Neal''s cigarette wasn''t even lit before Sebastian started flipping through the files, loud and impatient.


    Neal nced over. Sebastian''s jaw was so tense it looked like it could snap, his profile even sharper in the car''s shadow.


    "What''s up with you?" Neal slid the cigarette pack back into his pocket and bumped Sebastian''s arm. "Who''s got you all worked up today?"


    Sebastian looked up, his gaze dark and cold, like a frozenke. "That night. The drug. It wasn''t Reese."


    His voice was barely above a whisper. "She didn''t marry me because she wanted to."


    Neal almost dropped his cigarette. His eyes went wide. "Wait, what? You sure?"


    Everyone had always said Reese had done whatever it took, drugged Sebastian, just to marry into the Ratcliff family. And Sebastian had kept his distance after the wedding, like he believed it too.


    "If it wasn''t her, then who? Who in Bridger Lake would dare mess with you?"


    Sebastian tapped the file in hisp. "I don''t know."


    "I had people look into it. Only found the hotel server from back then, but he left years ago. No way to find him now."


    "That''s it?" Neal thumped his chest. "Give me whatever you have. If he''s still alive, I''ll track him down in three days, tops."


    He shot Sebastian a strange look. If Reese never wanted to marry him, shouldn''t he be happy to call it quits? What was he so upset about?


    Before he could ask, Leslie slid into the back seat. Her white suit was a little dusty, and her usual bright smile was barely there.


    "What''s going on?" she asked.


    Neal looked back. "You''re finally home-shouldn''t we go out and celebrate tonight?"


    "Sorry, I probably won''t have time." Leslie tried to smile. "ckOak turned down the deal."


    She rubbed her forehead, sounding stressed. "Landing this partnership is the whole reason I came to Bridger Lake. If I can''t get it done, HQ''s not going to be happy."


    Neal waved it off. "Not a big deal. Just have Sebastian make a call. Problem solved. In Bridger Lake, nobody says no to him," he added.


    Leslie nced at Sebastian with a hopeful, yful grin. "Mr. Ratcliff, help me out?"


    Sebastian stared out the window, the ss fa?ade of ckOak Center throwing sunlight in his face. "I''ll see what I can do."


    A peal ofughter drifted in through the car window, light and happy.


    Outside, Reese was walking by, holding hands with a little girl in two neat braids, heading for ckOak Sebastian sat up straighter and fo some reason, found himself. ncing at Leslie. He didn''t want Reese to see him here with her.


    The little girl looked up at Reese, chattering away. Reese listened, a gentle smile curving her lips.


    Neal gave a low whistle. "Didn''t know Reese liked kids this much. She spoils Robbie, would give him the stars if he asked, and now she''s so sweet with this girl too. That smite way more real than when she''s around you, man..."


    He stopped, sensing the mood, and nced over at Sebastian.


    Sebastian shot him a look that could freeze the air. He stayed silent.


    Lately, Reese had been cold to him, ever since the thing with Sofia. Then there was Robbie''s kick-she''d lost the baby after that.


    Sebastian couldn''t shake the memory of her pale face in the hospital, or the heavy sighs from the old man at home. It all pressed on him, thick and suffocating.


    "Let''s go," Sebastian said suddenly, his voice sharp as ice.


    Neal didn''t argue. He fired up the engine right away.


    In the rearview, Reese led the little girl into ck Oak. A tall man appeared from the shadows, and the girl reached for his hand. The three of them walked through the doors together.


    Sebastian looked back just in time to see it. His brow creased, and a restless, gnawing frustration red up inside him.


    Inside the building, Reese handed Annie''s tiny backpack to Matthew. "I''ll keep an eye on the numbers. Why don''t you take Annie home for a bit and let her rest?"