He let her slip away once...

Detective Fiona Reed lives a life far from the privilege of her family’s vast media empire. But forging her own path came at a cost, and an invitation to her family’s estate in the Hamptons is just the thing to help Fiona heal from her emotionally draining job. When sensual Leo Starks returns to her life, he’s no longer an intern, but now a brilliant lawyer who reawakens her deepest desires.

Ever since his fling with Fiona, Leo has been secretly in love with the beautiful officer of the law. Yet he can’t let his feelings for her wreak havoc with the job he’s been hired to do. But when a shocking revelation threatens to engulf the Meadows clan in scandal, can Leo protect the woman he’s determined to fight for?

“It takes effort to know someone.”

“Then, give me a chance.” She tucked in the ragged edges of her pride. “Please give me a second chance.”

“One day at a time.”

“Can’t ask for anything more,” Fiona said, knowing that her heart wanted more.

He offered his hand. “Friends.”

“To lovers.” She shook his hand, afraid that he would withdraw and tuck it behind his back.

“You’re quite persuasive.”

“We don’t have too many days here. Figured that if you wouldn’t persuade me, then it’s up to me.”

“Yeah? Go ahead. Persuade.”

Fiona didn’t waste another second. She slipped her hands around Leo’s neck and tiptoed to reach his mouth.

One kiss. One mouth pressed against the other. That was all it was.

Except when she kissed Leo, she wanted more. She desired him.

Breathe.

Once more she reacquainted her lips with his beautiful, wide mouth, tracing its bold curves. Celebrating its masculine lines.

As if touched by magic, time stood still.

Dear Reader,

With each story in The Meadows Family series, I fall in love with this family all over again. It’s Fiona’s turn to decide what is important in her life. I hope you enjoy this romantic journey that strums on the heartstrings and invites you to fall for this winning couple.

At the time of writing this, the announcement of David Bowie’s death had hit the airwaves. A true pioneer and participant of life and music was gone. But one of the most memorable parts of his life was his love for Iman and the beautiful courtship of his soul mate that led to their marriage.

The power of love is magical, lasting and transformative.

I hope you also feel the magic with One to Win.

Peace,

Michelle

One to Win
Michelle Monkou

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MICHELLE MONKOU became a world traveler at the age of three, when she left her birthplace of London, England, and moved to Guyana, South America. She then moved to the US as a young teen. Michelle was nominated for the 2003 Emma Award for Favorite New Author, and continues to write romances with complex characters and intricate plots. Visit her website for further information at www.michellemonkou.com or contact her at michellemonkou@comcast.net.

To the readers who started on this journey with me since 2002, who’ve stuck with me with die-hard loyalty and who may just have joined the ride—thank you with all my heart.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Carly Silver for your editorial assistance and helping make the story shine.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Copyright

Chapter 1

“Budget cuts!” Detective Fiona Reed couldn’t believe what she’d heard.

Frustration pumped anger through her veins. Her pulse pounded, accenting the soaring beat of her temper. Words bubbled up and pushed against the verbal barrier that kept her civil and respectable.

“Watch your step,” Captain Baxter warned, “before you spew words that you can’t pull back.” His glare sparred with hers and won.

“Sir, this budget cut is...is...plain stupid. We can’t get our job done with fewer hours—no overtime is nonsense. That’s just dumb. Most of the victims who are listed as missing in our case files are minors. Cuts along the support staff? We need more help. It’s not rocket science, what we need to solve these cases. And it’s definitely not about the counselor’s sound bites harping on government waste and effective management.” Her voice had escalated probably beyond the walls of the captain’s closed office. Oh, well—it wasn’t the first time that she’d delivered a vehement one-way pitch here.

“Your area isn’t the only one affected.” Baxter ran a hand over his bald head. His haggard features spoke volumes as to his own misery as the messenger. “Every area, department, everything, has been whittled down. It’s how things are now. We all have to deal with it. That means you, as a team player.” He stabbed at the space between them. His thick black eyebrows drew down over his fierce gaze.

Fiona heard the words. She listened to the message, but none of it satisfied her. None of it deflated her irritation. The Missing Persons Unit of Essex County, New York, needed more than the three detectives and two clerks assigned to it. The shortage in manpower had almost cost the lives of a set of twins who were habitual runaways, but had thankfully been found. Working around the clock wasn’t the exception. Day, night and the seconds in between, Fiona had followed every lead to track the sisters. The fifty dollars she had to pay here and there to get information came out of her pocket. Whatever it took to find any of these kids, she’d try.

Bottom line, the shrinking budget mattered. With other social services around the county getting eliminated or slashed, too many cases of the missing remained unsolved with stomach-churning frequency. The deep tar pit of bureaucracy into which these people sank and disappeared from everyone’s attention twisted her gut in knots of frustration. After six years on the job, at times it felt like an insurmountable climb to have successful endings to the cases. If she had her wish, she’d do anything she could to double the funds to run this unit.

Fiona studied her boss’s face, trying to read, trying to test, trying to gauge her footing. Where did his loyalties lie?

“Are you fighting to keep the funding?” Fiona took the plunge into volatile depths.

“Detective, watch your step.” Baxter spoke softly, but his displeasure radiated like an overheated sunlamp. His neck and shoulders were rigid with his annoyance.

“We need the money.” She pounded her fist into her open hand. “What we do is worth fighting for.”

The captain tossed aside his pen, poised over the paperwork on the desk, and shot up with such force that his chair hit the credenza behind him. His body rose to its full towering height. His shoulders squared and his chest puffed up with his indignation. Dark brown eyes pinned her in place. Baxter clenched his hands and leaned on the desk. His breathing was heavy, nostrils flaring, as he angled into her space.

They faced off across the desk. Seconds felt like minutes. His eyes narrowed into a squint. No doubt she was in deep trouble. Not a particularly unique event in the life of her career. A stubborn streak in her refused to back down, even as the warnings flashed through her consciousness like a gaudily lit sign. She held her ground, despite a slight tremor in her knees that threatened to take over her entire body.

“You’re overdue for your vacation. Take it, effective immediately,” Baxter delivered with his quiet anger.

Fiona flinched from the swift punishment. “Sir, I’ve got a crazy caseload on my desk. You need everyone here.” Obviously, it was too late to retract or soften her belligerence.

“This isn’t up for negotiation. Boggs and Fogarty will divvy up your files. You need to walk away and get your mind back in the game.”

“Sir...” She was used to arguing with her captain. Those clashes might have ended in threats, scoldings, but never this...banishment.

“A vacation or a suspension. And don’t try my patience. I understand that I didn’t exactly come onto the scene in the best of circumstances after Captain Doyle suffered a massive heart attack. You didn’t get the promotion that you wanted. And the media hasn’t been supportive of the strides made by this unit. The last thing needed around here is this implosion.” He folded his arms. “Now, I agree with everyone that you are a damn good detective. You’ve deserved every commendation. However, lately, you’ve been...”

“Doing my job.” Fiona wasn’t going down without a fight.

“Intense. Belligerent. Insubordinate. I know about your off-the-record tirade with Counselor Jenkins.”

Each criticism was shot at her ego like a well-aimed dart.

“So take two weeks. Get your head together and rejoin the team.”

“I don’t—”

The captain held up his finger. The gesture was a distant reminder of her days in school when the teacher reprimanded her for talking out of turn.

“Yes, sir.” Fiona clenched her jaw. Logic pried its way in, past the hot rush of her impatience.

“Effective immediately. Please close the door on your way out.” Every syllable Baxter uttered had its own beat.

