Mark leaned close. “I’m not in the mood for anymore surprises.”

She gave him a hard stare. “He’s my ex-fiancé, Mark.”

He shut his eyes a minute, and then refocused. “Let me guess? He isn’t going to play nice?”

“We’ll see, I guess.”

Mark pulled the case file out of his briefcase. “Wonderful. This day gets better and better.” He looked beyond her shoulder. “Don’t look now.”

Lindsey turned as Greg was almost upon them. Dark hair, blue eyes, with a tall, athletic build, most found him attractive. She’d seen the man beneath the outer shell. He was far more beast than beauty. “Hi, Greg,” she said, before he could speak, eager to take control of the conversation. She knew Greg. He was big on commanding the room. She indicated Mark with her hand, pushing her chair back so they could see each other. “Do you two know each other?”

“We know each other,” Mark said with cool politeness.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were back in town?” Greg said, focused on Lindsey, ignoring Mark.

She didn’t even try to smile. It would have taken too much effort. “Now you know.”

“All rise for the Honorable Nelson Dearman.”

Lindsey turned towards the judge, dismissing Greg with her action. “Catch you after court,” he whispered, leaning down far too close to her ear. And then he was gone.

Lindsey felt Mark rise next to her. It was strange letting him take control. She was used to controlling the courtroom, not watching another take charge. Forcing herself to ease back into her chair, she watched Mark in action. He presented well, compelling but not overbearing. It wasn’t long before a thirty-day continuance was in the pocket, and they exited the courtroom.

Her name rang out through the hallway, but Lindsey didn’t turn; she already knew it was Greg. She tried to ignore him, but he was persistent, simply increasing his volume. Just before she hit the elevator button, she exchanged a glance with Mark. His expression held both irritation and a demand: Shut the man up.

She turned, teeth clenched, as she willed herself to stay cool. “Lindsey?” Greg said, a bit out of breath as he stopped beside her. As if he had been half-running. “I thought we were going to talk after court?”

The elevator door opened. “When did we say that?”

He ignored her question. “Are you here to stay?”

“No,” she stated, her tone flat.

“How long?” he asked.

The elevator doors closed. “Too long.”

He stared at her. “Lindsey, please ease up.”

He glanced at Mark as if he was trying to decide what he should say in front of him. Then he took a step closer and leaned his head closer to Lindsey. “Have dinner with me.”

Even in a low tone, Greg came off demanding. Lindsey bit back her words, wanting to tell him what he could do with his dinner. “Not going to happen,” she said, stepping backwards so close to Mark she was almost touching him.

His eyes flashed with irritation. Maybe even a hint of anger. “I’ll call you,” he stated.

“I would rather you not.” Lindsey glanced up at Mark and then back to Greg. “We’re in a rush.” She punched the elevator button a little too hard, as if it would open the doors faster. Luck was on her side because it worked. The doors opened. “Goodbye, Greg,” she said, and gave him her back as she stepped into her escape car.

As she turned to face forward, Mark by her side, Greg’s eyes locked with hers. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

And then the doors slid shut.

Mark stared straight ahead. “This is going well.”

Lindsey shot him a glowering look. She was up to her chin with men for the day. Silence filled the elevator except for the ding at the floors, then, “I can’t see you with him.”

She laughed. Bitter. “That makes two of us.”

He didn’t ask anything more and she didn’t offer. By the time they were in the back of a cab, Lindsey was about to scream for the strain of their silence. She turned to him. “Yell at me or something. This tension is driving me nuts.”

Mark was leaning against the seat, his body relaxed. “It’s done.” As if that was it.

“Okay,” she said, turning away from him. “If that’s how you want it, so be it.”

She felt his eyes shift to her, but she didn’t look at him. “I don’t like these little games you’re playing.”

Her head turned. “Games?” she demanded. “What games?”

“That stunt this morning.”

“You can’t just demand to go with me, and expect me to do your bidding.”

“When it comes to Paxton or this case, I damn sure can.” His lips thinned, eyes narrowing. “Tell me I’m wrong, Lindsey.” A dare laced his words.

She turned away, staring out the window, fighting the roll of anger burning inside. Oh, how she wanted to tell him to go to hell. “You are so like them.”

“Like who?”

Damn. Had she said that out loud? Her arms crossed in front of her body. “No one.” She refused to look at him.

His hand went to her arm. “Who?”

“My father,” she said, her temper getting the best of her. “Greg.” There, it was said. Her voice was lower now, but no less intense, her eyes hard as they met his. “Men who have to be all and control all.”

Surprised registered in his face. “What does Greg have to do with this?”

“He and my father had it all planned out.” Her voice held bitterness. “Greg was just the kind of man my father wanted attached to me and Paxton.”

“But you didn’t see it that way?” he asked, speculation in his tone.

She felt the regret of her past mistakes. “I got smart. When Greg proposed, I declined.”

He raised a brow in question. “Just like that?”

“You make it sound simple. It wasn’t. It took a dead girl for me to see the light. Until then, I would have done anything to please my father.”

“Including marrying Greg?”

She looked away, unable to face the truth, let alone admit it out loud. “I didn’t. That’s what counts.”

He was silent for so long it was hard not to turn and look at him. Finally, he said, “I’m not like them.”

She wanted to believe that, but today he had tried to keep her under thumb. She didn’t respond. What good would it do?

Mark didn’t accept her silence. “Can you say something, Lindsey?”

She turned to him. “What am I supposed to say?”

His eyes flared. “Why is it wrong for me to worry about you when some crazy person has been killing women who look just like you?” His face hardened. “Does that make me controlling? Does that make me a jerk? If it does, I’ll live with it rather than see something happen to you.”

Lindsey swallowed, almost choking on her own guilt. “Mark.” He didn’t look at her. She didn’t know what to say. Turning to the window, she tried to make sense of the roar of confusing messages running through her head.

She didn’t know what to do about Mark. Maybe he was just worried about her. But, then, maybe his concerned words were simply a manipulation tactic.

* * * * *

The minute they stepped into the lobby of the Paxton Group, Judy greeted them with messages in hand. “The phone is ringing off the hook,” she said, her voice frazzled as she stuck a pencil behind her ear. “Everyone has heard the two of you are back.” Her attention went to Lindsey. “Your father called, sounding rather grumpy.”

Lindsey made a face. “So, he sounded normal.”

She laughed. “A little more on edge than usual,” she said, and thumbed through several messages, and a memory flashed in her face. “Oh, yeah, some guy called several times. Said his name was Todd but wouldn’t give me a last name or leave a message.”

Mark and Lindsey looked at one another. “The boyfriend?” Lindsey frowned.

“Maybe,” Mark said. “We did leave him several messages.”

“Yeah, but why not leave his last name and a number? It’s strange.” She shrugged. “I’ll just try and call him again.”

He nodded. “I’m going to have Maggie order some food. Want something?”