out what he wanted me to pack him for lunch. He liked having choices. Most days we didn’t have

many choices, but he still wanted to pick it out.

He hadn’t been late once all week, and neither had I. My new job was Tuesday through Saturday.

Micah went to after-school care until five every day. The counselor at his school had told me about it.

The cost was determined by my income, so it was much more affordable than a day care.

An added bonus was that several of the kids from his class went to after-school care too. So he

enjoyed getting to play with his new friends. If it weren’t for the fact that I had to see the Falcos’

house every day, then this would all be perfect. But seeing Dustin’s house continually reminded me of

the rejection that Micah didn’t deserve from people whose blood he shared.

“Sienna . . . Roy?” a familiar voice said, breaking me out of my thoughts while I was sweeping up

the hair from my last appointment. Lifting my head, I reminded myself that I was prepared for this.

People were going to recognize me. Just because I had gone a week without being recognized (aside

from Dewayne) didn’t mean it wasn’t going to happen eventually.

Amanda Hardy smiled at me as she tucked her long, shiny blond hair behind her ear. Her eyes

sparkled with actual pleasure to see me. But then, that was Amanda. She’d been a year behind me in

school, but her older brother, Marcus, was a close friend of Dewayne’s and I had gotten to know her

through him. She had always been pretty, but she was gorgeous now. I hadn’t seen her since she was

fifteen. The diamond on her left hand caught the sunlight. Not surprising that she was engaged. I

imagine the guys around here had beaten down her door—that is, if they’d been able to get past

Marcus.

I leaned the broom against my work station and walked over to where she stood at the receptionist

desk. “Hello, Amanda,” I said.

She pulled her designer purse up on her arm and kept beaming at me like I was the lost ark and

she’d found me. In my head I ran through the wealthy guys around here who could have afforded to

put a ring on her finger. She was sweet, but she was also a princess. Always had been.

“I didn’t know you were back in town. And you’re working here? I can’t believe it. You were just

gone. . . .” She stopped, and the sadness in her eyes reminded me that she had been close enough to the

Falcos through Marcus that she remembered how painful that had been.

“My mother retired and moved to Florida. She gave me the house. I thought it was time I came

home,” I explained. I had no idea what my parents had told people. I knew they hadn’t told them the

truth. At least, I assumed they hadn’t. I feared they may have told other people what I’d heard my

mother tell Dewayne. I hoped not.

Her pretty frown deepened, and the pity in her eyes put out the earlier twinkle. “I heard about your

dad. I’m sorry.”

I nodded. I wasn’t sure what else to say. My anger at him was still there. He’d taken my son’s

family away from him. The love Micah deserved had been stolen from him because of my father.

“Manda, how long did you say you’d . . .” The trademark blond hair that belonged to none other

than Preston Drake was the first thing I noticed.

His eyes went from Amanda to me, and then they went wide in surprise. Preston was also one of

Dewayne’s close friends. That group of four guys had owned Sea Breeze High their senior year. Most

girls drooled over Preston—he’d been the heartbreaker. But not me. My fascination had been with

Dewayne. Preston had done nothing for me.

“Holy shit! Is that you, Sienna?” Preston asked as he stepped inside and walked toward us.

Apparently, Dewayne hadn’t told anyone he’d seen me. I would not accept the fact that it hurt. He

had proved already how much he didn’t care. I don’t know why I was surprised.

“Yes, it’s me,” I replied just as Preston’s arm wrapped around Amanda’s waist and he tugged her

against him, then kissed her temple. No way. No freaking way. Marcus would kill him. Wouldn’t he?

Preston had slept with most of Sea Breeze, and Marcus knew that better than anyone. How was he

walking around and kissing on Marcus’s little sister?

Amanda giggled, and Preston’s grin grew.

“How are you alive?” I asked him as they both looked amused at the shock on my face.

“Oh, he beat my face in. But then he got over it and accepted it. We didn’t give him much choice,”

Preston said.

I simply nodded, then looked back at Amanda. “So that ring is . . .”

“Preston Drake is getting hitched. Hard to believe, isn’t it?” she said in a teasing tone, then pinched

Preston’s waist.

“Watch it, sexy,” he said, gazing down at her like she was the most precious thing on the face of the

earth.

Had I ever had a guy look at me like that?

No.

I hadn’t. The only love I knew was the love of a boy. He’d never had a chance to become a man. I

had no idea what being loved by a man felt like. And until this moment I would have said I didn’t

care, but watching these two, I wondered if I would ever know that feeling.

“It’s good to see you. Glad you’re back in town,” Preston said, then turned his attention back to

Amanda. “Call when you’re done. I’ll come back and pick you up, yeah?”

She nodded. He kissed her fast and hard, then headed for the door.

The silly grin on Amanda’s face as she watched him go just brought home the fact that I didn’t

know that kind of love and I probably never would. Didn’t matter, though. I had Micah. He was so

much more.

“Sorry. He’s clingy today because I’ve been gone for two days, wedding gown shopping in

Manhattan with Sadie, a friend of mine.”

I nodded like I understood, but “shopping” and “Manhattan” were foreign words to me. I bought

stuff at the local Walmart.

“Do you have an appointment with someone?” I asked. I didn’t want to be rude, but I still hadn’t

taken my lunch break and it was already three.

“Yes, with Hillary at three fifteen,” she replied.

Hillary was the owner. She had trained in New York, Los Angeles, and Paris. The fact that she had

even hired me was a miracle. I was good at what I did, I knew that, but I wasn’t trained like she was.

“I’m here,” Hillary called out as she walked from the back room. Her long red hair was not at all

natural. but it was exotic. Add to that her crystal-blue eyes, her eyelash extensions, and the collagen in

her lips, and she was a head turner.

Amanda waved at her, then smiled at me. “I’m so glad you’re back. We need to get together

sometime. Maybe go out one night.”

I wouldn’t be going out at night. Leaving Micah wasn’t an option. I nodded instead because I didn’t

feel like telling her about Micah yet. She would ask questions I didn’t want to answer yet. Besides,

anyone who knew Dustin and took one look at Micah would know.”

DEWAYNE

The condos were going to be finished on time. One less worry on my mind. After the tropical storm

that came through in July, I was afraid it was going to put us off a month or so. Investors were getting

nervous, and all that came to rest on my shoulders. Fucking idiots should have considered the fact that

weather slows shit down before promising buyers that the place would be ready before Christmas.

Dumbasses.

Pulling off my hard hat, I stepped out onto the parking lot from the building and headed for my

truck. I was done for the day. The crew was rolling and didn’t need me. I’d been out here since five

this morning. Squinting against the sun, I was able to make out Preston leaning up against my truck