He didn't know how long he'd been standing there, enduring the painful memories of his past. While his family gathered for thanksgiving dinner, he was out here, alone, staring at the dark ocean. The wind was colder than he'd ever felt before yet he couldn't make himself turn around and join them. His mother had begged him to come, to share the joy of his brother's return. To forget the past. He'd almost laughed at her words. Forget the past? Never. He would never forget his brother's abandonment, would never be able to. While he'd spent the past ten years working his fingers to the bones to support the family, his brother was far away, all thoughts of responsibility gone. What the hell made him remember them after so long, Luis wondered bitterly. After ten long years without so much as a phone call, Antonio had returned home. And he hadn't come alone. He'd brought his new fiance with him, and she was none other than the mysterious Sheridan Crane. A Crane. His hands tightened around the old wooden railing of the pier. His brother was engaged to a woman whose family Luis hated more than anything. They were responsible for his father's disappearance, he knew they were, and so did Antonio. And yet here he was, planning to marry the daughter of their father's murderer. Luis hung his head, feeling sorrow wash over him. He'd loved his father so much.

He should go home. It was almost midnight, Beth was probably there by now waiting for him. Or maybe he shouldn't go home. Next to his brother, his wife was the last person Luis wanted to see tonight. Things weren't exactly good between them, hadn't been for a long time. Ever since he'd discovered her ugly secret. He could go to Laura tonight, it had been weeks since he'd paid her a visit. And no matter how big of a jerk he was, she never refused him. He could spend a few hours in her arms and forget his problems, atleast for a while. On that thought, he turned to head back to his car.

That's when he saw her. She was standing on the opposite end of the pier, staring out at the water, completely unaware of his eyes on her. Her tall body was concealed in a black coat, her head covered in a silky blue scarf, all he could see of her skin was the side of her face. But then she turned her head and looked straight at him. The light from lamp post she was standing under was too dull for him to make out the color of her eyes. But her lips were red, and he stared at them, entranced. And then he noticed her wide eyes staring back at him in silence, and he wondered if she was frightened by him. He didn't get a chance to tell her he was a police officer and set her mind at ease, however. A sudden gust of wind snuck up from behind her, sending her scarf airborne. He only saw a flash of blond hair before his eyes were drawn to the silky fabric flying towards him. It landed at his feet and he bent down to pick it up. Straightening, he held the scarf in his hand, feeling it's softness, letting her scent fill his mind. Finally, he lifted his gaze to look at her again, he had to know who she was. But all he saw was an empty pier. She was gone.

chapter 1