Nausea nearly suffocated Lilly at the sight. But as hard as she’d tried to concentrate on Molly, her gaze kept straying back to them.

“Now I see what has you so distracted,” Molly said, snapping a finger in front of Lacey’s eyes.

“What? Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention,” Lacey admitted. She refocused her attention on Molly, telling herself whatever was going on between Ty and that woman was none of her business.

It was a lie and she knew it.

“You haven’t been paying attention to me for a while.” Molly laughed, her good nature coming through.

“How’d you know?”

“The scowl on your face gave you away. Nobody frowns over a good clothing sale!” Molly laughed but quickly sobered, her stare traveling to the couple in the corner. “You have to realize she’s no competition for you.”

Heat rose to Lacey’s face. “I can’t believe you caught me watching them,” she said, mortified.

“It’s human nature to be curious.” Molly snagged a peanut from a dish on the bar and popped it into her mouth. “But what I said about her not being competition is true. I’ve seen the way Ty looks at you and whew!” She fanned her face with a small napkin.

Lacey couldn’t deny Ty’s heated looks, but she’d noticed something disturbing-an intimacy-when she’d watched him with the other woman. “They’ve slept together.”

“And you know this, how?” Molly leveled her with a curious stare.

“Woman’s intuition.” Lacey shivered and folded her arms across her chest.

“Even if you’re right, it’s over now,” Ty said, coming up behind her.

“Caught again.” She covered her face with her hands and groaned.

Molly chuckled. “I think this is where I excuse myself. I see some friends from work. It’s time for me to join them.” She waved and walked away, leaving Lacey to face the music.

“I’m sorry I was spying on you.” She bit the inside of her cheek.

“I’m not. I’d have told you about our talk anyway.” He pulled out the stool Molly had used and seated himself next to Lacey.

She swallowed hard. “But you hadn’t told me yet. In fact, you never mentioned her at all while I told you all about Alex.”

For all that she and Ty had been close, she realized now there were still things they didn’t know about one another. There were still secrets between them.

“I didn’t tell you because there was nothing for you to know. Gloria filled a need in my life just like Alex filled one in yours.” He reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

His hand was warm, his touch arousing. That was the problem, she thought. He could distract her easily and make her forget anything but him.

She refused to get sidetracked now. Although he’d said it was over, there was still something she needed to know. “Did you love her?”

As Lacey spoke, she suddenly understood how Ty must have felt hearing about her relationship with Alex. It hurt to ask. It would hurt even more to hear about it.

He shook his head and a weight lifted off her chest.

“There’s only one thing you need to know about Gloria,” Ty said in his gruff, sexy voice.

Butterflies took up residence in her belly, a warm fluttering feeling she savored. “And what’s that?”

“She wasn’t you.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. She felt ridiculous reacting in such an emotional way but she couldn’t control her relief or the overwhelming gratitude filling her. She couldn’t speak but figured the wide smile on her face would be a good enough reply.

He cupped his hands around her cheeks and tilted her head back. Slowly, without his gaze ever leaving hers, he lowered his head and let his lips touch, then seal their emotions. All the things they hadn’t said, Lacey felt in the sweet, reverent way his mouth lingered on hers.

Too soon, he pulled back. “I really have to get back to work.”

She nodded and gave him permission with a flirty wave of her hand.

They both knew where they’d pick up later on.

HUNTER HAD BEEN going over questions for a witness when Ty called. Although he’d never have said no based on the urgency in his friend’s voice, he could definitely use the break. By the time he strode into Night Owl’s, it was nearing eleven. Since he’d still have to finish up at the office later, he didn’t glance around, not wanting to waste time on small talk with friends.

Five minutes later, he, Ty and Lilly were seated around a small table in the back. Four college students had finally stumbled out, laughing and making way too much noise. Hunter couldn’t ever remember being as loose and carefree in those days-he’d been too preoccupied with “making good,” as he’d come to think of his quest to achieve.

“I didn’t know you’d asked Hunter to come by. What’s going on?” Lilly asked.

Hunter raised an eyebrow. He’d figured Lilly was up on everything Ty knew.

“I got a call from Derek earlier and he said your uncle had an interesting visitor today,” Ty said.

“Who?” Hunter and Lilly asked at the same time.

Ty leaned forward in his seat. “Not long after we left his office this morning, Paul Dunne paid Dumont a visit. Unless there’s a piece of the puzzle I’m missing, I can’t think of a damn reason why, unless it had something to do with Lilly’s trust fund.”

“Oh man.” Hunter ran a hand through his hair.

Lilly, who’d grown pale on hearing Ty’s rationale, remained silent.

“Do you know something I don’t? Does Dumont have a relationship of some kind with Paul Dunne? Are they golfing buddies?” Ty asked. “Help me here because otherwise-”

“Let’s just stop looking for excuses where there are none,” Lilly said at last. “We all know Uncle Marc wanted my trust fund ten years ago and that hasn’t changed. What has changed is that now he also wants me dead.”

The word reverberated between them.

“I agree,” Ty said.

“So do I. The question is what are we going to do about it?” Hunter asked.

“I’m not going to go into hiding,” Lilly said before either Hunter or Ty could suggest it, although Hunter thought the idea had merit.

“Why the hell not? Would you rather make yourself a walking target? Because the next time he probably won’t miss.” Ty visibly shuddered at the possibility.

Lilly frowned. “Well, I’m finished hiding from the man. Wasn’t that the reason I came back in the first place? To face him down?To deal with my past? Well, I’m going to deal with it.”

