“Thanks for talking Matt down. He just came back from overseas and he hasn’t been himself lately. I don’t think he’s adjusting to civilian life so well.”

Mara looked over at Trent who hugged her close to his side and kissed the tip of her nose.

Ridley swallowed back a sudden stab of envy. With just one look, she could sense the bond between them. She’d always wondered what it would be like to have that kind of connection with someone.

“Well, let’s get something to eat. I went a little overboard on the grill.” Jackson tugged her toward the long picnic tables set up in the middle of the lawn.

The two boys she remembered from earlier that morning ran up. The smallest one didn’t wait to be picked up, just latched on to Jackson’s pant leg and started climbing like he was scaling a wall. “Daddy, we want ice cream!”

Jackson scooped him up and held him cuddled in the crook of his arm. “Not yet, little man. Let’s get some food first.”

Ridley’s heart slammed against her chest. It shouldn’t be so hot that he was such a devoted father. She busied herself by picking up a paper plate and filling it with potato chips. He’d kissed her last night, but that didn’t mean he was single. For all she knew his ex-wife or girlfriend could be at the party, too. Jackson wasn’t the kind of man any sane woman would let get away, especially if they had a family.

She pushed down a pang of regret and focused on the food. The last time she’d liked a guy he’d ended up dead, so it was probably better if she kept her thoughts off romance. Her time was going to be occupied, in near future, just trying to stay out of harm’s way.

She put a hot dog on a bun and bit into it angrily.

“So, your real name is actually Ridley?” Matt appeared on her left and she jumped.

“Oh, hi. Yeah, I changed it years ago.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t just use your real name. It’s so distinctive. Although I can understand not liking it. The only people who call me Matthew are my mother and people who want to get punched in the face. And don’t even get Mara started on her name.”

“What? Mara is perfect. Short, feminine and easy to pronounce.”

“It’s actually Marina. My parents love to sail.” Matt rolled his eyes. “So, why do you look like you want to punch a wall now?” Matt grabbed a paper plate. “Or like you want to punch Jackson. What did he do?”

She choked down the last piece of her food. “Nothing. So, how old are Jackson’s kids?” She didn’t look at him as she asked, just put another hot dog on her plate and picked up the ketchup bottle.

Matt raised an eyebrow when she squeezed too hard and ketchup squirted all over the table. “What’s up with all this love in the air? I need to watch my back before I get hit with an arrow.”

“What? I didn’t say… I was just wondering.”

Matt looked at her from the corner of his eye. “You were just wondering where their mother is? Normally I’d make you work for it, but I like you. So, I’ll just tell you straight out that you might not want to go there. Jackson is a great guy but ever since his wife died, he hasn’t been the same.”

Ridley looked back at Jackson and the two kids clinging to him. “Oh, no. I had no idea. When they said they didn’t have a mom, I assumed it was due to divorce or something. Was it recent?”

“It was about three years ago. Jase had just been born. I don’t even think the boys remember her. Jackson doesn’t like talking about it, so he usually lets people assume he’s divorced. I’m only telling you this so you’ll understand why I’m warning you. You seem like a nice girl and I’d hate to see you get your heart broken.”

Jackson looked up then and their eyes met.

I understand loss, too. Believe me.

“Don’t worry about me. Jackson is just being nice since we’re neighbors. My heart is in no danger.”

But even as she said it she knew it was a lie.

Chapter Eight

JACKSON BOBBED HIS head to the beat of the music, pretending that he was having a good time. His other brother, Elliott, had finally shown up and taken over his usual party position as makeshift DJ. He’d hooked his laptop computer up to a pair of monster-size speakers and put on a huge pair of earphones. Anti-social as a rule, he preferred presiding over the music so he didn’t have to dance or talk to anyone. Or rather, deal with people who walked up and tried to talk to him.

Luckily Jackson had been able to grab him before he’d gotten busy to ask him to find out a little more about Ridley’s friend, David. If anyone could get to the bottom of a mystery, it was Elliott.

Bennett was on the other side of the yard keeping an eye on the boys while they played. Nicholas was near them flirting with a pretty blonde in a miniskirt. The girls were dancing, the guys were watching and there was plenty of food. On all accounts, it was a successful party.

Other than the fact that he couldn’t keep his eyes off his temporary houseguest.

“As the host of this party you should probably smile every once in a while. Act like you’re having fun.” Mara appeared at his left elbow, looking like a Sofia Vergara clone in her crisp, white shorts and tank top.

“I am having fun. Especially now that you’re here.” He winked at her. Flirting with Mara was a time-honored tradition in their group, partially because she was naturally playful, and partially because it pissed off Matt so much. He frowned as he thought of the fist-sized hole in his living room wall.