[English] ONE MORE DAY

One More Day
Page 10



It was also the first year he was actually looking forward to it.

An image of Raina sitting in her backyard, looking so lost and alone entered his mind. If he ever got locked out he’d have plenty of people to call. His parents, his brothers and a whole slew of cousins. He couldn’t imagine not having anyone to help him out. Having a big family wasn’t something he’d ever given much thought to but after today… well, he was suddenly really aware of how much easier his life was because of his family.

He groaned thinking of all the ways he’d put his foot in his mouth around her. Not only had she heard Nick call her a vulture but then he’d implied that beautiful women didn’t need to be smart.

It was no wonder she’d walked off.

He was so distracted that the shrill ring of his cell phone on the desk next to him set his teeth on edge. He grabbed the phone, cursing as the pile of invoices it was sitting on scattered across the floor.

“Jackson Alexander”.

“You are gonna love me for this one. I’m a genius. Tell me I’m a genius!”

“You’re a genius, Mac. Now why the hell are you calling me? Aren’t you supposed to be finding a group for the song we’re working on?”

He stooped to pick up the papers off the floor, sure that his assistant was off task as usual. Some people thought he was crazy for keeping him around after the debacle with Alana. But Jackson believed in loyalty. They’d been friends for years and Mac claimed nothing had happened between him and Alana. Jackson believed him.

The fact that he’d witnessed his friend pushing her away before they knew he was there helped considerably.

“That’s why I’m calling. I found a group that’s perfect. They’re all gorgeous, well most of them and even better, they’re local.” Leave it to Mac to be more interested in the length of their legs than the quality of their voices.

“Can they at least sing? The last time I heard a group you found, only one member could even carry a tune.”

Jackson winced at the memory of the pitiful group trying to sing a capella. They had all looked like cover models, which was reason enough for Mac to be interested. Jackson couldn’t hold it against him, though. Except for his obsession with beautiful women, Michael MacCrane was the hardest working assistant Jackson had ever had and a good friend.

He’d just learned not to trust his instincts when it came to young female singers.

“I’m telling you Jack, these girls have voices like angels. But hey, you don’t have to take my word for it. Girls, sing a few bars for the boss.” There was a ruffling sound as if Mac had put the phone down before he heard someone clear a throat.

It was just a simple ren***ion of the jazz tune “Cry Me a River” but when they were done, Jackson pumped his fist in the air.

This was the break he had been waiting for.

* * * * *

RIDLEY ROLLED OVER and yawned. Napping had seemed like a good idea at the time, but she was too anxious to sleep for more than a few minutes here and there, so now she was tired and groggy. She reached over to the nightstand where she’d left her cell phone charging.

Still no messages.

“Come on, Raina. I really need you to call back.” She blew her hair out of her face and sighed. It was time to consider the possibility that Raina wasn’t going to call her back. They’d never been mad at each other this long before.

Their relationship had been strained ever since she’d decided to look for their father. Their mother had been only too glad to tell them as girls what a good-for-nothing their father was, and how getting herself saddled with two kids was the worst mistake of her life. She’d loved their mother but she hadn’t been the easiest person to love, even when you were trying. She could understand why Raina didn’t want to meet their other parent when the one they’d grown up with had made them so miserable.

But Ridley couldn’t help hoping that maybe their father was different. Maybe he did want them. Maybe she’d finally find the family she’d been wishing for her whole life. Not that all her wishing had done her any good.

If she had to be locked, out this was a pretty nice place to be, but she still wanted to get to her sister’s house. Imposing on family was one thing, imposing on a perfect stranger was an entirely different matter altogether. Especially when the guy in question was sort of a jerk.

Now that he knew she’d overheard him and that his chances of getting her in bed were nonexistent, he was probably more than ready for her to leave. Having her here was sure to cramp his style when one of his girlfriends came over. Although if his brother was to be believed, he must not have many girlfriends, otherwise he wouldn’t need to hit on the first girl to land in his backyard.

“There has to be something I can do.” The waiting was going to drive her insane. She hated feeling helpless. She sat up and picked up her phone. A few taps later, the contact information for Agent Ian Graham was displayed on her screen. Her thumb hesitated over the number for a moment before she tapped it to initiate the call. It rang three times before she heard his gravelly voice.

“Agent Graham? It’s Ridley Wells.”

“Good to hear from you, Miss Wells. I’ve been trying to get in touch with you. Are you out of town?”

“Just for the weekend. Why?”

“I’m finishing up the accident report.” He cleared his throat. “We’ve been trying to get a clearer picture of what your friend was doing in the days leading up to his death. You said he was a private investigator, right?”

One More Day
Page 11



“Yes. I hired him to do a search for my father.”

“How much did he charge?”

Ridley frowned. “He charged by the hour. Usually about a hundred unless it required surveillance. So far, he hadn’t needed to do that. He was mainly looking through paperwork, I think. I know he pulled my mom’s cre*** history. He was trying to figure out exactly where my mother was living and who she had contact with around the time of my conception.”

“Did he seem to be having money problems?”

“I didn’t think so, but I’m not really sure. Why are you asking all these questions? What does this have to do with his car accident?”

“We’re not sure. We noticed some unusual activity in the past month and thought you might be able to help us put the pieces together.”

“I wouldn’t know anything about his financial situation.”

“You didn’t wire him fifty thousand last week?”

“Fifty thousand? Uh, no. I don’t have that kind of money.” Ridley stated.

“Miss Wells, I don’t want to alarm you but I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that the FBI isn’t usually involved in cases like these.”

“Please tell me what’s going on.”

“Mr. Finemore was spotted with a person of interest in one of my cases. Alberto Moreno. The FBI has been monitoring Mr. Moreno for years. He’s suspected of arms dealing, racketeering, drug trafficking, you name it.”

