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much time with her during the summer months as possible. Today, we will go to the beach. Before I came back, I picked up the picnic basket Cook made for us."
    Cook? “The beach? I haven't been there in years.” She shook her head. “Too busy chasing after the dollar."
    "Good, then you'll come.” He smiled, and she pretended his gentleness didn't make her want to cry.
    "I can't. I don't have a suit. Like I said, I haven't been in years.” By this time, they had rejoined Ayumi in the lobby with Eiji.
    Ayumi threw her arms around Kiara. “Did Jiro-san ask you about going to the beach with us, Ms. Kiara? Please say you'll come. Please? Jiro-san is boring at the beach. He doesn't do anything but read reports and talk on his cell phone. I want someone to come who will play with me."
    Kiara grimaced, but forced a smile. “I don't own a swimsuit, sweetie. Like I was telling your brother. I haven't been to the beach in a while."
    The facts didn't bother Ayumi. “That's okay. Jiro-san can buy you one."
    "Ayumi!” Jiro frowned. “That's very inappropriate."
    Unperturbed, Ayumi tapped her jaw thinking. “Well, it's a private beach, so what's wrong with a pair of shorts and a t-shirt? Come on, Ms. Kiara, you know you want to."
    Kiara laughed. “I guess I do want to. It's been so hot lately."
    The little girl wiggled her eyebrows. “Yes, it has. And we've got lots of food. Cook made all my favorites."
    "Okay, okay, I'll go.” She thought about whether it was safe to go back home to get a change of clothing. Normally, Odell went out during the day and only returned when he knew she was back from work. They could get in and out quickly, or she could. She would not allow Ayumi or her brother inside her tiny home. They would probably think it was no bigger than a closet at their house. Then again, she could be stereotyping the rich. Their house could be moderate-sized and Jiro just liked being carted around in a limo. Yeah right.
    Jiro, who had been standing by quietly while his sister did the convincing, moved up behind her. “Well then, it's settled. Let's go."
    Kiara dragged in a shuddering breath. He was so near, she felt the heat of his body, but he didn't touch her. Common sense told her to stop going out with these two, to keep everything on a professional level, but Jiro Fuschida spelled temptation, and right now, she didn't have the power to resist.
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Chapter Five
    "Jiro."
    "Hmm?” He looked up, his eyes hidden behind his glasses.
    Kiara brushed sand from her fingers and legs, trying to force herself to broach the subject she had been thinking about ever since that morning. “What did you mean when you said you know I'm hurting and you can make it stop?"
    He reached out to stroke her hair, which hung across half her face. When he tucked it behind her ear, she moved away, but he quickly caught her chin. She didn't resist. His thumb brushed the bruise on her cheek before his fingers trailed down to her jaw and then to her neck. A chill shook her.
    "Five years ago,” he began, “a man who thought he deserved to get a large percentage of my family's holdings took it upon himself to take my mother, father and brother for ransom, to force my grandfather to pay him. I had flown to Fukuoka with Ayumi to check out a school for her there. By the time, I returned, my grandfather had already refused to pay anything and my parents and brother were dead."
    She put up a hand to cover his. “I'm so sorry, Jiro. I know how much that hurts, and to think your grandfather did nothing."
    His mouth tightened. She wondered if he considered her insulting his grandfather. “I'm sorry,” she said again, dropping her hand to her lap. She would have moved away, but he caught her hand.
    "What I have to live with,” he explained, “is that Grandfather asked me to get ... involved. I had refused. Now, it was too late and my family was dead because of me not him."
    She couldn't believe he would blame himself for a