Missing Persons
Shirlee McCoy

MILLS & BOON

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To Emma Grace, daughter and ally in our house

filled with men—I love you just because you’re you.

And to Jessica Alvarez, editor extraordinaire, who

helped make sense of this wonderful continuity.

Thanks!

Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to

Shirlee McCoy for her contribution to the

REUNION REVELATIONS miniseries.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

EPILOGUE

PROLOGUE

She wasn’t angry. She wasn’t even mildly annoyed.

And Lauren Owens figured if she told herself that enough times she just might believe it.

Okay. Maybe angry wasn’t the right word. Maybe irritated was a better fit. Perturbed. Frustrated.

She only had herself to blame. She’d been such a pushover. Why hadn’t she refused when Steff asked her to participate in the Magnolia College fund-raiser dinner and auction?

Because she hadn’t wanted to disappoint her friend, that’s why. Instead, she’d managed to add two very unwanted complications to her already complicated life.

Seth.

His son.

Her hands tightened on the steering wheel of her Mustang convertible, the blackness of the night beyond the car’s headlights reflecting her dark mood.

Up ahead, her sister Deandra’s house beckoned, a light shining in an upstairs window spilling out into the darkness. Dee was probably waiting for a rehash of the evening’s events. Unfortunately, that would have to wait. Lauren wasn’t in the mood to talk.

She pulled around to the back of the house, following the driveway to the small converted carriage house at the edge of the property. Trees loomed over it, dark shadows against the night sky, hulking figures that looked like giant men waiting for the unwary to step beneath their grasping arms. Lauren shivered, her gaze riveted to the front of the carriage house. She’d left the light above the front door on, but it was out now, the large bushes on either side casting deep gray shadows over what should have been a well-lit area.

A warning raced along her spine and lodged at the base of her skull, but she ignored it. Bad things didn’t happen in small-town Georgia.

Didn’t they?

The question whispered through her mind as she stepped out of the Mustang and started toward the door. A woman had died in Magnolia Falls, her body hidden for ten years and just recently found during Magnolia College’s library renovations. That was proof enough that bad things did indeed happen in small towns. But that was a long time ago and right here, right now a burned-out lightbulb was more likely the cause of the darkened stoop than some faceless, nameless murderer.

Right?

A breeze brushed against her hair as she moved toward the carriage house, ghostly fingers that trailed along her skin and made her shiver. She could almost imagine someone watching from the darkened windows or shadowy corners. Almost hear the raspy breath of the watcher.

“Stop it!” She hissed the words, refusing to allow the timid mousy creature she’d once been to take hold. Ten years living alone, ten years building her reputation as a premier Savannah chef, ten years learning who she was and where she belonged had made her strong. Independent. A woman who didn’t panic, didn’t overreact, and did not allow her imagination to get the better of her.

She shoved open the carriage house door, flicked on the living room light and froze. Shredded fabric. White stuffing pulled from once-pristine sofa and chairs. Books strewn across paint-splattered hardwood floor. Framed photos trampled and torn. To the left, the bathroom door yawned open, light spilling across the floor and reflecting off a slick, wet substance that might have been shampoo, lotion. Blood. To the right, the lone bedroom door was closed. She’d left it open. She was sure of it.

A sound drifted into the silence. The pad of feet on carpet. The brush of a hand against the wall. Lauren didn’t wait to hear more. She stumbled backward, away from the subtle sound and from the chaos. Then turned and ran toward Dee’s house and safety.

ONE

Three days earlier

Fund-raiser Dinner and Auction, Mossy Oak Inn

Late summer painted the sky in shades of gold and purple, the setting sun sliding toward the horizon in a final blaze of light as Lauren eased out of her sister’s car and smoothed her hand over the simple lines of her black cocktail dress. “Ready or not, here we go.”

“I’m definitely ready, but you look like you’re going to chicken out.” Dee’s words held a hint of humor, but her gaze was somber as she rounded the car and put a hand on Lauren’s arm.

“Chicken out of what? It’s just a dinner.”

“And an auction.”

“Which I said I’d participate in.”

“And which we both know you regretted doing two seconds after the fact.”

It was true and Lauren didn’t bother denying it. Her older sister knew her too well to be fooled by anything she might say. “It’s not that I don’t want to help raise funds for Magnolia College. It’s just that this stuff isn’t my thing. I’d rather not have all the attention.”

“You’d rather let other people take center stage while you hide in a back room somewhere.” Dee smiled, her perfectly applied makeup showcasing flawless skin and vivid blue eyes—the only feature the two sisters had in common. Pretty and popular in high school and college, Dee had never seemed to mind being in the spotlight. Lauren always had.

“There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“No, but this will be good for you and good for your business. Just think of all the clients you’ll gain.”

“I don’t need any more clients. I’m busy enough.” Her personal chef business had taken off in the past year, word of mouth expanding her clientele enough that she was considering hiring another chef.

“Then skip out. I can tell Steff you’re not feeling well. You can go back to my place and chill. Come back and pick me up when the fund-raiser is over.”

“You know I can’t do that.”

“I know you won’t do it, which is why there’s no sense standing around here talking about it any longer.” Dee tightened her hold on Lauren’s arm and started toward the door of Mossy Oak Inn.

Lauren wanted to pull back, take a minute to study the people moving in groups toward the entrance. She wanted to search their faces, looking for the one person she didn’t want to see. If he wasn’t there, she’d be fine. If he was…

She’d still be fine.

After all, she’d agreed to participate in the auction knowing that Seth Chartrand might be there. That’s exactly what she intended to do. If that meant coming face-to-face with a past she’d just as soon forget, so be it.

A few yards ahead, two women and three men neared the door, laughing and talking, their easy camaraderie drawing Lauren’s attention. The tall broad-shouldered man walking just a step ahead of the rest kept it. Purposeful stride, taller than the other two men, he had an easy confidence that made Lauren slow her pace and pull against Dee’s hold.

Maybe she wasn’t as ready to face Seth as she thought she was.

Dee shot her a look, raising one perfectly arched eyebrow. “Relax. That’s not Seth.”

“I didn’t think it was.”

“Sure you did, but you don’t have to worry about running into the jerk. He never attends alumni events. Probably too embarrassed to show his face after what he did to you.”

“What happened between Seth and me happened eleven years ago, Dee. We’re both over it now, so there’s no need to call him a jerk.”

Dee shrugged slender shoulders. “Any guy who talks marriage with my sister and then breaks her heart will always be a jerk to me.”

Lauren laughed, her sister’s support easing some of her anxiety. She still didn’t want to see Seth tonight. Jerk or not, he had been a huge part of her high school years. Their breakup during college had been heart shattering. It had also forced her to grow up and face the world alone.

But that wasn’t something she wanted to worry about tonight. Tonight she wanted to relax and enjoy the company of old friends, the ease of having no clients to cook for, no menus to plan. She refused to let anxiety about seeing Seth ruin that for her.

