She planted her hands on his chest and pushed free. “You shouldn’t be here, Wes. I’m working.”

  “I know. But I wanted to do a feature on you. Kind of a day-in-the-life piece. So I needed to get started on it ASAP.”

  “Why on earth would you want to do a feature on me?”

  He took her elbow and steered her away from the others. “See, here’s the thing, babe. I kinda blew my career. You know I lost my way for a while there, but I’ve been going to counseling, and I really want to get my life back on track.”

  “Why choose me? There are tons of stories far more interesting and much closer to home.”

  “I saw the press release for your show in the paper. So I looked you up online. When I saw the controversy over your show, I thought it’d be a great story. Big, bad men trying to hurt little kids will get national play and be picked up by the AP.” She knew what he was thinking. If the Associated Press ran his story, it could help him land a job in a time when positions in the newspaper industry were hard to come by.

  She didn’t need Wes to complicate things right now, but the brain injury that ruined his life wasn’t his fault. Plus, she owed him. He’d helped her get her very first job at a newspaper, and without that, she didn’t know where she’d be now. And he was the only man she’d dated that she’d ever told about giving up her daughter who hadn’t judged her.

  “Look.” He came closer. “Let’s start over, okay? I’m sorry things turned out like they did. We had some good times. Remember?” His eyes cleared, and he smiled sweetly. The smile she’d once fallen for. “Can’t you give a guy a break? I won’t get in the way. I promise.”

  She really did want to help him out, but things were so crazy now she couldn’t see adding him to the mix. “I don’t know, Wes.”

  “You want me to beg? Fine. I’ll beg. Please, Jen. I really need this. You’re my last hope.” He stabbed his fingers through his thick hair. “I don’t know what I’ll do if you turn me down. I spent every last dime coming here.”

  She didn’t want to make a decision this quickly, but Mrs. Standiford was clipping down the driveway, and Jennie didn’t want to make a scene.

  “You’ll stop calling me babe?” she asked.

  He nodded, his eyes lighting up.

  Ethan came over to them. “Is everything okay?”

  “Fine,” she said, feeling at peace with her decision. “Wes will be joining us to do a story on me.”

  Wes’s fist went up in a victory pump.

  “What exactly will that entail?” Ethan asked.

  “I’ll follow Jennie around for the next few days and take notes.” He grinned. “I’ll be so quiet you won’t even know I’m there.”

  Ethan scowled and drew Jennie aside. “I need to check Mahoney out before I’ll let him do anything beyond covering today’s event.”

  “It’s Wes we’re talking about here. He’s not going to hurt me.”

  “I won’t take any chances.”

  Jennie glanced at Wes and saw the hopeful look still in his eyes. “I’ve already said he could do the story.”

  “If I get the team working on this right away, I should have enough information to clear him by the time you finish here.”

  Mrs. Standiford was only a few feet away and Jennie didn’t want her personal business broadcast in front of a client. “Fine. Check him out.”

  “What’s going on here?” Mrs. Standiford stopped near them, hands on nonexistent hips, and peered at Ethan. “Don’t I know you?” she asked him.

  “That you do, Mrs. Standiford.” Ethan held out his hand and offered her a charming smile. “Ethan Justice.”

  “Oh, my goodness, of course.” She shook his hand. “You’re all grown up.” She let her eyes rove over him from top to bottom. “All grown up. It feels like yesterday when you and John spent all your free time here. Now he’s married, and I have three wonderful grandchildren.” She grabbed Ethan’s hand and held it out. “Not married, I see.”

  Jennie didn’t like the direction this day was taking. She needed to bring things back to a professional level.

  “I’m sorry we’re late for our appointment, Mrs. Standiford. We had a bit of a mix-up out here, but we’re ready to start the interview if you are.”

  “Mrs. Standiford is my mother-in-law,” she said and offered a perfect smile. “Please, everyone call me Bitsy.”

  Jennie nodded and gestured at Wes. “I hope you don’t mind, but Wes will also be joining us. He’s a reporter and he’s doing a story on my foundation.”

  Bitsy turned to Wes and looked him over more thoroughly than her intent scouring of Ethan.

  Unlike Ethan, Wes warmed to the attention and held out his hand. “My story may be on Jennie, but I’m looking forward to getting to know you, too.”

  “Then let’s get started.”

  “Shall we?” Wes offered his arm, and Bitsy took it.

  Wes had always been charming. Too charming.

  They headed toward the house and Hank followed them. Jennie went to the truck to retrieve her gadget bag and tripod. She also grabbed her tote bag containing the negatives. She’d packed them since they were leaving directly from here to go to the darkroom, and she wouldn’t leave them unprotected in the truck.

  Ethan took everything from her. “Guess you have a history with Wes,” he said as a statement not a question.

  “We worked together in Harlingen,” she answered.

  Ethan eyed her for a long moment as if he knew there was more to this relationship than work. “I know Texas is a world unto itself, but is it typical for coworkers to call each other babe?”

  She didn’t want to have this conversation with Ethan—with anyone for that matter—and especially not here. She started for the door. “Can we talk about this later?”

  He went ahead. “Will we talk about this later?”

