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the hell had that been? Things with Jake hadn’t gone at all as he had hoped. And Sadie. “Shit,” he sighed. “Sadie.”
    He’d made a choice with Sadie, and although it wasn’t one he was proud of, what was he supposed to do? He’d spent years wondering if Sadie had killed one of his best friends, believing that she had lied to him. Used him. There had always been a part of him that doubted, that couldn’t believe she was capable of that. Then again, everybody had their limits, and maybe—just maybe—she had been driven to hers.
    He just hadn’t known, hadn’t been sure, and he hated not knowing. It had haunted him. And then a year ago all that had changed. All his doubts had been confirmed, his questions answered. And Sadie had been freed.
    But then what? Overnight, he was just supposed to forget everything? She’d been in prison. She was a different person than she had been. She had to be. And Philip was gone. How could he just take her back into his life as if nothing had happened? And what about his business, his colleagues—his family? So much had been hanging in the balance a year ago. And even now so much depended on his good reputation and his standing in the community and the business world. Contact with Sadie would have jeopardized all that. And back then—as now—he couldn’t take that risk.
    He shook off thoughts of Sadie. He couldn’t deal with that now, couldn’t deal with thoughts of what she was possibly telling Jake at that very moment.
    He crossed to the small oak bar in the corner of the living room and poured himself a couple of fingers of scotch. He settled himself in supple leather, his body sinking deep into the soft cushions of his favorite chair. Jake had helped him pick it out several months ago, on a trip to Montreal. It was the only time they’d ever gone away together. It had been so good. Too good.
    The scotch seared its way down his throat. This chair was the only piece of furniture in this opulent showplace of a condo that truly made him feel at home. And Jake had been a part of that. In fact Jake had encouraged him to do the one thing he’d never seemed to have the energy to do—to redecorate, or possibly even move. To make a concerted effort to put a painful past with two opportunistic and pretentious ex-wives behind him.
    He had listened too. He’d decided to do it. He’d been that close. He’d literally had his finger poised to dial the realtor when the phone had rung—and everything had changed.
    “Dad?” said a sleepy voice. “When did you get back?”

Chapter Three
    “Here.” Jake—she’d finally learned his name—held up his prize. He’d gone rooting through his drawers in search of something suitable for her to wear. Apparently over the years a few girlfriends had left behind various items of clothing and he’d thought it prudent to keep them around—for emergencies.
    She eyed the sundress warily. It was pretty enough, boasting a flowing abstract pattern in brilliant purple and turquoise. And although she had never typically gone for such vibrant tones, she had to admit that after years of prison gray and waitress black-and-white she found herself thirsting for color. So the color and the pattern weren’t the problem. She frowned. “I don’t know.”
    “What’s wrong?” Jake held it up to her and then said softly, “Oh.” The thing would have hung on her like a sack and might well have left her breasts half exposed. And Sadie didn’t show her breasts off—not to anyone.
    “I can just keep this on,” she reasoned, smoothing a hand down the front of her uniform. “It’s not that bad.” Jake had originally intended to take her shopping for a few things, but when he’d caught her nodding off in the cab and then heard her stomach growling, he had changed his plans. He’d insisted on taking her home for a hot meal followed by a long sleep. Her objections had been halfhearted at best. Good food and a soft bed sounded heavenly.
    And then