Dee tugged her across the parking lot, pulling her along at a swift pace, her perfume wafting on cool September air, her stride brisk and confident despite the high heels she wore. Lauren’s own heels threatened to trip her up and send her spilling onto the pavement. “Slow down, Dee. You know I can’t walk fast in these shoes.”

“You can’t walk fast in anything higher than a tennis shoe, but I forgive you. Now, hurry up before we miss something good.”

“Like what? Two hundred people all gossiping about someone just out of earshot?”

“Not someone. The skeleton that was found near the library. That’s all anyone in Magnolia Falls is talking about lately.”

“Yeah? It sounds like a pretty morbid topic for dinner conversation.”

“Morbid doesn’t bother people nowadays. They want information and they don’t care how or when they get it. The more they have, the more important they feel.”

“What’s to feel important about? That poor woman’s death has nothing to do with anyone here tonight.”

“We’ll see. I plan to find out what people are saying, what they’re thinking. How it’s going to affect Magnolia College.” An employee at a successful public relations firm, Dee was always interested in how information could affect the reputation of organizations. It didn’t surprise Lauren that her sister was interested in hearing what was being said about the human remains that had been found on Magnolia College’s campus.

Lauren, on the other hand, cared more about the menu than the gossip. Balance and aesthetics, temperature, taste, those things could be controlled and predicted. People could not. “I don’t see how something that happened years ago could have any effect on the college.”

“How could it not? Finding a body on campus is sure to bring bad publicity. It already has. You’ve seen the papers. All the talk about safety on campus and whether or not Magnolia College is doing enough to make sure its students are protected from predators.” Dee was moving even faster now, her body nearly humming with excitement and energy. It had been that vibrancy that had made her popular in high school and college, and still made her the center of any gathering.

“I thought all publicity was good publicity.”

“Maybe if you’re an actress. What parent is going to want to send a son or daughter to a school where a body lay buried and unnoticed for ten years?”

“Good point. I guess that’s why you’re a publicist and I’m a chef.” Lauren pushed opened double-wide doors and stepped into the warmth of the inn. Muted light illuminated the spacious foyer and gleamed off rich mahogany furniture. The elegant simplicity made it the place to be, and most high-class Magnolia Falls functions were held there.

“You’re here! I was worried you weren’t going to show.” Stephanie Kessler hurried toward them, blond hair bouncing as she moved, violet eyes reflecting both worry and relief.

“Have you ever known me to not do something I said I would?” Lauren smiled and leaned forward to embrace her friend.

“No, but the way things have been going lately, I wouldn’t have been surprised if you broke with tradition.”

“The way things have been going lately? It seems to me they’ve been going pretty well for you. You’ve met the man of your dreams and are desperately in love. What could be better?” Dee air kissed Steff’s cheeks.

“Being in love and not having to worry about things at the college.” Steff smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“You’re always worrying about that.”

“Now more so than ever.” Steff glanced around, then spoke quietly. “I’m getting enough e-mail to crash my computer and phone calls all day long. Someone’s body was under that sidewalk. Everyone wants to know whose.” She shook her head.

“The police aren’t any closer to identifying the remains?”

“No, but I can’t help wondering—”

“If it’s someone we knew.” Lauren had been wondering the same.

“There were a lot of people missing at the reunion. Payton Bell. Josie Skerritt. Angela Heaton.” She shrugged, turned toward the corridor that led to the ballroom. “I guess now isn’t the time to talk about it. Dinner’s going to be served soon. Then the auction. You’re up first, Lauren.”

“Up first?”

“I’ll introduce you and the service you’re offering. All you need to do is stand there and look gorgeous while people bid.”

“Gorgeous is more Dee’s thing than mine.”

“Give yourself a little credit, Laur. You look beautiful. Even if you can’t walk in those shoes.” Dee smirked and hurried down the corridor with Steff.

Leaving Lauren no choice but to follow.

She walked more slowly, her wobbly heels twisting under her as she headed for the ballroom muttering under her breath. “If I make it through tonight without falling on my face and completely embarrassing myself it’ll be a miracle.”

“Still talk to yourself? I thought you’d have outgrown the habit by now.” The gruff voice came from behind her, deep, quiet and filled with humor and warmth. And a million memories Lauren refused to acknowledge.

“Seth.” She schooled her features as she turned to face him, pasting on the cool, professional smile she’d perfected over the years. “I wondered if you’d be here tonight. It’s been a long time.”

“It has been. So long I wondered if you’d even remember me.” He looked the same, but older. The fine lines at the corner of his eyes, the serious expression in his gaze speaking of a maturity and depth he hadn’t had when he’d been a young, brash high school student, or a law-school-bound young adult.

When he’d been the man she’d put her hopes and dreams in. The man she’d loved.

“How could I forget?” The words slipped out, and Seth smiled, the slow, deliberate curve doing exactly what it had the first time they’d met—weakening Lauren’s knees, speeding her pulse, muddling her thoughts. Fortunately, it was eleven years and a broken heart too late for her to feel more than mild surprise at her reaction. “What I mean is—”

“I know what you mean. It’s hard to forget what we had.”

“And how it ended.”

“That, too.” He smiled again. “Are you here with your sister? Or do you need a dinner companion?”

Was that an invitation? If so, Lauren had no intention of acknowledging it. “I’m here with Dee and a few friends.”

“Let me guess—Steff, Jen, Cassie and Kate.”

“That’s right.”

“Then I’d better get you inside the ballroom before they miss you and come looking.” He reached for her arm, but Lauren sidestepped, avoiding his touch. Seeing him was bad enough. Feeling the warmth of his hand would be a hundred times worse.

“I can manage on my own. Thanks.”

His gaze locked with hers, then dropped to the simple black cocktail dress she wore. She’d planned her wardrobe to reflect how she wanted to portray herself—elegant, in charge, independent. Strong. Much different than the shy young woman she’d been in high school and college.

Maybe he saw that. Surprise flashed in his eyes. Then speculation, as if he were trying to match the woman he was speaking to with the one he’d known so long ago. “I’m sure you can. It was nice seeing you again.”

She nodded, but didn’t say the same. Nice wasn’t the word she’d use. Uncomfortable. Strange. Even a little alarming. Not nice.

“Lola?”

She’d already turned away, but his voice, the pet name he’d used so often when they were young stopped her in her tracks. “Don’t call me that, Seth.”

“Why not? It’s how I think of you.”

“I’d rather you not think of me at all.”

“That’s a little cold.” He moved up beside her, relaxed and at ease. Confident. Just as he’d always been.

“I didn’t mean it to be. I just meant that we stopped thinking about each other years ago. There’s no reason to start again.”

He stared into her eyes for a minute, searching for something. Forgiveness? Acceptance? Neither was Seth’s style. At least it hadn’t been.