With no other choice, Fiona walked toward the door, turned the knob and opened it. Taking a deep breath and exhaling to put on a stoic face, she stepped into the hallway. But then her hand shook and she opened and closed it to steady her nerves before pulling the door shut. Then with her chin up, she returned to her cubicle.

The walk of shame was self-made. She couldn’t blame a drink, a drug or lack of sleep for her brash behavior. Her colleagues avoided eye contact with her. Some even slowed and seemingly pressed their bodies against the wall as if she were contagious.

Inciting the captain’s ire was a stupid career move. Instead of focusing her anger on the annoying obstacles outside of the unit, she had thrown her net wide enough to show her disrespect to the captain. She had overstepped, to put it mildly.

Acknowledging her rash behavior now didn’t change her current status.

Back at her desk, she flipped open the twins’ file. It could now be moved from active to closed. That should have had her doing backflips in celebration. Maybe when the turbulent emotions flagged, the brighter side of things would emerge. All she could see at this point were the photos, testimony and visual evidence of sad lives and raging emotions.

She pinched the bridge of her nose right between her eyes to inflict her own punishment. Her boss was correct. She had to deal with anger and disappointment more appropriately. Otherwise, the negative emotions would consume her, gnawing on her soul until only bitterness overtook contentment. The job and its sidecar BS got to her and screwed up her judgment.

“Hey, chica, you’re good?” Her coworker, Detective Jacinda Mehta, asked in a husky whisper.

“Yeah.” Fiona took a deep breath, doing her best to shake off the sucky vibes of failure.

“You were in there for a quite a bit.” Jacinda rested her chin on the cubicle wall. “I’m making sure you still have your head.”

Fiona coaxed a smile out of herself. “Still got it.” She pointed upward to said body part. “Barely.”

“I tried to talk you out of it.” Jacinda shook her head, as she entered the cubicle. “But you were hell-bent on taking on ‘the man.’” She provided air quotes that just emphasized to Fiona how harebrained and impulsive her actions had been. “So, did you get away with it? I had to head down to the evidence locker.”

Fiona knew Jacinda might be worried about her, but her coworker also was ready to share a laugh at her streaks of stubbornness. “I said what I had to say.”

“Fist bump, chica.” Jacinda extended her hand.

Fiona complied. “And...I’ll be taking a two-week vacation.”

“Hot damn. You got a double win—telling off the boss and heading to the beach.”

“Who said anything about the beach?” Fiona shook her head at Jacinda’s excitement.

“That’s where I’d go.”

Fiona shrugged. The response seemed appropriate, given she hadn’t weighed her options. It had been a while since she took time off. Real time off that lasted for more than a long weekend. The sun hadn’t warmed her body in a while. And as for walking barefoot in the sand, that hadn’t happened in a couple years. The idea of kicking back felt strange and wrong to entertain when she had a caseload the height of a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper. But the matter was no longer hers to consider.

“Look, do I need to give you a list of destinations to visit?”

Fiona shook her head. Any suggestions courtesy of Jacinda might land her at an expensive resort halfway around the world. Her colleague loved to cherry-pick interesting male partners on her various trips.

For her part, Fiona preferred a good book and a glass of wine—alone. She was over the manhunt for a good while. Her recently ended relationship with a man who was oversexed, uncommunicative and bad at kissing helped to instill her current priority system.

Desperate wasn’t her middle name.

* * *

Later that day, Fiona gathered at her cousin’s house in Midway, New York, where her other cousins waited. Belinda’s place was often their mutually agreed setting to catch up. After her latest drama, the others wanted a blow-by-blow account of her issues on the job.

“Wow. What a story. You are lucky that your boss didn’t write you up.” Her cousin Dana interrupted for the umpteenth time, no longer trying to hold in her amusement.

“Humph!” Fiona hadn’t stopped fuming, although she had to admit that her punishment could have been worse.

“Now you can go with us to the Hamptons.” Belinda emerged from the house and stepped onto the deck. One hand balanced the drinks and the other held a plate with slices of her homemade peach-almond cake.

“Grace doesn’t know my situation changed.” Fiona accepted the proffered iced tea and helped by taking the plate of sliced cakes and setting it on her lap.

“No, you don’t.” Dana promptly removed the plate and placed it on the small table centered in front of the three women. “Belinda, you always have the best snacks for our gab sessions.”

“My pleasure, ladies.” Belinda looked pleased at their murmurs of appreciation as they munched and washed down the treats.

The September weather still held on to the last dregs of summer’s humidity. Upstate New York hadn’t escaped the oppressive blanket of hot and sticky temperatures. But for Fiona, the hellish conditions felt right for sitting on the deck, soaking up the sun, pigging out on cake and drowning her sorrows in iced tea.

Belinda’s home was always the cousins’ fun hangout place. Although her cousin’s charming boyfriend had become a familiar presence, Jesse Santiago knew when the women needed their alone time. Now that Jesse had permanently closed the door to his soccer career to run his father’s construction business, he had blended into Belinda’s world and shared her love for horses. Most of his free time, except for when he was with Belinda, was spent riding around the large property or performing any rehab needed on the physical structure of the equine therapy facility.

After sampling another slice of cake, Fiona pointed at Dana. “I don’t hear you confirming my statement that Grace doesn’t know about my situation.” Fiona unfolded her legs from her seated position and sat up. “Please tell me that you didn’t throw me under the bus with our grandmother.”

“Way under the bus, like six feet under.” Belinda tossed back her head as she expelled a hearty laugh.

“Why should we be the only ones that have to go to the Hamptons?” Dana’s mouth closed into a pout.

Belinda took up the defense against Fiona. “You know Grace feels that it is a family tradition to have one vacation together—our annual Meadows family duty.”

“But it’s not really a vacation. Our family under one roof is chaos. Drama with a capital D. That’s not a vacation. Besides, let’s stop pretending that we are this family dynasty, like the Kennedys or Rockefellers, operating like we are like this.” Fiona held up her hands pressed together with interlocked fingers to indicate closeness.

She didn’t care that the family did show up to the various gatherings. If her grandmother didn’t insist on having her usual expectation heeded, the family wouldn’t operate like a close-knit unit. The reason they did was clear—it wasn’t because they wanted to be together.

Despite all of Grace’s accomplishments, she couldn’t brag about the bond between her and her three daughters. Their mothers all had a mixture of respect and awe for Grace, but all had endured her hands-on, sometimes manipulative nurturing.

Verona, Fiona’s mother, who also was Grace’s eldest daughter, had the most strained relationship, with no signs of improvement over the years. Whatever history had passed between her mother and Grace remained unknown, although their measured approach to each other was quite visible. Regardless of her cousins’ endorsement, going to the Hamptons did not rank as one of Fiona’s favorite ways to spend family time.

Dana leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “What else would you be doing? You are now a benched superhero of the police department. And for the record, I plan to continue this family-vacation tradition when that time regretfully comes.” Her dark brown eyes reflected sincerity.

“Okay, now that you’ve taken over from Grace to be the CEO of the family media conglomerate, don’t let it go to your head. You’re supposed to be on our rebel side,” Belinda reminded her.

“Yeah, well...” Dana swallowed the rest of her defense in a long drink from her glass.

“Maybe I can grovel and get my vacation postponed.” Fiona’s forehead was still furrowed as she resumed reclining with her legs tucked to the side. She munched on a piece of ice.

“From what you’ve told me, I foresee that if you step foot into that office, you’ll regret it. Your boss may be new, but he seems to be as tough as a junkyard dog. So go ahead and disobey his order. I’ll sit back and wait to tell you ‘I told you so.’” Dana’s mouth pursed full of smugness.

“You were always the mean one,” Fiona accused. Defeat set in, ratcheting up her grumpiness.