“Moreno? As in the Moreno crime family?” Ridley squeaked.

“Yes. I’m something of an expert on the Morenos, which is why I was asked to assist with Mr. Finemore’s case. Mr. Finemore was spotted by one of our surveillance teams meeting Moreno the day before his death. Do you have any idea why?”

“Maybe he was doing investigative work for them?”

Agent Graham grunted. “If he was doing work for the Morenos it definitely wasn’t legal. Miss Wells, I know Mr. Finemore was a friend of yours but whatever he got himself into got him killed. You were the last person to see him alive. Somehow, you were also the first person at the scene of the accident.”

He stopped speaking abruptly. Ridley had the distinct feeling that he hadn’t meant to say that last part.

“What exactly are you implying Agent Graham? You don’t think I had anything to do with this, do you?”

“I didn’t mean that. Miss Wells, we just want to figure out what’s going on before anyone else gets hurt. When will you be back in town?”

“I don’t know. I’ll call you back.” Ridley hung up and immediately turned her phone off.

She dragged in a ragged breath, her heart beating so hard she couldn’t hear anything else over the sound. It was tempting to pretend she’d never called Agent Graham. To go on ignoring the signs that had been there since the beginning.

Hadn’t she thought it odd that an FBI Agent would be involved in something as simple as a car accident? Now she could no longer ignore the obvious—she was in way over her head. Maybe she should have told Agent Graham that David had come to see her right before the accident. Not that she could see how that would make any difference.

Especially since he already suspected her of killing her friend.

If David had found evidence that Moreno was her father, he would have tried to verify it. But it was doubtful that he would have told Moreno directly of his suspicions. So if she could stay off the grid for a while, there was a good chance that Moreno’s people would never know what he really suspected. If she was lucky, they would never know that he might have a daughter. Daughters, she corrected. After all, this wasn’t just about her.

It had been big news in Florida when the Moreno’s only son had died. No wonder David had told her to lay low. If he’d suspected her father was a Moreno, then he wasn’t just being paranoid when he’d told her he was on to something dangerous. He’d been trying to protect her.

Now he was dead, and if whoever killed him had followed her here, she’d led them right to her sister. If Moreno found her, then it wouldn’t be long before he found Raina, too.

She and her sister might be his only surviving children.

I have to get out of here.

After pulling her cell charger from the wall, she stuffed it in her backpack and made sure it was zipped securely. The thought of someone following her here, possibly hurting her sister or Jackson, made her sick to her stomach. It was a stupid idea to come here. All she’d done was bring trouble to her sister’s doorstep. She was the one who’d wanted to find their father. This was her mess.

No one else deserved to be dragged into the maelstrom of her life.

The day hadn’t been a total waste because at least she’d been able to rest for a bit and charge her phone. It seemed petty to leave without saying goodbye to Jackson but it was probably easier this way. No explanations. No goodbyes.

Business as usual.

CHAPTER FIVE

“THIS WAY, RAINA! Give us that famous smile, sweetheart!"

"Come on, Legs. Just one shot."

Early Sunday morning, Raina Winters strutted past the horde of paparazzi camped out in front of the Fullerton Hotel, her security team surrounding her like a moving wall of muscle. Her agent had booked her on back to back appearances and photo shoots, so she didn't even have time to enjoy the picturesque hotel with its charming views of the Singapore River. The only thing she would see for the next two weeks unrelated to work was her hotel room, the back of her security chief's tee shirt and the inside of her limo. But it would be worth it to get the first real vacation she'd had since she started modeling.

One More Day
Page 12



"Come on, Leggy! Give us a money shot."

The paparazzo who yelled out was one of the regulars who followed her from city to city. He was just as annoying as all the others, but at least he sold good shots of her. Unlike the greasy pig who'd deliberately gotten down low to take a crotch shot when she was exiting her limo after a night of partying last year. He'd made her look like she'd been completely wasted and showing her thong on purpose. Anyone would look like they were flashing their underwear if they had someone kneeling in front of them taking a picture!

"Just one, Sam," she murmured.

Samuel Gannon, her chief of security, turned back to her and nodded. He motioned for the other security guards to flank her, preventing the photographers from getting too close.

She turned to the side, lowered her chin and flashed a wide smile. A blinding flurry of flashbulbs went off as the group scrambled to take shots before she whipped around and ducked into her limo. A second later Sam, and two other security agents, followed. The rest would trail them in a second limo. She only needed this much security when traveling and she couldn’t deny that it was weird having so many people following her around.

In the beginning she'd tried to keep current on who was guarding her and would chat with them, ask about their families. As time went on and her need for ad***ional security grew, it became too difficult to keep track. Sam had been with her since the beginning and she trusted his judgment.

That had to be good enough.

“This morning you have another shoot for,” Sam consulted the clipboard he held, “La Fleur. The skin care company. Then this afternoon, we have the layout for the energy drink.”

“Vitamin supplement.”

Sam smirked. “Whatever you want to call it.”

She pulled her cell phone from her purse and turned it on. She'd been so exhausted the night before that she'd shut it off before falling into bed. As it powered up, she looked out the window of the limo as they inched through the crowded streets of Central Singapore. People lined the streets, their garments a kaleidoscope of colors. A bike passed by the limo so closely she wouldn’t be surprised if he’d taken the paint off the door.

It was a controlled chaos and she wished she could stop the limo and go wading in the sea of people. For once, she’d like to actually experience and enjoy a city while she was there. But she was booked solid for the next two days. Then she was off to the Bahamas for her first shoot with Sports Illustrated.