Finally, he nodded. “Point taken.”

“Good. Now I really had better go find my sister and friends. Enjoy your evening.” She smiled, hoping he wouldn’t see how shaken she felt, how off balance. Seeing Seth had been harder than she’d thought it would be, but it was over and the rest of the evening could only get better. Right?

Right.

Except for the part where she’d have to stand up in front of the ballroom while people bid for her chef services. And the part where she’d have to explain to Dee and the other girls why it had taken so long to get to their table. Not to mention the whole being-in-a-room-filled-with-people-she-didn’t-know thing.

At least she’d have Dee and the gang close by. They were always good for conversation, laughs and distraction. For now, she’d let that be enough.

TWO

Lauren had changed. That much was obvious. Seth watched as she moved to the front of the ballroom and took her place next to Steff, her fitted black dress hugging slender curves and long lean lines. Dark hair, longer than she’d worn in high school or college, fell past her shoulders in thick waves. She hadn’t tried to tame it as she had so often when she was younger. That in itself was a surprise. What surprised Seth more was her direct gaze, the confident way she held herself, smiling out at the crowd as if she enjoyed being there.

And maybe she did.

Seth had certainly grown and changed during the past decade. It shouldn’t surprise him that Lauren had, as well. Somehow, though, it did. When he’d heard that she’d be offering a week’s worth of her services as a personal chef at the auction, he’d wondered what it would be like to see her again, had wondered if she’d be married or single, changed or the same. He’d pictured her in loose sweaters and baggy jeans, hair pulled away from a pale makeup free face. He’d thought she’d stand quietly in the background, a little mousy, a little shy. What he hadn’t imagined was the self-assured professional she’d become, the stunning beauty she no longer tried to hide. Where she’d once been content to hide in the shadows of her sister’s popularity, she now seemed determined to shine, her understated sophistication exactly what Seth would have expected from any other woman in her profession.

He just hadn’t expected it from her.

As if she sensed his thoughts, she turned her head, scanning the tables, her gaze drifting from person to person and finally coming to rest on Seth. For a moment, their gazes held, a million memories passing between them. Then she looked away, her smile fading just a bit, some of the animation and vitality seeping from her expression.

He’d done that to her. And a lot worse. Though, as she’d said earlier, that had been years ago. He’d apologized for the way he’d broken off their relationship and then he’d put it behind him.

At least he’d thought he had.

“You’re going to bid on this aren’t you?” The stage whisper came from Jeannine Maynard, a retired employee of Magnolia College and Seth’s busybody neighbor. She’d been the one to tell him about the renowned chef from Savannah who planned to auction off a week’s worth of allergen-free meals.

“It’s why I came, Ms. Jeannine.”

“Then get to it before the auctioneer closes the bid and you lose out.”

Seth raised his card, topping the previous bid and noting the slight widening of Lauren’s eyes. She wasn’t happy, but he hadn’t expected her to be. Unfortunately for both of them, Seth’s son Jake’s dietary needs took precedence over anything else.

“You’re going to pay a pretty penny if you want to win this one, Seth. Quite a crowd showed up tonight.”

“There’s no surprise there.” An older gentleman seated next to Jeannine spoke up. “Everyone is hoping there’ll be some mention of the investigation into the body that was found at the college.”

“Skeleton. Not body. Buried under the sidewalk of all things. You’d think someone would have noticed while they were pouring the cement.” Jeannine flashed her own card, upping the bid and smirking at Seth.

“Not if the body was under a layer of dirt.” Seth flashed his card again, caught Lauren’s glare, but chose to ignore it.

“Do they have any idea whose body it was?” The woman across the table leaned in, her eyes wide behind thick-lensed glasses.

“If they do they aren’t saying.” Seth flashed his card again, driving the bid higher.

“From what I hear, they think it’s a woman. Young. Maybe a student who was attending the college.” Jeannine spoke quietly, and everyone at the table leaned toward her. Except for Seth. He’d heard the information before, had spent way too much of his time speculating about who it could be. A woman. Someone who’d disappeared ten years ago.

Ellen.

His half sister and his parents had had a big blowup the year Jake was born. Ellen had stormed out of the house and never returned.

That had been ten years ago. About the same time the first renovations had been done on Magnolia College’s library. About the same time the sidewalk had been poured. She’d had friends in Magnolia Falls and a job doing freelance photography for the public relations department at Magnolia College. And now she was gone.

Seth flashed his number again, trying to block out the conversation and his own morbid thoughts. Sure Ellen had had a lot of friends in Magnolia Falls. It was possible she’d visited there after the blowup with their parents, but that didn’t mean she had. It certainly didn’t mean her body had been hidden under a sidewalk for the past ten years.

Seth bid a final time, winning Lauren’s chef services and then following her progress as she made her way through the crowded room. She took a seat at her table, whispering to her sister, Deandra, who wasn’t quite as restrained. She shot Seth a look filled with malice. Obviously, she wasn’t going to let bygones be bygones. Jennifer, Cassie and Kate were at the table, too, and glanced in Seth’s direction before leaning forward and beginning what looked like an animated conversation.

They could talk all they wanted. Seth had accomplished his goal. The only person he had to explain things to was Lauren, and he’d have plenty of time to do that while they worked on the menu for Jake. As for the rest of the ladies, they’d just have to hear the details from her.

Steff announced the next item up for auction and another bidding war began. This one over a summer’s worth of lawn service. Lauren’s sister made a bid, the woman next to her saying something that made the rest of the table laugh. As Lauren’s companions turned their attention to other things, Lauren whispered something in Deandra’s ear, grabbed a small handbag from the floor and stood, moving quickly toward the door and out of the room.

Five minutes passed, then ten as Seth tried to convince himself not to follow. He didn’t do a good job of it and finally gave up the effort, pushing back his chair and standing.

“Are you leaving already?” Jeannine looked up from a dinner roll she was slathering with butter.

“Just going to call and make sure my son isn’t giving the babysitter grief. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“As if that sweet young man could ever give anyone trouble.”

“I won’t tell him you called him sweet.” Seth strode away from the table.

The lobby was empty, the sounds of laughter drifting in from the events room barely disturbing the refined air the inn worked so hard to maintain. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, dialing his home number as he stepped outside into cool September air, his gaze scanning the parking lot.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Reese. It’s Seth.”

“Is everything okay?” Reese sounded as bubbly as ever. Apparently her ten-year-old charge hadn’t worn her out yet.

“Everything is fine. I just thought I’d check in. Make sure my son wasn’t giving you trouble about his bedtime.”

“You know he is. He wants more time to read the book I brought him.” A junior at Magnolia College, Reese had been Jake’s babysitter for two years. Seth had come to value her dependability. Being a single parent was hard. Having reliable child care made things easier.

“How much time do you plan to give him?”