“That’s why she’s running the Meadows empire. Someone’s got to walk in Grace’s queenly footsteps.” Belinda jabbed her thumb in the air toward their youngest cousin.

“Stop calling Meadows Media an empire. And I’m not mean. I’m doling out the appropriate advice, that’s all.”

Fiona ignored the bickering and drained her glass to chew on more ice. “Looks like I’m going to the Hamptons.” Something she’d suspected she’d get roped into when the invitation had come from Grace two months ago.

Grace had a reputation for approaching each granddaughter with an invitation to join Meadows Media. Her invitation was predictable and always managed to tweak a bit of guilt from the ones who didn’t join the company after graduating from college.

“Let’s move this inside now. I’m melting and I just got my hair done. My honey and I are going on a date tonight.” Belinda stood and brushed off the crumbs.

“I don’t want to hear about any lovey-dovey stuff.” Fiona hurried ahead of Dana into the cool indoors. “I seem to attract men who can’t handle a woman working a demanding job or men who need to be put on a pedestal to be worshipped.”

“It’s a bit more than that, Fiona.” Belinda was busy in the kitchen, retrieving fresh glasses for the delicious fruit punch spiked with a touch of white rum. “You, my dear, are a workaholic. You thrive off of four hours of sleep. You are prone to canceling dates. And you’d rather spend your free time with us than staring deeply into a sexy, horny man’s eyes.”

Dana puckered her mouth and made kissing sounds.

“Well, sue me for thinking that y’all were cool with hanging out together.”

“Stop whining. I’m not the one giving you a diagnosis. However, I will say that you need to take these two weeks to relax. Then you can go back and be refreshed for the never-ending wave of cases that come across your desk.” Dana grabbed hold of Fiona’s shoulders and massaged them.

“Maybe I should change what I’m doing.” Fiona wanted to test the waters with her cousins about the latest thoughts burdening her.

“What?” Belinda walked out with the second round of drinks and handed one to each. “Okay, you really need to come to the Hamptons. We should talk about all this in a different setting. You sound like you need a life intervention when absolutely nothing is wrong with you.”

“Oh, right, like I really need to figure out my future under Grace’s nose. If I recall, she has been all over both of you about holding down the family business. You, Dana, stepped up, but it was a no-brainer because you have the passion and business brains to run Meadows Media. And you, Belinda, you stood your ground to build your equine therapy center from the ground up. Now that leaves me to hold my stance with her or surrender and take the offer to be the head of Meadows security.” Fiona batted her eyelashes at Dana. “May I be your bodyguard?”

Dana waved off her silliness.

“Oh, this is going to be fun.” Belinda was too cheerful for Fiona’s liking. “Consider the exercise of finding your path a rite of passage. And you get to go through it at a prime beachfront location.”

Although Belinda’s buildup sounded good, from Fiona’s headspace, the “rite of passage” didn’t fill her with a cheery disposition. She really was questioning her future and to be faced with Grace’s intense focus on the family’s legacy and the cousins’ roles in continuing the decades of success made her stomach flip and flop and tie itself into knots.

“Would it help if I said that Leo Starks will be there?” Dana’s voice dropped low and seductive.

“Leo? The same Leo Starks?” Fiona kept her gaze on the golden liquid in her glass, a mix of naturally sweet tropical fruits. She couldn’t blame the splash of alcohol for the instant flush to her cheeks. “Why will he be there?”

Dana’s expression just about glowed over the news. Her animated hand gestures added emphasis. “Word is that he’s there at Grace’s invitation. She was always impressed with him, from his days as a legal intern several years ago at Meadows to landing a job at Grayson, Buckley and Tynesdale after he earned his law degree. No real information about the reason for his presence, though. And Grace is not telling. But that will make it more fun for you to sniff out why your onetime Brazilian Sweet Lips is coming to the Hamptons.”

“Don’t call him that.” Fiona had to agree that the moniker was 100 percent accurate, but she wasn’t sure if said lips were still one of Leo’s most attractive points. “So Starks will be there? For the entire stay?” Her cheeks remained warm. The sensation spread over her entire face and down her neck, as if she sat too close to a roaring fireplace.

Memories of Leo Starks didn’t float away into the black hole of forgotten experiences. Falling in love had the power to keep its hook in for the long haul. Though she’d allowed doubt to creep in like wild weeds and fracture what they had between them, she couldn’t close the door completely on their special time.

Dana shrugged her slender shoulders. “I don’t know if he’ll be there for the entire month. I can only stick around for the first week.”

Belinda raised her hands. “I’m there for two, but Jesse will come back to the center after one week. And, yes, I’m making him attend. He might as well see us in all our glory if he’s going to be a permanent part of this family.”

“Oh my gosh, did he propose?” Dana asked, while Fiona screamed with joy.

“No. Don’t rush us. But we are truly committed to each other. I haven’t been this happy in a long time.” Belinda’s voice dipped with a tender note.

The two cousins had stopped their excited outbursts, but they grinned at Belinda’s declaration.

“I’ll stay as long as you all are there.” Fiona loved seeing her cousins immersed in their loving relationships with the special men in their lives.

Love had played the chasing game with all of them, but now her cousins had nabbed their perfect soul mates. She tried not to wonder when she’d get so lucky. Or maybe the reality was if she would get so lucky. The thought of falling in love without a safety net, revealing the inner private side of her life, caused a queasy, weak-kneed reaction in Fiona. Not her thing. She’d rather convince herself that the tender side of life, where soulful sighs and sensuous cravings resided, wasn’t a high priority.

“I suspect that you’ll stay as long as Leo is there,” Dana teased in a singsong voice.

“He means nothing to me.”

“Don’t toss that out so fast. You’re not fooling us. I know you sampled those gorgeous lips when he was an intern at Meadows.” Belinda took up the baton of teasing and echoed Dana with a series of exaggerated kissing sounds.

“Who’s got gorgeous lips?” A familiar deep male voice interrupted the noisy exchange among the cousins.

Silence. Then the women erupted into fits of giggles.

“You, baby.” Belinda opened her arms in invitation to Jesse. Without hesitation, he stepped into her embrace, where she locked him to her chest. No complaints came from him as Belinda planted a wet, sloppy kiss before releasing her man.

Fiona and Dana groaned and made a show of shielding their eyes.

“On that note, Dana, let’s go. Take me home. I think the lovebirds are not going to wait for us to leave before the scene turns into Mature Audiences Only. And I’m too young to see any of this.” Fiona grabbed her cousin’s arm for their quick goodbye. “Besides, I’m sure your love muffin is also home waiting for you.”

“Now you sound like you’re hatin’. But yeah, Kent is home. Tomorrow he’s heading back to England to be a coach for the executive staff of an airline. Fingers crossed that he’ll be back in time to spend a few days at the Hamptons. We both need the time off.”

Fiona nodded. How would she survive being surrounded by couples madly in love?

As they walked to Dana’s car, her cousin playfully bumped Fiona’s shoulder. “Thinking about the owner of those wicked cheekbones and that chiseled jawline? I remember when those females at Meadows Media were salivating every time he arrived. Emails would whip through the office with the announcement. Yet you were the only lucky one from the company to road test those lips. Maybe more than that?” Dana aimed the car remote at her Audi and popped open the locks. She leaned against the car and continued, “And that’s my dose of encouragement for you to look forward to the Hamptons. In two days, your secret nighttime thoughts and the sexy reality can become one.”

“And that’s what I’m afraid of,” Fiona mumbled as Dana got into the car.

“I’m rooting for you.”

She took a moment longer than Dana to get in the car. Her imagination wasn’t waiting for the darkness of her bedroom to go to work. If the embarrassing memories of those hot kisses kept up, tonight she’d suffer a sleepless night, tossing and turning in her bed from reawakened delicious torment.

