The foliage across the road rustled and spewed out Gracie Malone and her son, Charlie. Gracie waved and made a beeline for Julia’s house, Charlie in tow. “We’ve all heard the exciting news. Imagine, all this time the McClintocks’ son knew you and you didn’t even realize it. Hello, Ryder.”

Ryder tipped his hat. “Gracie, Charlie. How’s the B and B going?”

Gracie’s rabbit-like nose twitched as her eyes darted between Julia and Ryder. “It’s good. We’re full up right now, but I sure wish I could find some better help. Charlie just hired a young woman, but she’s a little flighty…and a little trashy. The young people who come up here to work in the summer and ski in the winter aren’t very reliable, are they, Charlie?”

Charlie’s mouth hung slightly ajar as he stared at Julia, and her flesh crawled where his gaze slid down her body. She could totally see him pawing through her underwear.

“Are they, Charlie?” Gracie elbowed him, and he snapped his mouth shut and shook his head. She scowled at him and then pasted a smile on her face as she turned to Ryder. “So how do you know our Julia? Have you filled her in on all the details of her past yet?”

“We’re…ah…acquaintances.” Ryder lifted one broad shoulder. “And we’re taking it slow. Julia needs time to get her bearings and absorb everything I’m throwing at her.”

Yeah, like about a million years to absorb that she had a crooked spy for an ex-husband…and she may have witnessed his murder.

RYDER PULLED his truck in front of Julia’s neat little clapboard house with the white picket fence. He never thought he’d see the day when Julia Rousseau would be living behind a white picket fence…or wearing her hair in a ponytail.

Julia waved as she jogged down her front steps, hitching a large handbag over her shoulder. Ryder scrambled out of the truck to get the door for her and when she smiled her thanks, his heart flip-flopped in his chest.

His attraction to Julia hadn’t been all about appearance. The sexy, sophisticated siren with the couture clothing and perfect hair and makeup hooked him from the moment he saw her, but he loved the substance beneath the glossy exterior. Jeremy never got beyond that. When Jeremy discovered his wife had a strong will and a mind of her own, the marriage crumbled. Although he didn’t plan it, Ryder saw Julia through the fallout.

“How’s Shelby this morning?” He glanced at Julia before cranking on the engine. “Was she upset about the break-in yesterday?”

“No. She just thought her silly mommy threw her underwear all over the bed.” Julia snapped her seat belt in place.

“And how’s the silly mommy?” His gaze slid sideways to her face, still tense despite the smile.

“I’m fine.” She flipped the ponytail over her shoulder. “I bought some new underwear, a new bedspread and a pair of scissors. Then I had Gary the locksmith come out and reinforce all my locks.”

“That’s the exterior. What about the interior?” He tapped his chest with his fist.

“Of course I’m still jittery, but it’s amazing what a new set of locks can do for your peace of mind.” She clasped her hands between her knees. “Besides, all the stuff you told me yesterday occupied my mind more than a few sliced-up bras.”

“Did you remember anything else?” He held his breath. Should he tell her about their relationship before she remembered it on her own or should he wait? She’d seemed almost relieved when she discovered Shelby ’s father was dead and out of the picture. Why would she want to share her daughter with a stranger?

“Nope. I’ve been trying to put a face and a body to that tattooed arm, but haven’t had any luck.” She spun around. “Do you have any pictures of Jeremy or can we get any from Black Cobra?”

“I don’t have any pictures, but I may be able to get one from the agency. Do you think it will help you to remember what happened in Arizona?” He brushed his fingers down her arm. “Are you sure you want to remember?”

She shivered. “Not sure at all, but it’s like bitter medicine. It’ll be good for me in the end. With you giving me information and working with Dr. Brody, I think I have a shot at recovering my memories-good and bad.”

“Who’s this Dr. Brody? Was he the first doctor you saw?”

If so, Julia put a lot of faith in a doctor who hadn’t helped her much in the past three years.

“No. Six months after the accident, I went to a hypnotist in Denver first and then a psychiatrist there. I stayed with them for six months, and they referred me to Dr. Brody in Durango, closer to home.” She rubbed her palms against the thighs of her jeans. “I-it’s not just to recover my memory that I see Dr. Brody.”

Ryder drilled the road in front of him, gripping the steering wheel. It wasn’t his place to pry. His job was to provide her with details of her past life, not ferret out the details of her new life.

She blew out a long breath. “I suffer from panic attacks.”

Loosening his hold on the steering wheel, Ryder asked, “That’s understandable after what you’ve been through. Do you take medication?”

She shook her head, the glossy ponytail skimming her shoulders. “No, I don’t want to take drugs. I’d rather handle my problem through therapy and it’s working. The panic attacks are decreasing. In fact, I thought about ending my sessions with Dr. Brody…until you showed up.”

“Yeah, I’ve sent a few women into therapy.”

Julia snorted. “I just bet you have.”

Ryder laughed and turned up the radio for the rest of their drive into Durango. Julia bounced in her seat, singing in her off-key voice to the country music blaring from the speakers.

Some things hadn’t changed at all…except maybe her choice in music.

Julia directed him to a three-story office building housing dentists and doctors, and he pulled into the underground parking structure.

Holding his breath against the exhaust fumes, Ryder followed Julia into the elevator, asked her which floor and punched the button for the third floor. “Did you tell Dr. Brody about me?”

“I called him this morning. He’s anxious to meet you. He said with my approval, you could join our session.”

“I’m not sure how much help I’ll be during your session, but I’ll give it a try. Will Dr. Brody call on me to fill in the gaps and then question you about what you remember? Not sure how this will work.”

“Didn’t I tell you?” Julia grasped the door handle of Dr. Brody’s office and then shoved the door open with her hip. “Dr. Brody’s a hypnotist as well as a psychologist.”

Ryder swallowed the lump in his throat as he entered the small office populated by Colorado landscapes. She had told him, but he thought it didn’t work on her. Could this doctor coax the truth of Shelby ’s paternity out of Julia? Ryder wasn’t ready for that yet. He wanted to get to know his daughter better, show Julia he could be a father.

Julia jabbed at a button on the wall outside another door and plopped down on a sofa in the empty office. She grabbed a magazine from the side table and thumbed through it, barely scanning the pictures of smiling celebrities.

Ryder perched on the edge of a chair across from her. Julia didn’t even realize she had a nodding acquaintance with a few of those celebrities. What a strange, lonely existence she must’ve led these past three years.

His stomach rolled. He should’ve been there for her. He should’ve realized she was in trouble when she didn’t answer his letters and disappeared after Jeremy’s murder. But damn it, his job didn’t allow him to pursue personal reconnaissance missions. After Jeremy sold some of Black Cobra’s secrets, all the agents had to work overtime to repair the damage.

The door to the doctor’s inner sanctum swung open and a tall, dark-haired man dressed in black slacks and a white shirt leaned into the waiting room.

“Julia? Are you ready?”

“Jim.” Julia tossed the magazine aside and jumped to her feet. “I’m Julia Rousseau.”