Hunter decided it was time to step in between the two disagreeing lovers. He hated to side with Ty and piss Lilly off, but the other man had a point.

Hunter turned to Lilly who’d called him this afternoon to explain the trust agreement. “I don’t know if you realize but considering the terms of the trust fund, you have three weeks to-how do I put this delicately?-you have three weeks to remain alive in order to claim your trust fund. I don’t think waving a red flag in front of your uncle is going to help you do that,” Hunter said.

“Exactly.” Ty emphasized his point by pounding his fist against the table.

Hunter winced, sensing that his friend’s take-charge manner was going to set Lilly off.

She rose to her feet but smartly kept her voice low. “I’ll give you two choices. I can go home for the next three weeks and come back to claim my trust fund on my birthday.”

“And make yourself an easy target in the big city where nobody knows Dumont or can keep an eye on him in any way,” Ty countered.

“Or I can stay here and make myself an easy target. We’ll just have to be one step ahead of Uncle Marc and be ready for him when he strikes again.”

This time Ty rose to his feet, as well. “Absolutely not.”

Hunter groaned. “Will you two sit down? You’re calling attention to us and that’s not what we’re looking for.”

Surprisingly they both lowered themselves back into their chairs.

“I think Lilly’s right,” Hunter said to Ty. “Either we draw him out by keeping her out in public or he’s going to strike again when we aren’t prepared.”

Ty frowned.

Hunter knew Ty well. Eventually he’d come around to their way of thinking, but not because he was afraid of confrontation. He wasn’t. Because Hunter was right.

“You know I’m right. Dumont is going to come after Lilly either way, so we might as well let her live her life and be ready when he does.” Hunter pointedly glanced at Ty. “Well?”

“Yeah,” he muttered, obviously unhappy with the situation.

Lilly put her hand over his. “I appreciate the support,” she said quietly.

Ty inclined his head, saying nothing. But Lilly didn’t need words nor did she need to be right for the sake of it, Hunter thought. This was why they were such a perfect fit. Lilly didn’t gloat over a victory nor did she push Ty past what he could handle. She stood up for herself but also respected his views. Hopefully they’d have a chance at a future when all this was over.

Hopefully he and Molly would, as well.

Hunter stood. “I have to get back to work. I wish like hell I could help you two out but the court has me tied up with this case.”

Lilly slid her chair back and rose.

Ty did the same.

“I’m just glad you’re here and able to listen.” Lilly walked over and gave Hunter a quick hug.

“You’re doing exactly what we need,” Ty said, his gratitude evident in all he didn’t say.

“Listen, I’m going to go the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.” Lilly headed to the door a few feet away.

Ty turned back to Hunter. “One more thing. I have a favor to ask.”

“Name it,” Hunter said.

“See what Molly knows about Dumont’s relationship with Paul Dunne. I didn’t like the man at all and if they’re connected in any way, it can’t be good.”

Hunter nodded. “I hear you.”

Ty cleared his throat.

“I’m just sorry Molly’s involved with that bastard at all,” Hunter said. “Have the cops found anything remotely connecting Dumont to the fire?”

“No, because there’s nothing to be found,” Molly said as she came up behind Hunter, wearing a tight-fitting, fire-engine-red spandex top.

Hunter refrained from whistling. He was in deep enough shit already.

Ty glanced at Molly and grimaced. “I tried to warn you,” he said to Hunter.

“Well, you needn’t have bothered,” Molly said. “I deserve to know exactly what Hunter thinks of my soon-to-be stepfather.” She folded her hands across her chest, glaring at him.

“Bye, guys,” Ty said, and with a regret-filled glance, he stepped away, leaving Hunter to deal with Molly.

Ty had done the right thing. Molly’s anger was directed at Hunter. He had to fix things alone. Unfortunately he didn’t think anything would mend this rift.

Not anymore.

After the start they’d made the other night, this was a huge setback and a knifelike pain stabbed him in the gut. Her opinion of him mattered and he’d obviously lost both her trust and her respect.

He stepped closer, speaking quietly. “To be fair, you know I never liked the man.”

Molly straightened her shoulders, her walls firmly in place. “But I didn’t think you’d go so far as to accuse him of attempted murder. My mother’s marrying the man. She’s in love with him. And I’ve seen the other side of him, the one you refuse to believe exists. I’m telling you, no matter what Marc did in the past, he is not a murderer now.”

Hunter merely nodded, acknowledging her words if not agreeing with them.

“You do realize that I was with Lilly at the mall. Marc wouldn’t win any brownie points with my mother by running me over.”

“I didn’t say what we believe is flawless. But if he hired someone, that person might not know who you were.”

He already knew now he and Molly would never see eye to eye on this subject. Too bad this wasn’t something on which either of them would be willing to compromise.

Instead of discussing the impossible, he changed the subject. “What’s Dumont’s relationship with Paul Dunne, do you know?”

She cocked her head to one side. “The trustee of Lacey’s parents’ will? I’d think that would be obvious.”

He appreciated her spunk. “Why don’t you enlighten the less informed among us?” He didn’t know another way to get her to open up than to frustrate her with sarcasm.

She narrowed her gaze, clearly annoyed with him. “Paul Dunne is the trustee,” she said slowly, enunciating each word as if he were an idiot. “That means he dispenses the money as per Lacey’s parents’ wishes. Which also means he met Marc over ten years ago. So whatever plot you think you’ve concocted between them, give it up.”

At least she was answering his questions so Hunter figured he might as well keep going. “What about Anna Marie?” he asked.

“What about her?” Molly’s tone grew even more wary if such a thing were possible.