On the ride home, she was mostly silent. Along with recalling the unusual passionate response to Leo’s touch, she also couldn’t ignore the thought that she’d ultimately rejected him three years ago. Back then, her fear of love and all its side effects was more potent and undisciplined. Now the fear had become ingrained like a habit that could be relied upon in other relationships, but one that provided zero comfort to her soul. A year and a few days with Leo as a friend and lover had changed her life, her outlook and what she desired in her heart. She’d never moved on, knowing that she’d made a huge mistake. All she’d wanted was to let him go so he could fulfill his dreams of being a top-notch lawyer without the added stress of an unlikely romance. All around her, women—her mother, aunts, even grandmother—had life stories where career and romance were two colliding forces that demanded their time and energy. Their men seemed the exception to the rule of finding that precious balance, without setting conditions on their partners. Fiona didn’t ever want to force sacrifices or obligations on anyone. In an impulsive move, she’d taken a stance and lived to regret it.

In two days there would be a chance for a do-over or maybe a continuation of this unresolved episode between them. The possibility of an amended ending, however, didn’t hold any promise of a change of heart. There still would be no commitment. She didn’t believe in surrendering every part of her soul into the heady mix of deep emotions; love would eventually get ripped apart, either because a couple grew distant and fell out of love or because the randomness of life had a way of snatching someone away. Her job taught her that one, while her childhood with an emotionally distant mother and emotionally constrained father left her unsure of what was best when it came to opening up and being vulnerable and in love.

On the other hand, Leo had been so hurt by her rejection that he’d probably moved on to someone who appreciated him. Someone who didn’t live life with that undercurrent of fear guiding important decisions.

By the time Fiona climbed into bed for the night, she toyed with the thin sliver of a chance that she would have a change of heart. Dare she entertain the possibility? Was she up for a second attempt with Leo Starks? She hugged her pillow and closed her eyes. His face filled her memory. A small smile curved her lips. She could hear the unique cadence of his voice in her head. And he was the best kisser...ever.

A vacation at the Hamptons suddenly had great appeal.

* * *

What to do when Grace Meadows sent an invitation that was really a command? Leo knew his response would be clear in two days when he arrived at the family’s eleven-acre vacation estate in the Hamptons.

“Leo Starks, you are the man.” His coworker collapsed into the nearest chair in his office.

Leo ignored Eric, although he knew that wouldn’t stop the envious jabs thinly disguised as ribbing. Working on anything related to the Meadows Media business was not just a perk but a guaranteed career boost at Grayson, Buckley and Tynesdale.

Although Grace Meadows was no longer leading Meadows Media, she had a sizable net worth that required her to have the best legal counsel. His firm had served both the personal and public sides of the Meadows family for two decades. Now the next generation of lawyers was being groomed to smooth the transition as staff retired. To be selected for that esteemed position took hard work and long hours, the savvy to navigate the sharklike office politics, and, of a more personal nature, a passion for looking out for the rights of his clients.

All of that didn’t matter if Grace was unhappy with any part of their service. Heaven help the person who ticked off the indomitable woman with error or incompetence. That lawyer might as well voluntarily banish himself to the darkest, coldest and most wretched place in the world.

“Not too many of us mortals have visited the palatial digs in Water Mill. I could put four of my condos in that house and still have room.”

“It’s not a vacation, Eric. And imagine working under Grace’s scrutiny for an unknown number of days.” Leo tried to dim his excitement. Plus there was the potential to see Fiona. As far as he knew, the entire Meadows family was expected to show up. The grain of hope for a meet-up with his ex had steadily expanded to the point where his gut now reacted under the flurry of what-if scenarios.

“Come on—cough up the details. What are you working on with Meadows? Another company in the mix? Will she need more lawyers working on a project?” Eric fired his questions at Leo without a breath between each piercing inquiry. His colleague’s easy smile faded into a mask of intensity.

“Aren’t you on the Van Buren files? That’s a hot new opportunity.” Leo did his best to push Eric back into his own lane. His connection to the Meadows family, whether because of his work or because of his romantic past with one of the granddaughters, wasn’t going to be part of any discussion with his colleague.

“Yeah, they’ve come into new money.” Eric shrugged, clearly unimpressed by the recently acquired wealth.

“Still, it pays the bills. Yours.”

“Yeah. But I’m going for the big guns.” Eric scooted his chair closer to Leo’s desk. “So, like I said, if they need additional lawyers, don’t forget to play nice and share the toys.” His gleaming white teeth were bared in a fake grin.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Leo pushed back his chair and stood. This conversation was over. He deliberately used all of his six-foot-five-inch frame to dominate his annoying colleague. “It’s time for me to get out of here.”

“Okay.” Eric rose out of the chair and took a step in retreat. “Coming with the guys to the usual hangout?”

Leo shook his head. “I have to pack. Enjoy a drink on me.”

“Cool. And I’ll text you about what hot babes I landed for the weekend. You know they are suckers for us lawyers.” He slid his hand along the side of his head. His sleek black hair was always in place, trimmed, a ready magnet for the women.

Leo accepted that he was a nerd. Nothing about his looks stirred a stampede of women toward him. According to his male colleagues, he needed to loosen up and stop scowling. The women who showered him with their suggestions for improvement shared the belief that his eyes were too serious and intense for someone his age. His short last relationship ended with her saying that he was too young to act so old. Apparently, his speedy retreat from her surprise weekend trip to a nudist camp for swingers in Oregon did them in. Some things, he couldn’t unsee.

“Here’s my last bit of advice. Don’t get in the tabloids with the Meadows granddaughters. Now, that would be a threesome to end all threesomes.” Eric grinned and slipped out of Leo’s office whistling a nameless tune.

“What an idiot,” Leo remarked in the empty office. He got his briefcase and suit jacket and headed out of the building.

The oppressive heat walloped his face with its humidity. He hurried to his car, grateful to set the air vents on a cold maximum blast. The car’s interior took its time cooling while he sat with his hands clenching and unclenching around the steering wheel. His thoughts wouldn’t let up on the barrage. What would happen when he crossed paths with Fiona Reed?

Their mismatched hookup had been kept a secret from most. The reactions and snide comments had hit their mark: a young lawyer dating an older woman had raised a few eyebrows, caused a few jokes at his expense. An intern dating his employer’s eldest granddaughter had prompted whispered warnings to be careful because it was career suicide. A man who’d fallen hopelessly and secretly in love with this woman. A woman who refused to see him as more than a casual boyfriend. A painful memory that he carried with him, and a heart that had suffered the way she’d trampled over it during her departure from his life.

Leo headed for home. He had a lot to do before he got on the road. Fate had a way of paving the path with opportunities. But opportunities weren’t always a good thing; they were merely a chance to make a decision. A part of him, where feelings, emotions and possibilities resided, craved the idea of a second chance.

His feelings, however, were hung up on his first fall into real love. The tumble was hard and the wounds ran deep. Frustration that he’d let go so easily drew bitterness. And disappointment certainly had a way of following him through his life. After his heart was broken by Fiona, he’d understood the lesson—to avoid any more strong emotional entanglements. But his mind wouldn’t let go and he hated to admit that his heart hadn’t moved on.

He turned into his driveway, activated the garage door to open and eased his car into the space. To his right was a spot for another car. His empty house had enough rooms for a large family and pets. Everything was in place, except the woman who’d torn his heart in two. He’d lived a rough and poor life as a child where forgiveness was a sign of weakness and trust was not to be given so easily. His lessons had been learned the hard way. And no matter how his defenses could crumble at the sight of Fiona, his head was in charge for this go-round.

