“What?” She raised her voice several octaves. “Who?” Another knock at the door.

They both said, “Come in,” at the same time.

The door opened. “Oh, boy. I think we have a problem,” Felicia said.

“Looks that way,” John Giampalo agreed.

“I’m clueless,” Lauren informed them.

“I think you two could use a drink. I’ll be right back.” Felicia turned to exit the room.

“Not so fast,” John said. “We have a mix-up, and someone has a bit of explaining to do. Felicia? Are you in on this?”

“John Anthony Giampalo, I swear I’m going to tell your father what a . . . I don’t know, a shit you are!”

Lauren laughed. This is beyond crazy.

JAG Enterprises. John Anthony Giampalo.

“Have a seat, Felicia. Lauren, please remain in my, your seat.” He grinned when he said it. Her heart melted like ice in fire.

“I can move,” she offered.

“I’m teasing,” he said, and winked at her.

Lauren felt a warm glow spread throughout her body.

“Dave Grill, he’s our regular copilot. He was late.”

“I thought you were the copilot,” Lauren said.

“I am. Today.”

“What about tomorrow?” she asked, realizing how silly she sounded the instant the words were out of her mouth.

“Both of you, listen up, and don’t say a word until I’m finished.”

They nodded and directed their attention to Felicia. “Lauren Montgomery is going to write your father’s biography. He sent the plane to bring her to Seattle. Bad weather in North Carolina. You were . . . I don’t know what you were doing there, but Lauren, Dave Grill, the regular copilot, had to have an emergency appendectomy. John, I am going to assume your father contacted you? Asked you to fill in for Dave?”

“I think that about sums it up,” he said.

Lauren was confused. “Then why were you in Fallen Springs?”

“Coincidence?”

“I don’t believe in coincidences,” Lauren said.

“Me either, but you can’t blame a guy for trying.”

“Trying what?” she asked.

“Felicia, can we have a minute? Alone?”

Lauren stood up. “No, stay,” Felicia said, rising from her seat.

“Felicia, could you bring us a Coke or something? I’d like a few minutes alone with Lauren.”

Lauren sat down, relieved for some odd reason.

“Of course. I’ll be right back.” She whirled out of the room.

“Felicia is awesome,” he said.

“She’s been very kind to me,” Lauren acknowledged.

He raked a hand through his blond hair. She was totally mesmerized.

“I went to Fallen Springs to check you out,” he admitted. “Dad has hired a couple of authors in the past, who, well, let’s just say they weren’t on the up-and-up. He’s desperate to get his life story on paper. I had to make sure you were who he thought you were.”

Silence.