Contents

       Cover

       Title Page

      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

       Endpage

       Copyright

       Chapter One

      Nurse Jennifer Green stepped out of the Emergency Department, gripping her keys and wondering how many people had to die before others realized texting and driving was a really bad idea.

      A tall blonde followed her. “Good night, Jen.”

      “Night, Heather.” Jen waved as Heather went left and she went right.

      The humidity in South Carolina in the middle of July made the air thick enough to suffocate a person. Jennifer tried to drag in a breath as she rushed to her car, anxious to crank up the vehicle’s powerful air conditioner.

      But approximately twenty yards later as her car came into view, she came to an abrupt halt. She couldn’t help the stunned gasp that escaped. Then the anger hit. “What are you doing here?”

      Trevor Hanks, her high school sweetheart and the only man she’d ever loved, leaned against her white Toyota Corolla, arms crossed over that broad chest she’d snuggled against numerous times.

      He frowned. “Well that’s a nice greeting.”

      “Sorry, you surprised me.”

      His stance softened. “I know.”

      “So…what are you doing here?”

      “I need a favor.”

      Of all the nerve. The last time she’d seen him, he’d driven away with promises to meet her the next night. He’d never shown up, and she hadn’t heard a word from him since. Now, two years later, here he was asking for a favor? She simply gaped. “Really?”

      Trevor sighed. “Look, I know we didn’t exactly part on good terms, but I’m working a case and I would appreciate it if you’d hear me out.”

      Sweat dripped from her brow. She swiped it with the back of her hand and hitched her purse higher. “Fine. But let’s do it in comfort.” She couldn’t think in this heat and she definitely needed to be able to think around Trevor Hanks.

      Once in the vehicle, she turned the air on full blast. They suffered in silence until the car finally began to cool down. She shot Trevor a sideways glance. “Where have you been for the past two years, Trevor?”

      “Working.”

      As a special agent for the FBI, she had no doubt he stayed busy, but surely he’d had access to a phone. “Is that what you’re doing right now? Working?”

      “Sort of. The favor I need involves my job—and your family.”

      That got her attention. “What do you mean, my family?”

      He stared out the window for a moment then brought his eyes to hers again. “Your cousin, Justin, has been fingered in a black-market baby ring. He’s supposed to move a baby this weekend.”

      Jennifer could only blink at Trevor. His words didn’t make sense. “What?”

      He sighed and leaned closer. Her eyes dropped to his lips, and memories of his sweet kisses flooded her. She glanced away then met his gaze again, and the knowing look he gave her sent shivers all over her.

      She put the mental brakes on. They were finished. And now he was accusing her cousin—a cousin who had been there for her when Trevor hadn’t—of hideous things. “No way. You’re wrong.”

      “Then help me prove it.”

      “How?”

      “I need to get close to him. So…I want you to act like we’ve fallen in love again and let me be your boyfriend for the weekend.”

      Jen thought she’d swallow her tongue. There wouldn’t be any acting involved. She still loved him.

      “But this weekend is my family reunion.”

      He gave her a slow smile. “Exactly. And this weekend, that’s what I want to be—family.”

       Chapter Two

      Two days later, Jennifer stared down at a body in her parents’ master bathroom, biting back a scream. She started to edge away, then realized the victim might be alive in spite of the large knife protruding from his chest. She had to check.

      Jen reached out to touch his wrist, feeling for a pulse. None. But his skin was still warm. Slowly, she backed through the door and fumbled for her cell phone. She snagged it from the rear pocket of her denim shorts. Her fingers shook so hard she had trouble dialing 911.

      She stopped.

      Trevor. He would know what to do. For the first time this weekend, she was glad she’d brought him. Could this man be part of the illegal baby ring that Trevor was trying to bring down?

      Swallowing her panic, Jennifer hurled herself down the hall and slammed into a hard chest. Trevor ginned at her. “Hey, sweetheart, I wondered where you’d gone.”

      “There’s