The Surgeon’s Secrets: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance by Michelle Love, Celeste Fall (60)

Part Three:

 

Sarah backed away from her ex-husband, her breath hitching and catching in her throat. His smile was friendly enough but his eyes were flat and dead. He looked changed. Harder. His once slim face was pudgy and his hair was thinning.

 

He stepped towards her, put his hands on her shoulders; when she tried to shake him off, his grip tightened.

“Don’t be silly, Sarah, why do you look scared? It’s me.”

His voice, god, even his voice frightened her, as soft as it was, almost a tender whisper. She could smell the pine soap on his skin.

“Dan…what do you want?” Even more than “where the hell have you been?” she wanted to know this. What did he want with her now, this second?

Dan leaned in and kissed her softly before she could pull away. He ran a finger down her cheek.

“Isn’t it obvious, my darling baby girl? I want you, Sarah, I want you back.”

Sarah stared at him in horror and her heart pounded against her ribs. “No…no…”

His eyes went dark, his smile flattened into a thin line. “We are husband and wife, Sarah.”

She yanked herself free and went to press the call button. “We are divorced, Dan. I divorced you after you faked your own death and left me. Get out or I’ll have security throw you out.”

He stepped towards her, backing her against the wall, pinning her with his entire weight; she could feel his body heat, smell his skin.

“Dan…please”

“Ssh baby girl, ssh. You know how this has to be? I’ll forgive you for spreading your legs for the rich man but now, let’s be honest….” His smile was terrifying. The fear was icy cold in her veins.

“You are mine, Sarah, mine forever...I won’t let anyone else have you, my darling… not ever…”

 

And he pressed his lips against hers.

She pushed him away, the violence of her revulsion giving her strength. “Don’t you ever put your hands on me again…Raymond.” She spat the name out, her eyes flashing with anger.

 

Dan just grinned. “So you’ve been doing a little snooping, huh? Well…” He sat down on the bed. “Guess I should come clean then.”

Sarah gave a hollow laugh. “You know what? I don’t care. I don’t care what your real name is or where the fuck you’ve been these last two years. Our whole life together was a lie and a mistake I’ll never repeat.”

The man she was married to was a stranger and now, that stranger stood, a smile on his face, his aggression seemingly gone. “I can see you’re upset, darling. I’ll come back when you’ve calmed down.”

“Don’t bother. My fiancé will be here soon.”

“Your fiancé,” he scoffed. “Whoring yourself for a billionaire, oh yes, you’re all class, Sarah. Guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”

 

 Crack! Her palm made contact with his face and his head snapped around. He grabbed her wrist, murder in his eyes. “Watch yourself, Sarah. My patience has a limit.”

“Get. Out.” The adrenaline pulsing through her body made the words a growl. Dan smirked, dropped her arm and turned to leave. At the door, he stopped and his eyes swept up and down her body in a way that made her feel sick.

“Fine. For now, I’ll stay away. When you’re feeling better, we’ll talk. We have so much to talk about, my darling. So much left to say.”

The second he left, Sarah collapsed onto the bed, breathing hard, her mind delirious with panic and fear and sadness and she managed to press the call button again just as she succumbed to a full blown panic attack.

 

Isaac was listening to the accountants drone on when Maggie, her face tense and worried, knocked on the door. Isaac excused himself and walked out into the corridor with her. Without a word, Maggie handed him a copy of an email. He read it through twice before looking back at her.

 

“Shit,” he breathed. “This is the last thing I need right now.”

“I know. Isaac, listen, there’s something else: the hospital called a few minutes ago; Sarah’s had a little setback. Now, don’t panic, she just got upset about something but she won’t say what. They’re not sure if something happened or it’s a result of her concussion. They said there’s no need to worry and she’s okay now but they thought you ought to know.”

 

Isaac felt his stomach clench and he looked back at his colleagues, waiting expectantly for him. He couldn’t ditch yet another meeting. He sighed. “Look, I need to get back in there. Cancel the meeting with the marketing guys, that can wait, and as for this…” He screwed up the email. “I’m all for ignoring it.”

 

He could see Maggie’s lips pursed with disapproval but she nodded and went back to her office. Isaac moved to return to his meeting, but at the door, he paused for a moment. Damn it, damn it. Not now, he thought, not while all this crap is going on. The email would haunt him, he knew that, but as long as only he knew about the contents of it, everything would be fine.

 

He told himself that was true, took a deep breath and went back into the meeting.

 

Despite her panic attack, Sarah was discharged from hospital the following week. She hadn’t told Isaac about Dan yet – she wanted to be at home with him when she did – she was scared of him blowing up and making things worse. All she wanted for the moment, was for his arms to be around her, to feel his skin on her skin, for the rest of the world to go away.

Isaac took her back to his apartment – “our apartment” he insisted with a smile – and she’d spent a blissful couple of weeks recovering, reading, chatting with a visiting Molly and Finn. Now Isaac and Sarah were in his vast bathtub, candles guttering on the window sill. She lay back against his solid chest, feeling it rise and fall with his breathing, his cool lips at her temple. Her bruises were healing and her head felt clear. Only an occasional dizzy spell reminded her of the attack but now, with Isaac’s arms around her, she felt better than in weeks.

 

She turned her head up to kiss him. “Your arms feel so good wrapped around me, but I think your hands need to be busier.”

Isaac gave a throaty chuckle. “You do, huh? Like this?” He traced a circle gently around her belly and she shivered.

“Yes just like that and maybe the other hand could go further down south?”

“Hmm, Mexico?” He traced the line of her pubic bone, grinning as she wriggled with pleasure. “Or were you thinking more of Peru…” His hand slipped between her legs and moaning as he thumbed her clit, she opened her thighs wider.

“Sarah…are you sure you’re up to this?”

She caught her breath as his fingers slid inside her. “Very sure,” she breathed and moaned softly as he moved his fingers in and out of her. She could feel his cock thickening, its hot length pressing against her back. He caught her earlobe between his teeth, nipping it before giving a low laugh.

 

“You feel so good,” he murmured, “so, so good…my cock wants to be inside you, baby, so hard for you, can you feel it?”

She nodded, almost as turned on by his dirty talk as she was by him stroking in and out of her.

“Good,” he said, “Now turn around, baby. I want to suck on your nipples while I fuck you.”

Heart thumping, cheeks flaming with arousal, Sarah did as he asked, scooting round and straddling him. His cock stood ramrod straight up his belly and she stroked it while he spread the soft, wet folds of her labia and positioned her above him. The smooth, wide crest of his cock nudged at the entrance of her cunt, teasing her. Sarah dug her fingernails into his pecs as he grinned at her impatience then gripping her hips, he impaled her onto himself hard. He took her nipple into his mouth as they moved slowly, sucking on it, drawing the sensitive nub out, feeling it harden under his flicking tongue.

 

Sarah, one arm curled around his neck, her fingers tangled in his hair, reached down with her free hand to cup his balls, massaging them gently. As her excitement grew, she began to move faster, thrusting herself onto his cock, wanting to take him in, feeling the enormous size of it stretching her, fucking her, drilling into her. Isaac suddenly moved, keeping her clamped to him, tumbling them out of the tub, pressing her slippery wet body down onto the cool tile of the bathroom floor, his hands planted either side of her head, ramming ferociously into her. Their eyes locked and in the instant, nothing else in the world existed.

 

“Come on my skin,” she whispered then her back arched up into him, her belly against his as she gasped and moaned through her orgasm. Isaac felt himself peak and withdrew, pumping creamy white semen onto her skin, the soft skin of her belly and the ripe fruit of her breasts. He massaged it into her skin at her request before they entwined their bodies together.

They lay together, not caring that they were getting cold; the heat from their sex-addled bodies was enough.

Isaac stroked a finger down her face. “You know what? I was going to go the traditional root and go down on one knee to ask you to marry me but I’ve decided that the only way to do it is when I’m inside you.”

 

Sarah grinned up at him. “If there was a way your cock could be inside me all day every day, I would be very happy.”

Isaac laughed. “How would that work, exactly?”

She considered. “We’d walk like crabs.”

“And wear a big sheet with a hole in the top for our heads.” They both imagined what that would look like and burst out laughing.

Sarah sighed happily. This, this was what was real. She and him. Him and her. Isaac and Sarah. That was her story from now on.