Pride, resolve and the bitter taste of rejection had more power than the desire to cave in and be grateful that he’d be sharing the same space with her. He shook his head in response to his weakening resolve. There would be no second chances.

Chapter 2

Fiona didn’t wait until Sunday to drive to the Hamptons. Her nerves wouldn’t allow her to reach a relaxed state to wait out the weekend. By Saturday afternoon, she was in her car heading south on the highway. The long drive gave enough time for her to mentally prepare for the arduous tasks of dealing with her grandmother, enjoying a vacation forced by her boss and holding field advantage for Leo’s arrival. The last item held the most importance.

To be held in those arms, tight against his chest, close enough to hear his heart beat its deep, pulsing rhythm—she sighed over her fantasy. Anticipation grew as she gazed at the mileage signs toward New York City that steadily decreased as she neared her destination. Her foot pushed on the gas pedal in a coordinated effort with her desire to hasten her arrival.

By nightfall she’d reached the family estate. It felt good to have her feet on solid ground.

“Good evening, Miss Fiona. Welcome back. Hope you had a good drive.”

Fiona nodded and entered the house. “Thank you, Mrs. Finch. The drive had some teeth this time. Heavy traffic. Roadwork.” Fiona torqued her body to work out the kinks along her back and hips. Seven hours and then some, driving over and through the mountains with tractor trailers for company, did challenge her reflexes. She looked forward to a long soak in the pool-sized bathtub in her room to find her Zen.

“Your room is ready. Denton will park the car and take up your luggage. Don’t worry about a thing. Will you be dining in your room?”

Fiona nodded with an apologetic scrunch of her nose. “I hate to be a pain.”

“Grilled cheese with bacon. Tall glass of milk. Two chocolate chip cookies.” Mrs. Finch’s rosy cheeks bunched with the wide smile.

“You know me so well.” Fiona hugged the house manager, whom she’d known since she was ten years old. “Anyone else crashed early?”

“Mrs. Grace and Mr. Henry are here. They arrived on Thursday. After a full day in the vegetable garden today, they both headed up early.”

Despite the brilliantly lit entry room, the sitting rooms on either side of the area were dim. A comfortable silence hung over the house. Well, all of that would change when her cousins invaded the castle walls.

“And my parents?” Fiona looked toward the staircase that stood as the prominent fixture in the middle of the black-and-white-marbled entryway.

“They haven’t arrived. But their room is ready for whenever they do.”

Fiona didn’t expect her mother to show up tomorrow. If Fiona felt reluctance to come to the vacation home, her mother experienced dread, an emotion that she barely concealed, and the source was a fairly new annoying mystery. If Grace was the cause, there was no evidence to prove the case. When Fiona asked her mother if she was okay or invited her to share why she was troubled, she was usually pointedly ignored. Yet Fiona couldn’t pretend that she didn’t care if her mom showed up. They were all in this family reunion, for better or worse.

“You look like you need a good night’s rest. Go on to the room and I’ll have your dinner sent up.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Finch. Can’t wait for those cookies.” Fiona left the car keys with her to pass on to Denton to park the car. Then she ran up the grand staircase that curved off to the left and right. Its polished walnut banister accented the crisp white stairs. Her hand glided along the wood with appreciation for the perfect slide it had made back in the day for her and her cousins. The prohibited activity was also the reason for her many time-outs when she was caught by Mrs. Finch or, worse, by her grandmother. She smiled at the memories.

Fiona opened the bedroom and entered her personal space. All three cousins would stay on the same floor in side-by-side rooms. The aunts and uncles and her parents would stay in the other wing on the same level. But she wondered where Leo would lay his head. How hospitable was Grace feeling? The house was large enough for him to stay in one of the many guest rooms, but there was also the cottage off to the side of the property that could be used.

A knock on the door interrupted her reacquaintance with the room.

“Come in.”

A maid entered with the tray. “Hi, Miss Fiona, I’m Shawna. I’m new here.”

“Hi, nice to meet you. I’ll take the tray.” She crossed the room and retrieved the platter with all the tasty indulgences that Mrs. Finch had promised. She put it down on her bed.

As soon as the maid left, Fiona stripped off her clothes, grabbed the tray and headed for the bathroom. In no time, Fiona prepared her bath. The water steamed the mirrors and the suds were pleasantly thick, filling the room with a wonderful vanilla scent. After a bit of maneuvering, she had the tray set on a small table next to the tub.

Fiona sank down into the tub until the water covered her breasts. Her sigh was loud and full of her satisfaction. She reached for the sandwich first and bit into the warm bread and welcomed the gooey cheese. No doubt she’d be spoiled by Mrs. Finch’s staff before her two weeks ended.

Her phone rang. She gingerly pushed the talk button with her pinkie finger.

“Fiona? Where are you?” Dana’s question had a shrill edge.

“In my favorite bathtub. Eating my favorite sandwich—”

“I can’t believe you headed out early. And didn’t tell us. You’re wrong for that.” Dana carried on with her complaints.

“It’s not as if we were riding together.”

“Yeah, but you’re in that fab house. And I’m eating a Chinese dinner by myself. I miss Kent.”

Fiona took another bite of her sandwich. “Stop whining. Just come out early in the morning.”

Dana mocked her by echoing her statement.

“Uncalled for. And I’m about to hang up.” Fiona eyed the other half of her sandwich, which she wanted to consume in peace.

“Wait. I’ve got some details about your guy.”

“Not my guy.”

“Then you don’t need to know. Never mind.”

Dana’s teasing irritated Fiona’s resolve to maintain indifference under her cousins’ scrutiny.

“What’s going on?” Fiona gritted her teeth over Dana’s laughter.

“The reason for him being at the Hamptons is definitely a big secret.”

“You are really messing with my vibe.” Fiona put down the sandwich that she’d just picked up and waited for her annoying cousin to cough up information. “So Grace told you why Leo will be there?”

“I did ask and was told that it didn’t concern me. When it was the appropriate time, she would tell me. Then I got the dial tone.”

Fiona chuckled. “I give you points for going straight to Grace. But that’s not really clarifying anything.”

“I didn’t say that I was done. I asked Grandpa Henry.”

“So now you’re ready to get him kicked to the couch.” Fiona reached for a cookie instead. This conversation was getting better.

Dana laughed. “Grandpa knows how to handle his wife. Anyway, he said that Grace was meddling in stuff that she shouldn’t be. He also said that we’d need to remember that we are a family.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“He looked worried, but I’d say that he was more...um...introspective, and a bit sad.”

Fiona didn’t like secrets. The burden to hold them close could be unbearable. And her grandmother was the perfect type to have a bank vault of secrets. The Meadows matriarch was a planner and oftentimes a manipulator, but she was also a woman who’d had to work her way up in a man’s world. No doubt Grace had probably seen and done her share of the unmentionable.

“And what has that got to do with Leo?” Fiona didn’t bother to shade her curiosity with subtlety.

“Is he good with secrets?”

Fiona didn’t have to ponder the question. She had firsthand knowledge of their secret relationship and how Leo had done everything to keep it under wraps. He was always so concerned about his career and doing something to mess with his plans to fast-track the career ladder. “Good luck with trying to find out anything from Leo.”

“That’s why you’re the one to pry it from him. This is important.” Dana would not let her interrupt. “I’m not doubting Grandpa Henry’s feelings. Whatever is going on sounds as if it involves the family.”

Fiona felt a momentary pulse of panic. “I don’t need you giving me a job while I’m here. I’ll probably barely see Leo. And we don’t know when he’ll arrive.”

“Grandpa Henry clamped his mouth shut when I pushed about Leo. Can’t tell if he likes the man.”

