Seven years earlier...
Lanie's voice crackled over the static phone line. "You HAVE to come, Lindsay! The kids will be in summer camp and --"
"Oh, I don't know, Lanie," Lindsay interrupted, her voice trailing with hesitation.
"C'mon, when was the last time we had quality sister time together? I have some time off from the hospital coming to me, and you know we have plenty of room for you here. Colin is always saying he'd love to get to know his sister-in-law better. We can go shopping in the antiques district, visit the Farmer's Market and there's this new little caf� on Main Street with the most divine cinnamon rolls... Now don't make me fly to Chicago and drag you out here myself!"
"Okay, okay, I'll come!" Lindsay laughed, conceding defeat.
"It's good to hear you laugh, Linds, "Lanie commented, her tone somber. "I've been worried about you."
"Why? My husband -- the love of my life -- of 15 years moved out months ago and filed for divorce. My children hate me to the point they want to go away for the summer. I couldn't be better, could I?"
"Lindsay, he --"
"Let?s drop it, okay?" Lindsay whispered pleadingly. She took a deep breath, exhaled and forced her voice to brighten. "I can't wait to see my little sister -- and my handsome brother-in-law again."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Please allow me. I'll take it up."
Dr. Colin MacIver placed his hand over Lindsay's on the luggage strap. "Lanie and I want you to relax while you're here, and I'll be at your beck and call," he continued, flashing his sister-in-law a disarming grin.
Lindsay smiled in return. She had to hand it to him -- the man oozed charm from every tanned pore of his body. When she had first met him before his marriage to Lanie, she had been immediately struck by that charm, his intelligence, ambition and physical attractiveness ? not necessarily in that order.
Yet there was something about Colin that left her feeling unsettled, wary. Sometimes a cunning, predatory gleam would flash in his eyes; it would come and go so quickly she often wondered if she imagined it. Between that and Melanie?s shared suspicions of his marital infidelities, Lindsay never failed to feel uneasy around her brother-in-law.
Warm lips brushed her cheek. "Good to have you here, Lindsay!" Colin enthused and he bounded up the stairs.
Chapter 3
