The other man leaned against the railing overlooking the parking lot. “You seemed down when we spoke last night and I thought you could use the moral support.”
“So you drove all this way in the middle of the night?”
His uncle inclined his head. “I told you. You’re the son I never had.”
“And I appreciate the support.” More than he was able to express at the moment, despite his mixed feelings about Uncle Russ joining him here.
“I intend to be here for you every step of the way.”
Ryan glanced at the sky, wondering when the hell his life had gotten so damn complicated. Then, resigned to the inevitable, Ryan turned to his uncle. “Want to go meet your niece?”
His uncle’s face lit up in a way Ryan hadn’t seen in years. “Just lead the way, son.”
ZOE PACED THE FAMILY ROOM, angry at Sam and furious with herself. Early that morning, the family discovered Sam was gone, missing from her bedroom and nowhere else in the house. No matter how many alternatives they discussed, they could come to no other conclusion than she had run away from home. Common sense told them that Sam had bolted the same way she’d done before, to test the family’s loyalty and desire to have her around.
Normally they’d wait her out, give her some time to think, and then find her in an obvious place. She’d be lectured, then grounded, just as Ari or Zoe had been as children—proof to Sam that she was one of them. But in this case, her fear of being taken away was valid, and nobody had wanted to give her too much headway in her escape.
Zoe had anticipated the teenager withdrawing, so why hadn’t she insisted on sleeping in her room last night instead of leaving her alone? She slammed her palm against the table in frustration, then shook the sting from her hand.
She hated being the one home waiting in case Sam called or showed up, but her parents had gone knocking on her friends’ doors, Quinn and Ari were checking other places Sam might go, like the youth center around the corner, and Connor was asking around at local hospitals.
Zoe walked to the window and glanced out to the street in time to see Ryan pull up in his fancy BMW. God, he was the last thing she needed now. He was also the one person she wanted desperately. It would help to have his shoulder to cry on because despite that they each wanted Sam in their family, they both had her welfare at heart. She needed to share her fear with him now.
She opened the door and watched Ryan…and an older man she didn’t recognize as they strode together up her front walk.
The stranger’s presence prevented her from acting on her stupid impulse to fling herself into Ryan’s arms for comfort and reassurance. Odd things to expect or desire from the man whose very presence had caused the upheaval.
He strode forward with confidence, wearing the suit he’d had on the first day they’d met. He was clean shaven and his hair was neatly combed. His appearance made him look more like the uptight man she’d met at the birthday party than the relaxed guy she’d spent time with lately. Yet his appeal was certain and unnerving and not even the ultra-conservative look changed the fact that the man was drop-dead gorgeous and caused Zoe’s awareness levels to soar.
“Zoe? What’s wrong?” he asked.
She pulled her thoughts together and forced a smile. “What makes you think anything’s wrong?”
He stepped closer, so he could speak directly to her, whispering for her ears alone. “Because I know you and while your smile might say one thing, I see something else entirely in your eyes.”
Her internal radar went on the fritz when he stepped closer and she smelled his familiar, sexy cologne, while her stomach churned, warmed by his concern and understanding. Still, he hadn’t introduced her to his companion and he held himself apart from her in a way that told her their intimacy seemed to be in the past. Reminding herself that she’d pulled away from him first didn’t ease the sting.
“You told her, didn’t you?” he asked, guessing accurately.
“Come on in and I’ll explain.” She pushed the front door open wide and gestured inside.
When they were all seated, she inclined her head toward the older gentleman. His salt-and-pepper hair gave him a distinguished air. “And who is this?” she asked.
Ryan shook his head. “Sorry, my manners seem to have failed me,” he said rather formally. “Uncle Russell, meet Zoe Costas. Uncle Russell came down because…He…”
Ryan’s voice trailed off and Zoe understood the reason for his sudden discomfort. “He wanted to meet Sam,” she finished for him. “Odd considering nobody but you has seemed interested in Sam in years.” Zoe lashed out, refusing to hold her feelings back, but unable to meet Ryan’s gaze as she did so.
Beside Ryan, his uncle stiffened.
“That was completely uncalled for,” Ryan said as he turned suddenly judgmental before her eyes.
“The young lady has gumption,” his uncle said in an equally formal voice.
She couldn’t tell if his comment was meant as a compliment or an insult. Between the New England accent and the haughty attitude, he hid his true feelings well.
“I always have gumption, especially when I’m protecting family. And Sam is already family. She’s my sister. Signing adoption papers is just a formality,” she said, forcing herself to speak aloud a conviction she no longer believed was so simple and straightforward.
Ryan set his jaw. “We’ll see about that.”
She narrowed her gaze. Never in all the time they’d been together, first as adversaries and later as lovers, had this subject come up. They’d each trodden carefully around the other’s feelings, wanting what was best for the teenager, and respecting the other’s position and desires. Yet in front of his uncle, Ryan took a definitive stand that froze Zoe inside and out.
