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“They’re still only plans, but Beverly and I are discussing what happens next, and I promise, you guys will be the first to know.”
Beverly?” Lissa said in bewilderment.
“The redhead,” Jaimie said. “The one plastered to his side like glue.”
Lissa tore her gaze from Nick, settled it on the woman beside him, a spectacular redhead who was gazing up at him with adoration.
“Did you ever give up hope, Beverly?” a voice called out.
The redhead laughed and put her arm through Nick’s.
“Never,” she said.
“And you had no idea what had happened to him?”
“No. Nick didn’t let any of us know. Not even me.”
“Nick?” A sea of microphones and cameras swung in Nick’s direction. “Is there anything more you’d like to say about what happened in Afghanistan?”
The sexy smile faded from Nick’s mouth.
“Nothing beyond what I’ve already told you. It was an honor to have known those men. They were the true embodiment of heroism and I’ll never forget them.”
Voices rang out; Nick raised his hand.
“The rest is for their families. I’m going to meet with them individually, if they’ll have me, and none of it—none of it—will be for public discussion or display.”
Lissa felt the sting of tears in her eyes. This was the Nicholas she knew. The real one. The man she loved.
“Nick? What about that woman? Your cook?”
Nick’s expression turned to stone.
“What about her?”
“Well, those pictures of you with her… Can we have some details about her?”
“I’ve told you. No, you can’t.”
“Looks like she was a lot more than—”
“She was kind and generous at a time when kindness and generosity were what I—”
Lissa snatched the remote from her sister’s hand. The screen went dark.
For a very long time, no one spoke.
Could you really feel your heart breaking?
“Liss,” Emily said.
Lissa’s words cut across hers. “Wow,” she said brightly, “wasn’t that a nice thing for him to say about me? Really nice…”
It was no good. She couldn’t pretend, couldn’t maintain the lie. She began to cry, silently, desperately. Emily moaned and threw her arms around her. Jaimie started to, but the hotel telephone rang and she grabbed it.
“Hello? Travis? And Jake. And Caleb. All three of you. Well, that’s—that’s… Yes. We just saw…. No, no, it isn’t a problem. It was just a, you know, just a job… The photos?” Jaimie turned away. “Could we talk about this some other time? Because now isn’t—” Her voice rose. “Jesus, are you guys dense? We are not going to talk about—”
Lissa took the phone from Jaimie’s hand.
