“The police said she and her boyfriend ran away.” Eduardo eased toward the door. It was always best to avoid gossip—or topics that were touchy. There were enough rumors floating around about the disappearance already. “I have to tackle those inside chores.”

Turning his back on the man, he took a deep breath of the cold air.

Too bad he didn’t have time to indulge in the luxury of a long walk to clear his own head—and strengthen his resolve to do what had to be done.

Hurting Margarita would be painful, but he had to keep his priorities straight for both their sakes.

And his top priority was avoiding trouble.

Except the trouble that had come calling at their doorstep showed no signs of leaving.

5

AS CATE PUSHED THROUGH the library door precisely at four-thirty, a tiny smile flitted across Zeke’s lips.

Punctuality was still one of her virtues.

From his half-hidden position in the stacks, he gave her a quick sweep.

Worn jeans, one knee artistically shredded, hugged her killer legs. An oversized black sweater hit her midthigh—a smart choice to mask the soft curves beneath, which were more woman than teen. Her lustrous auburn hair was parted in the middle, one long swath dyed red in the style some trendy young people favored. Purple glitter nail polish screamed youth.

No one would ever guess she was thirty-three.

She had the adolescent mannerisms down too. Her bored perusal of the room and I’d-rather-be-anywhere-than-here slouch were typical of a disgruntled teen.

Despite her veneer of indifference, however, waves of tension radiated off her—though only someone who knew her well would detect them.

Someone like him.

Perhaps only him, aside from her sisters.

Because Cate was adept at hiding her feelings. Cautious about opening her heart. Miserly with her trust.

Yet she’d trusted him with . . . everything.

An honor no other man could claim, Cate had confided days before their breakup—making his decision to end their relationship even more gut-wrenching.

So yeah, he knew her well.

Or he had.

But much could change in eight years.

One thing, though, had remained the same.

Her effect on him was potent as ever.

Just looking at her jump-started his libido and—

Clenching his teeth, he cut off that inappropriate line of thought—but her roving gaze stopped on him a scant moment too soon.

Fast as he chilled the heat in his eyes, it wasn’t fast enough. The slight catch in her breath, magnified in the silence of the deserted library, was telling.

He’d have to be more careful in the future.

Slipping his hands into his pockets, he strolled toward her. “Ms. Sheppard.” It took every ounce of his acting skills to pull off a smooth, impersonal greeting.

“Mr. Martinez.” Cate matched his inflection.

Impressive, given the shock she’d had difficulty controlling after seeing him in the classroom this morning.