Jennifer is a wonderful woman. She’s bright and witty, and I can understand why Ethan likes her this much.

I’m showing her around Payson while Ethan takes care of business. We’ve walked through the town a little, and seen the school that Ethan and I attended. I’ve pointed out the golf course we used to break into, shown her Molly’s, and now that we’ve picked up an iced tea to go, we’re heading toward Rumsey Park.

“Oh wow,” Jennifer breathes, looking around with a disbelieving smile. “You know, I really can’t imagine Ethan here.”

Jennifer herself appears out of place in her pinstriped pencil skirt and stiletto heels. She seems very metropolitan; I don’t think I’ve ever looked that professional and well-presented. Her hair is long, reddish-blonde, and perfectly straight. Her makeup is subtle but meticulously applied. She looks like she’s recently stepped out of a limo, heading to a critical meeting in a skyscraper somewhere.

“Ethan wasn’t always so…” I tilt my hand helplessly, searching for the word.

“Serious and brooding?”

I laugh. “Exactly.”

“Tell me what he used to be like.”

I twirl a strand of hair around my finger, smiling fondly at the thought of young Ethan. “He was a lot of fun. I used to drag him into all kinds of mischief. He was always the sensible one, but I could always convince him to do crazy things. He was very sweet, too, the sort of guy who would give you the clothes off his back. Very sentimental, very kind.”

“What did he look like?”

I grin. “He was always good looking, but his fashion sense has come a long way. He used to wear jeans with shredded cuffs and tees with torn collars. I remember this one T-shirt he had. It had this design on the front—the plasticky kind. He wore that shirt over and over until the design completely peeled off, but he refused to throw it out. He loved it.”

Jennifer smiles at the image. “It’s only the finest Italian tailoring now.”

“I’ve noticed.” I shake my head. “I can’t believe how much he’s changed.”

“Oh, he’s not as hard-nosed as he seems. He’s a big softie, really—but he doesn’t want anyone to know. Get close enough to him, though, and he can’t hide it. He’s got a good soul.”

I smile and look at Jen as we walk. When she talks about Ethan, I can see how much she cares for him. “How do you know him, anyway? Did you two used to date?”

I know Ethan has told me they’re only friends, but I can’t understand how he could spend this much time with a beautiful woman who cares about him and keep it completely platonic.

Jennifer laughs. “God, no. I mean, Ethan’s wonderful, but when we first met, men were the last thing on my mind. Then we started working together, and it wouldn’t have been something I’d have risked. Working for Ethan has turned my life around.”

We’ve reached Rumsey Park and find a picnic table to sit at. Jennifer perches on the edge of the bench with one shapely leg crossed over the other. A male jogger turns his head as he runs past. I’m pretty sure he’s not looking at me, not in my jeans and giraffe print T-shirt.

“How did you meet him?”

Jennifer leans forward to tell me the story. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, and I can see a fond smile on her face. “I was working in a diner,” she says. “I was serving Ethan one day. He wasn’t a chatty customer. He ordered and didn’t make small talk. I only served him, didn’t start a conversation. I was serving some other tables that night. One of them was a family of four who dined and dashed on me. When my manager found out, he said I had to pay for their food out of my tips. I couldn’t even argue because I couldn’t afford to lose the job.”

She shakes her head. “I broke down. I took Ethan’s bill to him, and he could see I’d been crying. He asked me if I was okay, and I don’t know what happened. I poured my heart out to him. I’d been treated like shit by my customers all evening, and my manager was a heartless prick. Ethan was the first person to treat me like a human all day. I started telling him my life story.

“I told him about my broken relationship. The father of my one-year-old son had recently walked out on me and wasn’t paying child support. I was working two part-time jobs as a single mom and still wasn’t making ends meet. I told him about the family that had dined and dashed and what my manager had done. I told him about how I was giving life everything I had, but coming up short.”

I’m captivated. I lean forward, eyes wide. “What happened then?”

“Ethan took hold of my hand, looked me right in the eye, and told me I deserved better. He said he was a businessman, and he wanted to offer me a job. I told him I didn’t have any qualifications and that I had a kid at home. He said it didn’t matter. I had the attitude he was looking for.

“I wasn’t sure what to think. I thought it might have been some line to get me into bed or something. I don’t know. I didn’t have a lot of faith in men at the time. Ethan left me his card and told me that if I got in touch, a job would be waiting.

“I went home and looked him up. That’s when I saw who he was. He wasn’t quite as big back then, but I think he’d recently turned his first five million or something. He was up and coming. I called, thinking he’d have forgotten all about me, but I was put straight through. Ethan said the offer still stood. I took a leap of faith and accepted his offer.