It was everything she'd been working toward for the last five years. The only thing she hadn't gotten yet was a major sponsorship deal. Her agent was working on a possible deal with a lingerie company, but she wouldn't agree unless she was going to be treated like a star.

If they weren’t going to give her a pair of diamond-studded wings, then it wasn’t worth her time.

The screen of her phone flashed and she swiped her thumb over the face to view her log of missed voicemail messages. Her sister Ridley had called several more times. It was probably time she stopped avoiding her. This was the longest they’d ever gone without speaking since they’d had a crush on the same boy in high school.

“Oh crap.”

Sam looked up from the printed schedule he was reviewing. “What? Is everything okay?”

“I’m not sure. My sister came to see me and I forgot to tell her I changed the security code.”

“Oh, you mean the pathetically obvious security code that I made you change a month ago?” His deep laugh sounded more like the growl of an irritable bear. “Who uses their birthday?”

She gritted her teeth. “Whatever. The point is, my sister is locked out. I’m so glad Jackson was home. At least I know she’s safe with him.”

Sam frowned. “What do we know about this guy?”

Raina rolled her eyes and pulled up Ridley’s contact information so she could call her back.

“His boys come over and play in my yard all the time. He’s a music producer, a single dad and a real sweetheart. Any man who loves his momma that much is okay in my book. Ridley is probably safer with him than she would be staying at my house all alone. I was actually hoping to introduce them at some point, anyway. He’s just the kind of guy my sister needs to be involved with, unlike the losers she normally picks. He’s handsome, successful and most importantly, rich.”

She heaved a breath. “I’m really happy my sister came but man, this timing sucks. I’ve been trying to get in with Sports Illustrated forever. I can’t miss this shoot.”

“Why would you need to go home? Can't you just call your sister and give her the code?” Sam asked.

“I don't want her to be alone. I can barely understand her messages but she sounds like she’s been crying. All I can hear is ‘David’s gone’ so it sounds like she broke up with her new boyfriend, who was more than a little weird in my opinion. I told her he sounded like a scam artist but at least this one didn’t last long—” she stopped suddenly, tracing her thumb over the screen of her phone. Ridley’s number was still displayed.

“What?” Sam asked.

“Nothing, it’s just… I could have not checked my messages this morning. That’s possible, right?”

“Raina,” Sam warned.

“What! I’m just saying this time change is huge. Killer. It’s actually still Saturday evening back home. I could have been so tired that I shut my phone off last night and forgot to turn it back on this morning. Even if I remembered around lunch time, well it would be too late to call the East Coast then because it would be midnight there.” Her lips curled up in a small smile.

One More Day
Page 13



“You have that look,” Sam drawled. When she narrowed her eyes at him, he clarified “The look you get when you’re about to do something you know you shouldn’t. Which usually means I’ll have a mess to clean up afterward.”

“Don’t worry, Sam. This is one mess that you won’t have to deal with.” Raina bit her lip. “Besides, I’m not actually going to do anything. It’s more what I’m not going to do.”

Sam didn’t look mollified. “Are you going to ask your sister to join you in the Bahamas?”

“I am not.” She grinned at Sam. “She’s finally around the kind of guy she deserves to be with. I think she should stay exactly where she is.”

* * * * *

THE ALARM ON the wall of his study beeped. Jackson looked up. The system always sounded a warning when a door or window was opened. Something he considered a necessary precaution with two young children in the house.

He stood and strode to the window. Damn, he hadn’t realized how late it had gotten. Some host he was. He’d mentioned ordering takeout to Raina, but it was already after seven o’clock. It would probably make more sense to take her into town and just pick up something. Just then, he saw a blur of color on the edge of the yard. Raina was walking down his driveway with her backpack over her arm.

“Where is she going?” He watched as she looked down at something in her hand before turning left. She didn’t look back.

****.

“Well, what did you expect?” He cursed under his breath and grabbed his keys off the edge of his desk.

Outside, he waited as his garage door opened with agonizing slowness. Once he was on the street, he gunned his engine. Normally driving the convertible BMW was a pleasure. Today, he only cared that it was fast.

After he left his street he took a right onto Havensbrooke Drive and pressed his foot harder on the accelerator. Several of his neighbors raised a hand in greeting as he passed by, but he didn’t slow down. As he approached the stoplight at the entrance to his community, he cursed. How could she have gotten so far ahead of him on foot? A horn honked behind him and he looked up to see that the light was green. He also saw a small figure turning right on the main road.

“Gotcha.”

He pulled the wheel all the way to the right, cutting off the car that was about to make the turn. He ignored the chorus of honking horns behind him as he passed Raina and parked on the first side street he came to. He jumped out and jogged back to where she stood squinting at the small screen of her phone. When she heard him approach, she looked up absently.

“Excuse me, do you know where…” she trailed off as she met his eyes.

“I’m sure I do but I’m not going to tell you. Why are you walking? Why didn’t you just take one of your cars? Oh wait, if you’re locked out you don’t have your keys. Right. Where are you going anyway?”

She sighed and put her phone back in her pocket. “What does it matter?”

“Well, I was about to order dinner for myself and a guest until I realized said guest left without even saying goodbye.”

She flushed slightly before squaring her shoulders. “Look, it’s not going to happen.”

“What’s not going to happen?”

“Don’t pretend. You know I overheard you talking to your brother. You’ve made your feelings pretty clear; you think all pretty girls are attention whores who are lucky enough to get paid for letting people take their picture.”

He cringed at the word whore but didn’t interrupt.

“And, you know what? That’s fine because maybe I don’t think much of pretty boys who talk about women as if we’re all just vaginas with legs. Either way, I am not sleeping with you. So you can keep your fake sympathy. I’ll just be on my way.” She brushed past him and continued walking.

