Her question was an evasive maneuver. Jessica didn’t know Mr. Gallagher very well at all, but she wasn’t going to say too much. Adam had worked for Darien Gallagher on an internship one summer when he was in college and whenever she’d asked him about it afterward, he’d closed up. He avoided talking about the internship or Mr. Gallagher, a mystery that one day she’d like to solve.

But for now, she would not mention his name because she didn’t want Adam to turn down this project.

Adam leaned back on the bench. “I know Jessica looks out for you.”

He stared at the trees across the path from them, clearly thinking. He didn’t seem happy and, other than his protectiveness of her, she wasn’t sure why. He was usually right on board to try something edgy.

She gazed at him with wide eyes. “You said you’d give me a chance to do something new. To broaden my horizons. Please, Adam. Let me do this.”

* * *

Ashley pulled into the driveway of the stately, gray brick house. An immaculate garden lined the curved walkway leading from the interlock brick driveway to the entrance.

She pulled down the visor and glanced in the mirror. Her dark auburn hair was a bit mussed, so she grabbed the brush from her purse and ran it through the long waves that flowed past her shoulders. She reapplied her burgundy lipstick, too. Then she opened the car door and got out.

As she followed the walkway her stomach fluttered. She shifted her purse to her other hand. She was more than a little nervous about this meeting with Darien Gallagher. What she hadn’t told Adam was that the friend that knew Mr. Gallagher very well was her and Jessica’s best friend, Helen. Because he was her stepfather.

At least, he used to be. When she and Jessica and Helen were in high school, Helen’s mother had remarried. The man, who was quite a bit younger than Helen’s mother, was rich, mysterious, and intensely sexy. He had this air of authority that sent quivers along her spine, and his aloofness made her long to uncover his secrets.

When he and Helen’s mother had come to their graduation, every girl in school had drooled over him. His devastating good looks and air of authority had made Ash’s heart somersault every time she’d seen him. Even though he was older, Ash had had inappropriate fantasies about the man.

The thought of him made her even more nervous now.

She walked up the three steps to the front door. The entrance was stunning, with a stained-glass door and matching sidelights in a simple diamond pattern.

When she used to go over to Helen’s to hang out, she’d always been conscious of his presence. He was usually working in his den, but sometimes she’d see him when he went to get a drink, or he’d be reading the paper in the living room. Sometimes when Helen’s mom would invite her over for dinner, she’d feel his gaze on her, sending quivers down her spine.