Page 63 of Trap ’N’ Trace

Bill came around the table and rested his hand affectionately on his wife’s shoulder as they both looked at the photos. Dayne sat in a chair opposite Kat, his face softening as he watched his parents. He had a major soft spot for his family.

The kitchen door swung open. Remy and Angus barreled inside, followed by Addie and Jimmy. Addie ran to Dayne and held up her arms. He tugged the little girl onto his lap. First, the little girl at Becca’s wake and now his niece and nephew… The man really was great with children.

“JJ, wash up before dinner.” Lily poured herself a glass of wine and joined them at the table. “And you’re next, young lady.”

“Okay, Mommy.” Addie snuggled deeper into Dayne’s arms.

“JJ?” Kat asked.

“Jim Junior. Jimmy was named after his father.” Lily pointed to a wedding photo of her and a tall, red-haired man in a police uniform. “He was killed in the line of duty. Four years ago.”

Kat went completely still. Her heart ached for Lily’s loss. “I’m so sorry.” She couldn’t imagine what it must be like to fall in love then lose that person so early in life.

“Me, too.” Lily pressed a hand to her breastbone. “But we’re doing okay now. I don’t know how I would have managed without Mom and Dad helping me, and especially, my brother.” Lily looked across the table at Dayne, the love and affection so obvious in her eyes. “Thank god Mom and Dad adopted both of us.”

She studied him from across the table. “He’s just full of surprises, isn’t he?” she muttered, mostly to herself. Aside from him being an FBI agent and being adopted, she didn’t know much about him. Maybe he didn’t want to get too personal, either. Could that be the real reason why he’d stopped things before they’d actually made love? Or maybe he’d realized long before she had that having sex with a witness was mixing business with pleasure. No problem. I may have been late to the meeting, but I did get the memo.

“If they hadn’t taken us in,” Dayne said, ignoring her last comment, “we’d both have rap sheets as long as my arm.”

“You, brother dear,” Lily said, slanting her brother a sarcastic look, “would probably still be in jail.”

Still? Kat caught the subtle shake of Dayne’s head as he glared at his sister. How had someone who’d been arrested become an FBI agent? Clearly, there was a story there that he didn’t want told.

“Okay, okay.” Lily threw up her hands. “Just sayin’ is all.”

Bill draped an arm over Dayne’s shoulders. “I think you both turned out pretty darned well if I do say so. Two extremely law-abiding citizens.”

“Oh, Mom.” Lily grimaced as she pointed to the album. “I thought you got rid of all the photos of her.”

Renee made a disgusted sound. “I must have missed this one.” She peeled back the plastic sheet and plucked out the photo of a younger Dayne with a beautiful woman. She crumpled the photo and tossed it on the table.

“Wonderful,” Dayne grumbled then took another slug of beer.

Lily pointed to what was left of the photo. “That is—or, rather was—Britt Somers, one of Dayne’s ex-girlfriends.” One of them? She shouldn’t be surprised. A man with his looks probably had a long list of exes. “Britt was a gold-digging bi—”

“Lily! Not in front of the children.” Renee nodded to Addie and JJ, who’d returned from washing his hands.

“Sorry, Mom.” Lily cupped the side of her face so only Kat could see her mouth the word bitch. “I call it as I see it. I’m glad that woman showed her true colors before you married her.”

So Dayne had been engaged. No matter how much she willed it not to, that pea-green veil clouded her vision again.

“Don’t you have something to do at the stove?” Dayne growled. “Like, I don’t know…cook?”

There was definitely another story there. The man’s list of secrets was growing by the minute. She shouldn’t be curious. Shouldn’t want to know everything there was to know about the man. But she did. Dammit.

“Fine.” Again, Lily threw up her hands. “All I’m saying is you’re better off without her.”

“That’s one thing we agree on.” Dayne gently set Addie on her feet then stood. “I need to feed the dogs.” He went to the pantry and began scooping kibble. As soon as it hit the bowls, Remy and Angus began Hoovering their food.

“Can I help with anything?” Kat asked Lily.

“No, you relax with Mom and Dad,” Lily said over her shoulder. “If Dayne didn’t mention it, I’m a caterer. I’ve got things well in hand.”

Judging by the wonderful smells emanating from the stove, Lily did, indeed, have things well in hand. There was also a beautiful four-inch high sheet cake perched on the counter, one with dark chocolate frosting and yellow roses.

Dayne’s warning about Manny came to mind, but she pushed it away. Even if it was only for a few hours, she didn’t want to think about all the lurking threats in her life.

For the first time since she had arrived, Kat looked around the kitchen, admiring the warm yellow walls and the worn table that had probably hosted many a family gathering. Photos and kids’ drawings dotted nearly every square inch of the refrigerator, held there by tape and magnets. This house was filled with light, warmth, and love. I miss that.