 

Later, when Isaac was asleep, Sarah stared up at the ceiling and wondered if it would be easier just to leave the island. Leave everything behind. Even the coffeehouse. It wasn’t as if she couldn’t afford to start again – she had finally consented to hearing George’s will read. She had inherited everything: his house, his business, and the small fortune he had left her. That had been the biggest shock. She’d walked out of the lawyer’s office if not quite a millionaire then very close to it. A generous offer had been made on the restaurant and she’d accepted it, somehow wanting to be rid of the extra commitment it gave her.

 

She’d discussed selling the coffee house to Molly before – when Dan had first gone missing. She had wanted to run away from the stares and gossip. Now, though, she thought, with George’s money, she had other plans, plans that had formulated over her time in the hospital. Isaac had asked her to move into this apartment with him and she’d agreed – on condition that she paid half of everything. Isaac had rolled his eyes – and she knew somehow he’d wriggle out of that one – but now, after the attack, she didn’t care about anything but getting away, starting over. She would give the coffee house to Molly – her friend deserved every bit of good fortune that came her way. As for the house – if Dan kicked up a fuss about the divorce settlement, she would tell him he could have it. She never wanted to be back there again. If Dan didn’t want it, then she’d sell it. Finn could have George’s home if he wanted it. At the moment, he was living in the cramped apartment above the coffee house where they kept the supplies. Sarah smiled to herself – he was free of Crap-o-line at last.

 

“About damn time,” she whispered. Finn had come to visit her in the hospital and already, he was looking happier, healthier.

Except…there was something different about the way he looked at her. The way he had held her hand. It had made her – not uncomfortable – but confused. He looked at her like he wanted to say something to her, something that would change their relationship forever – and Sarah hoped beyond hope that it wasn’t what she thought it might be.

 

She had no doubt of her love for Isaac – and she stole a quick glance at his sleeping face now and smiled – but Finn…she loved him, for sure, but anything more than that? No.

When they were teenagers together, they would occasionally flirt jokingly, and they even experimented once to find out what kissing would be like. (“Ugh.” They’d agreed.) They both went through periods of having crushes on the other as they were growing up – courtesy, mostly, of raging teenage hormones.

 

When they ended up going to the same college, however, they’d dated other people – Finn more than her. Their friendship had deepened so that they could talk to each other about sex without being embarrassed and Sarah had come to rely on Finn as the one person she could trust above everyone else…until that terrible night in the autumn of their senior year.

 

She could remember everything about that day. She had known that Caroline had been sniffing around Finn since the beginning of the semester. For some horrible reason, Caroline had followed them to college and had been bitching and sniping at her for the last couple of years. Around Finn however, she was almost coquettish and Sarah told Finn. “She wants you.” Finn had laughed off her concerns. As if I would ever go with that bitch. And she’d believed him. One day, having gotten a well-deserved A on a piece of work she had struggled with, she was smiling for the first time in days as she pushed open the door to his room. They never knocked on each other’s doors. And the smile froze on her face. Finn was naked, Caroline was on top of him. Kissing him. Fucking him. Caroline turned as she saw Sarah standing there, Finn following her gaze. They both stared at her as she stood there, every single atom in her body screaming with the worst betrayal. Caroline smiled.

 

Sarah let the door close and stumbled down the hallway, hid in the ladies bathroom all night. She heard her friends calling for her, looking for her. In the morning, she threw her stuff into a bag and ran down to the admissions office. She transferred out of the college, changed her cell phone number, her email. She couldn’t bear it – her best friend, her confidant, Finn, screwing her worst enemy. Caroline, who had called her racist names in the playground, Caroline who she had gotten into numerous fist fights with as they grew up. Caroline who thought her daddy’s money bought everything had gotten her hands on Finn. She’d won.

It had taken years for Sarah and Finn to reconcile to the point where they were best friends again. And now…

Sarah pushed the thought away. Of all her problems, that was one she could – and should – ignore. If Finn was indeed crushing on her again, it would pass and as for anything else, well, she would make sure she dealt with Dan once and for all.

 

She turned over and snuggled into the warm burrow of Isaac’s arms. He was such a big man she always felt tiny and cared for in his arms. Isaac was love. Her love.

No-one could take her away from him.

 

He had the desperate thirst to feel blood on his hands. To feel her blood on his hands but locked up in Quinn’s ivory tower, she was safe from him. For now.

Instead, he chose another woman who looked like her – young, Asian-American, beautiful. He followed her home and to his delight, found she lived on the island, an apartment on the street running parallel to Main Street. It was only after she was dead that he realized – he knew her. That only made him more gleeful.

 

He killed her in her apartment, in her bedroom. As she’d gotten out of her car, he slipped behind her and used a syringe of sedative on her. She was a small woman and he carried her easily to her bedroom. A quick glance around the room told him a man lived here. Good. Someone to discover her. He pulled open her blouse, pushed down her skirt and waited.

While he waited for her to come around, he focused on her face, trying to meld her features with Sarah’s in his mind. It wasn’t hard – all he thought about was Sarah, all day, all night.

“Sarah” came around and he smiled. She opened her eyes and he showed her the knife. “Hello my darling,” he said simply and plunged the knife into her belly.

 

A cool breeze was whipping up the leaves as Sarah drove off the ferry from the city into work the next morning. Despite herself, she felt optimistic. Isaac had left her note on the kitchen table. See you later, love of mine, when I’ll be doing all sorts of barely legal things to you. Iss x He had woke her up by sliding his diamond-hard cock into her and they’d ended up having the most sensational fuck this morning but even so, Sarah shivered with pleasure at the thought of “later”. God, she almost wanted to turn the car around and go back into the city, run to his office and beg him to take her, bending over his desk, being plowed by him…stop it. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, feeling a beat pulsing between her legs.

She drove into Main Street and was surprised how busy it was. People were gathered on the sidewalks, their faces shocked, curious, and frightened. She parked the truck and went to see what was wrong. She stood on her tiptoes, craning to see over the crowd. Cops, many, many cops, most of whom she didn’t recognize, were scattered along the right side of the street, a taped cordon up around the small apartment building on Hammond Street. She saw Finn talking to a guy in a suit next to the medical examiner’s van. Sarah walked slowly to The Varsity, bumping into people as she went.

 

“What’s going on?” Sarah grabbed Molly’s t-shirt as she zipped past, her hands laden with coffee for the cops.

“Lindsey Chung’s been killed, can you believe it?” Molly hissed, still moving. Shocked, Sarah let her go, watching her as she dished out the drinks to the waiting, and grateful, police officers and technicians. She had known Lindsey for years, was friendly with her. They’d been the same age – twenty –eight. The young lawyer had only been married just over three years – the wedding had been the last social event she and Dan had been to before he disappeared. Both Lindsey and her doctor husband, Tom were frequent visitors to the coffee house. Good people. Tom had been to see her in the hospital, sat with her. Her heart ached for him. Sarah moved like an automaton through to the backroom, dumping her bag down on the counter. The backdoor opened and Nancy, their barista, greeted her as she came in, her face drawn. She hugged Sarah. “Terrible news, huh?”

 

Sarah followed her out to the coffee house. “How’d it happen?”

Nancy frowned. “You don’t know? She was murdered. Stabbed to death right there in her apartment. Tom found her this morning when he got back from the medical center. I saw him with Mike earlier, guy’s a mess.”

 

Sarah felt like she’d been punched in the chest. “Oh God. Poor Tom, I can’t believe it.”

Nancy nodded. “Just awful. Never seen so many cops. Finn doesn’t know half of them, he’s gone to see their boss, see if he can be any help.”

They both went to serve customers then, the coffeehouse becoming busier by the minute. Every conversation Sarah overheard was about the killing and she hoped beyond hope that most of the speculation was exaggerated. That hope disappeared when she saw Finn’s face as the young chief made an appearance later in the morning. Molly hugged her brother and he smiled gratefully, his face stricken and tired. Sarah poured him a large coffee and made him a sandwich. Finn smiled his thanks. They waited until he had eaten, until the coffee house had emptied out a little. Finn wiped his mouth with a napkin and sighed.

 

“I can’t tell you much but it’s bad. The homicide cop from the city –,” he looked at Sarah, “- you’ve met Cabot – told me the Feds are getting involved. The victim worked for the State Legislature. Also, they’re finally taking the racial thing seriously.”

Nancy and Sarah exchanged a look. Sarah cleared her throat. “So they think…”

Finn nodded. “Yeah. Do me a favor, the both of you? Don’t go out at night on your own.”

Sarah half-smiled. “As if Isaac would let me. God, the sisterhood would kill me for that remark – sorry –,” she said when the others flinched – “bad choice of words.”