“What’s there not to like?” Fiona blurted with a heavy dose of defensiveness.

“I don’t know, Fiona—tell me. You walked away from him.”

“My bathwater is cold. Time for me to get ready for my comfy bed. Enjoy the drive.” Retreat was a wiser choice.

Dana sucked in a breath. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to pinch your nerve. See you tomorrow, cousin.”

“Drive safely.” Fiona hung up.

Her mood, like her once-heated water, had cooled, turning stormy and restless with what was to come. Instead of wondering how her first meeting with Leo would turn out, now she was wondering more about why he had been invited to the family retreat. If Grandpa Henry was troubled, then the problem had to be a doozy.

“Leo Starks, what have you gotten yourself into with the Meadows family?”

After dressing for bed, Fiona parted the thick drapes at the window with her hand and peered out into the inky darkness that blanketed the wide expanse of land. The house sat recessed from the main road with its backside close to the bay. Tomorrow she’d catch up with her grandmother. Then she could take a quick walk around to see what had changed or been updated. But she hoped that here, at her perch, she’d have the ideal view to see everyone pull up to the front door. Staking her position at this perfect lookout gave her a smidgen of confidence for the eventual meeting between her and Leo.

* * *

“Well, damn, and well, damn.” Leo slowed to a stop and shifted the gear to Park.

He needed a moment to take in the sight in front of him. Not only was the sunrise a vivid fusion of color and brilliance, but its position just over the rooftop created a postcard effect. The house was something out of a movie. If he didn’t think Eric would lose his mind and do something idiotic, he’d take a photo with his cell phone and send the image to his coworker for the sheer pleasure of witnessing his ugly fall into deeper envy.

Leo’s own admiration had nothing to do with jealousy. The architecture soaked up his appreciation, thanks to a youthful pastime of studying the great builders in history. Though this impressive home had all the modern amenities and an expansive structure, he recognized the basic design from the 1920s, when industrialists flaunted their wealth from the blossoming American industrial economy with opulent family homes.

The Colonial Revival was typical of this area. Despite the contemporary touches, the British Georgian influence made its bold mark on the house with the symmetrical shuttered windows placed on either side of the door. Although the land was relatively flat, the house, with its two floors and broad, gabled roof, stood on a raised dune. Parked at the curve of the mile-long driveway, Leo understood why the original owner had chosen this parcel of land to show off this jewel. Every morning, the residents probably enjoyed the pleasure of seeing the sun’s rise with a fiery dawn kiss on the landscape. He looked forward to sharing in the experience.

After a few more seconds of staring at the view, Leo shifted the car into Drive and steered toward the most important assignment of his career. As he approached, other cars parked in front of the house came into sight. He pulled up behind the last one, stopped the engine and got out. His gaze took in the surrounding area and the close-up version of the estate.

“You must be Leo Starks.”

Leo nodded to the woman who emerged from the car in front of his. He waited for her to reveal her identity.

“Belinda.” She stepped away from her car with her outstretched hand. The warm smile eased his nerves. “I’m one of the granddaughters. And that’s Dana.”

He gave Dana a wave in answer to hers. This was cousin number two, the CEO. He recognized her from afar. So where was the third cousin? Where was Fiona?

“Come, let’s go in.” Belinda had her arm hooked in Dana’s as they marched their way to the open door.

“And I’m Jesse.” A man who was left behind by the women stepped up to shake Leo’s hand. “You’ll get used to being ignored by them.”

An older woman stood in the front doorway. “Please leave your luggage inside, near the door. And come in, come in, all of you.”

Leo followed the woman’s orders. She reminded him of his visa sponsor, Freida Elderhaus, the woman who was like a second mother to him.

After all the introductions, he stayed put, not sure what his next order of business would be.

“We’re heading up to Fiona’s. I know she’s up. I saw her looking out at us from her bedroom window.” Belinda was halfway up the stairs when she turned and looked directly at Leo. “I wonder who she was waiting to see.”

“Couldn’t be us,” Dana offered.

Leo cleared his throat. He wasn’t sure, but it felt like the cousins had marked him to be teased and taunted about Fiona. That was not what he wanted with Grace somewhere in the vicinity.

“Jesse, you are upstairs to the right. You’re in the last room at the end of the hall.” Mrs. Finch was clearly in charge of the operations. “And Mr. Starks—”

“Please, call me Leo.”

She nodded. “Leo, you will be staying upstairs on the left.”

“Oh no, he’s with the adults,” Belinda yelled down from where she hung over the rail.

“Now, that should make things interesting.” Dana cocked an eyebrow as she needled him with her remark, but it was more about the pointed tone. “Fiona, aren’t you going to come out here and greet your cousins?”

Mrs. Finch tsked and walked away shaking her head. “This house is about to get rowdy, Leo.”

Jesse had long since gone, leaving Leo on his slow walk up the stairs.

A door opened behind him from the second floor. He continued up the stairs, knowing that when he rounded the curve of the staircase, he’d see who had emerged.

“Leo, meet our cousin Fiona.” Belinda chuckled.

“But I think you know each other.” Dana’s face was turned toward Fiona.

And so was his.

Fiona, his Fiona, stood outside what he presumed was her bedroom. He immediately looked into those big brown eyes assessing him. He returned the favor, checking out and appreciating her beauty. Thick black hair framed her face and hung down past her slender shoulders. Her brown skin glowed under the natural lighting. His fingers itched to reacquaint themselves with its smooth softness.

He had to concentrate to quell the desire to run up the stairs and nervously wait for the okay to embrace her. Instead he gripped the rail and concentrated on each measured step. His gaze stayed put on her face, gauging her stoic expression for any clue to her thoughts.

Did her excitement match his?

Did her pulse pound in anticipation of the first moment that they would have to talk to each other?

Did she suffer from the same anxious twitches in the stomach, rapid breathing and sudden dryness of the mouth?

His foot took the last step onto the second floor. Time to act unfazed. He took a deep breath and exhaled. “Hi, Fiona.”

She nodded, curt and unsmiling. Her lips pressed tight with no twitch of a smile to acknowledge him.

“We’ll be off so you can catch up.” Again Belinda took off with her cousin, arm in arm, heading down the hall away from where he and Fiona stood like statues.

The woman, although standing still watching him, was no statue. Three years might not be a significant length of time relative to a decade or a century. But face-to-face with her beauty—natural and exquisite—those thousand-plus days stretched out like eternity. His gaze covered her entire body, and he noted that not much had changed. Average height, hair styled into gentle curls that fell just past her shoulders. Slender frame. More on the thin side, which he knew was due to her forgetfulness about eating rather than vanity. In her dress, arms bare, legs were free to be admired. He drank in the sight of her smooth skin.

He tucked his hands in his pockets to mask the nervousness, their need to trace the lines of her limbs, to brush his fingers along the delicious brown palette of her skin.

“Good to see you,” she said, although her expression didn’t quite match the greeting.

“You, too,” he replied. Her physical beauty hadn’t changed, but there was something different about her. A fleeting nuance to her, or around her, that he couldn’t quite pin down. Something that was more on the inside than the outside.

“I was surprised to hear that you were coming here. Work or pleasure?”

“Work.” He didn’t mean to bark. “I’m working on...a project.”

She walked toward him and it took everything in him to stay his ground. The soft scent of her perfume teased him, letting him know that she might be near at hand but was completely untouchable.

“And what is that project? What exactly is here that requires your service while we’re on vacation?” Her eyes issued a challenge.

“It’s of a personal nature. With your grandmother.”

She cocked her head to the side. Her steady eye contact pierced at his defenses. “This mysterious project must be urgent.”

