She found my mouth again for one more kiss. “I’d like that too,” she said, a little breathless.

My arms were under her back and behind her knees. I was carrying her into the bedroom, in a gallant way, taking my time, looking down at her with each step. Her eyes met mine and I wondered if she was feeling anything close to what I was.

The look on her face when I lowered her down onto the great, big bed with the clean white sheets told me she did, and her actions reaffirmed it. She brushed the hair from my forehead and drew a line down my scar. Her touch was soft and gentle and as she pulled her fingers away, she lifted herself to kiss me there, right there, the spot that reminded me what I’d done every time I looked in the mirror.

However, when she looked at me, she didn’t see the monster I saw. Her eyes told me she saw something different, and it felt like another layer of the ice around my heart had melted.

“Make love to me,” she whispered.

I did.

We stayed in the missionary position with my body covering hers. I shivered a little with my first thrust and she did too.

I took my time. I didn’t rush things. I wanted what remained of the night to last forever. We moved together, slowly, making love over and over, until daylight flooded the room.

“Elle,” I murmured when I rolled off her.

She turned to her side to face me. She was beautiful in the morning light. I wanted to tell her what I saw when I looked at her. That even though we barely knew each other, I felt something for her I couldn’t explain. How she somehow lit me up from within. How the sound of her breathing was something I looked forward to hearing. And how her scent was one I couldn’t live without. But that wasn’t what I told her. Instead, I told her what I’d learned that night. That it was her sister the other night. That I thought it was her sister in O’Shea’s house, too. That if Lizzy was still close, so was Tommy. We talked about what her sister could have been after, but she didn’t have a clue. And finally, I told her that for her and Clementine’s sake, we needed to stay away from each other.

Gently, she stroked my hair and kissed my mouth. And then she killed me. “I know,” she said in a strained voice.

But neither of us spoke of when or how we’d do that.

In the early morning light, I pulled her close and stroked her back, softly lulling her to sleep.

When her breathing was even, I eased out of bed, tucked a few things in a duffle bag, and slipped out the door.

In the elevator, I brought up Declan’s number.

“Hello,” he answered.

“Hey man, I was wondering if you could do me a favor?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Elle is in my suite at the Four Seasons. Can you head over there and take her to the boutique? Tell her to stay at O’Shea’s house and call me if she needs me.” Although I hated the idea, I knew his house was like Fort Knox and she’d be safer there than at her place.

“Yeah, no problem. Charlene is here and can cover for me.”

“Don’t forget to make sure she knows who you are.”

“I’m not completely stupid.”

The elevator door opened. “Yeah, right. Sorry, man. I’ll leave the key at the desk in your name.”

“Okay, I’ll head over now.”

“And Declan, I’ll be at my father’s. Stop by tonight. If you’re still willing, I could use your help.”

“Sure, man. I’ll be there.”

“Grab Miles, too, if you don’t mind. I want both of you to connect with my old man.”

“Yeah, sure, no problem.”

A quick stop at the desk to leave the key and tell them I’d be back for my things and then I was walking out the door.

A sudden sadness hit me.

And I couldn’t help but hope I wasn’t walking out of Elle’s life too.

DAY 6

ELLE

I wasn’t doing well.

It had been almost two days since I’d seen Logan.

Aside from a couple of text messages, we hadn’t been in contact. One message asked me if Michael had mentioned anything about Friday. My response was what it always was: no. And the other came just before I left work. It was informative only. He still hadn’t found my sister.

I wanted to hear his voice, to talk to him, to tell him the things I was feeling. But he had left me alone yesterday morning without so much as a note or a goodbye, and although I knew it was the best way for us to part, it still stung.

My fantasies that the truths I had yet to tell him would be accepted were just that, fantasies. And the space he had put between us helped to put that in perspective.

Using my key, I let myself into Michael’s house. I had decided to take Logan’s advice and stay at Michael’s for a few days to be closer to Clementine. I wasn’t certain what could happen with Michael or Logan and wanted to be near her.

It was after nine and I knew Clementine would be asleep. With Peyton recovering and Rachel working only part-time, I was working from opening to close. I set my keys on the foyer table next to the fresh vase of flowers. Michael must have gone to see his father again today at the florist’s shop. He’d gone almost every day this week and I wondered if his father was ill.

Next to the flowers was a picture of Michael’s deceased mother. She was beautiful, posed like an old-time actress in the photo, wearing a strapless sundress and sitting on picnic table with her legs crossed in her high heels. There were pictures of her throughout the house. Oddly, there were no pictures of him and Lizzy together in the house, though.

“You’re home late.” Michael, his rumpled suit, was sitting in a chair in the family room. He had a thick stack of papers in one hand and a glass of amber-colored liquid in the other. There was a yellow legal pad on the table beside him with notes or one of his lists written on it. Soft music played and the lamp beside him shined down only to give enough light for him to see whatever it was he was reading.

We exchanged glances. I hadn’t told him anything about Logan and I. I just knew he wouldn’t be happy about it and I couldn’t jeopardize my relationship with Clementine.

“What are those?” I asked for lack of anything else to say.

“Résumés for a new nanny.”

“Why? What happened to Sarah?” I asked, shocked at this news.

He swirled his drink in his hand. “She gave me her notice today. She’ll stay until I find a replacement, at least.”

The news made me wonder—first his secretary, now the nanny. Was there something I didn’t know?

“Maybe Lizzy will come home before then.” I didn’t know why I said it. I shouldn’t have. Logan had told me not to say anything. I knew Logan suspected foul play on Michael’s part, but he didn’t know Michael like I did. Still, even though I trusted him, something inside me told me to keep my mouth shut, so I did.

He sipped his drink and looked at me with suspicion. “Have you heard from Elizabeth?”

I shook my head. “No, it’s just I’m sure she misses Clementine.”

Michael set the stack of résumés on the table beside him and stood with his glass in hand. He strode over to the bar and picked up the crystal decanter. “Can I pour you one?”

“No, thank you. It’s been a long day. I’m going to change and make something to eat and then go to bed.”

With his glass full, he turned around. “I picked you up that shaved garden salad you like and a lobster roll with fries. They’re in the fridge.”

“B&G’s,” I said with a smile.

He nodded. “I knew you’d be tired and that you probably wouldn’t have eaten.”

“Thanks, that was really nice of you,” I told him and headed upstairs.

Clementine was fast asleep and safe in her room. I stared at her for the longest time. She was an innocent caught up in a mess, but I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her, nor was I going to let anything impact her blissful state. She was too precious. I swiped at my tears and kissed her softly. “I love you so much,” I whispered.