But she’d started it by mentioning the adoption and suddenly she knew why, just as she knew what was different about Ryan now. His demeanor had changed. Though he’d only been in New Jersey a short time, in the past few days he’d relaxed around Zoe and her family. He’d accepted their outspokenness and come to enjoy their uniqueness, like Elena’s kimonos and Sam’s pet pig. All things that would never be accepted in his Boston home.
Yet sitting sandwiched between Zoe and his uncle, he was faced with two disparate choices. The Costases’ eccentricity versus the values of his conservative relatives. Any feelings he might have developed for Zoe versus his loyalty to his own family.
His worst nightmare had come to life, Zoe thought. As had hers, since it was obvious whom he would choose. Ryan’s aloofness and the clothes he’d chosen all put a barrier between himself and Zoe, and proved her gut instinct had been correct all along. More than the physical distance between New Jersey and Massachusetts separated her from Ryan. More separated them than even their desire to claim Sam.
The emotional gulf between them couldn’t be greater. Heaven help her when he discovered Sam had run away.
RYAN WAS FURIOUS. He couldn’t look at Zoe without wanting to strangle her. Signing adoption papers was just a formality? Since when had she deleted him from the equation, without a thought? That lack of thought was the key to his anger. Throughout this painful process, they’d developed a respect for one another that she’d completely trashed in one split second.
He clenched his fists, then turned to his uncle. “Excuse us for a minute, won’t you?” Ryan stood, grasped Zoe’s hand and pulled her into the kitchen.
The door swung shut behind them and he immediately turned, backing her toward the counter. He stared into the green eyes capable of bringing him to his knees.
He couldn’t afford to lose focus now. “Care to tell me what that was all about back there?”
“What was what all about?” She braced her hands against the Formica and leaned back. Away from him.
“That nonsense about Sam. The cold way you’re deliberately distancing yourself from me. When we need to help each other most.”
She blinked. “Are you for real? You show up on my doorstep right after I had to bre
ak my parents’ hearts, wearing your stuffy suit and bringing your equally stuffy uncle in what has to be a show of power and—”
Ryan didn’t know what possessed him, but one minute she was hurling accusations that clearly told him how scared and hurt she really was, and the next minute all he could think about was kissing her. He watched those full, sensual lips moving and all he could hear was the blood pounding in his ears propelled by the desire coursing through his veins.
He’d missed her and now he had to taste her or go completely insane. He grabbed her forearms and pulled her close, then pressed his lips against hers. He was hard and demanded everything and she immediately responded, kissing him back, her mouth willing and open, all the pent-up passion and desire and need spilling forth.
He tangled his hands in her hair and angled her head so he could get deeper access into the warm, wet recesses of her mouth. She trembled under his assault and he turned his head so he could trail moist kisses down her cheek and slender neck, inhaling her fragrant scent.
Zoe loved the taste and feel of him. Sensually he lit her on fire, and emotionally he filled the cold, scared places. The intensity between them grew stronger each time they laid eyes on one another. Not even distance or anger could remain between them for long.
His impulsive, take-charge kiss was obviously meant to be a resolution of sorts. She’d seen it with her parents too often to be wrong, and she reluctantly pulled out of his embrace.
“We can’t do this.” Shaking, she rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “Especially not now.”
“Because?” He inclined his head, obviously confused.
She combed her fingers through her hair, trying to smooth the messy strands. “A kiss can’t fix our problems. There’s too much between us.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw and she had to stifle the urge to stroke his skin. “It’s a start.”
“Sam ran away.”
He reared back, her words obviously hitting him hard. “Dammit,” he growled, his initial shock giving way to palpable anger.
He swung around and walked toward the kitchen sink. Bracing his hands on the counter, he glanced out the window overlooking the yard. “Because she found out the truth?”
“Yes. She came home unexpectedly and overheard us talking. She stormed off to her room. She was there at bedtime—I know because I checked on her—but this morning she was gone.”
“What about that state-of-the-art alarm system your mother promised she’d use?”
Zoe touched his shoulder lightly when she really wanted to grab him and pound him for his innuendo.
He swiveled around to face her.
“Sam likes cool air when she sleeps so my mother bypasses her window so she can open it at night. Would you like to arrest her for making Sam more comfortable?” she asked, her sarcasm deliberately biting.
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
“The hell you didn’t.”
“I don’t think your fighting is going to help find Samantha.”
Zoe turned, shocked to see Ryan’s uncle standing in the kitchen doorway. She wondered how much he’d witnessed, then decided she didn’t care.
“He’s right.” Ryan threaded his fingers through his hair.
“My family’s out looking for Sam.” Zoe didn’t want either of these men thinking her family wasn’t worried about the teen, or worse, that they were neglectful in caring for her.
“I’m sure they are. Tell me, has anyone checked her room for clues to her whereabouts?” Uncle Russ asked.
Zoe narrowed her gaze. “Well, no. We immediately spread out to check places she’s gone to before or might be likely to go to now.” Zoe hated that this smug man thought of something her family, including Quinn, had missed. But he had a good point. “I’ll go up to Sam’s room now.”
At that moment, the telephone rang and Zoe jumped to grab it, in case someone had found Sam. “Hello?”
“Hi, Zoe. It’s Connor.”
