Realizing just how familiar they sounded with each other and keenly aware of Jack’s sharp gaze on her face, she changed the subject. “I see you’ve made peace with the hospital food,” she commented to Jack, waving her hand at the empty hospital tray near the window. She walked farther into the brightly lit room and set Jack’s coffee down on the bedside table, next to Daniel.

Jack gave her quick, distracted smile. “Didn’t have much choice after you brought me gluten-free vegan cookies that tasted like sawdust.”

He returned his attention to the paperwork, giving Story the opportunity to look up at Daniel, whose eyes she’d felt following her though the room. Freshly shaven and wearing a black sports coat and jeans with a badge clipped at his waist, he looked every inch the hotshot hostage negotiator. Far different from the naked and rumpled man she’d left just hours before, but equally sexy.

“So what are your plans now that I’m coming home? You know, you’re more than welcome to stay as long as you want,” Jack said, breaking into her thoughts. Her father still hadn’t looked up from the documents spread out on his lap, for which she was grateful. He didn’t see their mutual reaction to his casually posed question.

Her gaze connected with Daniel to see hope and dread fighting a battle on his face. Even if she’d wanted to tell Jack first, then later inform Daniel of her decision in private, she couldn’t put it off any longer. Couldn’t stand leaving him with an ounce of doubt for one more second.

“Well, actually, I was thinking of staying for a while—”

“Story!”

The familiar voice sent a jolt of shock through her system. Three sets of eyes swung toward the door where Fisher, her ex-fiancé, stood looking wild-eyed and desperate. His usually impeccable appearance gone, he looked as though he’d slept in the same clothes for days.

“Fisher?” she croaked. “What are you doing here?”

His sharp focus on her, he walked into the room, stopping just a few feet from where she and Daniel stood. “I made a mistake. I should never have ended things with you.”

Daniel had stiffened beside her upon Fisher being identified. Now, at her ex-fiancé’s declaration, he took a quick step forward as if he might go for Fisher’s throat. Without thinking, she reached down and took his hand to reassure him. And hold him back. She felt off-balance and his warm grip did wonders to steady her. It felt like she was dreaming, because surely her ex-fiancé hadn’t just walked in as she’d been on the verge of announcing her feelings for Daniel to her father. Things like that only happened in romantic comedies. Or horror movies.

“You need to turn around and get the hell out of my room,” Jack thundered from behind her.

“I second that,” Daniel ground out.

“Okay, everyone relax.” She breathed deeply to calm her nerves. “Fisher, I don’t know what you’re trying to accomplish here, but flying three thousand miles was a waste of time and money. We’re not getting back together.”

“Please. You need to hear me out.”

“No, she doesn’t,” Jack and Daniel said at the same time.

Story finally looked up at Daniel. Eyes trained on Fisher, he looked furious, but she sensed an underlying panic as well. She tugged his hand until he gave her his attention and tried to communicate with her eyes that everything would be all right. That she wasn’t going anywhere. It only seemed to ease his discomfort fractionally.

She stood on her toes to whisper against his ear. “Hey, this doesn’t change anything. Come back to me.”

“So you’re the guy she’s with now?” Fisher took a step toward them. “Does it bother you that she was my fiancé a week ago?”

Daniel’s head whipped around. “Call her yours again and I’ll send you back to California in a full body cast.”

His threat gave Fisher momentary pause, but he quickly recovered. “I have to say, Story, I’m a little surprised by your taste in men. But I will forgive you for this, under the circumstances.”

“Forgive me?” she sputtered. “Oh my God, would now be a weird time to take up smoking cigarettes?”

“See, that’s what I miss so much.” Fisher sighed. “Your humor.”

“Nope, definitely need something stronger than a cigarette,” Story muttered. Likely sensing her distress, she felt Daniel’s restraint slipping. Jack cursed under his breath over her shoulder. The sooner she got the three men separated, the better. “Fisher, you’re upsetting my father and he’s not in the best of health. As a doctor, you should know how unwise that is. Say what you came to say, please, and leave.”

He nodded. “Let’s talk in private.”

“Not a fucking chance,” Daniel’s snapped.

With very little emotion in his voice, Jack said, “You can tell her in front of me. It’s not as if it’ll come as a surprise.”

Before Story could comprehend her father’s cryptic comment, Fisher turned to her. “It’s not like I didn’t try to get a hold of you. When you wouldn’t take my calls, I finally contacted Jack. He was more than happy to tell me you’d met someone else and not to bother contacting you again. But you need to hear an explanation, dammit.”

Daniel and Story gaped at Jack. “You knew?” they both asked Jack.

Jack let out a withering sigh. “Yes, I knew.” When they continued to stare at him, he shrugged. “Hello? Jack Brooks, detective first-grade and expert on human behavior here.”

Patience hanging by a thread, Story employed the method she used with her kindergartners and dealt with one problem at a time. She filed Jack’s bombshell away for later examination and focused on her ex-fiancé once more. “What explanation could there possibly be, Fisher? You met someone else. There’s no need to rehash this.”

“Yes, there is.” He appeared to steel himself. “I lied to you. There never was anyone else. I only told you I’d started seeing Diana because I knew you’d demand an explanation for calling off the wedding. And I couldn’t tell you the real reason.”

Story felt like she’d just stepped off a carnival ride. A little dizzy with a hint of needing to vomit. She sensed something scary on the horizon and didn’t want to face it. What would possess someone to l

ie and damage the feelings of another person like that? Someone they were supposed to love?

“Continue,” she managed.

“I told you they made me an attending physician last year, but the board thought I needed one more year in residency.” Fisher rubbed his palms on the outside of his pants, his boyish face somewhat sheepish. “I only wanted to give you the best of everything. I wanted you to be proud of me. So I spent too much money, fell into some financial trouble, and no matter how many hours I worked, I couldn’t catch up.” He gestured toward Jack. “Then one day I got a call from your father. Somehow he knew about my continued residency, the debt, everything. And he…he offered me money to call off the wedding.”

It felt as though all the air had been sucked from the room, leaving none for her to breathe. Her brain tried to make sense of the words coming out of Fisher’s mouth, then rearrange them so they meant something different. Anything besides their actual meaning. She didn’t want to believe him, because it would mean she’d been suckered into believing an elaborate lie. An unnecessary one, at that. Had he known so little about her that he thought she needed fancy dinners and expensive gifts to be happy? Those things meant nothing to her.

Jack paying Fisher to break their engagement…surely such a horrible thing couldn’t possibly be true. While her mother had always characterized Jack as a controlling man—someone who thought his influence was required in every situation—this transcended anything she could have imagined.

“I was on the verge of bankruptcy. You know what that would mean for my career. It felt like I had no other choice. I’m so sorry.”

It all made sense now. The abruptness of their breakup. Fisher’s constant stress. His need to work around the clock. And yet, she felt more anger over Jack’s betrayal than any of that. He’d gone behind her back and rearranged her life without consulting her once.

She turned to her father, but he averted his eyes, confirming Fisher’s story. “Seriously, Dad?” Disbelief colored her tone.