“No,” Finn said, “it’s okay. Look, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you all. Sarah – when Buddy died, remember we told you that there had been murders of other Asian American women, countrywide?”

She nodded, but the others gaped at them both. “What the hell?” Molly flushed red. “Why the hell didn’t you tell us?”

“Because I had no proof of who I think might be behind the murders. I still don’t.”

Sarah was silent for a moment then nodded at Finn. “Tell them.”

He took a deep breath in. “The murders in the city. On the islands. Lindsey.” He put a piece of paper down on the counter. “There were more, over the two years. All over the country. Seventeen women of Asian descent. Murdered. Over the last two years, during the time where no one knew where Dan was, what he was doing. All of them stabbed repeatedly in the stomach, some of them disemboweled. Like George. Like Buddy. All the women look like Sarah. I think he wants to kill her.”

 

“Oh my god…” Molly clamped her hands over her mouth. “I don’t believe it. Why?”

Sarah shook her head. “He’s not who we all thought he was, Mols. The Dan Bailey I married changed at the end – so much. I kept a lot of it from you...”

“I know he could be controlling and arrogant, but why the hell would he disappear for two years, kill a bunch of people and then decide all along it’s his wife he wants to murder? Why not just kill Sarah then?” Mike put his hand up to soften his words.

“Listen, listen,” Molly was shaking her head. “We don’t know if Dan even wants to communicate with Sarah, let alone kill her. As far as we know, all he’s doing here is screwing that snake you were married to.” She fixed her brother with a steely eye.

Sarah sighed. “Dan is back. He came to the hospital to see me, made it pretty clear he wants me back. I didn’t give him a chance to explain where he’s been or what he’s been doing. I wanted him away from me. I hate to admit it but he scared me. There’s something…not right about him. That’s not to say we’re not all jumping to conclusions. Dan hasn’t a good reason to want to hurt me – unless he’s gone full psycho.”

 

Molly snorted. “Well, he did sleep with Caroline.”

“Thanks a lot, sis,” Finn rolled his eyes and Sarah grinned.

Finn was studying her. “You tell Isaac this?

 

Sarah shook her head. “No. I was going to but things have been so much better for me living there. I feel safer. Which brings me to what I was going to talk to you about.” She glanced out of the window at the cops milling around. “Actually, more important things are going on today, it can wait.”

 

There was another reason she felt safer. The tiny .22 gun she had in her purse. Isaac had insisted she carry it, had all the legal stuff dealt with, and he’d taken her to the gun range to teach her how to use it. She hated that she felt better now she had it with her but she realized that it was a safeguard.

She had honestly meant to talk to Isaac about Dan but the time they’d spent alone at his apartment had been so heavenly she couldn’t bear to spoil the mood.

Now, as she stared out of the window to the melee outside, she shivered. When it came down to it, did she believe Dan capable of murder? The old Dan, the one she met, fell in love with (or so she thought) wouldn’t have been capable. No way. He might have been arrogant but he had a good heart. The Dan she had confronted in her hospital room, the one who scared her….did she think it was possible he could kill someone? Yes, but was that really his endgame?

 

She shook her head and sighed. She was in the kitchen of the Varsity, making some fresh muffins. The homicide cops, as well as Finn and his deputies, had cleaned out the place. She dumped two cups of flour into a mixing bowl and grabbed some eggs. She left the kitchen door open slightly so she could hear if Molly needed help. As she worked the mixture, a calm settled over her. This was her world, her little space where she could bake and think. She heard Molly coming back the counter, her voice icy.

 

“You really are a walking piece of shit, you know that? Seeing as you are no longer my brother’s wife – plus, you are screwing my best friend’s ex-husband – I don’t feel a need to be polite to you, Caroline, even if you are a “paying customer” So, kindly, fuck off.”

Sarah sniggered, and listened to Caroline, her whiny voice rising in annoyance, as she attempted to save face.

“You know something, Molly? I always thought you and Finn were too close…if you get my meaning.”

Sarah shot out from the kitchen immediately. She stepped in between her friend and the redhead. “Time for you to go now, Caroline.”

Caroline, sneering, looked her up and down. “Hello Sarah, I can see your aureole through that shirt. Getting the goods out again? Guess the hooker-gene runs deep, huh?”

Sarah smiled, used to this particular line of Caroline’s. “And the skank is showing through...whatever it is you’re wearing, Caroline. What is that?” She pretended to look confused, turned to Molly, her hands spread wide.

Molly pretended to consider. “Something from Hosebags “R” Us?”

Sarah tutted. “No, I’m sure it’s designer – Michael Whores?”

Molly snorted. “Ho-darte?”

“Whore-gio Armani.”

“Nice. Hoo-chi.”

Caroline looked between them. “You think you’re so fucking funny?”

Sarah and Molly nodded in unison.

“Yep, pretty much.”

“Yes, we do.”

Caroline hesitated, huffed, turned on her heel and left.

“Sorry about that, Saz, I set her off.”

Sarah snorted with laughter. “Honey, don’t worry, the bitch is strong in that one. Still,” she flexed and stretched, “busting her chops is like squeezing a stress ball. Good for the soul.”

Molly nodded in agreement. “Chicken soup, indeed.”

Sarah grinned at her and went back to the kitchen. She finished the muffins and slid the tray into the oven. Fixing the timer, she washed her hands and returned to the shop.

“What was she talking about anyway?”

Molly hesitated, not looking at her friend. Sarah bent to catch her eye.

“What?”

Another silence.

 

“Milly Molly Mandy?”

“Don’t call me that.” But she smiled.

“Come on then, out with it.”

Molly bit her lip. “She was…crowing about being pregnant with Dan’s baby.”

Sarah winced. A wrecking ball through the chest would hurt less.

“Good for her.”

Molly squeezed her hand. “Ignore the bitch. Would you really want to be pregnant with Dan’s kid?”

Sarah sighed, the ache in her chest still pounding at her. “No. But it would have been nice to have Isaac’s kids one day.”

 

She’d never forget the day her gynecologist had told her she would never carry children. At the time, she’d been upset but not devastated. It had been after Dan went missing and the only other person who knew was Molly. Sarah had been resigned and it was only when she’d met Isaac that the regret really hit her.

 

“Have you talked about it?”

Sarah shook her head. “Not really. Maybe we should. If he wants children of his own, then…”

“All he wants is you,” Molly said confidently. “Don’t worry about it, Isaac just wants you.”

 

Isaac repeated what Molly said, almost-word-for-word. “Sarah, sweetheart, as far as I’m concerned, if we decide to have kids – and I’m honestly right down the middle of whether we do or don’t – we have options. There are thousands of kids out there who would love you as their mother.”

 

He was sitting at one of the tables in the now-closed Varsity, watching her as Sarah moved around the room, switching on the Tiffany lamps, turning down the overhead lights. She loved this time of day, the sensuality of dusk when the coffee house would glow with a soft warmth, the rush would ease, and she could relax. She returned behind the counter, slipping a disc into the shop’s sound system and a second later, Billie Holiday filled the room with sweet music.

 

“Just when you are near, when I hold you fast, then my dreams will whisper, you’re too lovely to last…”

 

She’d asked Molly and Finn to join them for a quick supper – where she intended to tell Isaac about Dan. She wanted Finn and Molly there for moral support – and to reign in Isaac’s anger when he found out.

Molly had disappeared somewhere, Finn was due any minute so Sarah had taken advantage of their privacy to tell him about her inability to get pregnant. He had taken it well, expressing sympathy but she could tell, as she gazed into his soft green eyes, that it made no difference to how he felt about her.

He pulled her onto his lap now and kissed her. “You and me, Sarah. That’s all I want.”

She kissed him back, sinking into the embrace and then grinned as she felt his erection harden through his pants. “Ambitious, soldier, but my de facto siblings will be here any minute and I don’t think they’d appreciate the floor show.”

Isaac chuckled. “Just you wait till we get home; I’ll make you pay for giving me blue balls.”

She giggled. “Doesn’t that only happen after a long time without sex? In which case, I doubt that’ll ever happen between us.”

He grinned. “Still, they’re full and ready for you. Like overfull…coconuts.”

She laughed along with him. “That is so gross, Isaac Quinn.” She kissed him again. “Don’t worry, you’ll get your chance to…no, I’m not continuing with that euphemism, it’s just wrong.”

She hopped off his lap – managing to stroke his erection as she did – which only made him groan. “Dear lord, woman, you are trying to kill me.”