He jogged after her again.

“Please, wait. I know I’ve given you nothing but the worst possible impression of me today. But I guarantee you there are things about me that will surprise you.”

“I highly doubt that.” She pulled out her phone again, pointedly ignoring him.

“Hey! I’m a very nice person. I pay my taxes. I’ve never been arrested.”

“Good for you.” She didn’t stop walking.

“You already know that I’m a musician,” he added.

“Let me guess, you’re kind of a big deal? Get over yourself.”

Jackson scowled and sped up until he was walking next to her. “How can you think I’m this much of a jerk? Most single fathers don’t have time to do jerky things.”

Raina stopped walking so suddenly that her backpack swung off her shoulder and bumped against her thigh. “Wait, you’re the guy…”

“What?” Jackson asked.

“Nothing.” She swung her bag over her shoulder again but at least she’d stopped running away. “It’s hard to believe you’re the father of those adorable little boys. I used to tell people what a nice guy you were.”

“Usually I am. Today, I am clearly not myself.”

“Okay, well whatever. I know I’ve said things that I was ashamed of later, and lord knows I put my foot in my mouth more than it’s on the ground. That doesn’t change anything. I seem to attract trouble and I don’t want to bring that down on you or anyone else.”

He shaded his eyes with his hand. “Are you in trouble, Raina?”

One More Day
Page 14



She looked away for a moment before her eyes met his again. “I don’t know. I figure staying out of sight is a good idea though. Just in case.”

He looked back at the road. There wasn’t much traffic but they were definitely attracting attention. A blue sedan slowed down as it passed. Jackson lifted a hand in a friendly wave.

“Look, I don’t know the situation, but the idea of you running off alone doesn’t sit right with me. Hiding out at my place would be better than just running off with no plan at all. ”

Raina closed her eyes, her exhaustion so palpable that he knew he’d won.

“Staying does have a certain appeal.”

He turned back to his car, parked haphazardly at the curb behind them. “Let’s go back. At the least, you can sleep on it and then make a decision in the morning with a clear head.”

After a moment, she turned toward the car. He opened the door for her and she sank into the luxurious leather interior. He closed the door gently and went around to the driver’s side. Once he started the car, she turned her head toward him.

“Just so you know, you didn’t win that argument. I’m just too tired to fight anymore.”

He put the car in gear before glancing at her. “Believe me, beautiful, I know that. Let’s save the fight for tomorrow.”

“Okay.” She leaned her head back and looked out the window.

The next time Jackson looked at her, she was sound asleep.

CHAPTER SIX

RIDLEY WOKE SUNDAY morning to a soft tapping sound.

It took her a moment to remember where she was. Gorgeous antique furniture. Silky-soft sheets. She definitely wasn’t at home. The tapping sound started again. She turned her head toward the door.

“Raina? Are you awake?”

The deep voice coming through the door brought it all back. The accident. Agent Graham. Jackson. She pulled the pillow over her head and groaned.

“Raina?”

She threw the covers back. “Just a second!”

After a last ***ch attempt to tame the flyaway strands around her face, she went to the door and yanked it open. Jackson jumped back at the sudden movement.

“Good morning. I was coming to see if you were hungry. You crashed pretty hard last night.” His eyes took in her sleep-creased face and wild hair.

I dare you to say something, thought Ridley.

“But if you aren’t ready, that’s fine. I can wait.” He backed up a step.

She sighed. She must look truly feral if he was already backpedaling.

“No, I just need to brush my teeth and I’ll be down. Thanks.” She closed the door softly and grabbed her backpack. She carried it into the bathroom and pulled out her toothbrush. While she brushed her teeth, she inspected her face in the mirror. God, it was even worse than she thought. Not only did she still have creases from the pillow in her cheek but the eyelashes on her right side were stuck together making her look like she was cross-eyed.

Sigh.

“A femme fatale you are not.”

Ten minutes later, she crept down the staircase and stood in the middle of the biggest family room she’d ever seen. A huge wraparound sectional took up one wall and the other was dominated by a massive flat screen television. Despite the bounty of electronics, the room still retained an airy comfort, probably because everything was a different shade of cream or gold.

There was a piano in the corner and she wandered over. To her surprise, instead of the usual book of classics, there were loose pages of sheet music. She picked one up. The lines and notes appeared to have been drawn in pencil.

“Raina?”

She whirled around, the sheet music drifting to the floor at her feet. Jackson stood in the doorway. He held a spatula in his hands.

“There you are. I’m in the kitchen.”

Guiltily, she knelt and gathered the pages from the floor and placed them back on the piano. She wanted to ask about them but figured if she did, then he might decide to ask her questions, too. So she walked through the family room and into the kitchen. Jackson stood at the range, stirring a mound of eggs in a skillet.

“Morning. Did you sleep well?”

Ridley watched him stirring the eggs for a moment before walking behind him to peer through the window into the backyard. “Yeah, I think I may have actually passed out on the bed.”

“Understandable. You like cheese on your eggs?”

She turned to see him holding a bag of shredded cheese. At her nod, he spread a healthy layer on the eggs. Part of her wondered if she was still dreaming. A handsome man was cooking for her in a state-of-the-art, designer kitchen.

This was definitely not her life.

“So, I figure even if the locksmith doesn’t call back today we can just take it easy. I have no plans other than cleaning the grill. You’re welcome to hang out with me outside if you want.” He handed her a plate and fork. They sat side by side at the breakfast bar.

“Sure. I’ll help you.” She took a tentative bite of her eggs. He must have noticed her expression because he grimaced.

“Sorry I’m not a better cook. Eggs are about all I can handle without poisoning anyone.”

