“Teens don’t want to get their friends in trouble,” Morgan said.

“When was the last time you saw Tessa?” he asked.

“About a month ago. Gianna insists on being my live-in nanny now.”

Because one stubborn old man and three children under the age of seven hadn’t been enough responsibility for Morgan, three months ago, she’d taken in Gianna Leone, a very sick young woman with no family. Gianna had been raised by a crack-addicted prostitute. Depressed and following in her mother’s footsteps, she’d overdosed. While on duty, Morgan’s sister Stella had saved the girl with a dose of Narcan, but Gianna had been left with permanent kidney damage. After Stella had befriended her, Gianna had slowly been pulled into the Dane family.

The Dane house existed in a perpetual, glitter-bombed state of chaos. What was one more monkey in Morgan’s circus?

“Gianna looks much healthier since she moved in with you,” he said.

“Yes. She still has to go to dialysis three times a week, but she’s put on some weight and she has more energy. I hope the girls aren’t too much for her to handle when I start work.”

Lance drove toward the grammar school. “So you got the job?”

“Yes.” The painful sigh that slipped from her lips made him ache for her.

“You sound excited.”

She turned to the dark window. “I have to do something. I feel like I’ve been stalled out, doing nothing for two years.”

“Raising your girls and taking care of your grandfather and Gianna is hardly nothing.” How did she juggle it all? Lance could barely handle his mother. “You do more before breakfast than most people do all day.”

“I don’t know about that. Anyone with little kids is crazy busy in the morning.” She laughed.

It was a small sound, but he liked hearing it. “Crazy describes your house perfectly.”

“I happen to like a little insanity in my life. Keeps me on my toes.” Her tone turned serious. “I love raising my girls. I can’t explain why I feel so disconnected.”

“Morgan, your whole life was upended in the worst way.”

Yet she still managed to take care of an entire houseful of people.

She sighed, the breath long and deep and sad.

“You’re going to be all right,” he said. “Sophie wouldn’t put up with anything else.”

Morgan’s two oldest kids seemed to like Lance, but her youngest looked at him with reserve and suspicion, as if the three-year-old had X-ray vision that exposed what was really in his heart.

“No kidding.” She smiled at him. “Thanks. And thanks for coming out in the middle of the night.”

“It’s my pleasure. We’ve known each other a long time, but I finally think I’m seeing the real you.” Lance turned onto the rural road that led out to the lake. “I haven’t seen you dressed that casually since—ever.”

Even back in high school, Morgan had always managed to look perfect. That cheerleading outfit . . .

She reached up to smooth her hair.

He stopped her by taking her hand. “Don’t. It looks good on you, and you don’t have to put up a front for me.”

She froze and her face went blank.

So much for playing it cool.

“We’re friends, right?” He dropped her hand. He had no right to start something he couldn’t finish. If he wanted to keep her in his life, he shouldn’t screw up their friendship.

Morgan’s phone rang, breaking the tension between them. “It’s Tessa’s friend, Felicity. I hope she knows something.”

Chapter Five

Morgan rubbed her hand, still warm from Lance’s touch. It was nice to know she wasn’t dead, but the prick of interest made her uncomfortable, clearly a reaction she wasn’t ready to explore.

She’d intended to look for Tessa alone, but she hadn’t protested when her grandfather suggested she call Lance. The fact was that she felt much safer with him. But tonight, he was acting . . . different.

Interested?

It must be her imagination. Like he’d said. They were friends, and friends helped each other. That was all there was to it. Her discomfort had nothing to do with the way all six feet two inches of him filled out his cargos and T-shirt, the way his blue eyes always seemed to be focused on her, or the fact that she genuinely liked his personality more than his blond buffness.

But how did she reconcile her attraction to Lance while John was still in her heart?

The love ballad playing softly on the radio wasn’t helping. She reached forward and turned off the radio to answer the call. “Hi, is this Felicity?”

“Yes,” the girl whispered.

“This is Morgan Dane. I called about Tessa.”

“Tess babysits for you,” the girl said in a soft voice that sounded as if she was trying not to be heard.

“Yes. She does. I’m looking for her. I know you already told her grandmother you haven’t seen her, but I’m really worried. Is there anything you can tell me that might help me find her?”

“You have to promise not to tell my parents.”

“I won’t tell anyone unless I absolutely have to.” Morgan wouldn’t lie. A teenager’s trust was as fragile as a bird’s egg. Once broken, it was impossible to repair.

Felicity paused, seeming to weigh Morgan’s answer. “There was a party last night.”

“Was Tessa there?”

“Yeah,” Felicity admitted.

“Where was the party?”

“Out at the lake.”

“Did you go with Tessa?” Morgan asked.

“No. She came in her own car, but she was with her boyfriend.”

“I didn’t know Tessa had a boyfriend.”

“She was keeping it quiet,” Felicity said. “She said her grandparents wouldn’t like him.”

“Who is this boy?”

“Nick. His last name starts with a Z. You know him. Tessa met him at your house.”

“Nick Zabrowski?” Morgan asked, surprised. Nick had never mentioned he was dating Tessa, and Morgan saw him several times a week.

“That’s him.”

“Why wouldn’t Tessa’s grandparents approve of Tessa dating Nick?” Morgan liked Nick very much. He was a hard worker. He graduated from high school two years before and had started his own landscaping company. He was kind as well as ambitious. How many young men would read a little girl a story or take time out of his evenings to play chess with an elderly neighbor?

“He didn’t go to college so he’s not good enough for them.”

“How long was Tessa seeing Nick?”

“About a month,” Felicity said.

How many times in the past month had Tessa claimed to be babysitting for Morgan when she was actually with Nick?

“Tell me about the party.”

“The party sucked. Tessa and Nick had a big fight and broke up. Tessa was still there when I left. I haven’t seen her since.”

“Tessa wasn’t at school today?” Morgan should have asked the Palmers if they’d called the high school.

“We had the day off for a teacher in-service day,” Felicity whispered. “I have to go.”

“Thanks. Let me know if you remember anything else.”

Felicity ended the call.

“Felicity says Tessa went to a party at the lake with Nick Zabrowski last night.” Morgan summed up the conversation for Lance.

“Isn’t that the kid who lives across the street from you?”

“Yes. I don’t understand why the Palmers wouldn’t like him.” Morgan put her phone back into her tote.

“Fighting with guardians and lying about a boy isn’t too unusual for an eighteen-year-old.” Lance turned the Jeep around. “She probably found another friend to stay with last night.”

“I hope.”

The lake wasn’t far away. Lance drove past the gazebo and picnic areas, then turned off the main road onto a dirt and grass lane. The local teenagers liked to hang out in a spot that wasn’t part of the public area. A footpath connected the park with the clearing. But it was faster to take the service road the kids used.