Jackson sat up and looked at her for the first time. “So, you really were locked out? That wasn’t just a ploy to get us to help you?”
“I had no idea anyone else was even outside. Except for the kids, of course. They wanted to know what I was doing in the pond.” She smiled at the memory.
“So, you actually were ill. You really were locked out. The only thing you lied about was—”
“My name.” She met his eyes. “When you called me Raina, I realized the easiest way to hide would be to literally become someone else for a while. Raina changed her name as soon as she started modeling. No one connects us since our names are different, and I never tell people what she does. She always said it was safer for me not to.”
“It’s actually a good plan,” Nick commented.
Shocked, she looked up. He was the last person she’d expected to defend her.
“Don’t look so surprised. I’m not saying it was right. I’m just saying I understand why you did it. You probably figured you wouldn’t be here long enough for anyone to have to know the truth.”
“Exactly. I didn’t count on any of this. I didn’t count on liking it here so much,” she admitted. She sneaked a glance at Jackson. He was staring at her. Unable to hold his gaze, she dropped her eyes back to her hands.
“Or on me attacking you like that. I am so sorry about that.” Nick hung his head sheepishly. “I’m sure you’ve guessed that your sister and I have a… complicated relationship.”
She grimaced. “Say no more.”
“What I don’t get is why didn’t you just tell me the other day?” Jackson stood and walked over to the couch. He sat next to her and grabbed her hand. “When you told me your real name you could have just told me all of it.”
“I was going to. But then you said—”
“How much I hate liars.” He pulled her into his arms. She exhaled and grabbed him around the middle. “I’m sorry I said that. I didn’t mean about things like this. I’m sorry I made you feel that you couldn’t tell me the truth. I seem to have a knack for saying the wrong thing around you. It’s like you bring out the worst in me.”
There was a moment of silence and then they all started laughing. Nick held up his pack of frozen peas as if toasting them. “Wow, little brother. You really have lost your swag, haven’t you?”
Jackson winced and looked at Ridley apologetically. “You know what I mean.”
“I do. Besides, it’s my own fault. I should have just told you before. Raina is going to get quite a kick out of this when I tell her what happened.”
“So, she’s okay? Raina, I mean.” Nick didn’t meet her eyes.
“Yeah, she’s fine. The only reason she didn’t come back right away is because she’s doing a shoot for Sports Illustrated and I didn’t want her to miss it. It’s a big deal for her. Plus, I also wasn’t lying when I told you she was matchmaking. I think she was happy I was locked out and stuck here.”
“I am officially not mad at her anymore.” Jackson smirked and went to pick up the bag of peas he’d left thawing on the floor.
Mara nudged her in the side. “And you officially owe me ten bucks.”
Ridley’s mind raced trying to figure out what Mara was talking about. Then she remembered their bet. “Oh, geez. Well, you definitely won. But I thought you said five?”
“I did, but I was only betting on you driving Jackson crazy. It looks like you got the two-for-one Alexander special.”
* * *
“Ialready gave Jackson the FBI surveillance photos on David Finemore. What more do you want?”
Nick pulled the phone away from his ear and regarded it with disbelief. This was Elliott? The most suspicious, cynical person he knew?
“I want you to do a full-scale background investigation on this guy. Not just what’s in the FBI file, but everything. I have no doubt that you’ll find things on your own that your FBI contact didn’t give you.”
Elliott sighed. “What are you hoping to find? We already know the guy’s a criminal.”
“Yes, but I want to know the details of what he’s done. And who helped him.”
“Oh, now I see. Come on, Nick. I already did a preliminary background check on her and she’s so clean she squeaks. Why are you trying to find a problem that doesn’t exist? Jackson really likes this girl. Leave it alone.”
Nick swiveled in his office chair until he was facing the window. After leaving Jackson’s house he hadn’t felt like going home, so he’d decided to go back to the office. Sometimes he spent more time there than he spent at his condo anyway.
At twenty-seven he had more money than he’d ever imagined, could travel as he wished, and had a list of women on speed dial who’d happily do anything he asked.
And none of them could stir him like the one woman he couldn’t have.
“We need to be thorough on this, Eli. Jackson’s not like us. He’s already been through so much.”
“I know. All right, I’ll take another look at Ridley, too. But I doubt it’ll be anything more interesting than a speeding ticket and a ‘most likely to succeed’ award in high school.”
“Thanks, bro. And one more thing?”
“What do you need?”
Nick thought long and hard about what he was about to do. It was difficult to be successful in business without developing a thick skin and stepping on more than a few toes. He’d been raised with a strict sense of honor and was careful not to make promises he couldn’t keep. But after months of uncertainty, he wasn’t any closer to a solution on his own. He was prepared to admit that he needed help.
“Another background check. This time on Raina Winters. The real one.”