 

Sarah was debating whether they could get away with a quick screw in the back room when Finn tapped at the closed door and smiled at her. Embarrassed by the flush in her cheeks, Sarah walked over to the locked coffee house door and opened it. “Hello fella, come on in.”

Finn chucked her cheek as he passed, then greeted Isaac, who smiled easily back at him. Sarah noticed he’d pulled his sweater over his lap to hide his erection and she exchanged an amused look with him as Molly made her entrance from the backroom.

 

All amusement had left Isaac’s face a half hour later after she’d told him about Dan’s visit to the hospital. He’d got up from the table, paced around, obviously trying to calm himself before speaking. The three of them watched him in silence; he sat down and took Sarah’s hands.

“Okay, I’m going to let the fact you didn’t tell me right away slide. I kind of get why you didn’t but still. What did he want?”

Sarah took a deep breath in. “Me, apparently. He wanted to come back and be my “husband” again. I shut him down. He wouldn’t be in any doubt that I meant it too, I might have slapped him when he tried to kiss me.”

Isaac gave a low growl and she squeezed his hands. “All I felt was utter revulsion, Iss. I don’t know that man, he is a stranger to me.”

He searched her eyes. “Do you think he means you harm?”

She sighed. “I honestly don’t know. He did say he wouldn’t let anyone else have me – take that as you will. Is it macho posturing or a threat?”

Finn cleared his throat then, reminding the couple that there were two other people in the room. “Look, guys, as far as the police are concerned…Dan went away, faked his disappearance. But it wasn’t for monetary gain or to cover up a crime so technically, he’s done nothing wrong. Maybe it was just because he was fucking my wife.”

“Then why didn’t she disappear too? Make all our lives better?” Molly interjected, then grinned. Sarah and Finn chuckled at her face.

 

Isaac sighed heavily. “But then who attacked Sarah? And why? If Dan didn’t kill those women and George and Buddy, then why wouldn’t the killer just…” He couldn’t finish, just looked at Sarah, her lovely face, those kind, warm deep brown eyes. “Why would anyone want to hurt you?” His voice was almost a broken whisper and it made tears spring into her eyes. She leaned her forehead against his.

“I’m here, Iss, I’m still here. It’s okay.”

Molly surreptitiously wiped a tear away. “So, what do we do?”

Sarah looked at Isaac. “I say, I have a final meeting with Dan. Here, publicly. I tell him that we are no longer in each other’s lives, I wish him the best, but I want him to stay away from me, you, Molly, Finn. If he wants any property, he can have it.” She turned to Molly. “Except The Varsity. As from Friday, Mols, you are the sole owner of this coffee house.”

Molly gaped. “What the hell?”

 

Sarah smiled. “I’ve been thinking a lot about new opportunities. I want to go back to school. I have my MBA but I want to do something I’m really passionate about. Literature, art, music. Maybe even start my architectural degree again. So I decided. You have done so much for me and you deserve something good so it’s my gift to you, Molly. The Varsity is yours.”

Molly had tears on her face. “Sarah…no, come on, let me buy it.”

Sarah shook her head. “No way. It’s yours, I just hope you don’t feel I’m dumping it on you then running. I’ll stay on until you are fully staffed. And then there’s this… I’m moving in with Isaac - permanently.”

She grinned across at her love, who had visibly relaxed now, hearing her talk about their future. “In fact, although we haven’t made it official…”

“I asked Sarah to marry me,” Isaac said proudly and then chuckled. “Twice, actually.”

Sarah laughed too as Molly started to grin. “Once, I was on morphine, so he had to ask again.”

 

She shared a look with Isaac and he knew she was thinking the same thing: when I was inside you, kissing, you, fucking you, loving you…

 

Finn half-smiled. His cheeks were flushed pink and his eyes were flat but he congratulated them genuinely. Sarah smiled at him, ignoring the look in his eyes. Pain. She shoved the wave of sadness that came over her away. “Finn, I have something for you too.” She grabbed her purse and dug out a set of keys, throwing them to him. “George’s house. Now I know that…well, you may not want to live in that because of…you know, but the land is good. You could finally build that house you’ve always dreamed of building.”

Finn was shaking his head. “I can’t accept it, Sarah, it’s too much.”

Sarah clamped her hands over her ears. “Can’t hear you lalalalalala. Look, I’m starving, I’m going to order pizza. Who is in?”

Molly grinned. “I’d love to but Mike’s waiting. We have a night off from the kids for once and we’re going to enjoy it.”

Sarah hugged her. “Ok then, happy humping.”

Molly grinned as Finn groaned and Isaac laughed. She waved and left the coffee house.

 

Outside the streetlights were on, their sodium glow throwing the buildings into relief. A bunch of high school kids, giddy from the summer heat and the idea of another week of vacation, danced and shoved each other around, their laughter echoing down the purple-shadowed alleys and passageways leading off Main Street. One of them danced like a court jester, flailing his arms around and making the girls screech.

 

Sarah sighed, tired but relieved. After all her planning, finally, the people she loved most knew what she was doing. It made it real. She smiled to herself and got up.

“Coffee, anyone?”

She took their orders and went to the bar. Isaac was making a call. Finn followed her.

“Hey.” She turned and grinned at him.

“Hey, yourself.” Finn came behind the bar and hugged her. “That was an incredible thing to do for Molly. Thank you.”

She flushed, easing herself gently out of his arms but patting him on the chest to soften the rejection. “She deserves it. You too. Please take the house, the land, Finn. It really is the least I could do.”

Finn hesitated then glanced back at Isaac, who was deep in conversation with whoever he was on the phone with.

Finn looked at Sarah. “Look, there’s something,” he choked off. “No, I’m sorry, I just needed to say…you ever need me, I’m there. Forever, Sarah. You can always count on me.”

Sarah, terrified he was about to declare his love, patted his chest, putting that barrier between them. “Finn, you are my…brother,” she said gently, “I trust you to know that I care deeply about you, and I always will.”

Their eyes met and Finn nodded his understanding. Sarah hated the pain she saw in his eyes but he smiled. “Look, I’m pretty beat. Rain check on the pizza?”

She hated feeling that she’d hurt him. “You bet.”

 

Isaac returned Finn’s wave as he left then, as the door closed, and Sarah locked it behind Finn, he ended his call and stood. Sarah turned and leaned against the door and smiled at him. The way he was looking at her made her belly quiver, her sex pulse between her legs.

Isaac smiled and walked to the large windows, lowering the shades until they were totally private.

“Come here,” he said in a low voice, heavy with desire. She pushed herself away from the door and went to him. He slid his hands onto her head, gazing down at her as if seeing her for the first time. “Do you remember when we met? It was right here. I saw you and I was lost. I knew in that second we were meant for each other.”

 

Sarah smiled up at him. “I love you. I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you.”

Isaac tilted her chin up so he could press his lips against hers. “Then it’s only natural that I should now do this properly.”

He bent down on one knee and Sarah started giggling as he nearly tipped over. Isaac laughed then and grabbed her, wrestling her down onto the floor. “Ah, dammit, I wasn’t meant to do it the traditional way. So, Sarah Bailey, for the third and final time, will you be my wife?”

She kissed him through her giggles. “Fuck yes!”

As they laughed, they were pulling at the other’s clothes and before long, Isaac was hitching her legs around his waist and driving his rock-hard cock into her as hard as he could. Sarah moaned and writhed with pleasure beneath him, her fingers tangled in his hair, her mouth on his.

 

It was nearly three a.m. before they made it back to his apartment in the city. Sarah fell asleep almost immediately but Isaac, making sure she was deeply out, slipped from the bed and went into the living room.

 

He sat at his desk, his head in his hands. For all the drama with Dan Bailey, there was something else that was bugging him. No, scratch that, it was bigger than that, something he should have dealt with months ago. Hell, he did deal with it – or so he thought.

He fired up his laptop and there was another email. He scanned through the contents quickly then glanced at the clock. A quarter past three in Seattle – eight-fifteen in New York.

He picked up the phone.

 

Sarah banged on Caroline’s door, fidgeting, her skin itchy from irritation at having to be there. Caroline opened the door, her eyes popping out slightly when she saw Sarah there.

“Well, look, if it isn’t the high and mighty…” Caroline clamped a hand over her mouth as if she was a naughty child. “Excuse my manners, please.”

Sarah, her eyes cold, didn’t react. “Can you get a message to Dan?”

Caroline’s eyes shone with both curiosity and glee. “You bet I can.”