Ridley choked back a laugh. “No, they’re good.” After a couple of bites, she looked around. The house was perfectly quiet. “Are the kids coming down for breakfast?”

Jackson ducked his head. “Uh, no. Nick took them for the weekend. They won’t be back until tomorrow.”

“Oh, yes. I did overhear something about that yesterday.” She pursed her lips and focused on her food.

One More Day
Page 15



“Uh, yeah. I wanted to apologize again for what you heard. Nick can be an ass but he’s usually harmless.”

Ridley snorted. “It’s fine. I should know better than to eavesdrop by now. It never ends well.”

They finished their food in comfortable silence. He rinsed his plate and put it in the dishwasher, so she did the same. He wiped off the counter with a damp rag and then clapped his hands.

“Okay, I’m going to grab my cleaning supplies and then I’ll meet you outside. It’ll be nice to have company while I clean the grill. I always put it off until the last possible second because I hate doing it.”

“I’ll help you. I’ve cleaned a few grills in my time.” She motioned toward the laundry room. “Do you mind if I throw a few things in the wash first? I was going to yesterday but…”

He nodded knowingly. “No problem. The detergent and stuff are in the cabinets overhead.”

“Thanks.”

She turned and walked back out to the family room and then took the stairs two at a time. By the time she got to her room, she was humming under her breath.

“You are so pathetic,” she muttered. She shouldn’t be so giddy at the prospect of spending more time with Jackson. He was just being nice; it wasn’t like they were going on a date or something.

After throwing the entire contents of her backpack in the washing machine, Ridley stood looking at the clothes swirling around through the clear glass panel on the front. It was tempting to just stand there all day and let herself be hypnotized by the motion. Anything was better than thinking about the events of the past few days and the fact that these clothes were the only things she had to her name at the moment.

“Not that I have so much back in Florida, but still.”

She’d been shaken after the accident but after a lot of prodding, a couple of bandages and a few painkillers, she was released from the hospital. The first day after the accident, she thought it was the trauma of what she’d seen that had her imagining things. Books that weren’t in the same place she’d left them. Doors left open that she knew she’d locked. Stupid stuff. It wasn’t until she came home and found her apartment completely trashed that she’d been scared. And if her mother had taught her anything, it was how to move fast.

She’d withdrawn a bunch of cash from the ATM and then left a voicemail for her boss at the garden center. Once she’d gotten back home, she’d thrown a bunch of clothes into her hiking pack and ridden her bike to the bus station. It was almost funny to think of her rusty old ten-speed locked to the bike rack outside the station. She wondered how long before someone cut it loose and disposed of it since there was no telling how long she’d be here. She’d told her boss that she’d needed a two-week vacation for a family emergency, but if things weren’t cleared up by then she’d have to quit. As much as she loved her part-time job, she could always find another one later.

“I’m not even going to think about it. I’m just going to enjoy a relaxing afternoon.” She would take Jackson’s offer at face value, a nice guy offering friendly conversation. Nothing more, nothing less. For just a few hours, she would talk, laugh, and not worry about anything.

She walked back through the kitchen to the staircase she’d descended earlier, casting a longing look at the plush cream-colored couch as she passed. This house was so beautiful, unlike anything she’d ever seen. How cozy it would be to snuggle into the deep cushions and read a book. Maybe after they were done cleaning up outside.

She went back to the guest room and checked her phone. She had one missed call. Maybe Raina had finally decided to stop ignoring her. But when she looked at the number she recognized it as her landlady.

“Mrs. Ashton called?”

Mrs. Ashton was a kindly older woman who rented out rooms in her large duplex to college students. She’d been willing to give Ridley a discount on the rent in exchange for her running errands such as picking up mail from her post office box and getting basic groceries each week.

“I should have let her know I’d be gone. She probably needed something from the store.” She immediately pressed the button to call her back.

She wasn’t sure if she was going to stay in Virginia permanently but it was only fair to let Mrs. Ashton know that she would be gone for a while. She’d probably need to hire someone else to help her out while Ridley was gone.

“Hello?”

Ridley sat up straight at the weak voice coming over the line. “Mrs. Ashton? It’s Ridley.”

“Oh, thank goodness child. Where have you been? I was so worried!” she declared.

“Worried? I just went out of town for the weekend.”

“Oh dear lord. When we couldn’t find you we thought you were in the building when it happened. I’m so glad you’re all right.”

A chill ran down Ridley’s spine hearing the normally reserved Mrs. Ashton so excited. Even though she helped her with her groceries, and random other things around the house, they’d never been particularly close. She’d learned more than once over the years that it just made it harder to move on in the end.

And she’d always had to move on.

“In the building when what happened?”

“There was a fire last night, Ridley. It seems to have started in your bedroom although no one knows how that’s possible. But all your things are gone. It’s all gone.”

“Oh my god.” Ridley cried.

One More Day
Page 16



“The fire department was able to contain it so it didn’t take any of the other rooms in the house. Thank goodness a passerby saw the smoke and called for help.” She paused for a moment, seeming to collect herself. “I wish one of the other units was empty so I could give you one of those when you get back in town but I just took on an exchange student. I’m fully booked.”

“It’s okay, Mrs. Ashton. I’m staying with family and I was toying with the idea of relocating up here anyway. I guess fate has made the decision for me…” she trailed off as the gravity of the words settled on her mind. Her legs trembled, so she sat on the edge of the bed.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

Mrs. Ashton started talking again but she barely heard it. She hadn’t thought she had much to her name, but what was the value of the old photographs of her mother that she’d never see again? Or her half of the best-friends-forever necklace she and Raina had worn every day in junior high? What about the diaries she’d kept faithfully since high school, recording all her fears, dreams and girlish wishes? She’d written in those diaries until she’d learned the hard way that life wasn’t a fairy tale and there were no handsome princes.