“He did everything he said he would and more. He gave me a job that paid the bills with full benefits for my son and me. He even set up a college fund for Noah, my kid. He saved us.”

My heart grows warm. Now I know that Jennifer has seen the side of Ethan I truly know and love. “That’s a beautiful story.”

Jennifer is wet-eyed. She brushes away a tear with her thumb and smiles. “He’s never treated me like a charity case. He treats me like a professional. He’s always shown me respect. I had no idea what I was capable of until Ethan opened the door.”

I smile. “Sounds like Ethan saw what you could do long before you saw it in yourself.”

“I still don’t understand why he did what he did for me.”

“Has he ever told you about his mom?”

“Small things. I know she raised him on her own, and she passed away when he was a teen.”

“That’s right. She was a single mom—like you. She worked really hard. Ethan adored her. I think his upbringing has stayed with him. He has a lot of respect for people like you.”

“The feeling’s mutual. He may be a complete idiot sometimes, but he’s a good man.”

I laugh. “He doesn’t always get it right, then?”

“He told me about leaving you when you were kids. I’m sorry. That must have been so hard for you.”

An old pain twinges, but I push it down. Ethan’s back now. “It was,” I confess. “But I tried to understand. I know how hard it was for Ethan when his mom died.”

“He loves you, you know.”

“He says he does,” I nod. “I guess I still worry, though. He’s left me before.”

“Oh, he’s not going anywhere this time, Lily. I mean, he gave up the defense contract for you! He wouldn’t do that for anyone. That deal was worth billions.”

I frown. “Defense contract?”

Jennifer returns my confused look. “You know, the Department of Defense?”

“I don’t know about it. What do you mean, he gave it up for me?”

She flushes red and waves her hands. “Forget it. I thought you knew.”

Jennifer stands, but I grab her wrist. “Jennifer? Tell me.”

Her face is pained. I can see tears beginning to rise. Whatever she’s talking about, she knows she’s said too much. “I can’t.”

“Jennifer, please. Tell me what you mean. I’m only going to ask him anyway.”

Her voice lowers to a whisper. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Tell me.”

Jennifer slowly sinks back onto the bench. Her hands are shaking. When she glances at me, her gaze is guilty. “You know Vincent Oswald.” It’s not a question. Jennifer knows the whole story.

“Yes.”

“He’s not a good man.”

My suspicions burn hot. “Seriously, Jennifer. What’s going on?”

“Ethan was trying to protect you.”

“Please tell me what you know.”

“Vincent bought out the deed to your apartment. He was going to evict you if Ethan didn’t give up the defense contract. It’s a huge contract worth billions. Steele Industries has been working on it all year. Vincent was after it, too.”

I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. “And Ethan gave up the contract?”

“In return for the deed. To save your home.”

My blood is boiling. Tears sting behind my eyes. My voice catches in my throat. “And that’s why Vincent up and left suddenly? He really was using me to get to Ethan?”

Jennifer lays her hand gently on my arm. “I’m sorry, Lily. Ethan came to Payson to warn you. He had a feeling that Vincent was up to something.”

“It was business this whole time.”

“Lily.”

“Ethan only came back because of Vincent. He wasn’t coming back for me at all. He only wanted to make sure that Vincent didn’t get me. He got him out the picture by making a business deal. This whole thing, it’s only been one big competition between them, hasn’t it? They’ve been using me as a pawn.”

Jennifer is openly crying now. “It’s not like that, Lily. Ethan only wanted to protect you.”

“Protect me from something that was his fault to begin with. From maybe having a happy life. He used me.” I stand and stride toward the building where Ethan has set up his temporary offices. “He practically bought me from Vincent. Who does something like that?”

“It’s not what it seems.” Jennifer races after me. “Please, Lily! Take some time to think about it. He was never trying to hurt you. He loves you.”

I stop and spin on my heel to face Jennifer. We both have tears streaming down our faces.

I throw my hands up in despair. “I can’t trust him, Jennifer. It’s never the whole truth with Ethan. If I’d known what had happened with Vincent, maybe I wouldn’t have fallen right back into his arms, but he made me believe he was there for me when I needed him. Really, he was pulling the strings the whole time.”

“Please, Lily, try to see it from Ethan’s perspective.”

“I’ve tried to see it his way! I tried to see it his way when he first left. I made excuses for him because of what he’d been through, and when he came back, I forgave him. He sleeps with me and vanishes, and I forgive him again because I tried to see it from his perspective. Now I find out he’s pushed Vincent out of my life to make it easier for him to sweep back in, and they were both using me to score points against the other the whole time. Those aren’t the actions of a man in love.”

“He wasn’t thinking, Lily.”

“He never does.”

“Please take some time to think.”

“I’ve given him enough time and enough chances. No more. We’re done.”