“You know me too well. Is a half hour okay?”

“Works for me, but tell him that if he values tomorrow’s fishing trip, he’d better not push for more.”

“I will. See you when you get home.” The phone clicked as Reese disconnected, and Jake shook his head, smiling a little as he thought of his son and Reese conspiring to extend Jake’s bedtime. Dependable or not, Reese wasn’t nearly as far from her childhood as Seth was from his. That made her more likely to allow later bedtimes and extra snacks. Which was fine with Seth.

Once in a while.

And that was as frequently as he went out. According to Jeannine and a few other well-meaning neighbors and church ladies that wasn’t nearly enough, but Seth wasn’t in the market for a relationship. One marriage was enough for a lifetime.

He pushed aside the thought and the memories that went with it, and turned back toward the inn. That’s when he saw her—sitting on a bench near the corner of the building, her shoulders slumped, her dark hair spilling forward to cover her face. Lola. Despite what she said, despite what she wanted, that’s how he thought of Lauren. The nickname was one he’d coined when he’d met her his sophomore year of high school. A transplant from New Orleans, Lauren had seemed lost and alone as she wandered through the cafeteria of their Savannah high school. When she’d glanced his way and offered a sweet smile, Seth’s adolescent heart had melted. Despite his determination to keep the past at bay, the memories washed over him, bittersweet in their simplicity.

“You new?”

“Yes. I’m Lauren Owens. From Louisiana.”

“Well, Lauren Owens from Louisiana, it looks like you could use a friend. I’m Seth Chartrand. Want to have lunch with me?”

“I was looking for my sister.”

“No problem, Lola, I’ll help you find her. We can all have lunch together.”

Even now, the memory made him smile. Friendship had blossomed that day. From there love had grown. Unfortunately, Seth hadn’t known enough about life to value it. He liked to tell himself he’d matured since then. Sometimes he almost believed it.

He moved toward her, grass and leaves crackling beneath his feet, the sweet scent of newly mown lawn heavy in the air. “You look like you could use a friend.”

She tensed, but didn’t turn toward him. “No. Just some fresh air.”

“I guess that makes two of us.” He kept his words casual, ignoring her not so subtle dismissal.

“You shouldn’t have followed me out here, Seth.”

“Who said I did?”

“Didn’t you?”

“I thought you might like an explanation.”

“As long as you have the money to pay for what you bought, no explanation is necessary.” She stood, moving a few steps away, her lean form taut with whatever she was feeling. Eleven years ago he would have known, would have been able to read the look in her eyes, the expression on her face. Now she was a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve.

“Maybe not, but I’m going to give you one anyway. My son has severe food allergies, Lauren. Making meals he can eat and enjoy is difficult. I thought learning from an expert in the field might make his life easier.”

She nodded, but there was no softening in her expression. “You’ll have to make me a list of what he’s allergic to. I’ll put together meal ideas based on that. Do you have an e-mail address where I can send the menu?”

“Sure.” He pulled out a business card and handed it to her. “I’ll call you tomorrow with the list of allergens.”

“It’ll be easier if you e-mail it to me.” She handed him her card, and Seth glanced down at her e-mail and business address. Savannah. She hadn’t moved far from home. At least in this she hadn’t surprised him. The Lauren he’d dated had always been content to be near home and family.

He, on the other hand, had been desperate for adventure and freedom.

“How does this work? Do I come to you? Or will you come to me?”

“Once the menu is agreed on, I’ll come to your house to prepare the food.”

“That’s a lot of miles on your car.”

“I’ll do the week’s worth of cooking in one visit.” She shrugged. “Even if I didn’t, it wouldn’t be a big deal. I’m staying with Dee for the next two weeks.”

“Vacation?”

“And favor. Steff asked me to take part in the auction. I agreed. Driving back and forth between Savannah and Magnolia Falls didn’t make sense. I figured I’d do the job, then take some time to relax.”

“Dee’s not in town, is she?” If she was, she must stay close to home. Seth had yet to run into her.

“No, but she’s close enough.” She smiled and it was the same sweet curve of her lips he’d noticed the first time he’d seen her.

“You haven’t changed, Lola.”

“The fact that you say that just proves how little you know about me.” She ran a hand over loose curls, avoiding eye contact. “I’d better head back in.”

He should let her go. She was right after all. He didn’t know her. But he did know that tonight had to be as uncomfortable for her as it was for him. Seeing each other after all these years, trying hard not to remember the way things had been, the way they had ended. If it was hard for him, it must be doubly difficult for Lauren.

Before she could walk away, he put his hand on her arm, feeling firm muscles beneath silky fabric. “I’m sorry if my winning your services is uncomfortable for you.”

“Tonight was about raising funds for Magnolia College. As long as I’ve helped do that, I’m not uncomfortable with the outcome.”

“You’re sure?”

“Of course. I think we’re both professional enough to keep the past where it belongs.”

“Professional enough? Sure. But that doesn’t change the facts.”

“What facts, Seth? That we dated years ago? That you broke up with me? That same story plays out a million times a year with a million couples. It’s not something we need to make an issue of.”

Maybe they didn’t, but it was an issue for Seth. Being near Lauren brought back memories he’d spent a long time trying to forget. Maybe tonight was about more than Jake and his food allergies. Maybe it was about making amends. Not that that was possible. He’d broken Lauren’s heart, laughed at her dreams, calling them boring and mundane. Just thinking about it was enough to make him cringe. “The past is still between us. Whether we make an issue of it or not.”

“Look, Seth—”

Seth’s cell phone rang, interrupting her words. He glanced at the number, his chest tightening with worry. Reese didn’t call unless there was a problem. “It’s my son’s babysitter. I’ve got to take this.”

Lauren moved a few steps away, but didn’t return to the inn. “Hello?”

“Seth, it’s Reese. Jacob’s having a reaction to something. He’s breathing okay, but I think you’d better come home.”

“Did he have anything to eat besides what I left for him?”

“Nothing.”

“Are you certain?” He started toward his car, his stomach clenching with anxiety. Jake’s reactions ranged from mild to severe depending on the allergen.

“If he had anything else, he’s not admitting it.”

“I’ll be home in ten minutes.” He slid the phone into his pocket, started toward his car.

“Is everything okay?” Lauren kept pace beside him, her words filled with worry.

“I’m not sure. My son is having an allergic reaction to something. I’ve got to get home to make sure he’s okay and to convince him to be a little more honest about what he’s had to eat.”

“Why don’t I come with you? Once you get things settled, we can go over the list of his allergens. That way I can get started on the menu right away.”

Surprised, Seth paused with his hand on the car door, turning to face Lauren. “And get our business over with more quickly?”

She shrugged, a thick dark curl sliding over her shoulder and resting at the V of her dress. “The sooner we do, the sooner I can get started on my vacation.”

“I think maybe I should be insulted.”