All of it, a lifetime of memories, just gone.

“I have to go. I’m so sorry you were worried about me. I’m just glad you’re okay and that no one was hurt in the fire. Thank you for everything.” She hung up and sat staring at the wall in front of her.

It was only when a drop fell on the screen of her phone that she realized she was crying.

* * * * *

JACKSON STOOD IN the doorway to the kitchen and watched as Raina opened the oven. After waiting for fifteen minutes, he’d come looking for her.

The quiet sobs coming through the guest room door had affected him more than anything in a long time.

Raina closed the oven and turned. “Oh! You scared me. I didn’t even hear you walk up.”

Her long lashes were still spiky and wet from her tears. The effect was like a punch to the gut.

What was it about this girl?

Just the thought of her in pain was like a knife to the chest. He cleared his throat and backed up a step.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. When you didn’t come outside, I figured you found something better to do.”

Her face fell. “I’m so sorry. I totally forgot I was supposed to help with the grill.”

“Sure, sure. You ***ched me for something better. I get it.” He heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Hey, I don’t blame you. Cleaning gunk off a grill is hardly an irresistible proposition. But I was really hurt by that, just so you know. The only thing that will help is if you promise to share whatever that is that smells so good.”

Her lips twitched. “You’re crazy. I was going to share anyway. No guilt trip needed. I was just about to take it out of the oven.”

“You really didn’t have to cook. I was just going to order something.” Jackson was truly in awe. She’d made an entire dish in less time than it took him to figure out where the dishes were in his own kitchen.

“Well, I wanted to do something to make up for how rude I was yesterday. I shouldn’t have just left like that.”

“You don’t have to apologize. I would have walked out, too.”

“At least I know you aren’t a vegetarian since your refrigerator is filled with nothing but raw meat. The freezer and pantry were only a little better but I was able to find some frozen chicken breast and some canned vegetables.”

“I haven't had time to shop lately, so we’ve only got the meat I’m marinating for the cookout tomorrow. I have to confess, we mainly eat microwave dinners. The only time we get home-cooked meals is when my mom comes. My mom’s a feminist, so I’m pretty sure raising a son who can’t cook is one of her lifelong disappointments.”

His stomach grumbled loudly and they both laughed at the unexpected noise in the otherwise quiet kitchen. She slid her hand into an oven mitt and pulled open the oven. His mouth watered as a savory aroma immediately filled the room. She placed the dish carefully on the stovetop.

“Well, I can hear you’re hungry, so let’s dig in. I also made string beans with potatoes. I couldn’t find anything else to make in the pantry.” She started scooping food onto plates.

“I’m working on hiring someone to watch the boys and maybe cook a few times a week. None of the nannies I’ve interviewed have worked out so far.” He held up his hands at the large servings she was dishing up. “I don’t think I can eat all of that!”

“Oh… actually this is mine.” She turned back to her plate and giggled a little. It looked like it was heavier than she was. “I was eating fast food in between bus rides on the way here so I need a home-cooked meal myself.” She settled down with her food and hummed as she bit off a piece of chicken.

They ate at the breakfast bar in the kitchen. He couldn’t stop himself from staring as she got up to get a second helping.

“What! I’m not one of those girls who eat a salad and claim to be full. I’m hungry!”

“No, don’t apologize. I appreciate a woman who can eat.” He didn’t add that he also appreciated the after-effects of a healthy appetite, namely the soft curves stretching out her jeans and tee shirt. She already thought he was a pig. If she knew why he was really staring, she’d probably dump the casserole dish over his head.

One More Day
Page 17



“So, where were you coming from?”

Her hand paused before she speared another bite of food. “Florida. That’s where I went to college.”

“It’s weird; I thought I read somewhere that you didn’t go to college.”

“Oh, I didn’t finish.” Raina looked away. “That’s probably why. Anyway, I still have friends there. What about you? Have you always lived here?”

“Virginian, born and bred. My parents have a farm not too far from here. I went to college across the water in Norfolk. Dropped out before I finished, too. I was too busy playing the guitar to study anything useful.”

She looked around. “Well, apparently you studied something useful.”

“Not everyone thinks so. It was a long time before I started earning enough to make a living. Then I got my break about two years ago when a major country western star liked one of my songs enough to record it.”

Her eyes widened and he grinned, enjoying her shock. “Are you surprised? Let me guess, you assumed I was into RB or hip-hop music, right?”

“Okay, you got me. Those were totally stereotypical assumptions to make. I hate when people assume they know me before I even open my mouth. I’m a little ashamed that I’m guilty of doing it, too.” She propped her head on her fist as she watched him. “So, what got you into country music?”

“My parents own a farm, remember? My parents are a little bit country and a little bit rock n’ roll, as my dad would say. We heard country music around the house since I was a little kid. One of my uncles plays the guitar, and he taught me when I was about ten. I haven’t stopped since. That first song turned into an album, then I got an offer to collaborate on another country star’s album. The rest is history, I guess. Both of those albums did really well, so all my hard work finally paid off.”

He stopped then and waited, holding her gaze. When she looked away, he knew she understood. He’d told her his story. Now, it was her turn.

She sighed.

“My mom died a few years ago.”

Jackson closed his eyes. “I am so sorry.”

“Thanks. We weren’t close and I regret that. That’s when I first starting searching for my biological father. I hired a private investigator to track him down. His name was David. He invited me to dinner to tell me what he found out. I didn’t see any harm in going. He seemed nice enough.” She stood and carried her plate over to the sink.