Sarah had the urge to punch the other woman. “Good. Tell him I want to arrange a meeting. At the house. I’ll be there all day today. If he wants to meet, tell him to be there. If not, I’ll assume –,” Now she grinned at the smirking Caroline, “I’ll assume he’s changed his mind about “wanting me back”.” She was rewarded by Caroline’s face, all mirth wiped out.

“I’ll tell him but I wouldn’t hold your breath.” Caroline’s tone had dropped to ice cold which just made Sarah’s smile wider.

“Oh, I don’t think I’ll be the one holding my breath. Later.”

She turned and walked away, hearing Caroline hiss a curse after her. Without turning, she raised her middle finger behind her, grinning.

Dan called the Varsity less than an hour later.

“Sarah.” His voice was warm, friendly.

Sarah blew out a breath. “Will you come by the house later? We need to talk.”

“Of course. I can’t give you an exact time, I have some business in the city but I promise, I’ll be there today, my darling.”

 

Isaac called her at lunchtime. “Hey you, how’s it going?”

Sarah looked around the living room of her house. “It’s weird being back. Not good weird, either.”

“You sure you want to do this? I could cancel my trip to “Frisco, you know.”

“Nah, don’t, it’s only one night and as soon as I’ve done here, I’m heading to Molly’s. You know what’s weird, what I realized coming back here?”

“What’s that, beautiful?”

She gave a sad sigh. “I don’t belong here anymore. I’m not sure I ever did.”

“Why don’t you pack all your stuff up? Just move out. We can put stuff in storage if we can’t get it all in here.”

She sighed. “Good idea. Honestly, at this point, I want to take my clothes, my books, my records and the rest can be sold with the house. A new start.”

Isaac laughed softly. “You and me both, baby.” There was something in his voice she couldn’t understand – a sadness.”

 

“What is it, Isaac?”

He hesitated. “Nothing. Just some crap I’m dealing with, nothing for you to worry about.”

She wasn’t convinced but didn’t push it. “I wish Dan would hurry up and get here, the sooner this is all resolved…”

“I hate that you’re out there alone.”

“I’ll be fine. I want to get it done. Besides, I had the locks changed.”

“You have your gun with you?”

“I do. Hopefully, it won’t come to that – I’ve been thinking. Maybe we’re all just a little too paranoid about this whole thing. I’ll call you later if anything happens.”

“Call me anyway. I mean it – even if you just get spooked. And get Finn over there too.”

“I will. I love you.”

“Me too, darling. Always.”

 

It took her longer to clean up the house than she’d planned. In the rooms she seldom used – especially since Dan had left - a thick layer of dust lay across the furniture. Moving from room to room, she dusted, tidied and removed anything she wanted to keep. There wasn’t much, she realized and felt a pang of regret. Is this what her life added up to? In the kitchen she set out boxes, loading them with her books, her records, her cd”s.

 

She looked out of the window to the porch where she’d sat with Dan so many evenings. She tried to reconcile that man with the one who’d left her and returned as…whatever he was now. Had there been signs?

 

Trying to shrug off the feeling of unease, she finished her packing upstairs, throwing all her clothes into two suitcases, sweeping all her toiletries and makeup into zip-lock bags. She grinned when she thought of Molly and her vast clothing collection – she would pass out if she saw how Sarah had thrown together her suitcase. Still grinning she lugged the cases downstairs and out to her truck. She was aware the daylight had begun to fade and hurriedly carried the rest of the boxes to the truck.

 

She went back into the house to wait for Dan, looking around the silent house. I will never sleep here again, and she knew with certainty the truth of her thought. She checked each room for anything she’d forgotten. In the music room, she sat down at the piano, tapping out a little tune, sadness welling up in her chest. For a while, with Dan, it had seemed like they’d built a good life here. That life seemed a million miles away now.

 

She went into the kitchen to make coffee and checked her phone. Be with you as soon as I can. D. Ugh. She hated that he had her cell phone number – she’d ditch it after all this was over.

 

Isaac went to the restaurant just after noon. He’d chosen a low key out of the way place and changed from his suit to a casual jeans and tee, stuck a baseball cap over his dark curls.

The waitress led him to an empty table at the back of the room and took his order. A scotch, straight up. He fidgeted in his chair, checking his phone.

“Isaac?”

He looked up into the face of the blonde woman. Her blue eyes were large and innocent, long eyelashes sweeping down to her cheeks – false, he guessed. Her long blonde hair was swept up into a graceful chignon, her clothes simple but expensive. He should know, he thought, half-smiling, he paid for them. She smiled down at him warmly. “It’s so wonderful to see you again.”

 

He stood to kiss her cheek. “Clare.” He pulled out her chair for her.

“Always such a gentlemen.” She sat down opposite him and placed her hand on his. He gently moved his hand away and sat back.

“Clare, you look good.”

She smiled coquettishly. “Thank you. Although I pale in comparison to your new girlfriend. She’s a rare beauty. Very exotic, very different from me.”

So she knew about Sarah. Isaac sighed.

“Clare, what is it you want?”

Clare smiled. “I came because…I wanted us to be friends, to be in each other’s lives. We left things so…unfinished.”

Isaac raised his eyebrows. “Clare, to me, they were totally finished.”

Her ice blue eyes narrowed. “You send me divorce papers while I’m supposed to be at my mother’s funeral?”

 

“The key word there being supposed,” his voice hardened. “Did you really think I didn’t know about the other men? Funny how your mother’s funeral – and I’m glad to hear she’s doing just fine by the way – funny how it coincided with Sebastian Gaspard being at the Cannes film festival, don’t you think?”

Clare smiled and this time, there was no warmth to it. “What did you expect? You were absent, Isaac, all the time. You were working all hours.” She studied him for a long moment. “Do you make time for her, Isaac?”

He looked back at her evenly. “I’d give up the business for her. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

Clare flinched. “Does she know about me?”

Isaac hesitated a beat too long and Clare grinned. “Oh, you bad man.” She giggled. “Well, I suppose you don’t want her to know about your little secret.”

The threat was implicit. Isaac’s chin lifted. “I haven’t told her because there’s nothing to tell. Our marriage lasted less than six months, Clare. As far as I’m concerned, it wasn’t anything close to resembling a marriage. And don’t forget, I pay you a very generous alimony to stay away.”

 

Clare nodded her head in ascent. “You do, I won’t deny that. But, Isaac, do you really want to start your new life with her with a lie?”

Isaac sighed, pulled out his wallet and threw some money on the table. “Try anything and see how fast your good life disappears, Clare. No, do us both a favor. Go back to New York and enjoy the lifestyle my money pays for.”

He stood. “Goodbye, Clare.” And he stalked out of the restaurant.

Shit, shit, shit. Isaac walked back to his office, his mind racing. Well, this was easily solved. He ruled out his cell phone and called Sarah.

 

“Hey, babe.”

Her voice made warmth flood through him. “Hey yourself, gorgeous. Dan showed up yet?”

He heard her frustrated sigh. “Nope. Asshole is playing a power game. He won’t win, I’m determined to wait him out, however late he may turn up.”

Isaac frowned. “Sarah…I mean it, I don’t like you out there all alone.”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart, the cavalry’s outside. Finn’s parked in the woods like a blonde ninja. God forbid any actual crime happens on the island today.” She sounded amused and Isaac relaxed a little.

“Look, sweetheart, we need to talk about a couple of things and this isn’t the ideal time to tell you this but - and keep in mind that it has no bearing on us – I used to be married.”

There it was, it was out, quick, brutal. Isaac waited for her hang up or yell or cry.

“Okay.”

He blinked. “Okay?”

Sarah laughed softly. “Okay. Like you said, it has no bearing on us now. You’re divorced, right?”

“For a long time. It was a huge mistake from the beginning and it lasted less than six months. She cheated practically from the moment the vows were said.”

Sarah made a disgusted noise. “What an idiot, I mean, have you seen you? I do have one question. Why tell me now?”

Isaac sighed. “Because she just got in touch. I just met with her – in public – and I’m still none the wiser why she got in touch now except she knows about you. Maybe she just wanted to make trouble.”

“You know what, Iss? I’m getting real tired of ex-spouses.” But there was humor in her voice and Isaac, relief flooding through him, laughed.

“Me too. The sooner we are married the better, I think. Show the world it’s you and me forever.”

“You had me at forever. We’ll talk about it tomorrow when you get back.”

“You’ll be at the coffee house?”

“All day.”

“I love you. Stay safe, beautiful…and kick your ex’s ass.”