“It’s nothing personal.” And neither was their business agreement. She didn’t have to add the rest for Seth to hear it.

“I get that.”

“If you’d rather we take care of things by e-mail and phone, that’s fine.”

“Now works. If you don’t think you’ll be missed.”

“I’ll be missed, but I’ll give Dee a call on her cell phone to let her know what’s going on.”

“Then let’s go.” He rounded the car, pulled open the passenger side door, inhaling a whiff of subtle perfume as Lauren slid in.

Perfume. Understated elegance. Dark wild curls. Confidence. Not the Lauren he’d dated for five years.

The changes should have made her a stranger. They didn’t. And as Seth started the engine and drove toward home, he couldn’t help thinking that having her in his car, having her beside him felt good. Even right.

And that was something he shouldn’t be thinking at all.

THREE

Lauren needed to learn how to keep her mouth shut. That much was obvious. First, she’d offered to take part in Steff’s auction. Now, she’d invited herself to Seth’s house. What was it going to be next? Offering to cook an extra week of meals for free?

Just the thought of spending more time with Seth and his son made her cringe.

She needed to keep as much distance between herself and Seth as possible because, no matter how much she might want to claim otherwise, he still affected her. His smile could still make her pulse accelerate and her world tilt; looking into his eyes could still make her melt.

Fortunately, her head knew enough to keep her heart in check. Seth had the same charming personality that had attracted her when she’d been a shy teenager, but she wasn’t a teenager anymore. She was a woman with a career, friends, a social life. Or as much of one as she wanted.

“This is it.” Seth pulled into the driveway of a two-story farmhouse.

This was where he lived?

An old farmhouse?

He pushed open the door, and Lauren stepped inside. She’d been expecting something modern and sleek, but the dimly lit foyer had turn-of-the-century charm—wide planked floors, crown molding, a chandelier that looked original to the house, an atmosphere that whispered “home.”

Seth pulled the door shut and started up the steps, calling out as he went, the deep timbre of his voice tinged with worry. “Reese? Jake?”

“We’re in Jake’s room.” The feminine voice had to belong to the babysitter. A college student? A relative?

Lauren moved down the length of the foyer, her gaze lingering on the framed photos that hung on the wall. Most were family portraits. First Seth and a stunning blond dressed in wedding finery and smiling into each other’s eyes. Then Seth standing behind the woman, his hand on her shoulder, his gaze on the tiny infant she held. Two more family photos followed, the infant older in each, but still small and fragile looking. The next photos were of Seth and his son, the boy more robust and sturdy, his mother absent.

“I probably need to get more interesting art for that wall.” Seth spoke as he descended the stairs, his voice different than it had been years ago. Deeper, rougher, but still with an edge of polish and charm Lauren knew most women would find hard to resist.

Good thing she wasn’t most women. “Why? Family photos are the best kind of artwork.”

“They make my son happy, anyway. He loves looking at them and trying to remember the day they were taken.”

Which seemed to imply that they didn’t make Seth happy. Lauren had heard rumors about his marriage, the difficulties he and his wife had had. Whether or not those rumors were true didn’t make any difference to her. He’d made his choice. She might not have been happy at the time, but in the end it had been for the best. “Your son is adorable and your wife was beautiful. I was sorry to hear of your loss.”

“Thank you.” The words were simple, his gaze lingering for just a moment on the wedding photo before he turned his attention back to her. “Jake and Reese will be down in a minute.”

“Did he tell you what he’d eaten?”

“A cupcake a friend at school gave him.”

“Store-bought?”

“No. Homemade.”

“Even worse.”

“So I’ve told him a thousand or so times. Come on in the kitchen, and I’ll give you the list of the food Jake is allergic to.” He led her down the hall and into a brightly lit kitchen. Granite countertops, white cabinets and stainless steel appliances made for an updated space without distracting from the beauty of the antique wood floor and trim. It was the kind of kitchen Lauren loved to work in, the kind she would have had if she lived in her own home rather than a rental.

“Here you go.” Seth handed her a laminated sheet of paper.

Tree nuts. Peanuts. Milk. Gluten. “His diet is quite limited.”

“I’m hoping you can change that.”

“I can give you ideas for interesting meals. A lot of kid-friendly stuff that uses other ingredients, but tastes almost the same as what his peers are eating.” The sooner the better. Being in Seth’s house, seeing the pictures of his wife and son only made her more anxious to fulfill her obligation and put the entire experience behind her.

“That’s exactly what I’m looking for. This year has been tough for Jake. He wants to fit in with the other kids, but no matter where he goes or what he’s doing, food is an issue.”

Before Lauren could respond, a young boy rushed into the room, his red-gold hair mussed, pink blotches marring his neck and arms. “Hey, Dad…” He saw Lauren and skidded to a stop, his cheeks going scarlet. “Oh. Hi. You must be the cook.”

“That’s right. And you must be Jacob.”

“And since we’re all introducing ourselves, I’m Reese.” A young blond stepped into the room, her makeup perfect, her hair artfully tousled. The babysitter? If so, she wasn’t the kind of babysitter Lauren remembered from her own youth.

“I’m Lauren Owens.”

“Good to meet you.” Reese smiled and moved up beside Seth, her posture staking a claim Lauren wasn’t sure she had a right to.

Not that the validity of her claim mattered. Seth’s dating life had nothing to do with Lauren.

“Dad said you’re going to make some cool food for me to bring to school.”

“I said Lauren was going to teach us how to cook some more interesting meals. I didn’t say anything about her making food for you to bring to school.”

“Oh.” Jake’s cheeks turned a shade darker, his slumped shoulders and obvious embarrassment tugging at Lauren’s heart. She knew exactly how he felt. Her own childhood had seemed like one big blur of timidity and embarrassment.

“Your dad paid for a week’s worth of meals. That includes lunches, so I’ll definitely be making you some things to take to school.”

“Cool. Can you make cookies without gluten or nuts?”

“Sure.”

“How about brownies?”

“Yep.”

“Can you—”

“Jake.” Seth’s quiet reprimand was enough to heat Jake’s cheeks again.

Poor kid. “I’ve got a lot of ideas, but I want to get them all together before we discuss them more.”

“When will that be?”

“Not tonight.” Seth put a hand on his son’s shoulder. “I’ve got to take Lauren home. Do you mind staying for a little longer, Reese?”

“Not at all.” The perky peppiness of the words reminded Lauren of the cheerleaders she’d known in high school.

“She doesn’t have to stay, Dad. I’ll be fine by myself for a while.”

“You’re ten. Not twenty, Jake. And I’m not ready to leave you home alone yet.”

“I’ll call Dee and have her come pick me up.”

“There’s no need for that. Reese is happy to stay, and I’m happy to give you a ride. You be good, kid.” Seth ruffled his son’s hair and started toward the kitchen door.

