Come Hell or High Desire by Misty Dietz

these bobble stitch borders.” When she reached the landing, Zack
     laughed at the sudden blank look on her face.
    “Long time no see, huh, Morgan? Didn’t see your car out front. What’d you do, walk ?” he asked.
    Archie snickered. “You know she can’t exercise, man, she’d lose a cup size.”
    “Shut up, loser. You should talk. Married life’s making you soft around the middle.”
     She lunged at Archie, but her pinch found nothing but the fabric of his T-shirt. Her
     cheeks dimpled as she turned to Zack. “Since you’re burning to know, I hitched a ride.
     Wanna know who with?”
    Not right now. He had enough to worry about without having to wonder who was carting Morgan around
     these days.
    Twyla grabbed his arm and steered him into the kitchen where he’d spent countless
     hours talking, laughing, and learning what a healthy marriage looked like.
    A safe haven where no one would sell him out.
    “This is lovely being together so spontaneously. Are you hungry? Knowing you, you’ve
     been too busy to catch some lunch again, right?”
    “Right before I came, I stopped at home to let the hounds out. I grabbed something
     then, so don’t worry about me.”
    But within minutes, she’d slid a plate heaped with sweet breads, cold cuts, cheese,
     and crackers in front of him. He smiled. “This looks great, but not as good as you.
     You look beautiful like always, Twyla.”
    Morgan swiped a piece of Colby off Zack’s plate. “Brown-noser.”
    Twyla set a glass of milk in front of Zack, a pretty beam bringing some color to her
     cheeks. “Hear that, Arch? Six weeks to go, and I’m still beautiful.”
    Archie pulled her into his lap, his grin softening the scare factor of the jaguar
     tattoo wrapped around his neck. “I’ve told you that many times, but do I get the kind
     of reaction he does?”
    Zack felt a curious pang watching them. He took a swig of milk hoping to ease the
     void in his chest. An image of a leggy blonde sashayed through his mind. He scraped
     the back of his knuckles against his stubbled cheek and looked up to see Morgan watching
     him.
    Forcing another smile, he dabbed at his mouth with a napkin. “Glad to see you still
     keep him leashed, Twy.”
    Archie rolled his eyes. “Glad to see you up North. Ann all moved into her new condo
     yet?”
    Twyla moved off Archie’s lap. “I thought she would’ve called to keep me posted, but
     I suppose she’s been busy between work and packing. I’m dying to see how she’ll set
     up her new place, especially since she started working at Skinny Dipping. I love that
     store!”
    Zack looked down at his plate, his chest tight. The small hope that either of them
     might know Ann’s whereabouts flickered and died. But was he really surprised? The
     note, Sloane’s visions, and his gut all told him the same thing.
    Someone had taken Ann, and things were bad.
    He’d been a jerk. He’d helped Ann move in more than a month ago, and she lived only
     a few miles from here. He’d meant to stop by. He truly had, but how could he tell
     these guys that lately their collective happiness made him edgy? How fucked up was
     that?
    He glanced over at Morgan, who was now seemingly engrossed studying the fuzzy blanket.
     She knew when he’d moved Ann. The hellion had worn out her welcome at Ann’s for three
     miserable hours, mocking how he carried boxes, unwrapped dishes, and arranged furniture
     until Ann had finally taken pity on him and told Morgan to lay off the wisecracks
     or she wouldn’t get any more hand-me-downs.
    So, she could have busted him. She normally lived for that kind of thing. Why didn’t
     she say anything? He looked down at his plate again.
    “Zack?” Twyla’s tone made his eyes prickle. “What’s wrong?”
    Everything. “It’s all good. Ann’s pretty much settled in the condo now.”
    “Why’ve you been such a ghost, then? I thought she lived a stone’s throw from here.”
    He pretended not to notice Archie nudge his