Sarah laughed. “I will. Enjoy San Francisco, I’ll miss you.”

 

When she opened the door, Dan was smiling. He held out a bottle of champagne. “A peace offering. For my visit to the hospital. I didn’t mean to upset you, truly.”

Sarah took it warily. “Thank you.” She glanced at the clock. Eleven-thirty p.m. She’d been asleep on the couch when she heard Dan’s car pull up. For a second she thought about ignoring his knock but he’d knocked on the window, waved at her. Asshole. He’d waited until they’d given up for the day. She’d sent Finn home. Stupid, stupid.

Dan smiled at her.

“May I come in?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Dan…it’s almost midnight”

 

He put a hand on her arm. “Sarah, please. Let me come and apologize properly.” Wanting to deal with this situation won out over irritation so she stepped aside to let him in and followed him into the kitchen. She shoved the table against the back door, still not trusting it to hold after she’d broken in the day Buddy had died. The boxes she’d packed were already safely in her truck; all she wanted was to get this over and done with leave this place forever.

Dan immediately pulled the table away from the door, into the exact position it had been when he’d lived there, his smile almost a rictus. He sat down and looked at her expectantly.

“Awkward, this table being like that. What happened?” He smirked.

Sarah felt her stomach twist with irritation.

“I lost my key. I had to break in. Look, Dan, I’m tired, let’s get this over with.”

He held his hands up. “Of course, I’m sorry.”

She studied him, his easy manner seeming to jar with the self-satisfaction in his eyes. “Dan, we are over. You must know that. We were over the minute you left.”

 

“Do you want to know why I left?”

She sighed. “Do I want to know? You tell me. Was it something I did?”

Dan smiled. “Sarah, please sit down with me. Just want to clear the air between us.” She sat down reluctantly. “Sarah, I left because….well, you obviously found the letter from my family’s lawyer. I left because of that. My real name is Ray Petersen. I was estranged from my family for many years because of the abuse they subjected me to when I was a child. As soon as I could I left, changed my name, made a new life for myself. Met the most beautiful girl.” He smiled, his face soft. “Married her, made a good life here in this wonderful place.”

Sarah listened in silence, trying to read his eyes. For some reason, she believed him. “Why did you leave?” Her voice cracked and she felt all the old feelings of sadness flood through her. “Why did you change so much, become so controlling?”

 

He looked at her with a steady gaze. “Because I panicked. They’d found me. I thought if I could get you to understand – “

“ – and you thought that I wouldn’t? With my past?” She was incredulous. Dan put his hand over hers.

“It was because of your past – I didn’t think that you’d want to be a part of another horrific situation. I thought you’d leave me. And I was jealous of your relationship with Finn Jewell.”

She threw up her hands. “Jesus, Finn and I are friends. We have always been just friends.”

“Always?”

She hesitated and he leaped on it. “See? It was the reason I had an affair with Finn’s wife. God, that’s so messed up but I was angry, jealous.”

She was angry now. “So you leaving me was my fault?”

 

“God, no, no, that’s not what I meant. God, I’m not explaining myself very well. What it came down to was I was terrified you’d leave me. When it became apparent my family wouldn’t leave me alone then I reasoned – and it seems madness now – I’d rather you grieved for me than hated me.”

Dan’s eyes were sad now and Sarah felt a sad shift in her, a sympathy. “Dan…Ray…whatever your name is, it’s all in the past now. I’ve moved on, you need to as well. Although preferably not with Caroline Jewell.” She gave him a small grin and he smiled back.

 

“Sarah do me a favor – for you, I’m always Dan. Ray is part of my past I’d rather forget.”

Sarah studied him. “Fine, Dan. But you must realize we can’t go back. Even if I weren’t with Isaac, you would still be about to have a child with the woman I hate.”

He grimaced but smoothed out his expression when she frowned at him. “I know, it’s not the kid’s fault.”

“You made your bed.”

“Yep.”

 

They sat in silence for long moments then Sarah took a deep breath in. “Look, Dan, I have to know – and these questions might seem, I don’t know, outrageous or unbelievable but things seem too coincidental, events that have happened leading up to you coming back so I need to know the truth.”

 

Dan nodded, his eyes serious. “I understand. Just ask me, anything, darl- Sarah,” he amended and earned a grateful smile.

She hesitated. “Did you have anything to do with George’s murder? Buddy? Lindsey Chung? Was it you who attacked me here? Molly?”

“No. God, no. I was very fond of George, I’m so terribly sorry about what happened to him. Buddy was a friend, if you could call Buddy someone who would have had a friend. And Lindsey, God, Sarah, she was so young. It’s heart-breaking. And no, Sarah, I could never hurt you – not physically”

He met her eyes and she could see nothing in them to contradict what he was saying. “I understand why you would suspect me. Because of the way I behaved,” he started slowly, “because of the way I left…I think you have built me up into this…monster. I swear to you, Sarah, I may be a world class fuck up but I’m not a killer.”

Sarah thought about his words for a long time, staring out at the darkness outside the window.

“Sarah?”

She turned back to him. “Do you want this house? I don’t want it, it’s all yours if you want it. It would be a good place to raise a kid.” She hated the idea of Caroline Jewell living here but now she just wanted to move on.

Dan looked surprised. “No, I couldn’t.”

“Yes, yes, you could. In fact –,” she got up and grabbed her purse, pulling out a large manila envelope. “I’ve got the deeds already written up. Sign them and the house is yours.”

 

Dan took the envelope from her, skimmed through the contents. A small smile played on his lips as he reached the notes at the end. “On condition I never contact you again?”

She nodded. “Closure. Finally.”

Dan shoved the papers back into the envelope. “I’ll think about it.”

She sighed inwardly but then gave him a smile. Anything to keep things civil. “Of course.”

She walked him to the door.

He looked around the darkened hallway. “You staying here, tonight?” She shook her head.

“No, I’m going to Molly’s.”

“Can I give you a ride?” At that moment, he so reminded her of the Dan she first met, that her heart ached.

“No, thanks, I have the truck.”

 

She watched him drive away; acknowledging the whole meeting had left her feeling confused. Dan was right, she had built him up to be a monster but he was the only person in her life who she felt was capable of doing such horrific things. She closed her eyes and leaned against the doorframe. Thank god that was over. She was dog-tired now, not realizing how stuff and achy her body felt from the release of anxiousness. She grabbed her purse and keys and locked the house behind her.

She got in her truck and drove away from the house she and Dan had shared without ever glancing backward.

 

“Doesn’t it seem all a little too coincidental, a little too easy?” It was three days later and Sarah was lying naked on top of Isaac, their bodies damp from sweat, glowing from making love. Isaac, his question hanging in the air, raised his eyebrows at her. “Well?”

She half-smiled. “You’re asking me to give you a reasoned, considered answer when you’ve just fucked my brains out? Give me a minute.”

He grinned. “I love your potty mouth.”

She wiggled her body. “Especially when it’s wrapped around your massive cock.”

“Especially then,” he agreed.

Sarah sighed happily, rested her chin on his chest, and looked up at him. “Are you talking about our delightful ex-spouses?”

 

“I am.”

“Forget them. Nothing can touch us now.”

He smoothed the hair over her ear. “So, how soon can we get married?”

Sarah smiled down at him, brushed her lips gently against his. “Whenever you want.”

Isaac’s face lit up. “Then, Miss Bailey, I say we do it soon.

“When were you thinking?”

Isaac tightened his arms around her. “What are you doing this Friday?”

She gaped at him. “You’re serious?”

“Yup.”

Sarah started to laugh. “Then I say hell yes, Mr. Quinn, yes…”

 

The day was cool, late September.

Sarah put her arms around Isaac, as he prepared to leave for the day.

“Okay, baby. Just be careful. Call me when you can.”

He nodded and kissed her. “I love you.”

She smiled, worry in her eyes. “I love you too baby.”

She watched as he pulled away, went back into the house and made some tea. As the kettle boiled she kept wandering out of the back door to breathe in the cool air. As the water reached boiling point, the kettle whistled, and she turned to go back into the house.

And the pain hit.

 

Her back arched to counteract the searing pain in her left kidney. She gasped and staggered back into the kitchen. She couldn’t breathe. There was confusion, bewilderment. She tried to drag oxygen into her lungs but nothing would come. She put her hand on her back where the stinging pain had been. It was wet. Blood. She didn’t understand but now her legs had lost all their strength. She sank to the floor and felt around where the blood had been, her fingers searching. A small hole in her back was gushing blood. A bullet hole. She’d been shot. Disbelief. Fear. She lay on the floor of the kitchen trying to breathe, feeling the blood spread out beneath her.