Lauren could argue or follow.

She met Reese’s gaze, saw the younger woman’s curiosity and decided to argue after she followed Seth out of the room.

Outside, the night had grown silent and still, the air cool with late summer and darkness. Overhead, the moon shone bright in a clear star-dappled sky. It was the perfect night for long walks and hand-holding, for quiet conversation and whispered promises. A perfect night for romance if a person was into that sort of thing.

Lauren definitely wasn’t. A few dates. A few dinners. A few phone conversations. She didn’t let things go further than that. She didn’t want them to. Dating was fine. Making plans, sharing dreams, those were other things entirely.

“I suppose you’re going to insist on calling Dee.” Seth spoke quietly as Lauren moved toward the edge of the porch.

“It makes more sense than having you take me to her place.”

“Maybe, but I don’t think Dee will appreciate you cutting into her evening. Besides, I owe you one.”

“You’ve paid for the services I’m providing, Seth. You don’t owe me anything.”

“I haven’t paid yet.”

“You still don’t owe me anything.”

“No, but if I were anyone else, you’d take the ride and let Dee enjoy her evening.”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“Probably.”

“So, let me give you a ride.” He grinned, the fine lines near the corners of his eyes deepening and wiping away whatever vestiges of the boy she’d known remained. No more gangly teenager or broad-shouldered young man. Seth was hard edges and muscle hidden beneath charming wrappings.

Someone worth avoiding.

Which was why she should get out her phone and call Dee.

Of course she wouldn’t because that would mean letting Seth know just how desperate she was to keep her distance. “All right. As long as it’s no trouble.”

“None at all.” His fingers brushed against her lower back as he urged her down the steps and toward the car.

Lauren took a quick step away, uncomfortable with the warmth that spread through her at his touch. She would not react to Seth.

“You don’t have to run away, Lola. I don’t bite.”

“I’m not running. And I told you not to call me that.”

“Old habit.” He opened the passenger side door, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I’ll try to break it.”

“Please do.”

He chuckled, the sound vibrating in the air and tickling against her ear as she slid into the car. Riding to Dee’s house with Seth was one more bad decision piled on top of several others. It was past time to stop making them. Unfortunately, she seemed to be on a roll. After months of avoiding men and relationships she was sitting in a car with the one man she would have been happy to never see again. The only man she’d ever truly loved. The man who’d shown her just how fickle love could be.

“You’re quiet.” Seth’s voice was soft silk and dark chocolate. The kind of decadence that could get a woman into trouble if she let it.

“Just thinking.”

“About?”

You. “Jake. He reminds me a little of myself when I was his age.”

“It’s funny you should say that. I’ve often thought that he could be…” He shrugged. “He reminds me of you, too. A little shy. A little cautious.”

“A little boring?”

“You were never boring.”

But she hadn’t been interesting enough to keep his attention. “I’m sure Jake isn’t, either. Does he play sports?”

“Just baseball. His size has been an issue. He’s a lot smaller than other boys his age.”

“But he has other activities he enjoys?”

“Music. Video games. Playing with his friends. Normal ten-year-old stuff.”

They were on safer conversational ground, and Lauren planned to stay there. “He seems like a good kid.”

“He is. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of how blessed I am to have him.”

A child was a blessing. One that Lauren had longed for when she’d been dreaming of marriage. Nowadays, she tried not to think about what her life was missing, concentrating instead on what she had.

“You really are blessed, Seth.” Her throat was tight around the words, and she cleared it. Maybe this conversation wasn’t as safe as she’d thought it. “I’d better call Dee.”

A quick phone call provided Dee with minimum information and probably had her anxious to hear the details. Lauren would fill her in later. For now, she just wanted to get back to Dee’s guesthouse and away from Seth.

“Is she okay with you skipping out on her?”

“Of course. Dee is always fine on her own.”

“I take it she still loves to party?”

“She loves to be around people. That’s always been her gift. Take the next left. Dee’s house is just a few miles from here.”

“You seem like you’ve gotten more comfortable with crowds, too.”

“Eleven years is plenty of time to get comfortable with just about anything.” And that was all she was going to say on the subject. Seth didn’t need to know how hard that first year without him had been, or how she’d realized that she’d relied on him too much. “Why don’t you tell me a little about what Jake enjoys eating?”

Seth shot a look in her direction, but didn’t comment on her quick change in subject. “The kind of stuff any kid loves—pizza, hamburgers, chicken. Sweets. At least those are the things he’d like to eat.”

“I can make some variations that he’ll enjoy.”

“Sounds good. Where to now?”

“Turn right. Dee’s house is there. The first one on the left.”

Seth pulled into the driveway.

Finally.

Lauren shoved the car door open and hopped out. “Thanks for the ride, Seth. I’ll be in touch.”

She started toward the house, wobbling a little in her heels as she moved from the paved driveway to a stone path that led to the backyard.

“You’re not going inside?” Seth stepped up beside her.

“No. Dee has a guesthouse out back. I’m staying there.”

“I’ll walk you around.”

“There’s no need.”

“Of course there is.”

“Seth—”

“A body was found buried under the sidewalk at the college a week ago, Lauren. A little caution makes sense.”

“Whatever happened to that poor girl happened a long time ago. I don’t think I need to worry about it.”

“No? If she was murdered, a killer is walking free. I think that’s something we all need to be concerned about.”

Lauren wasn’t sure she agreed, but Seth’s words still made her shiver. “If she was murdered. It’s possible she died of natural causes or that she fell into the construction area and died from her injuries.”

“And somehow got buried beneath enough dirt that the crew pouring the sidewalk didn’t see her? That seems highly unlikely.”

“Maybe so, but I doubt a murderer would be hanging around town waiting for his crime to be discovered. Even if he is still around, I doubt he’ll be coming after anyone else.”

“Maybe he already has. Maybe there are other victims. We don’t know and, until we do, I think it’s best if we all be careful.”

That was definitely not a thought Lauren wanted to dwell on as she continued toward the edge of Dee’s property and the small carriage house that stood there.

An outside light glowed above the bright red door, lighting the cement stoop and the thick bushes that stood on either side of it. Lauren fumbled for her keys, pulled them out of the sequined handbag she carried and unlocked the door, reaching in to flick on the living room light before she turned to say goodbye to Seth. “Thanks for the ride. And the walk.”

“Thanks for helping me with my son.” His hair looked deeper red in the light, his eyes dark and unreadable. The years showed in the creases near his mouth, the fine lines near the corners of his eyes. Each spoke of time passing and of the life he’d lived in the time since they’d last seen each other. As much as she wanted to believe she didn’t care, Lauren couldn’t stop the emotion that clogged her throat and made speaking difficult.

She swallowed, forcing back all the things she knew she shouldn’t be feeling. “It won’t take me long to create the menus. I’ll contact you as soon as I’m finished.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” He smiled and her heart responded even as her head shouted that she was a fool.