“Before long he was dropping by my place just to chat or bring Chinese. He liked jazz and was a well-respected businessman in the community. I thought I’d finally gotten lucky and met one of these nice guys I keep hearing so much about.”

Jackson stood and put his hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“No, it’s okay. I should tell someone. I need to tell someone.”

As he gazed down into her big, brown eyes, Jackson had a feeling he was going to be sorry he asked.

Mainly because the more he got to know her, the harder it was to leave her alone.

CHAPTER SEVEN

SHE BIT HER lower lip as Jackson eyed her curiously. He was being so sweet to her, even after she’d all but told him to kiss off. He’d done nothing but show her kindness and she’d responded with distrust and sarcasm. He didn’t deserve that from her. Not after he’d been so nice.

I need all the nice I can get right about now.

“He was a real gentleman. He seemed a little flirty at times, but never made a move. I figured he was waiting until after he wrapped up my case before asking me out. But for the longest time he said he was hitting nothing but dead ends. Then last week, he came by my house one morning and told me he was on to something big. This was before the accident.” She lowered her eyes.

“The accident?” Jackson asked gently.

He fell silent but kept his hand on her shoulder. Such a small sign of support but it made it a little easier for her to talk knowing he was on her side. She’d spent the past two hours trying not to think about how her life had recently gone up in ashes.

Literally.

Maybe if she talked about it, she could get past the mind-numbing fear.

“He asked me to hold this for him.” She pulled the pendant from beneath her shirt. “I thought it was a little odd. After all, if he was worried about it being stolen where he was going, why didn’t he just leave it at home? But I was on my way to the bank anyway, so I decided to just put it in my safe deposit box. I ended up on the road behind him. I saw when his car skidded and went through the guardrail.” She swallowed, just the memory of it enough to steal her breath.

Jackson shook his head. “That must have been scary.”

“I called the police and then tried to climb down to get to him. I didn’t know how steep it was and I fell. When the police arrived, they helped pull me back up.” Unconsciously, her hand fluttered to her wrist, where the bruises were still visible. “I could see him in the car. I kept asking the police to get him out but they couldn’t. The car was already on fire by then. We had to wait until fire and rescue arrived.”

“I am so sorry.”

Their eyes met and she couldn’t look away. He raised a hand to her face and pushed a stray curl behind her ear. But he didn’t step back after that. He seemed fascinated by her hair, rubbing the strands of a fat curl between his fingers.

“Raina —”

One More Day
Page 18



“My name is Ridley. Ridley Wells.”

He released her, reluctantly. “Wait, what?”

“I just wanted to tell you, that is…” She twisted the bottom of her shirt in her fist. “Raina Winters isn’t my real name. I changed it.”

It was silly, actually. Almost borderline neurotic that it bothered her to hear him call her by her sister’s name. This doesn’t absolve you, she told herself. After all, she was still lying to him. But this evening with Jackson was one of the best she’d had in a long time. As stupid as it was, she wanted him to know her. The real her.

She stepped closer and placed her hand on his chest right over his heart. “I like you, Jackson. I just want you to know the real me.”

“I want to know the real you, too. Ridley.” He whispered it as if testing out the sound. “I like it. It fits you. Beautiful, strong and as unique as you are.”

“Thank you.” She exhaled. Maybe she could just tell him the whole story? He actually seemed to understand.

“I’m glad you told me. Most of the women I meet are so fake. They just lie to get what they want but you are so different from what I expected.”

Oh, wow. Ridley cringed. So much for that. She wasn’t sure how to even respond to that. How was she ever going to explain what had happened? He’d probably just think she was a pathological liar and throw her out.

After a few moments of awkward silence he asked, “So, what happened after that?”

She pulled away and walked over to the window to look out into the night. It was dark, and she couldn’t see much other than the shapes of the trees in the backyard.

“When I called the FBI agent on the case today, he told me that David was involved with some pretty sketchy people.” She smiled weakly.

Jackson crouched down until she couldn’t avoid his eyes. “Hey, hey. It’s going to be okay.”

“But it’s not okay. That’s why I ran yesterday.” At Jackson’s puzzled look, she continued, “I didn’t tell them that David was killed because of my case. He’d found a lead on my father. The FBI saw David meeting with a member of the Moreno crime family. What if that was his lead? What if Alberto Moreno is my father?” Her voice broke and she covered her mouth with her hand.

He pulled her against his chest and rubbed a hand up and down her back. It was a completely platonic move but it warmed her, inside and out.

“We don’t know that. It could be completely unrelated.”

“But it makes sense. It explains why my mom didn’t want him to find us and why she was so bitter. It even explains why we moved so much. She spent her entire life on the run from him and because of what I did, he might know where we are now.”

She tried to hold herself rigid, not to lean too heavily into his unexpected embrace, but her willpower was no match against the warmth he offered. Her shoulders sagged and she leaned against him, boneless, as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Do you mind if I ask my brother, Elliott, to look into it? He owns a security firm up in D.C. and has contacts within the FBI. He’ll be able to find out what’s going on. Okay?”

“Okay,” she whispered. “I wish I knew what to do about this necklace. It must have been pretty valuable if David was worried about it being stolen.”

“Do you want me to put it in my safe?”

“You have a safe?” At his nod, she reached up and unhooked the clasp at the back of her neck. “Thank you, Jackson. I’ll have to get in contact with the FBI again and find out how to return it to his family.”

“Not tonight you don’t.” He put the necklace in his pocket and ran his hands up and down her arms. “Tonight you just need to relax.”

She wasn’t used to men being so attentive unless they wanted something. But his hands never strayed from her arms and he didn’t try to pull her any closer. As she turned to look up at him, Jackson’s lips brushed over her hair. She wasn’t entirely sure he’d meant to do it but the contact seared her straight down to her toes.

