deal?'

'Don't worry about it. The body's owner lived and died in another time and place.'

'Okay. So how do I go about finding Margo a new husband?' He chewed a long, manicured nail. It was damned strange, trying to find his own wife another man.

'But you're not a man anymore.'

'Yeah, thanks for reminding me.'

'And she's already found the right man.'

'Already found him?' Nick rubbed his chin, still amazed at how smooth his skin was now. 'When do I get to meet him?'

'You know exactly who he is.'

'No, I—' Realization smacked Nick between the eyes. Oh, he'd considered the possibility earlier in the evening but had denied it. Repeatedly. Even Seamus couldn't be that cruel. Then again, what about this Raquel gig?

Nick swallowed hard, remembering all those years of lurking in Jared Carson's shadow. All his life, Nick had struggled to stay one step ahead of Jared. And failed.

Until Margo.

'So I'm being punished.' Nick sighed, rubbing dried mascara from his eyes and pondering the merits of the entire pint of dark fudge ice cream lurking in the freezer.

'No, you're being given the opportunity to fix your mistakes.' Seamus made a tsking sound in Nick's head. 'An opportunity most would welcome.'

Nick closed his eyes and let his head fall back against the chair. 'I guess pride is something we aren't allowed to have even after we die.'

'Depends.'

'Why him?' A shudder crawled through Nick from the top of his stylish, tousled hairdo to the tip of his perfect pedicure. 'Jared Carson has always kicked my ass.' His new voice dripped sarcasm like battery acid. 'Star in baseball, football, basketball, track and field, class president, and I'll bet you already know who ran against him. Gee, thanks, Seamus. Thanks a lot.'

Bitterness tasted vile on his tongue. The ice cream would help. Nick kept his eyes closed, but that couldn't block the memory of his father's lectures. Fred Riley's kid was never the best at anything. Sure, Nick had been close many times, but second place was never good enough for his old man. Especially not second to Jared…

'Winning isn't everything. In fact, it really isn't important at all in the big scheme of things.'

'Easy for you to say.' Nick opened his eyes and looked up at the ceiling, half-expecting to find a certain angel's ugly mug smirking from the plaster. 'Besides, he's a male stripper. Get a grip.'

'Think real hard, Nicholas. Does that ring true?'

'No.' Nick sat up straight, remembering football hero Jared from college. 'Not a bit.'

'So use your brain, Red.'

'But if he isn't a stripper, then—' Nick covered his face and sucked air between his fingers. 'He's a cop. I should've known. He's a frigging cop. Why? Huh? Why not a nice stockbroker, a banker, or even another lawyer?'

'She tried that once.'

'You have to remind me every chance you get, don't you?' Nick closed his eyes and groaned. 'A cop who happens to have been a lifelong pain in my ass? Shouldn't dying get me a reprieve from that guy? No way. I'll find her someone else.'

'Nick—'

'You said this is my job.'

'What are we going to do with you?'

'Beats the he—' Nick bit the inside of his cheek. 'Sorry. I can't — I won't — let Margo take up with a cop. Especially not that cop.'

'I see.'

'Yeah, I'm sure you do.'

'Are you forgetting I was one of New York's finest?''

Nick slumped lower in his chair.

'The guilt you've carried around about how you won Mar go is only one of the reasons you're here now.'

Nick stiffened — his gut twisted into a violent knot. 'Seamus, is that why you picked Carson? To punish me?'

'I didn't pick him. He's Margo's destiny. You interfered.'

'If it's going to happen anyway, then why do I have to be around to witness it?'

'They need a catalyst. You and Jared were rivals. Besides, you know secrets that will explain the past.'

'Secrets? What secrets?'

'You must remember what your father—'

'No way, buster. We aren't going there.' Nick punched the arm of his chair and clenched his teeth, determined to change the subject. 'So I'm supposed to help her get over me? How sweet.' His voice grew hoarse and tears—tears? — pricked his eyelids. 'This is perfect. Now I'm going to cry just like a woman, too. Thanks a lot, Seamus.'

'Crying might do you some good.'

'That's a matter of opinion.' Nick dabbed at his eyes with the hem of his T-shirt, visualizing himself with the chocolate ice cream and a spoon. 'But I'm telling you right here and now, I can find Margo a better man.'

Seamus sighed in Nick's head — not a pleasant experience by any means.

'Will you stop that?' Nick rubbed his temples with both thumbs. 'You're giving me a headache.'

'Jared is the right ma—'

'Over my dead body.' 'No problem.'

Jared Carson stared at his reflection in the appropriately warped bathroom mirror. A neon sign flashed vacancy outside the window, less than ten feet away. This hole away from home left a lot to be desired, but it served his purpose. After popping two aspirin into his mouth, he washed them down with tepid tap water, then raked his fingers through his hair. Tonight had brought a few surprises. That drug raid, for starters. Why had the locals raided the Studfinder? How much did they know?

Bracing himself on the sinks edge, he stared at his reflection as if the answers were hidden in the glass. Fat chance. He had to face the possibility of a leak. His cover seemed intact, though. So far. But if the local boys interfered again, Jared's investigation would fall apart too soon. Way too soon.

And, as if he didn't have enough complications, there was Margo. Why now?

He'd known Lake view was her hometown, but he figured Riley would have moved his bride to the big city for a life of wealth and glamour. So why was she back here working for a small newspaper? Married to a successful attorney, Margo would shine at the country club, and she'd never have to hold down a paying job.

A far different life than he could have offered.

He slammed his fist against the edge of the sink, immediately regretting it. 'Damn.' Hard porcelain couldn't take the place of a good punching bag for working out his frustrations. A human jaw, on the other hand…

Flexing his bruised hand, he padded barefoot to the window and stared out at the night. If he'd known Margo and Nick Riley had settled in Lakeview, he never would have accepted this assignment.

But it was too late to back out now. His cover was in place and he'd just have to explain that to Margo.

And her husband. God, the last person in the world he wanted to face right now was Nick Riley.

The man who'd stolen the only woman Jared had ever loved.

Two weeks before graduation, Nick had arranged for Margo to catch Jared in the arms of another sorority sister. Somehow, the girl had managed to get into his room and his bed without him knowing it. In retrospect, he

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