“Good night.” She stepped inside and closed the door, shutting out Seth’s smile and the uncomfortable emotions it evoked.

But she couldn’t deny that she’d felt them, that somehow, despite all that had happened, she responded to Seth in a way she hadn’t responded to many other men. To any other men.

The truth didn’t sit well with her, and she paced across the small living room, frustration making her want to get in the car and drive back to Savannah and the life she’d created there. Sure, she’d needed this vacation, but she didn’t need to spend time with Seth and his sweet, shy son.

“They’re clients. Just like any other client you’ve worked for.” She muttered the words as she stepped into her bedroom and grabbed her Bible from the suitcase she’d left on the bed.

Clients. She could say the word a hundred times, and it wouldn’t make things any less complicated than they were.

Lauren opened French doors that led out onto a small patio. Honeysuckle-scented air drifted into the room, the sweet smell reminding her of carefree childhood summers. Frogs called to one another, their deep song mournful and lonely. Or maybe it was Lauren who was both those things.

She flicked on the outside light, determined not to be melancholy. This was her vacation, and she wasn’t going to spend it thinking about past heartaches.

Moonlight played over the trees that edged Dee’s property, casting deep shadows across the lawn. It should have been beautiful. It was beautiful. There was something else there, though. A darkness that seemed more than night and shadow. A shape that wasn’t quite the same as those around it.

Lauren shook away the thought.

Obviously, Seth’s talk of bodies and murder had her imagination working overtime. Reading her daily Bible study would ground her. At least Lauren hoped it would. She opened the worn leather cover and tried to immerse herself in her reading, but the more she tried, the more conscious she became of the strange shape at the corner edge of the yard.

“It’s nothing.” She spoke loudly, hoping the sound would chase away the warning that hummed along her nerves. Her voice broke through the mournful call of frogs and soft drone of insects, and the night creatures fell silent as if waiting for her to continue.

She didn’t, but in the sudden stillness new sounds emerged, the crackle of dry leaves, the snap of a branch. Then silence so deep it felt as if the world were holding its breath, waiting for whatever lurked in the shadows to make its move.

Lauren stood, clutching her Bible in her hand and backing toward the door. “Hello? Is someone there?”

She didn’t expect an answer, and she didn’t get one, though she thought she heard the rasp of someone’s breath, felt the weight of someone’s gaze.

One step at a time, she eased toward the door afraid to turn her back on the darkness and whatever hid there. It wasn’t until she was inside, the doors locked and lights blazing, that she realized just how silly she was being. Despite what Seth had said, there was nothing to be afraid of. She knew that, she’d just forgotten it for a minute.

Still, she felt compelled to pull the drapes across the French doors and check the windows to make sure they were locked.

She’d just stepped back into the living room when a firm knock sounded on the door. She jumped, her heart slamming against her ribs, her gaze flying to the mantel clock. Eleven o’clock seemed an odd time for a visitor. She grabbed the fireplace poker, striding toward the door with more confidence than she felt and praying that whomever was out there was someone she’d be happy to see.

FOUR

“Who’s there?” To Lauren’s disgust, her voice wobbled on the last word.

“Me.” Dee knocked again. “Who were you expecting? Jack the Ripper?”

Lauren pulled the door open, stepping aside to let her sister in. “I don’t know, but I wasn’t expecting you. What are you doing back so early?”

“Early? I’m not seventeen anymore, sis. This is late.”

“Right. You came to check up on me.”

“Okay. So I came back to see what was going on. Sue me.”

“That would require a lawyer, and I’ve had about all I can take of lawyers for one evening.”

“I’d sympathize, but you did it to yourself, offering to meet Seth’s son tonight.”

“It seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”

“Did it?” Dee settled down into an overstuffed chair. “To me it seemed crazy.”

Lauren laughed and settled down on the sofa. “Why don’t you try being blunt next time?”

“I call it like I see it. So? Tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“What happened.”

“Nothing happened. I went to Seth’s house, met his son, looked at the list of Jake’s allergens, came back here.”

“Way to cut out all the details, sis.”

“Those are the details.”

“You and Seth didn’t say one word to each other on the ride from the inn to his house? Not one word from his house here? Come on, Laur, I know there’s more to the story than you’re telling.”

“Because you want there to be more. There isn’t though. Just boring conversation between two people who used to know each other.” Sure there’d been a hint of attraction still there, but that wasn’t something Dee needed to know, and it wasn’t something Lauren planned to share.

Or dwell on.

Seth was the last person she wanted to spend time thinking about.

“Too bad. I was hoping for some juicy tidbits to share with the girls.” She smirked and ran a hand over her hair. “Anyway, nosiness isn’t the only thing that brought me back here. Steff asked when we’d be ready to launch the Magnolia Falls: Where Are They Now Web site. I wanted to check with you on that before Jennifer and I gave her an answer.”

“Any time Jen is ready.” The owner of a nursery school in Magnolia Falls, Jen Pappas had always been great with computers, and Lauren had enlisted her help with designing the Web site.

“Monday? That’ll give you two days to clean out your e-mail in-box before you’re inundated with alumni news.”

“Inundated? I’m just hoping we’ll get back in touch with a few people we went to school with.” Several of those people hadn’t returned for their ten-year reunion. In itself, that wasn’t worrisome. The fact that a body had been found on campus was. Could it be one of the people she’d gone to school with? Shared laughter, tears and friendship with? Lauren prayed not.

“Be prepared anyway. Steff sent a letter out to alumni letting them know about the site.”

“I got it the other day. Of course, receiving notice about the Web site doesn’t mean participating in it. There will be plenty of people who won’t bother signing the guest book or filling out the information questionnaire.”

“True. We’ll see what happens Monday. Jennifer and I have got things set up so that guest book entries have to be approved before they’re seen on the site. That way we’ll have a chance to screen things before they’re out for public view. We decided that could be your job for now. When you get tired of doing it, one of the rest of us will take over.”

One of the rest of them included Dee, Steff, Cassie, Jennifer or Kate. Close friends in college, they’d made it a point to stay close in the years since. “I suppose you all voted on this while I was away from the table.”

“Yep. We figured you were on vacation and had more time than the rest of us.”

“You figured that since I left the fund-raiser early you could foist the job off on me.”

“That, too.”

Lauren laughed and tossed a throw pillow at her sister.

Dee caught it and stood, stretching her lean frame, the vivid blue of her dress striking against fair skin. Thirty-two and still single. With her looks and personality, Lauren had thought her sister would have married long ago.

Lauren had thought she would have married long ago, too.

Yet here they both were single and unattached.

And happy about it?

For her part, yes. She wasn’t so sure about her sister.

“What?” Dee brushed a hand across her mouth. “Do I have something on my face?”

“No, I was just thinking that you should have gone to the fund-raiser with some handsome Prince Charming. Not with me.”

