Summer Lovin'

husband didn't make a lick of sense. Also not a conversation Zoe intended to have now.

'If you mean Ryan's uptight, conservative, and he loves rules and regulations, then, yes, I can definitely see why you'd think you two had something in common.' Zoe met her sister's gaze and they laughed, a true testament to how far their relationship had come since Ari's return last year.

'Where're Mom and Sam?' Ari asked. 'I want to drop off a blouse I borrowed.'

Zoe glanced around. 'Good question. My guess is that Mom has spa appointments and I know Sam went next door for a little while.'

Ari shifted her purse strap higher onto her shoulder. 'I left the blouse on the kitchen table. Can you just let her know?'

Zoe nodded.

'Oh and by the way, I got the guidance position at Ocean Isle High,' she said casually, but Zoe knew how much she'd wanted the job.

'That's amazing!' She hugged her sister.

'The hours are perfect for me and it's so close to home.'

'You don't miss Vermont at all?'

'Not at all. It was a place I ran to. It wasn't home.'

Zoe stepped back and grinned. 'Home is where Quinn Donovan is, huh?'

'And you, too. And Mom and Dad, and Sam and…'

'Speaking of Quinn, have you spoken with him?' Zoe asked, interrupting.

'Not since he left this morning, but he called earlier and we're meeting for lunch in a little while.'

Zoe nodded. 'Okay good. Good,' she said, relieved all would be out in the open between them soon.

'Good? Why good? What's going on?' Ari asked, suddenly more alert.

Zoe swung her arm over her sister's shoulder. 'Go talk to Quinn and we'll catch up later.'

'I'm not going to like this, am I?'

Zoe shook her head and Ari shivered.

But it wasn't Ari's reaction that had Zoe the most concerned. What bothered her most was that after a lifetime of nonthreatening relationships, she was starting to fall for a man who was most definitely a threat- to the freespirited world she'd grown up in and the close-knit family she adored.

* * *

AFTER THE KISS, Ryan retreated to his hotel room. He needed a cold shower, but first he wanted to call the private investigator he'd hired and ask him to get more information on the Costas clan.

Now that he knew they were a force in Sam's life, he wanted to find out more about their background and what kind of people he was dealing with. He already knew they didn't have the money to compete with him in court, but each one of them had more heart than his family combined. And that scared him.

So did Zoe. It was one thing to be attracted to a woman, another to be affected and something about Zoe got to him. Her devotion to a child who wasn't a blood relative, her kindness to him despite his potential to upset her world, and her free spirit made him feel in a way he never had before. Not in a family that went out of their way to rein in emotion and put up barriers. When he was with Zoe, holding, kissing and laughing with her, there were no walls.

Which was why he decided to steer clear for the coming weekend. Though it would be damn difficult not to show up at the Costases' house during the next two days, he intended to stay away from the new women in his life. As far as his cover went, his decision made sense because he doubted a social worker would make house calls on Saturday or Sunday. Instead, he planned to do some work that he'd taken with him and recoup for Monday morning when he'd deal with Zoe and her family again.

Now fresh from a shower, Ryan sat on the bed in his hotel room. After ordering room service, he decided to check in with his family. He'd informed his parents he was going to New Jersey to follow up on a lead about Faith's daughter. They knew Faith had died and that they had a granddaughter out there somewhere, yet they hadn't been interested in accompanying him on his trip.

'Let sleeping dogs lie, Ryan,' his father had said. 'Faith's gone. No good can come of dredging up the past.'

And though he'd mentioned that their granddaughter was being shuffled through foster care, his father's attitude hadn't softened. 'Most probably she's stubborn and harder to handle than Faith, then.' Mark Baldwin had dismissed any type of reunion, as had his mother, Vivian. But Ryan had seen a hint of emotion in her eyes and held out hope for when she met Sam.

But his father's brother, Ryan's uncle Russ, supported his quest and had from the time Ryan had told him Faith had a daughter who was alive and living in New Jersey. So it was Russ he turned to now.

Ryan reached him at work in the corporate offices of Baldwin's, New England's favorite department store and his family's dynasty, he thought wryly. Some dynasty when it excluded family at whim.

Uncle Russ had devoted his life to the business, more so after Ryan's father's heart attack and subsequent cutting back over the past couple of years. Though J.T. worked at Baldwin's, he was more a hands-on manager while Uncle Russ oversaw delivery and transport.

'Hi, Uncle Russ,' he said when the other man answered his private line.

'Ryan, it's good to finally hear from you. I was beginning to think I'd have to come after you myself.'

He shook his head and laughed. 'Nothing that drastic is warranted, I promise you.'

'Did you find the girl?' Uncle Russ asked.

'Samantha. As a matter of fact, I did.'

Uncle Russ sucked in a sharp breath. 'After all this time!'

'She looks exactly like Faith.'

'That is remarkable. I didn't think, well I don't know what I thought you'd find.'

'Have my parents given any indication of coming around?' Ryan asked.

The other man cleared his throat. 'I think that like me, they didn't know what would come of this quest. In truth, they haven't discussed it with me.'

'Ever the diplomat, Uncle Russ?'

He chuckled. 'Well, now that you've found the young lady, I'll talk to them again.' He paused. 'So, what does this Sam think about having an uncle?'

Ryan winced. He'd been hoping to put off disclosing the details of Sam's situation and his agreement with Zoe.

'That's a little complicated. She doesn't know who I am just yet. The family she's staying with thinks it's best if she's eased into things.'

'I see.'

A knock on the door told him room service had arrived. 'I need to go, but I'll call soon.'

'Okay, and you take care.'

Ryan hung up the phone, grateful he had at least one relative he could count on. Unlike Zoe, who had more than a handful of strange but caring people who would always be there for her.

Over the long, lonely weekend, Ryan watched three rental movies in his Atlantic City hotel room. First thing Monday morning, he took Zoe's advice and booked a room closer to Ocean Isle, closer to Sam. And closer to Zoe. Once he got settled, he decided that although the place wasn't five-star, it more than suited his needs. He checked in at his office and after speaking to his secretary, he was certain his partners were handling everything in his absence.

It was time he turned his attention to the here and now.

And now it was time to visit the Costas clan.

Chapter Four

MONDAY MORNING, Zoe left the house bright and early at 7:00 a.m. to meet with Quinn, Connor and a friend