“Hey. Any news?” Since Connor had the emergency rooms on his list, she fervently hoped not.
“Not a thing.”
Zoe let out a deep breath of air. Covering the phone, she glanced at Ryan. “She’s not in any of the local hospitals,” she reassured him.
“Thank God.” He lowered himself into the nearest chair, looking too pale for her peace of mind.
“Would it help if I gave her room a cursory glance?” Uncle Russ asked.
Zoe waved him away. Let him do whatever he wanted as long as he stayed out of her way. “Connor, thank you for calling. Let me know if you hear from Quinn.”
“Will do.”
“Thanks.” Zoe hung up the phone and strode over to where Ryan sat. “Are you okay?” She was hesitant to touch him in a way that offered support or comfort.
One minute they were adversaries, the next desperate lovers and after that uncertain allies, both concerned about Sam. Zoe wasn’t certain what category they fell into right now.
“Did I ever tell you about the day Faith ran away?” Ryan asked, taking her by surprise.
Zoe shook her head. Until this moment, the parallels hadn’t occurred to her. But Zoe understood now that Ryan was reliving a painful time in his life.
She pulled a chair up beside him and covered his hand with hers. “I’m listening.” Not only because she relished details of his life, but because it gave her something to focus on while she manned the house.
“Faith was a typical older sister. She rarely wanted me around. That is, until the night before she left.” His eyes clouded over and Zoe could tell he was remembering vividly.
“Ari and I were twins and sometimes we didn’t want each other around,” she said, laughing.
“That’s what made that last night so strange. But I didn’t know it at the time. She called me into her room and I hung out with her awhile. She paced around the room, talking quickly. I don’t know if she was high at the time or completely lucid and just excited, knowing she planned to run away the next day.”
He would never know, but Zoe wasn’t about to say so aloud.
“The only thing I really remember was that she kept talking to me about staying true to myself. Being myself. Doing what I wanted with my life and not what was expected of me.”
“She cared.”
He swallowed hard, his eyes damp, visibly shaken by the memories. “It was probably the only time she showed it. The rest of my memories revolve around her fights with my parents, slamming doors to get away from them.”
“Like mother like daughter.” Zoe shook her head. “But it’s typical teenage behavior. We expect it.”
“My parents didn’t.” His fist clenched at his side. “Whoever told them to expect perfection from children had definitely steered them wrong,” he muttered.
“What happened the morning Faith left?”
“I can answer that.”
Zoe stiffened as Uncle Russ, a man she’d come to view as an intruder, walked back into the room. She wanted time alone with Ryan and he’d taken that from her.
Zoe wondered what else Ryan’s family would take away.
Chapter Eight
ZOE WAITED FOR RYAN’S UNCLE to speak. The muscles in the back of her neck hurt from nerves and stress and she rolled her head from side to side, trying to ease the tension.
“Faith liked to stir things up,” Russ said at last. “She had obviously planned to run away because she knew I kept petty cash in my briefcase and she stole that money before she took off.”
“From the business?” Zoe asked, surprised any teenager would take that kind of risk.
Russ shook his head. “She stole money from the home office, actually.”
“Uncle Russ lives in a gatehouse on the property,” Ryan explained. “He and my father have an office there. Wasn’t that also during the days when there were mob-related truck hijackings?” Ryan asked his uncle. “I remember Dad talking about those days when J.T. was ready to come into the business.”
His uncle nodded slowly
. “Yes, yes. Those were chaotic times in every sense of the word,” he said.
“And why is it you never tried to find Faith?” she asked, turning the subject back to what was important. She met the older man’s gaze and waited for an answer.
He cleared his throat. “I beg to differ, young lady. I did try to find my niece. Unfortunately her trail grew cold rather quickly.”
Ryan rose from his seat. “Uncle Russ is my main ally and supporter. I’ve seen his paperwork and the detective I hired worked off of any trail he’d managed to find.”
Zoe glanced at the older man. “Speaking of trails, did you find anything in her room?”
“Beyond all those candles, stuffed animals, magazines and books?” He shook his head laughing softly. “She’s obviously been treated well.”
“Here,” Zoe reminded him. “She’s been treated well here.” She pointed to the floor of her home. “Before that it was the foster-care shuffle and nobody bought her a damn thing unless she absolutely needed it.”
Ryan placed a calming hand on her arm. “Let’s try to hold it together until she comes home, okay?”
Zoe nodded. Another half an hour passed during which she thought she’d go mad, mostly from the feeling that Ryan’s uncle was watching her and her actions around his nephew. She hated being under a microscope and this man made studying and examining an art form.
Ryan and his uncle spoke in hushed tones in the corner of the family room, yet every so often she’d catch Ryan’s compelling gaze on her and she’d heat up, knowing they still had unspoken feelings and desires between them.
Zoe was lying on the couch nearby with one arm covering her eyes when the phone finally rang. She jumped up and grabbed the receiver. “Hello?”
“Hello, this is Francesca at the spa. I think I have someone here you might be looking for,” the woman said in a lowered voice.
Zoe swallowed hard, her relief so profound her legs began to shake. “How long has Sam been there?”
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