“Isaac…” Her voice was a whisper. Her head whirled. She closed her eyes and when she opened them her world was one of unimaginable horror. Dan stood above her, a gun with a silencer in his hand.

“Hello, Sarah.” He smiled and aimed the gun down at her

Tears rolling down her face, Sarah shook her head, her hands raised to protect herself. Useless. “No, please, please…”

 

Daniel Bailey sighed, victorious, and pulled the trigger.

 

Sarah woke, screaming, clawing the air. Isaac leaped out of bed, shocked awake only to realize she was reaching out to him, her face apologetic.

“Sorry, god, sorry, it was just a nightmare…” She was trying to catch her breath as he went to her, wrapped his arms around her. Sweat was sticking her hair to her hot forehead and he brushed it away.

“It’s okay, sweetheart.”

She leaned against him. God the dream had been so visceral, so real. She could almost still feel the pain of the bullet smashing into her…Jesus. Was she really that fragile? Even now?

She felt Isaac’s lips against her temple. “Do you want to tell me about it?”

“It was so stupid I would feel dumb saying it out loud. Forget it.” She lay back on the bed and tried to smile at him. “I’d rather be distracted.” He ran a finger between the valley of her breasts, down her belly, circling her navel and between her legs.

 

“Your wish is my command,” he murmured. He stroked her until she came, then covered her body with his, tugging her legs around his hips and thrusting his cock into her.

“Is this enough distraction for you?” he murmured, his lips against her throat and, breathless, she nodded.

“God, yes….yes….”

 

Sarah Bailey became Sarah Quinn in a fifteen-minute ceremony at Seattle’s City Hall. At her request, they’d kept it low key and only Saul and Maika, Molly, Mike, and Finn were present as they said their vows. It was formal, quick but when it was over, and the way Isaac kissed his new wife was anything but.

They held the tiny reception back at the coffee house – Molly and Nancy had gone to town and covered the whole place in tiny white twinkle lights. Sarah could barely recognize the place. A few friends from the island completed the party.

 

Sarah tried to help Molly and Nancy out but kept getting shooed away from the food preparations. Eventually, she gave up. Her new sister-in-law, Maika, grinned at her, as she escaped from the kitchen. She held her hand out.

“Come sit with me. We never get to talk, just us. Our husbands,” – she grinned and nodded over to where Isaac and Saul were laughing and talking, “are busy being boys, so we can catch up.”

Sarah suddenly felt shy. Maika was very tall, very elegant but, she soon discovered, had a wicked sense of humor and an inherent warmth which made Sarah feel less like the clumsy kid she felt she was.

 

“Isaac told me that he’d told you the tale of us,” Maika said, “so selfishly, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for making him happy – I’ve always felt guilty about what happened but, as you know yourself now - when the right person comes along…”

“I get it, believe me. I never knew this was what love is.”

“You were married before, yes?”

Sarah nodded. “And I don’t want to give the impression that it was a bad marriage – at least not at first but my ex-husband is a stranger to me now.”

Maika nodded, her eyes sympathetic. “Isaac told us the whole story. What do you think has been going on?”

Sarah shook her head. “I honestly don’t know. I was half-convinced it was Dan. That his already huge ego had gotten out of all control. That he was capable but now I just don’t know.”

 

She rubbed her face, suddenly weary and Maika put a hand on her arm. “Sorry, I’m being far too inquisitive, and it’s not the right time.”

“No, it’s okay. But let’s change the subject anyway.” Sarah smiled at her, noticing for the first time, how much they resembled each other – dark-haired, dusky skin, dark brown eyes. The Quinn brothers had a type, she grinned to herself.

“So, what are you going to do now? Isaac tells me you’re leaving this coffee house.”

Sarah nodded. “Going back to school, I think.”

“Didn’t you go to college?”

“I did, but I did an MBA. I’m talking about doing something I’m passionate about. Before I was a coffeehouse owner, I wanted to be an architect. I even got a ways to putting together a portfolio, took evening classes but I ended up doing this instead.”

Maika looked both surprised and impressed. “Wow. Well, I say go for it, before the kids come along. It’s hard having it all, no matter what they say.”

Sarah swallowed and said nothing. She dreaded having to tell all the expectant relatives that they would not be having children of their own and to be honest, it had been bugging her a lot lately. All she could think of was a boy with Isaac’s curls, maybe her brown eyes, dimples in his cheeks. It made her heart thud with sadness.

 

She looked over at him, so handsome, so tall and broad, his finely angled face soften by his laughter. She could see the joy on his face and was floored, amazed that it was she, normal old Sarah Bailey, who made his eyes light up like that.

From the trailer to the penthouse, she thought. The press had gotten hold of her story but she was surprised that it hadn’t upset her. The story was already out there and it made no difference to her life as it was now. Some of the less friendly press had speculated about how such a woman had snagged Isaac Quinn but she just brushed it off. The people she cared about knew the whole truth of her story.

Even Dan had stayed away from her. He’d texted and called a couple of times, told her that he would buy her out of the house. She’d rather he’d had left the area but it was better than nothing. Their détente seemed to be genuine and, she reasoned, she would soon be in the city full time. She doubted she would see him much even if he stayed.

 

But the mystery of the murders, of the attacks on both Sarah and Molly, remained and everyone was uneasy. It was better to know the enemy than for he or she to be hidden. Subtly, they had all become more vigilant, less trusting of strangers.

But not today. Today was about love and family and joy. Isaac – her husband, she grinned to herself – came over and claimed her for their first dance. Never let me go, sang Florence and the Machine and as they danced, Sarah was never more sure that she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

 

 

He watched them through the side window of the coffee house’s kitchen, the rage twisting in his gut. God, she looked radiant, glowing, every cliché of how a bride should look on her wedding day. Sarah, his Sarah, was now Sarah Quinn. She would not bear her new name long. He would make her pay for this betrayal.

 

Later, Isaac went to find Sarah, finally locating her outside catching some evening air. He stood back for a moment, drinking her in. Her hair, which had been pulled up into a bun at the nape of her neck for the wedding, was escaping, long dark tendrils tumbling down her back. The simple white dress she had worn skimmed over her body, hugging her curves. Her face, eyes closed, was turned up to the night sky. Isaac smiled.

“Hey, Mrs. Quinn,” he said softly, not wanting to startle her. She opened her eyes and turned towards him, a radiant smile on her beautiful face. He moved to her side and took her in his arms. She looked up at him.

“We did it.”

He grinned, nodding. “We really did.” He pressed his lips to hers, feeling her respond, pressing her body to his.

“So, now are you going to tell me where you’re whisking me off to?”

That had been his part of the low-key deal. She got the minimum fuss, he got to pick the honeymoon – and keep it a surprise. He shook his head.

“You haven’t guessed yet?”

She pretended to consider. “The wee Scottish Island of Auchtermuchty.”

“Nope. Also, not an island.”

“How do you know?”

“I know things. Auchtermuchty is near Fife on the Scottish Mainland.”

Sarah grumbled, muttering something that sounded a lot like “Damn, smart-ass Magellan.”

He laughed and kissed her.

 

“You’re amazing.” He murmured. She blushed.

“You bet your sweet ass I am.” She joked, batting away his compliment. He laughed.

“Okay, you wanna know where we’re going?”

“Hell, yeah.”

“Ok, so we’re going to…uh…oh no…” He pretended to choke, clutching his throat. “Can’t…get…words…out…”

She skipped away from him in annoyance. “Oh ha ha. Jerkweed.” She flung her hair back and skittered away from him. He could see she was trying not to laugh as he pursued her into the back room of the coffee house.

“Seriously,” he laughed. “Did you just “flounce”?” He started laughing in earnest and she tried to ignore him but failed, his mirth infectious.

“Come on, Iss…please?” She wheedled and Isaac shook his head.

“Nope.” He pushed her up against the wall, trapping her in the cage of his arms. She stuck her tongue out at him.

“Double Jerkweed, with extra Jerkweed and Jerkweed sauce.”

“Live with it, woman.” He grinned at her and she snickered, not able to keep the pretense up.

“Jerkweed sprinkles.”

He silenced her with his mouth, kissing her until she had to pull away and catch her breath. “Okay, I give in. Take me where you will.”

“I’ll take you right up against this wall.”

“Isaac Quinn – we have a roomful of guests out there.”

“Spoilsport.”

“Come on, let’s get back before you get me so hot, I can’t function.”

