In my mind, I counted to ten, then nodded and closed the door, proud of myself for not having slammed it in Mike’s face.

“I don’t like him,” my mother said, twisting a kitchen towel.

“Are you going to be arrested again?” Tommy asked from the middle of the stairs.

I growled.

Mike was only five years older than I was, and shorter and less built, but because of the gun on his waist and the badge he carried, he treated me as if he was the king of Lexington.

Well, to be honest, his problem with me was much bigger. I had slept with his little sister before my eyes settled on Jessica. Apparently, the girl had fallen in love after just one night and didn’t hide it from anyone. As soon as he found out, Mike had threatened to break my face or cut my balls off or something if I ever got close to her again. Thank goodness, I did not intend to do that. Last year, I got out of jail, and he was appointed as one of the officers handling my case. He used every little excuse to make things worse for me.

I knew he was just waiting for me to do something stupid now that Jessica was back in town.

“Now, now.” My mother put her hand on my arm and squeezed it. “Tommy, that’s not a nice way to talk to your brother. Go wash your hands and come down for dinner.”

Without releasing my arm, my mother walked to the kitchen.

“You can let go now,” I protested.

She pulled me closer and put her fingers over her lips. “I would bet money,” my mother whispered, “if I had any, that Mike is going to be on your tail more than usual while Jessica is here. Be careful.”

I stared at my mother’s pleading hazel eyes. She was right. While Jessica was here, Mike would follow me everywhere, Jason would be awkward, and people would whisper and gossip more than before. It would be hell in my corner of the world, but it was only for two and half months. I had endured much more in places much worse. I could do this.

***

Jessica

Wednesday was going by too slowly for my taste.

Every time I looked at the ancient clock on the wall of the studio, only a few minutes had passed.

At least Alan was out and didn’t hover, watching as I transferred the hand-drawn plans into AutoCAD. It was a delicate and snail-paced job, but I never complained about it. Until this tedious day.

There were only ten more minutes for my short shift to end, when Noah appeared at my desk.

“Hi,” he said with a large smile.

I glanced at him and quickly returned my attention to the screen. “Hmm, hi.”

He pulled a chair from another desk and sat down right beside my computer. “I haven’t seen you at the Habit for Humanity site.” He propped an elbow on my desk, and leaned his head on his fist, still smiling.

“Yeah, well, that was a favor to Alan. It’s not part of my job.”

“What a shame.” He patted the wad of paper in his lap. “I’m glad I decided to bring the report here, then.”

What the hell? I stopped the mouse wherever it was and stared at him. If he were a girl, he would be batting his lashes at me right now. But no, he was a guy—a so-not-my-style one—a man, actually, because I suspected he was almost thirty, and the way he was openly flirting with me was downright creepy.

“Alan is not here, but I bet you can leave that in his office.” I pointed in the direction of Alan’s office, hoping he understood the dismissal.

He didn’t.

“That’s okay. I can talk to you while I wait for him.”

I pressed my lips together, holding in a frustrated grunt.

Without sparing him another glance, I closed the program, shut down the computer, grabbed my purse, and fled the studio.

“Wait.” He caught up with me in the lobby. “Where are you going?”

I tried my best not to snap. “My shift is over, and I think where I go is none of your business.”

I spun around and left the building before he could come after me again. I walked to the parking lot and cursed when I remembered Jason had borrowed the truck to take his bike to the next bike show place. However, he promised to be here to pick me up … three minutes ago.

If only I had worn flats instead of my four-inch heels, I could walk the twenty to thirty minutes it took to get home.

A coffee shop on the other side of the street caught my attention. I could use an iced coffee in this heat.

While ordering, I kept my eyes on the street outside, through the large glass windows, watching for my brother. He should arrive any moment. Ten minutes later, I was outside, sitting in a chair around one of the round tables covered by large blue umbrellas, my drink in hand, and still waiting.

I fished my cell phone from my purse, set on yelling at Jason for making me wait, when someone halted in front of my table.

I looked up and gasped. My heart stopped for a quick second.

Caryn. The only thing different from four years ago was that she looked like she was thirty-five, instead of twenty-one. She still wore low-rise jeans, which were at least two sizes too small, a tight top with deep cleavage, showing her fat boobs and her belly, five- or six-inch wedges, and her hair was trimmed to her shoulder, but still dyed a horrible neon yellow. She had red lipstick and chewed her gum like a cow.

“I heard you were back, but I knew I would only believe it when I saw you,” she said. And her voice was still the same too. High pitched and nasally. “And here you are.”

I stared at my drink. “What do you want?”

“Nothing, really. Just looking at you.” She sat in the chair across the table. “Did it solve anything, moving up there?”

I glared at her. “I didn’t invite you to sit with me.” I grabbed my drink and stood.

She stepped in my way. “Oh, the princess is mad.”

“How old are you? Fifteen? But let me tell you, you look forty.”

Her brown eyes became two enraged stones. “You.” She pointed her finger at me, pushing it against my chest. “Who do you think you are?”

I retreated a step. “Jesus, what did I ever do to you? If I remember correctly, it was you who did pretty bad things to me.”

She walked forward. “Of course, the innocent.”

“What are you talking about?”

I glanced around, noticing that people were starting to stare.

She leaned over me. “You weren’t the only one in love with him, you know?”

I had my suspicions, although, at the time, I thought it was more of an infatuation.

We had been at the tracks all afternoon for a race—a professional one. John, Ethan’s uncle, was there with some other big names in the motorcycle racing world, watching the races and taking notes.

That week, Ryan had been so excited and nervous. And I didn’t think he slept the previous night, though he stayed quiet beside me in my bed. This was it for him. He could be discovered right here.

Before the final race, the one where Luke and Ryan had to show everything they had, the guys stood beside the track, talking and waiting. The girls and I were seated on the bleachers, directly behind them, but several rows up.

I was fighting my instinct to go down and kiss Ryan good luck in front of everyone, when Caryn strolled to him and halted by his side. She wore a cheerleader-like outfit and moved her hips in a suggestive way. My stomach rolled with sour envy. Not because of her looks, but because she put her hand on Ryan’s arms and smiled at him, getting a smile in return.

Everyone in town knew Caryn. She was the pretty girl who had taken the wrong path. Some still thought she could turn around. Right now, I couldn’t care less. All I wanted was for her to take her hands off Ryan.

Caryn leaned closer to him, her breasts brushing his arm, and she spoke with her neck stretched, aiming for his ear. Bitch. Meanwhile, Ryan’s attention was on her. However, I couldn’t really see the expression on his face to know if he was looking at her to be polite or if he was genuinely interested in her.