Holiday Illusion by Lynette Eason

FBI guy, Justin. He was the only one who’d known Anna was back. Lucas ground his teeth as he paced the den of his father’s home.
    The old man had yet to put in an appearance. They’d been let in by Ted, who’d gone to get an ice pack for Anna as soon as he’d heard their story. Anna sat on the couch, the ice pack held to her head. She’d downed two ibuprofen pills without complaint. Her pale features worried him, but Anna assured him she was fine, she just needed to lie down. Maddy, one of the household staff, promised him that their rooms would be ready within five minutes.
    When they’d finished giving their statements, the officers had tried to convince them to turn around and go back to the hospital, but Anna had refused. Lucas informed them that he was a doctor, promising to keep an eye on her. They quit pushing it. He’d managed to get the little rental car started and they’d finished the remaining ten-minute drive to the Haven, North Carolina, beachfront home located at the top of the man-made cliffs that overlooked the crashing ocean below.
    An easy winding path led down to the boathouse where several boats nestled against the pier. The boathouse itself could be seen from the main house and looked like a small stone cottage. Very quaint and very familiar. The sight of it brought pangs of grief for the brother who’d died there, but still it surprised Lucas how good it felt to be home.
    They were now ensconced in his father’s house where scents from his childhood, the fresh roses from the winter greenhouse, his father’s old pipe, and lemon furniture polish washed over him, reminding him of good days when his mother was alive and he felt loved, sheltered.
    â€œLucas?”
    Spinning on his heel, Lucas found himself face-to-face with the cousin he’d grown up with. His best friend and co-troublemaker. “Godfrey.”
    Sincere affection flooded him as he crossed the room to hug the man who hadn’t aged a bit in the past three years. His dark good looks had always driven girls nuts and he’d reveled in his popularity. Until he’d met Dahlia, now his wife, and was smitten for life. “You look great. It’s good to see you.”
    Godfrey smiled, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners as he patted Lucas’s shoulder. “I can say the same for you. Brazil must have been some kind of vacation.”
    Lucas gave the man a light punch to his shoulder. “Funny.” He pushed aside the reason he’d gone to Brazil and said, “Now come here and let me introduce you to a friend of mine. This is Anna Freeman. We met in Brazil at the orphanage, but she grew up just a couple of hours from here in Rocking Wave Beach.”
    Rising from the couch, Anna held the ice pack in her left hand to grasp Godfrey’s outstretched hand with her right. She smiled, but the purple bruise peeking through her wispy blond bangs made her look fragile, like she could be snapped in two without much effort.
    Concern gripped Lucas. She really needed to lie down.
    Godfrey’s eyebrows rose as he spotted her; a frown creased his forehead as he said, “Very nice to meet you. What happened to your head?”
    â€œSomeone tried to run us off the road on the way over here.”
    â€œRun you off the road!” Godfrey’s eyes flew to Lucas. “Why would someone do that?”
    â€œIt’s…a long story.”
    â€œOne I think I might like to hear.” The clipped voice came from the doorway. “Hello, Lucas. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” The three turned to watch the old man enter the room, his dignity worn like a suit of armor. Everything about him shouted money, control, power. His gray hair didn’t dare move as it sat upon his round head. The hand on his hip, while aged with spots and wrinkled skin, wouldn’t think about giving a betraying tremble.
    Looking into his eyes, Lucas realized they were his