  Knowing they should stay away from their personal issues, she shrugged and kept walking. Ethan opened the front door, and she went into the entryway, turning in a circle to view the large foyer. She’d done her homework last night on the six-million-dollar home built in the forties and had expected luxury, but she wasn’t prepared to see the opulence of this Georgian estate.

  “Bitsy has given us permission to shoot the entire estate, which will make a great backdrop for the story.” Hank was digging out his notebook from his jacket pocket. “She said since Ethan practically grew up in this house he could show you around while I do the interview. That is, if he wants to.”

  “Happy to oblige,” Ethan answered.

  “When you’re finished, come find us in the sitting room and we’ll wrap things up with some shots of Bitsy.” Hank departed.

  “Lead on,” Jennie said to Ethan and hoped he’d not bring up all the questions about Wes again once they were alone.

  “Might as well start in the library. They have an impressive collection of first-edition books.” He headed in the opposite direction of Hank.

  Jennie traipsed after him, feeling out of her element, but Ethan fit in quite well. He just had an air about him that only came from extreme confidence. He walked with his back straight, his steps powerful and sure. With his casual yet expensive clothes, he looked as if he’d just returned from a laid-back event, socializing with the rich and famous.

  And yet, she could also see him coming home to a cozy house, kicking his feet up and letting his kids crawl all over him. That was the more dangerous Ethan. At least, dangerous to her peace of mind.

  In the library, Ethan called Kat to start Wes’s background check, and Jennie lifted her camera, trying to forget how uncomfortable she felt. The confident world traveler and businesswoman she’d become had disappeared the moment she’d stepped into this house, and the teenager with secondhand clothes and hunger in her stomach emerged. As an adult, she rarely felt this inferior, but since all this had come up in her conversations with Ethan, the feelings lingered in her stomach like a virus. She was sure she looked as uncomfortable as she felt.

  Not Ethan, though.

  She caught him in her viewfinder as he lounged against the doorjamb and gazed out a window. The night of his parents’ anniversary party came to mind. The posh seaside club filled with people from the same social group as Bitsy. Ethan, charming and polite when talking with his parents’ friends, oblivious to all the moneyed young women gazing at him. Their eyes occasionally traveling to her. Catching sight of her cheap dress. Scorn or maybe derision taking over.

  All the memories of her childhood—hunger, dingy apartments and taunts from other children—made her turn the camera in another direction. If her feelings toward Ethan continued to move her closer to wanting a relationship with him, memories of today would serve as a perfect reminder of one of the many reasons they could never be together.

  * * *

  Dark clouds were building in the distance. Ethan went to retrieve the truck and drive it under the portico. With Jennie’s sullen mood, he wasn’t looking forward to riding next to her. He figured she was upset over the old boyfriend showing up unannounced. As was he. He hated the way the guy kept looking at her all afternoon. At least he’d quit calling her babe.

  That had grated on Ethan like heavy-gauge sandpaper, rubbing him raw in seconds. Ethan’s past research told him this was the man she’d dated after bailing on him. Then she’d moved to Texas to be near him. Ethan might have known all about the guy before, but he didn’t want to meet the man who’d taken his place with Jennie. He’d hoped one of his siblings would’ve turned up something—anything—he could use to keep Wes away from Jennie, but the guy was clean. Squeaky clean.

  Ethan heard voices behind him and glanced back. Jennie, Wes and Hank had exited the house and stood near the door. Jennie and Hank chatted while Wes tapped on his cell phone. He’d had it out all afternoon, sending and receiving texts like a teenage girl. Ethan couldn’t help but wonder what was so important in the man’s life that he couldn’t sit quietly and observe for one afternoon.

  Ethan climbed in the truck and the roar of a motorcycle stopped him from closing the door. A high-powered bike raced down the hill and skidded in a wild turn onto the driveway.

  “Watch out, Jen,” Ethan yelled as he drew his gun, but the bike’s engine buried his words. He took off running.

  Jennie turned, her eyes wide.

  Tires ripped across the concrete, the bike sliding out of control for a moment. Ethan picked up speed but the bike roared up beside Jennie and the driver reached out, snagging the strap on both her bags in one grasp. The force wrenched her around and sent her spinning. Hank and Wes stood, watching it all unfold.

  Jennie lost her balance and teetered until she crumpled onto the cobblestones. Her camera, still hanging from her neck, broke free and flew across the driveway.

  With a burst of earsplitting speed, the bike raced off, the engine soon settling into a quiet hum as it disappeared.

  Breathless, Ethan reached the top of the drive.

  “Are you hurt?” He dropped to his knees and searched Jennie for injury.

  “I’m fine.” She tried to sit up, but he held her in place.

  “We need to make sure you don’t have any serious injuries before you move.” He looked up at Wes hovering over them as if in shock. “Call 9-1-1.”

  Ethan saw Hank grab his phone and make the call.

  “I’m fine.” Jennie pushed against Ethan’s hand.

  He held firm. “I still want an official confirmation of that before you move.”

  Their eyes battled it out.

  “Fine.” Frustration flowed from hers. “My negatives were in the tote bag, Ethan. Now how will I open the show?”

