Her thoughts drifted to Victor Lockridge.


    The private investigator she''d hired had tracked Theresa Carlisle to a location not far from where the Carlisles had found Theresa''s earring. Victor was already on his way there, and Glenn hadn''t returned yet. It wouldn''t be long before they


    crossed paths.


    Could Victor be using her to threaten Glenn? After all, their business partnership was public knowledge.


    Before she could dwell on it, her phone rang again. This time, it was Finn Lockridge.


    She answered, "What is it?"


    "You sound so cold," Finn said, his voiceced with mock heartbreak. "You''re hurting my feelings."


    Evangeline paused. "...Am I?"


    "Is that any way to talk to your boyfriend?" he chided yfully. "Shouldn''t your first words be something like, ''I miss you"?"


    Evangeline considered this and fell silent. She''d never really dated anyone. She''d had a crush on Soren, but they never had the chance to be a real couple before they were pushed into a loveless marriage. Soren had always been cold and dismissive, so she had no idea what a normal rtionship was supposed to feel like. She and Finn hadn''t gotten together for love, either, but now that they were a couple, she was willing to y the part if that''s what he wanted.


    "I..." Evangeline tried to form the words, but her face grew hot. They felt impossible to say. Finally, she gave up and tossed the challenge back at him. "You didn''t say you missed me, either."


    Finn chuckled softly, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. "Evangeline, I don''t just miss you. I love you. I think about you every second of every day."


    She fell silent again. She knew they were just sweet nothings, the kind of lines he''d probably used on countless other women. She was hardly the first. And yet, he delivered them with such sincerity that her cheeks burned even hotter.


    On impulse, she whispered, "Me too."


    The words were out before she could stop them. She rubbed her forehead in frustration. Whenever she was with Finn, she found herself getting swept up, letting him lead her exactly where he wanted. He was right—she let her guard down too easily around him. At least she knew he didn''t mean her any harm.


    His voice was a softugh on the other end of the line. "Good. Then you''ll have dinner with me tomorrow night. And wait for me at home in the morning-I''ll drive you to work."


    It wasn''t a request. Evangeline thought about it for a moment, then agreed.


    Only after she hung up did she realize she''d forgotten to tell him she had moved. It didn''t seem worth another phone call just to give him an address, so she started typing out a text. Halfway through, she remembered the flicker of a thought she''d had that morning when the realtor called a thought about him. She paused, then deleted the message.


    After the call, Finn gazed at his phone screen, a slow smile spreading across his lips.


    "What''s got you looking so pleased?"


    Arabe Lockridge had entered his bedroom without him noticing. Finn instinctively tried to lock his phone, but she was too quick, snatching it from his hand. Her eyebrows shot up as she read the screen aloud.


    "Eighteen Ways to Win a Girl''s Heart''? ''The Ultimate Guide to Dating''?" She scrolled down, her expression growing more and more baffled. "How to Help a Woman with a Troubled Past Trust in Love Again.""


    She looked up from the list of cheesy titles, her face a mask of disbelief. "Finn, since when did your standards for literature—and your IQ-drop this low?"