“Please. As if there is such a thing.” She started toward the front door. “I’m going to head back to the house. Want to come up and watch a movie?”

“No, I think I’ll unpack and read for a while.”

“Suit yourself. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She stepped outside and Lauren followed, hovering in the doorway as Dee walked toward the house, the same fear that had shivered along her spine before Dee arrived lodging in her throat once again as she watched her sister move toward the darkness at the edge of the house.

“Are you going in the back door?”

Dee turned to face Lauren again. “No.”

“I’ll walk around front with you.”

“Why?”

Because she was worried about a murderer who might not even exist. “It’s dark.”

“Lauren, I come home after dark six nights out of seven.”

“I know, but…” But what? “Seth was saying—”

“I knew you discussed more than his son’s food allergies.”

“He was saying that the remains found beneath the sidewalk might belong to someone who had been murdered.”

“And? We’ve discussed that possibility a hundred times.”

“And he mentioned the fact that a murderer may be wandering around Magnolia Falls.”

Dee laughed. “You still haven’t outgrown your penchant for worry, have you? But there’s no need for it in this instance. First of all, we’re not in Magnolia Falls. Secondly, if there is a murderer lurking around somewhere, he’s had plenty of opportunity to kill again. Since the police haven’t found bodies spread across town, I think I’m safe.”

Lauren’s cheeks heated at her sister’s words.

Dee was right of course. Of the two, Lauren had always been the cautious one. The one prone to worry and wondering. Imagining worst-case scenarios. Monsters in closets. “Okay, so I’m worried, but maybe Seth is right. Maybe we all should be a little more cautious until the police find out what happened to the poor woman they found.”

“Look, if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll go in the back door.”

“It will.”

Dee rolled her eyes, but nodded. “Fine. You stand and watch until I get inside. Not that either of us will be much good if a murderer really is out here. What do either of us know about self-defense?”

Not much, but Lauren decided not to think about that as she watched Dee make her way across the yard and into the house. Thinking about it would only make her worry, and worry was something she had too much practice at.

As soon as the back door closed, Lauren shut and locked the carriage house door, barring it against the darkness on the other side. Silly, she knew. But necessary. She checked the windows, the French doors, pulled the curtains and shades. Surveyed the cozy living room and kitchen area. Everything closed up tight.

Perfect. Now she could do her Bible study, relax a little, maybe log on to her computer and start planning Jake’s meals. A nice cup of tea would be good. Maybe one of the scones she’d made that morning and brought with her on the trip.

Lauren grabbed both, then settled onto the love seat.

“Love is patient. Love is kind.”

First Corinthians Thirteen?

Today was definitely not a good day to be reading about love. Maybe she’d skip a day ahead in her Bible study. She tried to focus on the next chapter, but her mind spun back to a time when love had seemed not just possible, but very, very real.

“What’s wrong, Lola?” Seth cupped her face in his hands, his eyes the green of spring and of hope.

“You’re leaving for college in a week. I’m going to miss you.”

“I won’t be that far away.” He smiled, his fingers trailing from her jaw to her neck, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Just an hour’s drive.”

“Until I get my license and a car, it may as well be twenty hours away.”

“I’ll come home every weekend.”

“You say that now.” She and Seth had been going together for two years. He kept telling her that his leaving wouldn’t change that, but she didn’t believe him. There would be plenty of girls at the small college he’d chosen to attend. Plenty of girls who were probably more outgoing, more exciting than Lauren.

“And I mean it.” Amusement was replaced by fire, his eyes glowing with sincerity. “I love you, Lola. How could I ever stay away from you for more than a few days?”

His words melted the ice in her chest, and she threw her arms around his broad, firm shoulders. “I love you, too, Seth.”

Love.

Right.

Lauren shook her head, trying to dislodge the memories and the sadness that went with them. All these years after Seth had broken her heart and the memories still had the ability to choke her up. That said something about her, and Lauren was afraid it wasn’t anything flattering.

Dreams. Hopes. Love.

They were part of the past and she really, really needed to leave them there.

She stood and paced across the floor. Of all the people that could have won her chef services, it seemed almost inconceivable that Seth was the top bidder.

“A few hundred people at the fund-raiser, and it had to be my old boyfriend who decided to make the highest bid. I guess you’ve got a reason, Lord, but I sure can’t figure out what it might be.”

Something scraped against the window above the kitchen sink and Lauren jumped, turning toward the sound, all thoughts of Seth, the past and God’s plan fleeing.

The sound came again. This time more of a knock than a scrape, and Lauren was sure someone was outside, pressing against the glass.

Her heart slammed in her chest as she turned off the living room light and stepped into the kitchen. Pull up the shade, Lauren. Look outside, you’ll see that no one is there.

Or maybe she’d see that someone was there.

Maybe she should call Dee and have her look out the upstairs window. See if she could spot anyone lurking near the carriage house. Or maybe she should just pull back the shade and see for herself. After all, someone standing on the other side of the glass couldn’t hurt her.

She grabbed the phone, held it in a sweaty hand as she eased the shade back from the window and stared into…nothing. No face with slitted, evil eyes. No ski masked Peeping Tom. Just darkness. She leaned toward the glass, peering into the area behind the carriage house. Something had knocked against the glass. That hadn’t been her imagination. A light by the French doors illuminated the backyard, and Lauren turned it on, then searched the lit area.

If someone had been there he was long gone.

As she watched a breeze ruffled the trees that lined the property and the bushes that abutted the back of the carriage house scraped against the siding. There. The sound she’d heard. Explained. So why was her pulse still racing, and what had she heard bumping against the glass? A branch? A stick? Nothing? The silence seemed almost eerie, the dark shadows that edged the property sinister. But then, compared to the well-lit, busy street she lived on in Savannah, anything would seem silent and dark.

Lauren let the shade drop back into place, but left the outside light on. She was pretty sure nothing but her imagination was skulking in the darkness, but keeping the yard lit seemed like a good idea. So did focusing on something other than bodies hidden for ten years; murderers. Seth. The best way to get him out of her mind was to get him out of her life, and that meant fulfilling her obligation.

She pulled her laptop out of its case, moved her ginger tea and scone to the small kitchen table and booted up the computer. A few minutes later, she was scrolling through nut-free, gluten-free recipes. A day or two and she’d have the menu planned, then it would just be a matter of going to Seth’s house and cooking the meals. It was the same thing she’d done hundreds of times before with dozens of clients. This time felt different, but she’d ignore that and concentrate on doing what she did best—creating fun, exciting meals for a kid whose diet was limited by allergies. When she was done she’d move on to the next client and put Seth and his son behind her.

She hoped. Though something told her there was going to be more to this job than cooking food and more to her relationship with Seth and Jake than business. What that might be she didn’t know. She could only pray that the end result would be something positive.

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