  “Let’s not worry about that right now.”

  “How’s my camera?” She turned her head, searching.

  Just like her to be more concerned about everything but herself. He looked around and spotted it a few feet away.

  “If you stay here, I’ll get it.”

  “I won’t move.”

  “Promise?”

  “Yes, I promise.”

  He retrieved the shattered camera, but before he could return, Wes had dropped to his knees and tried to take Jennie’s hand. She pulled it free.

  That’s my girl.

  Ethan stopped short. His girl, huh? When had he started thinking like that?

  She wasn’t his girl. Couldn’t be his girl. His brain knew that to be the truth, so why couldn’t his heart seem to get the message?

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  In Kat’s dining room, Jennie held a cool, damp glass of iced tea against the scrape on her hand. Wes chugged a can of cola as if they’d just found their way out of a desert instead of Bitsy’s driveway. Ethan had fussed over her for a few moments, but once she was settled, he went to the kitchen to bring Cole and Kat up to speed on the latest incident.

  She hadn’t been physically hurt—at least nothing beyond bruising, that small scrape and a considerable burn around her neck from the camera strap—but her emotions had left her one step away from a crying jag. She didn’t know how many more setbacks she could take.

  “So this is the end of the show, then.” Wes settled his can on a coaster and draped a long arm over the chair next to him.

  This close she could see the lines near his eyes and the dark circles underneath that seemed permanently etched into his skin. He’d lived life hard since she’d last seen him.

  “Is the show over, Jennie?” he asked, and she slid back to the present.

  “The pictures are on Kat’s disc. I can print from that.” She wouldn’t be happy with the quality of the photos she turned out, but she was probably the only one who’d notice the difference. Besides, she’d already had time to print over half of the images.

  The biggest obstacle right now was convincing Ethan to let her leave this house to work somewhere with a good-quality digital printer and framing equipment. He hadn’t said anything, but she could tell after this latest incident that he wanted to lock her in Kat’s house until the show.

  “That’s good, then.” Wes studied her for long, uncomfortable moments. “You got something going on with that Ethan dude?”

  “No.”

  He shrugged. “He seems a little possessive so I thought you might be dating or something.”

  “I think you’re mistaking protective for possessive.”

  “Maybe,” he answered, but his eyes said differently.

  She was about to ask him to clarify when the Justice trio came into the room. Ethan led the way, an unusual scowl on his face.

  He turned the back of a chair to face her then straddled it. “We think it’s in your best interest if you stay here until the show opens.”

  Not surprising that he thought that way, but all of them? “We?”

  “The three of us.” Kat’s eyes were more apologetic than Ethan’s unreadable ones. “Whoever’s after you has the resources to find you whenever you leave this house. So it’s best to keep you here until the show opens.”

  “I still can’t figure out how they could’ve found me at Bitsy’s house. My supervisor and Hank were the only ones who knew the location. Hank said he’d only told Wes, and Sally had no reason to tell anyone.”

  “You didn’t call or email anyone, did you?” Kat asked.

  “Oh, no.” Her heart sank. “This is all my fault. I checked my work email when I was making the CD for the fake detectives. There was a message from my boss about the shoot.” She looked up at Ethan, his expression still blank, so she rushed on to explain. “I know you said not to use email, but I didn’t even think about it. It’s just a habit. But I know they didn’t see my monitor. It was facing the other way.” She glanced at each of them. “I’m so, so sorry for putting all of you in danger.”

  “This isn’t your fault, Jen,” Ethan said. “If they located you from an email, whether you checked it or not, they’d have to hack your account to actually read the message.”

  She sighed. “I guess this proves you’re right. I should stay here. But what about finishing the photos for the show? You know how I feel about canceling, but if that’s what I have to do to not put you all in danger again, then that’s what I’ll do.”

  “We’re not asking you to do that.” Despite Ethan’s blank expression, his tone was tender. “We’ll pick up the pictures you’ve already printed from the darkroom and get all the necessary supplies to print the rest of them right here.”

  “And what about matting and framing?”

  “One of Derrick’s friends has a frame shop.” Kat’s eyes gentled. “He’ll come over to teach all of us how to help make the mats, and he’ll provide the materials. He’ll also bring frame samples with him. You can choose the ones you want and he’ll build them at the shop.”

  They’d thought of everything. What a family. What friends. Were they her friends? Could she call them that? If they were just doing their job, they wouldn’t care about the pictures, only her safety. Of course, she could be mistaken and they simply wanted to help the children as much as she did. Regardless, their thoughtfulness warmed her heart.

  “I’ll need a good-quality printer,” she warned, giving them a chance to back out. “And it will be pricey.”

  “Whatever you need, we’ll get it.” Ethan’s sincerity rang through his words. “Make a list, and everything on it will be here before the end of the day.”

  He was an amazing man. Sadness over ever having left him hit her hard. She focused on his hands, which were clasping the chair so tightly they’d paled. He’d do whatever it took to help her achieve her goal and still keep her safe. She wanted to empty the room of all others. Let him hold her as he had that one summer of her life when she’d felt cherished and safe.