After the first rush of emotion passed, she covered her face with her hands, embarrassed to have gotten so emotional in front of him. Jackson had the perfect life. Why would he want to hear all about her problems? He was gorgeous, successful and seemed to know exactly what he wanted.

Which, of course, just made her feel even more pathetic in comparison.

“I’m just feeling sorry for myself. I feel like my life was finally starting to fall into place. But then this happened so, here I am. Hiding out.”

“You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need to. No one will think to look for you at my house, and you’ll have plenty of time to figure out your next move. Stay with me.”

“I don’t want to impose.”

“Do I look like I mind? It’ll be fun.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

“You are ridiculous.” She pulled a paper towel from the holder on the counter and dabbed at her eyes. "I didn't mean to dump all this emotional crap on you."

“You're not dumping. I asked for your story, didn't I?"

“That was probably more than you bargained for. I’m sure you don’t want to hear about my screwed-up life.”

“I think you’re being a little hard on yourself. Everyone makes mistakes, myself included.”

Ridley scoffed. “You don’t have to try to make me feel better.”

One More Day
Page 19



“You think I’m just saying that?” Jackson tilted his head and regarded her through narrowed eyes. “My last girlfriend was only using me to get a record deal. Oh, and the last album I produced was such a flop that I’m pretty sure the only people who bought copies of it are my mom and dad.”

Ridley stared at him, momentarily stunned. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I just want you to know you’re not the only one who screws up sometimes. No one is perfect. All we can do is go forward and try to do better.” Jackson tipped her chin up until she met his eyes. “I’m just glad you’re okay. I meant what I said. You’re more than welcome to hide out here for as long as you want.”

Ridley’s eyes went wide, then she licked her lips nervously, unsettled by the warmth of his strong fingers touching her face. He went still as well, as if surprised by his own actions. Then he backed away and cleared his throat.

“Sorry. I don’t want you to think I’m, you know, hitting on you. I’m sure you get more than enough of that.”

Warmth spread through her at his words. “It’s no problem,” she whispered.

She wasn’t normally the damsel in distress type but it had been so nice to be held. Comforted. If that was how he hit on her, she could do with a little more.

"Now, what do you say we just hang out and watch a movie? Neither one of us is going to think about anything heavy for the rest of the night.” He grinned at her and she found herself smiling back.

“Okay, I can do that.”

They cleaned the kitchen in amiable silence. Then Jackson turned to her and said, “Ready to go?" and held out a hand to her. She was startled into grasping it. He squeezed gently and pulled her after him into the living room.

She sat on the couch as he flipped through a stack of movies until he found the one he wanted. A warm, contented feeling settled over her and Ridley was tempted to allow herself to get swept up in the magic. To snuggle deep into the cushions of the couch and pretend this was her normal life and Jackson was her boyfriend.

Stop it, Ridley.

Jackson seemed like a nice guy and he’d done nothing but offer her help. But she’d learned the hard way over the years that no one did anything without wanting something in return, eventually. It wouldn’t do for her to get too attached to him or too accustomed to having his help. This was a temporary stop just like every other move in her life and when she moved on, she’d do it the same as always.

Alone.

* * * * *

“I CAN NOT believe he just said that!” Raina was curled up on the opposite end of the couch giggling. No, not Raina, he reminded himself. Ridley.

Apparently Raina Winters was more than just a stage name. It was also a persona she used to hide her real personality. No one would believe the perfectly coiffed, man-eating Raina Winters was really a shy, sweet girl who giggled at slapstick comedy. Jackson picked up another piece of popcorn from the big bowl on the table next to him and threw it at her.

“I can’t believe you’ve never seen a Will Ferrell movie before.” Jackson shook his head in mock dismay and turned back to the TV.

While outwardly he was paying attention to the onscreen antics, in truth he only knew what was happening because he’d seen this particular comedy several times before. He’d spent most of the last hour staring at Ridley. Entranced by her smile. Captivated by her laugh.

And hard as a rock by her smooth bare legs brushing up against his.

Ridley turned and caught him looking. She grinned and kicked him playfully, her foot landing square in the middle of his stomach.

“Oooof. What was that for?” Jackson captured her foot, partially to keep her from knocking the wind out of him, and partially to keep it from drifting any lower and giving her proof of just how much he wasn’t paying attention to the movie.

“I don’t know. I just wanted to say thanks. For suggesting this.” She motioned toward the television where Will Ferrell’s character read the news while wearing a ridiculously large fake mustache. “This has been, hands down, one of the crappiest weeks of my life. But somehow, I don’t know, it doesn’t seem as overwhelming anymore. A movie and some laughs with a friend are exactly what I needed.”

A wicked part of him couldn’t resist asking, “So, we’re friends, huh?”

Her eyes widened slightly before a shy smile spread across her face. “I thought so…” she trailed off.

“I’m just kidding. Of course we’re friends. As long as you aren’t a Dallas fan.”

“I never said I wasn’t,” she teased.

“La, La, La.” He covered his ears and pretended he couldn’t hear her.

Something inside him warmed as he watched her turn back to the movie and let out another giggle. Gone was the wary, distrustful girl he’d originally met. He doubted many people got to see the real Ridley, with her bulletproof, mental armor stripped off. Which was one more reason that his dick had to take a backseat.

She wasn’t the kind of woman you slept with for a night.

She was the kind you watched stupid comedies with and told jokes to make her smile. The kind you held in your arms until she fell asleep. The kind who deserved a man who could love her with his whole heart, not the tattered remnants that currently took up space in his chest.

Since he knew he wasn’t fit for any of the above, he was honored just to be her friend.