Chapter One
Nurse Jennifer Green stepped out of the Emergency Department, gripping her keys and wondering how many people had to die before others realized texting and driving was a really bad idea.
A tall blonde followed her. âGood night, Jen.â
âNight, Heather.â Jen waved as Heather went left and she went right.
The humidity in South Carolina in the middle of July made the air thick enough to suffocate a person. Jennifer tried to drag in a breath as she rushed to her car, anxious to crank up the vehicleâs powerful air conditioner.
But approximately twenty yards later as her car came into view, she came to an abrupt halt. She couldnât help the stunned gasp that escaped. Then the anger hit. âWhat are you doing here?â
Trevor Hanks, her high school sweetheart and the only man sheâd ever loved, leaned against her white Toyota Corolla, arms crossed over that broad chest sheâd snuggled against numerous times.
He frowned. âWell thatâs a nice greeting.â
âSorry, you surprised me.â
His stance softened. âI know.â
âSoâ¦what are you doing here?â
âI need a favor.â
Of all the nerve. The last time sheâd seen him, heâd driven away with promises to meet her the next night. Heâd never shown up, and she hadnât heard a word from him since. Now, two years later, here he was asking for a favor? She simply gaped. âReally?â
Trevor sighed. âLook, I know we didnât exactly part on good terms, but Iâm working a case and I would appreciate it if youâd hear me out.â
Sweat dripped from her brow. She swiped it with the back of her hand and hitched her purse higher. âFine. But letâs do it in comfort.â She couldnât think in this heat and she definitely needed to be able to think around Trevor Hanks.
Once in the vehicle, she turned the air on full blast. They suffered in silence until the car finally began to cool down. She shot Trevor a sideways glance. âWhere have you been for the past two years, Trevor?â
âWorking.â
As a special agent for the FBI, she had no doubt he stayed busy, but surely heâd had access to a phone. âIs that what youâre doing right now? Working?â
âSort of. The favor I need involves my jobâand your family.â
That got her attention. âWhat do you mean, my family?â
He stared out the window for a moment then brought his eyes to hers again. âYour cousin, Justin, has been fingered in a black-market baby ring. Heâs supposed to move a baby this weekend.â
Jennifer could only blink at Trevor. His words didnât make sense. âWhat?â
He sighed and leaned closer. Her eyes dropped to his lips, and memories of his sweet kisses flooded her. She glanced away then met his gaze again, and the knowing look he gave her sent shivers all over her.
She put the mental brakes on. They were finished. And now he was accusing her cousinâa cousin who had been there for her when Trevor hadnâtâof hideous things. âNo way. Youâre wrong.â
âThen help me prove it.â
âHow?â
âI need to get close to him. Soâ¦I want you to act like weâve fallen in love again and let me be your boyfriend for the weekend.â
Jen thought sheâd swallow her tongue. There wouldnât be any acting involved. She still loved him.
âBut this weekend is my family reunion.â
He gave her a slow smile. âExactly. And this weekend, thatâs what I want to beâfamily.â
Chapter Two
Two days later, Jennifer stared down at a body in her parentsâ master bathroom, biting back a scream. She started to edge away, then realized the victim might be alive in spite of the large knife protruding from his chest. She had to check.
Jen reached out to touch his wrist, feeling for a pulse. None. But his skin was still warm. Slowly, she backed through the door and fumbled for her cell phone. She snagged it from the rear pocket of her denim shorts. Her fingers shook so hard she had trouble dialing 911.
She stopped.
Trevor. He would know what to do. For the first time this weekend, she was glad sheâd brought him. Could this man be part of the illegal baby ring that Trevor was trying to bring down?
Swallowing her panic, Jennifer hurled herself down the hall and slammed into a hard chest. Trevor ginned at her. âHey, sweetheart, I wondered where youâd gone.â
âThereâs a dead body in the bathroom,â she blurted. Hysteria welled.
Trevor blinked, all sign of teasing erased from his face. âWhat?â He pushed past her and strode into the master bath. He stepped back and ran a hand down his face. âOkay, this wasnât in the plan.â