He shrugged. “That, I don’t know.”

“I guess you’ll find out soon.” She turned to walk away but then stopped. “How long are you staying?”

“As long as your grandmother needs me to be here.”

“That must be an awful lot of underwear to pack.” She gave him a smile through the teasing, the first one she’d offered since seeing him.

Leo grasped at it, like a thirsty man at a well. He grinned back and nodded. “Pretty much. I’m all set.”

“That’s nice to know, Mr. Starks.” The sharp, no-nonsense comment from a familiar older voice had the effect of a flash freeze over him and Fiona.

Grace Meadows walked into view. He’d seen her only in suits and always dressed quite professionally. Today her appearance had switched from the severe conservative businesswoman to a softer, relaxed image.

“Mr. Starks, you’re staring. Fiona, you’re no better. Don’t you have something to get into with your cousins?” Grace motioned for her granddaughter to get moving.

Leo couldn’t help staring, but his focus wasn’t due to what Grace had said. The visual effect of the older and younger women standing close together was remarkable. Of course, they were related, but their striking similarities in poise and beauty hadn’t really hit him until now, in this awkwardly growing moment.

Before he could explain, Fiona flew from the scene, stealing glances over her shoulder. Meanwhile, he saw her future mature elegance within the matriarch of the family, who stood next to him with a stern look on her face.

Grace cleared her throat. “Will you need to rest up?”

“Not necessary at all.”

“Good. Meet me downstairs in my office and we’ll get started. We can talk over coffee.”

Leo didn’t move until Grace had walked down to the first floor. Then he took a deep breath and gazed down the empty hallway where Fiona had disappeared. She’d have to wait.

He didn’t need any further reminders from Grace that this wasn’t a vacation. Instead of heading down the opposite hallway to his room, he went back downstairs and retrieved his briefcase from Denton, who was on his way up with the luggage.

“In here, Mr. Starks.”

“Mrs. Meadows, we’ve worked together. I’d feel a lot more comfortable if you’d call me Leo.” He paused. “And I will call you Grace.”

She nodded. “Perfect tone to set. Leo. Please help yourself to breakfast. Then let’s get to work.”

Leo nodded and aimed for the coffee. He didn’t have much of an appetite and probably wouldn’t until he found out the real reason why he was there.

“I want my will amended.”

He nodded, acknowledging the assignment to work on the will that he’d been given by the senior partner. The task would require more than his eyes and attention, but she’d insisted that he should be the only one to work on it. Although her compliments boosted his ego, her sole choice of him for this job was odd.

“Before we get the will adjusted to my new specifications, I would like to move your attention to a more pressing matter.”

“Okay.” Leo set down the coffee cup. The mysterious tone added another layer to the tension that had his gut doing a dance, waiting for Grace’s full explanation.

“It’s a delicate matter...”

“May I remind you that I am ethical?”

“Oh, I wasn’t questioning that, but I did sense that you are friends with my granddaughter.” She tapped her finger against her cheek as she studied him. “You are friendly with Fiona?”

“No...yes...well, a long time ago. We parted ways.” Leo hadn’t stuttered like this since middle school. “Today was the first time since we’d...”

“Ah, young people these days like to tiptoe toward each other.” She steepled her hands. “Well, this makes things even more delicate. You see...I am handing over the entire matter for you to handle because I’m confident that you can.”

“Good to have your support. But maybe that will change once I know what it is and if I’m really capable of meeting your expectations.” Leo had the feeling that whatever Grace was dancing around would not have an easy solution.

“One month ago, I learned that my daughter Verona had another child. A son.” Grace clutched her napkin. “I want him found—quickly and quietly.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Leo needed a moment to let the news sink in. “I’m not a detective.”

“I don’t expect you to personally find the boy. Well, by now, he’s a man. And when he is found, I want him included in my will.”

“But I don’t know how long this will take.”

“I am sure that it won’t take long. And with everyone here under the same roof, I think it is an ideal time for this matter to be resolved. I want my family, every member, to be taken care of in my will.” She played with the collar of her blouse. “Would be nice to see him, don’t you think so, Leo?”

“Um...yes, Grace.” Leo was still stuck on the fact that there was a grandson who might not have a clue about his birth mother and family.

“Not a word of this may be discussed with any member of my family. I will share any news with my husband. But I know my granddaughters will press you for answers. And I’m certain that Fiona will be the one to attempt to draw it from you. I saw how infatuated you are with her. Likewise, she is with you.” She raised her hand at his protest. “I may be old, but I’m not clueless. But please take care to keep your head.”

“I’m not one to cave and lose my integrity.”

“Good. For the child, my grandson, is Fiona’s brother.”

“Oh...I see.” Hard as it would be, Leo was glad that he’d decided to keep Fiona at arm’s length. No way could he allow her to get close and pry any information out of him. With his feelings for her in turmoil, he didn’t want any temptation. “Maybe I should stay at a nearby hotel. It would allow for the privacy that you want.”

“No. I want you nearby, at my convenience. I feel that the situation may shift quickly. But I agree that you’ll be hounded by my granddaughters. What if I moved you to the guesthouse?”

“That would be perfect.” He exhaled, satisfied with his effort to keep his distance from Fiona.

“I think you’re believing too quickly that you’re in control of the situation between you and my granddaughter.” Grace had a way of turning up the heat under Leo’s collar.

“Excuse me?”

“Fiona is a stubborn and proud woman. I don’t know why you broke up. Don’t bother denying that you were together. Don’t need to know the details. But I will say that she may not be so resolute about the separation. I sense a softening in both your attitudes. As long as my priorities don’t cross with yours or hers, then I won’t have to send you packing back to Grayson, Buckley and Tynesdale.” From soft to hard, Grace’s edict dissolved all things warm and fuzzy.

“I think that is enough of an incentive to keep my focus.”

“Good. Now here is the information that I’ve just shared with you and additional details that should help with the search.” She handed him a thin file. “And now, I’m off to go for my morning walk with Henry.” With that, Grace exited the room.

Leo ignored the cold coffee close at hand and retrieved a fresh cup. He still wasn’t interested in the Danish pastries. What had he stepped into with secrets, potential scandal and hopefully a happy ending for this family?

Where did that leave him when his mission had been accomplished? Would he be the hero reuniting Fiona with her brother? More important, did he want another chance to be with her? This case might push him faster than he’d ever imagined toward Fiona. On the other hand, the family’s newly revealed history hadn’t changed the fact that she’d dumped him.

“Fiona Reed, how am I to avoid you?” Leo gazed out the large bay window that overlooked the backyard with its garden and pool. The woman on his mind was visible outside, lounging in the shade with her e-reader. “You are bound to be my temptation.”

His traitorous body flushed with desire. He was older and had better be damned wiser around her. His climb up the career ladder had been swifter than most and he liked his view. Work was even more of a priority. Anything else, Fiona included, would have to be treated like a strict diet plan. Avoid her as much as possible. If that didn’t work, run as fast as he could from temptation.

Chapter 3

Fiona tried to focus on the book on her e-reader. She tried to stick with the story to figure out who’d committed the crime. But her thoughts wandered without restraint to the point that she was merely staring over the top of her e-reader. That was when she saw her grandparents walking together, completely absorbed in their animated conversation without noticing her. It took only a second to make the decision to seek out Leo. To satisfy her curiosity, nothing else.

Even if she didn’t find out why he was here, she wanted to know what he’d been up to. Her conscience needled her for her desire to catch up on his life. She didn’t deserve the privilege—that was more than likely what he thought. Her rationale was a bit kinder, that it could be the open door to regenerating a friendship between them.

