But he wasn’t that optimistic, faith-filled man anymore. Recent history had given him up-close-and-personal experience with the callous, heartless, greedy side of human nature.

So yes, in the darker world he now inhabited, it was possible this woman—whose sympathetic ear, gentle touch, and flirty smile had undermined his wobbly self-control at that bleak point in his life—was, indeed, the cause of his current misery. Revenge could be a potent force. And if she could also use him to build up her shaky financial reserves, why not?

Dave straightened up and surveyed the salon that had gone from haven to hell in a heartbeat after he’d made a choice that would haunt him to his dying day.

And his return had accomplished nothing.

If Lee was running the show, she knew he was stuck. There was no way out without implicating himself.

If she wasn’t involved, he’d given her an opportunity to gloat about his misfortune.

Dave lowered the AC and aimed the vents away from him as another shudder snaked down his spine.

While it was impossible to determine beyond the shadow of a doubt whether she was BK, only the two of them had known about the trysts that were photographed, and the leak hadn’t come from him.

That left three possibilities.

Her assertion that she’d never told anyone about them was a lie.

She’d arranged the photography herself as an insurance policy. One she was now cashing in on.

Or someone else had discovered his secret and was using that knowledge to manipulate him—and put innocent people to death.

Lee watched Dave drive away, raining silent curses on him. The man had a boatload of nerve, showing up here after all this time.

The receptionist hung up the phone. “Sorry, Lee. He didn’t leave a tip—which surprised me. I would have pegged him as the generous type.”

“Just goes to show how wrong you can be about people.”

“Yeah. He didn’t say much, either. He was out of here in a flash as soon as he paid. Oh, that was your next appointment on the phone. He’s running about ten minutes late.”

“No worries.” She forced up the corners of her mouth. “I’ll clean up my station and try to resist those brownies in the break room that are calling my name.”

“As if you have to worry about weight. Me, I inhale the scent of a potato chip, and ounces latch on to my hips. I gained a few pounds for sure during finals—and my boyfriend noticed.”

Lee’s lips flattened. “Don’t let anyone define you by externals.”

“Oh, he doesn’t do that. I mean, it was just a few innocent comments.”

“That’s how it always starts.”

The young woman wrinkled her brow. “How what starts?”

“Never mind.” This wasn’t the place to climb on a soapbox or reveal anything about her past. Only the shop manager knew a few scant details of her history. “Let me know when my next customer arrives.”