“She doesn’t know that,” Katie countered. “She saw a picture of you and me talking; for all we know, she thinks I’m the other woman.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Jack cried. “You’re my sister.”

“I’m sure you pulled out the ole family album and showed her a picture of me.”

No, he hadn’t done that. Still, Katie wasn’t afraid of the spotlight. Hell, she’d been on more covers of magazines than a lot of top models. Surely Jessie had seen her before. Once Jessie had connected Jack Morrison to Jack Moore, the pieces would fall in line. Jessie would have to know Katie was the woman in the picture.

“Jack, trust me, Jessie is thinking the worst about you right now. A little time will need to pass before she’ll give you a minute to talk.”

Not the words he wanted to hear. Physical pain settled in his chest when he thought of how Jessie must have painted him.

“I’m going out,” Jack said, reaching for the keys he’d placed on the table.

“Where?”

“Anywhere. I can’t stand here waiting for her to call.” He suspected he’d be waiting for a long time. “I need to find her.”

Katie stopped him from leaving the room. “Have dinner,” she encouraged. “Regroup so you have an idea where to look.”

Food wasn’t even on his radar.

Jack placed his hands on his sister’s shoulders and moved her out of his way. “If she calls…”

“Yeah, yeah…go. I’ll call you.”

Jack kissed her cheek and left the penthouse.

Jessie hadn’t intended to run home to Mother, but she didn’t have anywhere else to go. And although they didn’t get along on the day-to-day things, Renee could be counted on in a bind. Besides, when it came to men and the games they played, she could be relied upon to watch Jessie’s back.

Something else boded well for Renee, and that was her lack of standing in judgment. Even when Jessie had found herself pregnant as a teenager, Renee never judged her.

She hadn’t been happy, but she didn’t judge.

Danny fell asleep on the couch, disappointed that they weren’t going home.

Jessie sat huddled under a blanket outside on her mother’s porch. The cold kept her numb. Numb was a good thing. Feeling nothing would be even better.

How could she be so blind?

What a fool.

Jessie couldn’t even take pleasure in the shocked expression that had shot to Jack’s face when she’d barged in on his meeting. They’d both been stunned silent. She for seeing him dressed in clothes that would take her a month to purchase. Sitting at the head of the table meant he was the big boss, the leader, the billionaire to whom everyone at the table answered.

If only she could cry, maybe then she’d feel better.

The door to the house opened and Jessie’s mother stepped out. “Danny still asleep?”

Renee removed a cigarette from a pack and went through the process of lighting it up. The habit had aged her mother prematurely, Jessie realized. “Like a baby,” Renee said.

“Good. It’s been a big day for him.”

Renee sat beside Jessie on the swing and moved the cigarette to where the smoke wouldn’t blow in Jessie’s face. Renee was thinner than Jessie would like, her skin weathered for her sixty-two years.

Her mom looked tired.

“It’s been a big day for you, too.”

Jessie had heard Monica explaining to their mother what had happened before she ran off to stay with a friend. Jessie made her promise not to run to Jack and tell him where she was. Pinky swears and sister pledges went a long way in situations like this. Jessie hoped to hell she’d never be in this exact situation again.

“He lied to me, Mom.”

Renee tipped the swing until it rocked back and forth in a gentle motion. “Monica told me, but I kept thinking about something…”

“Thinking about what?”

“About how you would have reacted had you known the truth about his name, his money.”

Jessie had thought of that, too. Would she have treated him the same knowing he was loaded to the tens with money? She would have dated him sooner, which was something he’d been after since they met.

“Doesn’t account for the fact that there is some other woman in his life I knew nothing about.”

Renee took a pull off her cigarette and blew the smoke away. She took her time talking. “Maybe. Or maybe the media got it all wrong. Wouldn’t be the first time.”

“You didn’t see the woman hanging on his arm. I’d be a fool if I thought I could compete with that.”

“You stop it right there, young lady. That’s my daughter you’re talking about. The daughter I know and love doesn’t need fancy clothes and makeup to compete. She has everything she needs naturally.” Renee pointed a finger in her direction. “This Jack guy could be so lucky to find his forever with you.”

Jessie was taken aback by her mother’s praise. It had been a long time since her mother had said anything to her like this. “I come with baggage, Mom. I’m not the top pick for the team.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. When Danny’s dad ran off, leaving you to raise your beautiful boy all by yourself, I was ready to run after him and force him to stand by you. Then I realized you’d be much better off without him. You’d have a greater chance of falling in love if you didn’t have that bum by your side.”