Unexpected Temptation

“We were separated, Julie, our brother and me, when I was six. After our parents died. We all were shuffled into the foster system, separated, and I lost track of them after that.”

The light went on for Luke. “You mentioned you were looking for someone—so you’ve been searching for her all this time?”

“Yes. I never stopped. I thought I saw her on news footage coming out of Puerto Rico, so I contacted the news outlet and got a copy of the story. I really believed it was her, so I went there, looking. That was the airport photo you had of me—when I was coming home. How did you get that, anyway?”

“I used to run a tech company. I owned it, actually. We developed some of the key components that are used by airports for facial recognition. I still have some contacts who are able to let me know when they get a hit on Nicky. Julie, rather.”

“Oh. Wow. But I thought you said you were a bodyguard?”

“I am, now.”

“What happened?”

Luke immediately lost his appetite. “Your sister happened.”

“I could see that you two were, um, together? You seemed very close. Is that why you want to find her again?”

“We were very close. Or that’s what she made me think. You may not like hearing this, Vanessa, but you have a right to know what you’re getting into.”

Luke filled in all the details, as concisely and unemotionally as he could about what happened between himself and Nicky.

To her credit, Vanessa listened calmly, having no obvious reaction until he got to the part about finding his employee dead in his office. Her eyes welled, her hand clamping over her mouth on a sharply indrawn breath before she spoke.

“You can’t think Julie killed him? I can’t believe that. I won’t believe that.”

“No, it was suicide. But it was because of what Nicky, or Julie, did. She probably stole the code to sell out on the open market, and set this man up to appear guilty. I believed he was guilty. I brought charges against him, wrecked his life and he killed himself. She and I both bear responsibility for his death.”

It was the first time he’d said that aloud to anyone in years, and he couldn’t stand the horror in Vanessa’s eyes. It was mirrored in his own soul, the guilt and remorse. He’d done what he could for Marcus’s family—the man who killed himself—and all that he could do to assuage the rest of it was to make Nicky pay.

“That’s terrible. But it wasn’t your fault. You were tricked,” Vanessa said softly. “How could you know how he would respond?”

He breathed in her scent, his soap. Nicky always used it, too. Said she liked smelling like him, keeping him with her all day.

Damn it.

“I don’t want forgiveness, Vanessa. Not yours or anyone else’s. I want justice. I want your sister to answer for what she did, and that’s all.”

She frowned slightly.

“I know you can’t understand, Luke, but what we went through as kids... I was lucky. I found a good home, eventually. Even so, I’m a mess. I could have easily gone down the same road if not for my adoptive parents. Who knows where she and Max ended up? I know what she did was wrong, but I don’t believe she could ever kill someone. She was a gentle, kind child.”

“If you want out of this now, say so. It’s not too late to go into protective custody. But make no mistake, Vanessa, if you want to stay you need to understand that my goal is to find your sister, bring her to the authorities and keep you safe while I do it. Whoever you thought Julie was, she’s not that person anymore.”

Vanessa stared, muted by his vehemence. He cursed under his breath, joining her on the love seat as he continued, his hands on her shoulders as if wanting to make her listen.

“That bomb in your house? That attack? It was because of her. Someone wants her dead, and they almost killed you, instead. Your sister is a bad person. Indirectly or not, she hurts people. It has to stop.”

Her eyes were wide. She trembled under his touch.

“Sorry,” he breathed, getting control of his emotions and pulling her in close.

Vanessa had been through too much in one day, and he should have known better than to pile more on her. Though when he saw her with the file, he knew he’d have to tell her. She had to know the truth.

She burrowed into his chest, wrapping her arms around him, too. After a few minutes, the trembling stopped.

He’d meant to break the contact, but he didn’t.

“Vanessa,” he murmured into her ear, “after what happened at the police station, in the parking lot, I was seeing if you really were Nicky. She had a tattoo, right here,” he said, touching the spot lightly. She trembled under his touch and he withdrew it. “This isn’t what it seems to be.”

The attraction, the emotions overwhelming him at this moment, they weren’t real. It was the adrenaline, confusion and who knew what else mixed in.

She pulled away, but not entirely, as he brushed some thick curls from her cheek. She nodded.

“I know. I know you love her. Or loved her, once. And I know it’s probably difficult, wanting her so much, and I look so much like her,” she said, her voice tight. “I understand.”

Luke wanted to protest. He wanted to tell her that he didn’t love her sister and probably never really had. He’d slept with her, enjoyed her, but back then he wasn’t even sure he was capable of love. Nicky sure hadn’t been. It was why, in some respect, he’d thought they were perfect for each other.

But Vanessa...she was soft. She had a heart. She was hurting, and he wanted to make her feel better. In all kinds of ways.

But it was better for her to believe what she thought was true. Better for both of them. So he didn’t deny it.

“Thank you,” he said.

Disappointment and regret flashed across her features, but only for a second before she regrouped.

“Regardless of that, nothing changes. I have to find her. It would be better if you went to the police.” Maybe she would listen to reason now.

“No. No matter what, I want to find her, too. I want to help—her and you. There has to be more to the story. I won’t believe she’s as bad as you say until she tells me to my face. I want to know what’s really going on. I want to be there for her, if I can.”

Admiration swelled in Luke’s chest, but he didn’t dare touch her again. If he did, all of his good intentions might go out the window.

“Fine. We should get some sleep and think about our next move tomorrow.”

“Okay. Good night,” she said haltingly.

“Good night.”

What had he gotten himself into? He shouldn’t have given Vanessa a choice. He should have delivered her to the police and walked away. But something about her made it difficult to walk away. He headed to his room, too, pausing outside her closed door before he went inside. Resisting her could be more trouble than he’d counted on.

* * *

“PSSSST. VANESSA.” Luke’s voice WAS close. Low and sexy. Vanessa wanted that voice to keep talking to her, to tell her what he wanted and that she was the only one for him.