If he learned from Riley that her girlfriend Emma was coming into money or had hidden money, then Logan would do the right thing—he’d tell George and they would hand over the case and report it to the FBI. Logan wouldn’t break the law. Not even for his own mother.

 But he was going to have something with Riley because he was irresistibly drawn to her. He thought he caught her scent several times through the day and night even though she wasn’t anywhere nearby. He thought they could have one of those unique give and take relationships that was part fun, part intense, part sexual. He was into her, that’s all. He might be an idiot about women, but he was into her and he was going for it until it worked or flopped.

 He might’ve noticed Riley at first because he was checking out some of Emma’s old friends, but that connection faded fast and he kept finding her because she appealed to him. And there was nothing illegal about that.

 * * *

 The second week in December was bitterly cold, with frost on the ground, dark clouds overhead, fires in every home with a hearth. But in Riley’s heart there was a special warmth that she hadn’t felt since her youth.

 She laid her plans carefully. She left work early, went to the grocery store, picked Maddie up after cheer practice and took her home. Then she got busy in the kitchen. With her mom and Adam always ready and eager to plan family dinners, it wasn’t necessary for Riley to cook very often. Of all of them, her hours were the longest. Adam was usually done at school by four at the latest, June was busy but liked to deliver her meals early in the afternoon—her elderly clients liked to eat early and looked forward to her visits. She was always finished before five in the afternoon. When they weren’t eating at June’s, Riley and Maddie often grabbed takeout, something for which her daughter was usually grateful.

 Tonight she was making corn chowder, salad and biscuits. She set the table even though they usually ate in front of the TV. A fire blazed in the family room. She even refreshed her lipstick.

 “I have some things to talk to you about,” Riley said when her daughter joined her in the kitchen.

 “Wow,” Maddie said. “Must be deadly serious. Fancy spread.”

 “It’s not. I mean, I think it’s important but... Well, I just wanted to tell you—I met someone. A man.”

 Maddie grinned. “And you’re finally going to tell me?” Maddie said, dipping a spoon in her soup and blowing on it.

 “What does that mean? Did Grandma say something?”

 “Well, she did, but only a couple of days ago. Really, Mom? You think I haven’t heard you whispering into your phone late at night? And giggling? Or that I haven’t noticed how nice you’ve been lately?”

 Riley stiffened. “I’m not usually nice?”

 “Sure you are. In a very businesslike way.”

 “Wow,” Riley said. “I thought we were very close.”

 “We are. I know you love me. Now tell me about this guy. We don’t want to waste this cozy setting.” Then she smiled prettily.

 “Hmm,” Riley said. “Well, I met him accidentally several times—grocery store, Starbucks—he lives around here. He’s a police officer in Santa Rosa so I saw an opportunity to ask him to check on you and make sure you’re not getting into any trouble and if you were, to tell me.”

 “You wouldn’t dare!” Maddie said, outraged.

 “Touché,” Riley said, smiling. “He is a police officer, though. And I got a kick out of him—he’s cute and kind of funny—and I thought, if I want to have a date again, maybe a cop would be safer than someone who had no ties to the community. Know what I mean?”

 “You checked him out,” Maddie said.

 “Well, I’d have checked out any man before dating him...”

 Maddie laughed. “Oh, Mom.”

 “What? I don’t meet them in school, you know!”

 “I think it’s great. Do I get to meet him one of these days?”

 “Sure. Yes. Of course. There’s something else I wanted to tell you. It’s about an old friend of mine. Emma.” She took a deep breath. “Emma Shay. We were best friends all through school and when she went away to college in Seattle, your dad was actually her boyfriend. But...” She shrugged and looked into her soup. “Emma kind of lost interest in him and, well, we started going out.”

 Riley looked up and Maddie was staring at her patiently. Waiting.

 “I got pregnant. I suppose that’s why things didn’t quite work out with your father and me. He’d actually been Emma’s guy. But...well...”

 “I know all that. You and Daddy weren’t really a couple but you got together and—bingo.”

 “You know all that?”

 “Uh-huh. Daddy told me. A long time ago. At least a couple of years ago. Maybe more. He said it was all his fault and the biggest mistake he ever made.”

 “Well, that was delicate of him...”

 “Not because of me! Because it screwed things up with you, Mom. He said the biggest mistake of his life was not begging you to marry him.” She slurped a little soup. “I think he’s still kind of in love with you.”

 Riley was momentarily stunned. “Well, that’s news to me. He certainly has an odd way of showing it.”

 “He’s kind of stupid that way,” Maddie said. “But he’s a very good guy.”

 “Well... So there’s a reason I wanted to tell you about Emma. She’s been through a really hard time. She married after college, had a miserable marriage, her husband committed suicide and Emma came home. She’s had a struggle. So I gave her a job, of course. Grandma was also close to Emma when we were kids and can’t wait to see her again, so I guess she’ll be around. Also, I think Adam might be dating her, but I haven’t asked, it’s just that I have a good nose. So I wanted you to have all the information so you wouldn’t be completely shocked if you actually meet her. There are lots of connections and complications there.”