Lucas had too many emotions storming through him. He was still angry, and yet, from her point of view, it wasn’t justified. It couldn’t be unless she knew how he felt, and it was too soon for Kate to learn that.

“What did he want, if you don’t mind my asking?” He shut off the water and leaned on the sink ledge, keeping his back to her. His thumbs curled around the sink’s corners.

“Of course not.”

He heard her pick up her coffee cup and take a sip. It settled into the saucer with a quiet click.

“He had some unsettling news about the woman he was with. Apparently he broke it off with her and she’s somewhat upset.”

Lucas steeled himself at her words. What was to keep Kate from going back to him? Her career? Her book? Would she let those things stand in the way if she still loved Bryan?

“I’m concerned that she’s going to leak the news to the media,” Kate said. “If she’s angry enough, it would be a one heck of a way to retaliate.”

Lucas heard a scuffle on the deck. Bo? Then he remembered Bo was lying on the rug under the table. That meant . . .

Shoot! He leaned forward and peered out the window far enough to see Jamie running from the house.

“Jamie,” he called out the window, but she didn’t stop. He rushed after her, opening the door and taking the steps in one leap. Had she heard everything they’d said? “Jamie, wait!”

He caught up with her on the grassy knoll and took hold of her arm.

She jerked her arm from his grip. “Let go of me!” Her chest heaved. “What were you doing snooping outside my house?”

“I wasn’t snooping. I came to talk to Kate and I heard you fighting.” She crossed her arms.

“We weren’t fighting.”

“It’s not my fault the window was open.”

Lucas stuffed his hands in his shorts pockets and thought back to what Jamie might have heard. They’d said enough. “It’s complicated, Jamie.”

His sister glared at him. “You lied to us.”

Lucas swallowed around the lump of pancakes that seemed to have congealed in his throat. He looked back at the house to where Kate stood on the deck, one foot in front of the other, as if torn about whether to stay or come. He waved her back. It would be better to handle Jamie alone.

“I don’t know how much you heard but—”

“I heard enough to know it’s all a big lie.”

“That’s enough. It’s not a lie. Kate was in a fix. Her career was on the line, and I stepped in to help her.”

“How could you just pretend to love each other? We all thought she was part of our family, and now you’re telling me it’s fake.”