This is good." He tipped the beer to his lips and drank like he was dying of thirst. "What is this?" He held up the bottle to peer at the label. "Big Dick's Pale Ale?" He turned appalled eyes on Aidan. "You gotta be kidding me."

Maddie giggled and Aidan smiled. "Nope. It's one of my favorites."

"Don't know if you wanna go around telling everyone you like Big Dick's." Zack smirked.

Now Aidan laughed too, although the tops of his ears burned. "Shut the fuck up. It's good beer."

"Yeah, it is." Zack gave a gusty sigh. "Wanted a beer so fucking bad while I was held captive."

Maddie tipped her head. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Zack grimaced and hitched a shoulder. "No."

Aidan watched Maddie's throat move as she swallowed. "Well. If you do, we're here. I think it would be good for you to talk."

"Might be," he acknowledged. "Good for me, but a huge fuckin' downer for you."

Maddie laughed and Aidan had to grin too. "I think we can handle it. Now we know you're alive. Fuck, man, you had us going nuts the last few months."

Zack leveled his gaze on him, chin lowered. "Wasn't fuckin' me, dude. I had no choice in what happened."

Aidan closed his eyes briefly. "I know. I didn't mean that. I'm not blaming you."

"Well, I am." Maddie spoke up, lifting her little chin. "I mean, it's not your fault you got abducted. But it is your fault for putting yourself in that kind of dangerous situation."

The air changed, going electric around them. Zack's eyes narrowed.

Shit.

"It's my job," he said tersely.

Maddie and Zack entered into a brief stare down. Then Maddie softened. "I know it is." She sighed. "And you've done amazing things. A Pulitzer, Zack. That's incredible."

One corner of his mouth lifted. "Thanks."

"Come on." Aidan tucked his tongue into his cheek. "Anyone with a digital camera can take pictures like that." Maddie and Zack both directed their gazes at him. Then they burst out laughing and the tension eased.

"Asshole." Zack took another swig of his beer. "I believe you've won some awards yourself."

Aidan grinned. "Well, my company has."

"Tell me about your company."

"Have a seat, Zack." Maddie nodded at the stools. He moved through the galley kitchen and around the end of the counter, then pulled a stool under him as Maddie turned to the oven and removed the lasagna.

"That thing is huge," Zack said, watching Maddie.

"That's what she said," Aidan replied.

Maddie cracked up and leaned on the counter, her hands still in big oven mitts. "Riiiiight."

Zack laughed too and Aidan grinned. Making Zack laugh made him feel pretty good.

"Talking about your ego, no doubt," Zack said dryly.

"Ha ha. Anyway. I founded The Thorne Studio about five years ago. It's a collective of architects and designers. We do cross-field research, collaboration and experimentation. We test out ideas on different scales-cities and environments, material and physical properties. I've got some great people working with me and we've done some good things."

Maddie snorted and he caught the look of pride on her face as she dumped a bag of greens into a salad bowl. "Some good things. Right. Last year they called you 'a star architect in a city that loves architecture.' And one of the most influential architects in Chicago."

Aidan caught Zack looking at Maddie too and his heart gave a bump at the expression on Zack's face, which was quickly shielded as he dropped his eyes to the beer bottle in his hands resting on the counter. And expression that looked like...longing.

"We wanted to do things differently." Aidan fingered the stem of his wine glass. "Not just your typical design firm. We use a research-based discovery process. We try to actively involve clients in the design process, making choices as the project develops. Understanding our clients' project goals and strategizing methods to achieve them from the very beginning allows us to keep to the project's budget and timeline. And build a more compelling design. We're also very focused on sustainable design. We want all our team members to be LEED Accredited Professionals within a year of joining the firm, and several of our projects are targeting a LEED Platinum rating."

He knew he didn't have to explain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes and neighborhoods, to Zack-he'd talked to him about it enough back in college.

"We've had some big projects," Aidan continued. "The Griffon Tower was probably our biggest. That was the one we won the National Design Award for Architecture, last year."

Zack nodded. "Maddie told me about that in one of her emails."

"Right now we're working on a bunch of things." Aidan's shoulders tensed, thinking about the work he had to do and the problems waiting for him at the office. "Including a big new medical complex in Greektown."

"Sounds amazing, dude.

For a moment, Aidan had a sense of unreality. A week ago, Zack had been a captive somewhere in the Syrian desert, clearly physically abused, mentally abused, his life not destroyed but certainly changed. And here he was, talking about designing buildings. What the fuck? Who gave a crap about that?

He bowed his head. Then a firm hand landed on his shoulder. He tilted his head without lifting it to look at Zack. "I'm here," Zack said quietly. "I'm okay."

How the fuck had Zack known what he was thinking? The guy had always been eerily intuitive. Aidan nodded.

Aidan looked up at Maddie, watching them as she slowly sliced a red pepper. His eyes met hers and she gave a tiny smile.

Fuck, he'd missed Zack. Maddie'd been the one who'd tried to keep in touch with Zack, with all those emails she'd sent him, many of which got no reply. She was the one who'd bitched about how he'd disappeared and how she didn't believe he couldn't take time to come home for a visit. Aidan hadn't talked about it. Hadn't wanted to admit how much he missed his friend. But he had.

He couldn't say that. That would totally go against the guy code.

"I wanna hear about that stuff," Zack said. "This all feels so...normal."