Free The Perfect Couple by Brenda Novak

maybe I didn't want her." Bringing a hand to her chest, she continued to force words through tears. "It might make her doubt...my love...or think she's...not as good as--" she sniffed, struggling to go on "--other girls...or some craziness like that...you know?"
    Jonathan had no idea what made him do it. Probably the rawness of her need. But the next thing he knew, he had her in his arms and couldn't let go because she was clinging to him and sobbing quietly into his shoulder.
    "We'll find her," he whispered. "You've gotta hang on for her sake."
    It didn't matter that they'd just met. Empathy made the physical contact seem completely natural--until Lucassi stepped outside.
    "Do you comfort all your clients with such tenderness?" he asked.
    Jonathan felt Zoe go stiff. When she pulled away, she seemed to stagger, and he wished he could've consoled her for a few minutes more. At the same time, he could understand why Lucassi might not like what he'd seen. "Only those who aren't getting it elsewhere," he said and strode to the side of the pool.
    "Ask for anything you need and stay as long as you'd like," Zoe said.
    Then she must've gone inside, because when he turned back, Lucassi was standing on the patio alone.
    54

Chapter 8
    Colin hovered at the window, peeking through the blinds, just as he'd done for much of the previous night. Watching the activity at the Lucassi household proved fascinating, better than anything he could've anticipated.
    Loath to miss a single thing, he'd had trouble making himself go to work today and had hurried home as soon as possible. He'd never been this close before, never been able to witness firsthand the chaos caused by his actions.
    Technically, in this instance, they were Tiffany's actions. But she'd taken Samantha for him, and he wasn't unhappy about it. He wasn't even worried about Rover anymore. If Rover had been capable of revealing any damaging details, the cops would've knocked on his door already. The only police officer Colin had seen was the investigator who'd stopped by earlier this evening to ask if he'd seen Samantha Duncan.
    "What's going on?" Tiffany asked.
    The television blared behind him. Colin spoke over the actors' voices.
    "Someone's over there."
    "Another cop?"
    "No."
    "Probably a friend or family member. People have been coming and going all day, bringing food and being supportive." She smiled as if she shared his enthusiasm for the drama playing out next door, but he knew she didn't. Fortunately, he didn't care. She did what he needed her to do. What did it matter whether she liked it or not?
    "Any of the neighbors stop over?" he asked.
    "A few, why?"
    He leaned against the wall, hoping to catch a glimpse of the people inside the Lucassi house. "Zoe moved in a couple months after we did. I didn't think she knew anyone well enough to have them gather round her.
    She's certainly never been very warm with us."
    "She hasn't been unfriendly."
    "She's been a cold, aloof bitch, and don't try to tell me differently. I've barely been able to get her to say two words to me the entire time she's lived there."
    Tiffany seemed torn as to how to respond but ultimately backed off from whatever she'd been tempted to say. "I'm sure the neighbors are sympathetic because of the situation. And Anton's been living here a lot 55

    longer."
    "Who else came by?"
    "His pastor, his parents, his secretary."
    He'd expected her to say something like, "A man in a white SUV, a lady in a red Audi." "How would you know his pastor from his tailor?"
    "I could hear Anton talking as he walked people to their cars."
    Straightening, Colin folded his arms. "You were close enough to hear that?"
    "I was out front, weeding. I figured since I was home I might as well do some yard work."
    Appearances mattered. The neighbors were less likely to pay attention to them if they kept the place up. But he'd made Tiffany call in sick for a reason. "If I didn't want the nosy busybodies at that nursing home making a big deal