Besides, finding out any juicy bits would shut down her cousins’ silly plans to push Leo at her for debriefing. Seeing him in the flesh did bolster her openness to this second chance. The young man who had once interned at Meadows Media had morphed into a self-assured, handsome sight. His nerdy, boyish charm had evolved to well-dressed sophistication with a bit of old-Hollywood confident sex appeal.

Immediately, his intense, dark brown eyes fixed on her. She didn’t look away. Couldn’t. Too much to admire, from his beautiful brown skin to his clean-cut features that showed off the bold contours of his face to the tall, lean lines of his body gifted with the right muscle tone.

Stepping aside to let him focus solely on his career had been the hardest thing to do. But right before her eyes, she could see today that her decision to let him go had been for the best. Damn if it still didn’t hurt like hell, though.

Seeing Leo rattled her. Although she’d anticipated his arrival, when he got out of the car, she hadn’t expected the dizzying rush of emotions to race to the surface. Then seeing him in the house with only a few feet between them had had her almost hyperventilating. Outwardly, he looked unscathed by her earlier actions.

Not that she wanted to see him broken or bitter. The last image of him before they separated, as if her decision had dealt a physical blow to his gut, had become her lasting image of him.

New chapter, new beginnings—maybe that would be the theme for the reunion. Fiona stayed preoccupied, contemplating a strategy about picking up where they’d left off. Truthfully, she didn’t think her attempt would be difficult, especially if he wasn’t in a relationship. But after seeing him in person, the doubts weighed in her belly.

Looking into his face, those eyes staring boldly at her, she sensed the difference in him. No sign of the shy smile or tentative attitude. His cool regard of her resonated like an echo in his demeanor, expression and body language.

If it weren’t for the persistent nudging from her cousins, she’d have ground out the flicker of hope and worked hard to scrub the memories of their times together once and for all.

Clicking off her e-reader, she tucked it against her chest and headed indoors. Time to get started gleaning what she could from her ex-boyfriend.

Fiona stepped inside and went on the hunt. No one was immediately in sight, although she heard activity coming from various parts of the house. As she walked down the hallway toward the staircase, she noticed luggage sitting in the middle of the entryway. Leo appeared and stopped near the parked garment bag and suitcase.

“Done with your super-secret mission? Leaving?” Fiona tried to sound nonchalant and not disappointed.

“I’m moving out to the guesthouse.”

“Really? What are you up to?”

Denton entered and Fiona waited until Leo was done talking to the handyman. The guesthouse was within walking distance, but another part of the garden separated the two houses. Maybe Leo’s staying off-site could be used to her advantage. He’d be out of Grace’s watchful gaze. Slightly beyond her cousins’ annoying interference.

“Are you going to work now? I noticed that my grandmother is off doing her own thing.” Fiona motioned toward the back of the house with her chin.

“I’m going to head into town to buy a few things.”

“Oh, great—I’ll come with you.”

“Why?”

She stuck out her hand. “Hi, I’m Fiona Reed.”

He stared at her hand and then up at her face, his confusion printed in his wrinkled forehead. “Hello, Fiona.” Finally he took her hand, gentle and unsure. “I’m Leo.”

“Good to meet you, Leo.”

“Why are we doing this?”

Fiona didn’t have a clue, was just going with her gut. “That’s how I greet new friends.”

He slowly nodded, releasing her hand. “But we’re not new friends.”

“If you start from the beginning of something, it’s new. Or you can fast-forward and continue with barely a ripple.” She tried with every bit of effort to keep up the facade that this was a casual conversation. “Circumstances have brought us together. Figured that we can be civil, all friendly-like, as we’ll be sharing the same space.”

“Sounds logical.” His doubt in her perspective poured out of his tone.

“I can hear the ‘but’ about to come. Here’s the start to my peace offering. Let me drive you into town.”

His eyebrows shot up.

She had to fight back a chuckle. “Hey, it’s all on the up-and-up. And I know the roads around here.” She crossed her heart. “I won’t jump your bones.” Yet.

Leo’s smile almost emerged. “It’s not that. I know you’re only interested in knowing what I’m working on.”

“I won’t lie that I’m not interested. Okay, very interested. However, I would like us to be on amicable terms while you’re here. And if that’s comfortable for you—” she paused to read him: nothing “—then we could...” Her attempts whimpered into silence.

Leo looked toward the open door. Did he want to shut this down now?

“Well, I won’t push. But just wanted to toss that out to you.” Fiona’s pride stung around the edges.

The staircase provided her escape and she turned to leave.

“Give me an hour to get a few things settled and then we can go into the city.” He stopped in the doorway.

“Hey, it’s cool. Don’t want to force you.” Fiona wanted back on firm ground, not this squishy place of uncertainty and regret.

“You’re not forcing me. Can’t, really.” He shrugged. “I’ll take your invitation with the spirit you intended. A small step toward friendship.”

“One hour, then.” She watched his exit away from the tense interaction. She guessed they were in test mode. All she needed was a slight thaw in the frozen bridge between them.

Fiona headed up to her room to change her clothes. She wanted jeans and a T-shirt. Maybe dressing way down could benefit her plan to be casual and nonthreatening. As for her hair, she pulled it back into a ponytail and then put on only a light cover of makeup and an equally light sweep of lip color.

A series of short knocks on her door provided the only heads-up that her cousins were about to barge into her room.

“Heading out?” Dana asked, unabashedly sizing up her outfit selection.

“Yeah, going out with Leo.”

“That was fast. Hell, I lost the bet.” Belinda pouted as she made for a chair.

Fiona rolled her eyes. “You two are of no help. I was having a hard time convincing Leo that I wanted to be friends.”

“He’s only playing hard to get. Why wouldn’t he want to be friends?” Dana climbed onto her bed.

“The project. He thinks that I’m coming at him because I want to know what is going on,” Fiona said.

“I call that being astute,” Belinda remarked.

“And right,” Dana interjected.

“I do want to be friends.” Fiona stated her conviction for the first time to her cousins.

“For your two-week jaunt or beyond?” Dana pushed.

“You’re making me sound like a calculating wench. Looks like I’ll have to prove myself to Leo and to you.”

“Oh, hon, no need. We’re teasing.” Belinda waved off her concern.

Fiona accepted the reassurance, but deep down, the teasing had a certain bite. Even Leo’s cool reaction to her overture had the undercurrent of distrust. Of all the things she could be accused of, being insincere wasn’t one.

Dana leaned forward from her perch on the bed. “Are you leaving soon?”

“Yeah. Why?” Fiona noticed Dana’s hesitation.

“Grace wants the family together at dinner. ‘It’s our first night under the same roof’ spiel,” Dana explained.

Fiona asked, “Are my parents here?”

Belinda shook her head. “I’m guessing that they will be here by dinnertime if Grace is requesting that we all be there.”

Fiona wasn’t confident on that front. A glance at the clock on the mantelpiece over the fireplace let her know that it was time to meet Leo. After checking her face in the mirror and feeling satisfied with her reflection, she breezed past her cousins and headed out of the room.

“Don’t do anything I’d do.” Dana laughed over her witty remark.

“I’m going on instinct. No promises.”

“I feel sorry for that guy.” Belinda shook her head again, her mouth curved in a grin.

Fiona ran down the stairs and hit the outdoors. At that moment, Leo pulled up in his car and waited for her. Taking a deep breath and exhaling some of her nervousness, she pasted on a bright smile.

Leo beckoned to her.

She slipped on her sunglasses and headed toward the car.

Leo opened the door and she slid in. “I was going to drive.” She looked up at him as she pulled the seat belt over her body.

“That’s because you thought you were going to take charge of the situation.” He winked before he closed the door.

She bit her cheek to stop from grinning.

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