Laughing, they went back to the party – never realizing Finn Jewell was sitting alone in the darkness of the back room, watching them, his eyes hooded and dark.

 

Molly was in tears of course. She wrapped her arms around Sarah and sobbed. “I’m so happy for you, so, so happy.”

Sarah chuckled, squeezing her friend, her sister, tightly. “I love you, Molly. Thank you for a perfect day.” She looked over at Isaac hugging his brother and smiled. Family. At last.

Molly mumbled something into her shoulder and Sarah tickled her. “Yes, I mushyoufroo.”

Molly stepped back, wiping her eyes and giggling. Sarah looked around. “Where’s your brother?”

“Right here.” She turned and saw Finn leaning against the corner of the Varsity, watching them. She went over to him.

“Hey.”

“Hey. I guess this is goodbye – for a while, at least.” He gave her a wry smile and she took his hand.

“Not for long. Two weeks is all. When I get back, we’ll have to talk about getting things moving on your house.”

Finn lifted his chin towards Maika. “Lady says you’re going back to do your architectural degree. About damn time. Maybe you can design me a house and I’ll build it.”

Sarah beamed at him. “You’ve got a deal.”

Finn gazed at her for a long moment then, swiftly, pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. “I want you to know,” he whispered, his lips next to her ear, “that I will always be there for you. I’ll always…damn it…” His voice broke and he released her, blinking the tears away. Sarah swallowed hard, smoothed an errant curl back from his ear, and made him look at her.

 

“You know, right?” He said in a low voice and she nodded.

“I know.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Next lifetime, hey?”

Finn balled his hands into fists but smiled at her. “Congratulations, baby.”

Sarah couldn’t help the tears then, they dropped down her cheeks unchecked. “Why do I feel like this is goodbye?”

Finn shook his head. “It’s not. I promised I’d be there. I won’t let you down again. Ever.”

 

Sarah was still thinking about the conversation in the car on the way to SeaTac airport. Isaac was driving them, not wanting their privacy broken by a driver. He reached over and took her hand as the car slid smoothly out of the city.

“Hey wifey,” he grinned at her. Sarah flushed with pleasure.

“Hey, hubby. So you know what?”

“What?”

“I don’t even want to know where we’re going now. I want it to be a total surprise.”

Isaac grinned. “Good.”

“Won’t I find out at the airport?”

“Nope. We’re taking my jet.”

Sarah’s eyebrows shot up. “You have a jet? Of course, you have a jet,” she chided herself, grinning. She studied him. “I forget, you know, that you’re a billionaire. That word means nothing to me – I can’t fathom that much money.”

 

Isaac smiled. “I don’t like to flash it around like some do but, this is a special occasion. Do you remember when I told you that sometimes I wanted to spoil you?”

She nodded. “I do. And I have to say, I’m looking forward to it – on the proviso, of course, that you’re naked a good ninety percent of the time.”

He considered. “I think I can agree to that.”

“Are you flying the plane?” She was half joking, half serious.

He laughed. “Sort of…I’m flying below it, holding it up, making sure my cape doesn’t get caught in the engines.”

“Funny boy.” She laughed at his mock-indignation. “God, I love you so much.”

“You are my world, beautiful.”

 

At the airport, he drove straight onto the runway then held her hand as they boarded his jet. Sarah’s eyes were wide with astonishment at the luxurious airplane; the sumptuous leather seats each big enough for two people, the deep, soft carpeting. Isaac introduced Sarah to the captain and the flight attendant then they were left alone. Sarah kicked off her shoes while Isaac popped open a bottle of champagne. He handed her a flute as she curled up into one of the seats, moaning with pleasure at the luxury. He sat down next to her, grinning. She peered at him over her glass.

 

“You are enjoying this, aren’t you? Impressing me?”

Isaac smiled and tapped her glass with his. “Of course. There are some perks to being me.”

She giggled as he leaned over and fastened her seat belt. “Oops, sorry.”

“Are you drunk already?”

“I’m a lightweight – I had all that champagne at the reception.”

Isaac shook his head, amused. “Did you eat anything?”

Sarah squinted, trying to remember. “You know what? No, I didn’t. Why, have you got a sixteen-starred Michelin chef on board?”

“Better. You’ll see.”

She did. As soon as they were in the air, Isaac unbuckled and got up, going to what looked like a drinks cabinet. When he opened it, however, she could see steam rising from it and Isaac pulled out two very familiar looking boxes. She laughed when he flipped them, open, presenting the contents to her with a flourish. She grinned at him, her eyes shining.

“Pizza! God, you are a genius.”

“I know my woman,” he said rather smugly. “Another thing…there’s a bedroom in the back.”

Sarah gave a cheer. “With a t.v.?”

“I was kind of hoping for a different kind of entertainment but whatever you want.” Isaac was chuckling at her excitement. She got up and went to him, brushing her lips against his, looking up at him from beneath her eyelashes.

“Pizza, t.v. and a bed on a plane…oh, you’ll be getting some tonight, mister. Take me to your bed.”

Isaac handed her the pizza boxes. “Hold these.”

“What - ?” Sarah shrieked with laughter as he swept her up into his arms and carried her to bed.

 

 

Molly paid the babysitter and thanked her, waved her off as Mike brought the car around. Molly looked in on the kids. Dead to the world.

 

Molly yawned and went into her own bedroom, stripping off her clothes and slipping into the shorts and t-shirt she wore to bed. She was tired but, she felt, today had erased some of the horrors of the past few months. Sarah was happy, safe. Married, Molly thought with a grin. Now if only she could find a way to make her brother happy. She hadn’t missed the heartbreak in Finn’s eyes today as the woman he loved married someone else. Did it make it worse that Finn genuinely liked and admired Isaac? Would it be better if he’d hated him as much as he’d loathed Dan Bailey?

Dan Bailey. Amazing, she thought, you don’t see it at the time, the toxicity of some couples; the wrongness of their unions. Since Sarah had met with him, no-one else had heard anything from him; even Caroline had been flying under the radar, thank god.

 

At ten-thirty, she heard the screech of tires and looked out of her bedroom window to Main Street. She saw Dan Bailey park outside the Varsity. For a moment, Molly’s heart pounded as she wondered if Caroline was with him. But Dan got out alone. She saw him stare into the window of the darkened coffee house. His demeanor was disturbing; he stood, ramrod straight, his back to Molly. Molly snuck downstairs and quietly opened the front door and stepped outside, watching him. Dan didn’t see her. Molly stepped away from the street light outside her home, out of the way so she couldn’t be spotted but where she could see Dan’s face. Suddenly she saw Nancy walking around the corner with her dog; she too had stopped and was watching Dan, her face a picture of astonishment. Molly looked back towards Sarah’s ex-husband.

 

And her blood froze. Dan was screaming, his mouth wide, his face contorted with rage. Screaming without making a sound, screaming into the silence of the empty coffee house.

 

Isaac smiled down at his wife as they approached the airport in Seattle. Her head was on his chest, her eyes closed, her breathing even and steady as she slept. It had been two weeks of utter bliss. He’d taken her to Paris for a week then down to the south of France for the remainder of their honeymoon. He’d known she wouldn’t have been happy just lazing around on a beach – instead, they visited places of interest, museums, galleries, landmarks. In St Tropez, the weather – hot and stifling – meant they spent a great deal of time in their air-conditioned hotel room, making love, and making plans for their future.

 

The events of the past few months seemed a million miles away – they both felt untouchable now.

Isaac stroked her silky hair and pushed away the thought that maybe, just maybe they were being too complacent. The lingering specter of their ex-spouses still haunted him. What the hell did they want?

Hopefully, the wedding would have put paid to that nonsense. If money was what Clare wanted, she could have it, she could have every damn penny – he didn’t care, all he wanted was Sarah.

 

Dan Bailey was a different pony altogether. He couldn’t blame him for wanting Sarah back but surely, now, he must realize that wasn’t going to happen. You gave her up when you left her, Isaac thought, his mouth setting in a grim line. Too bad, buddy, you lose.

His cell phone beeped. A text from Molly. All set for tomorrow – she really has no idea?

Isaac smiled. The surprise party he and Molly had planned for when they got back to the island; they’d cooked it up at the reception. Molly wanted to thank Sarah for giving her the coffee house.

 

None. Thank you for organizing it, look forward to seeing you all.

 

Sarah stirred and opened her eyes. She sat up and stretched, peeking out of the window. They were flying into a bright Seattle morning, and as the plane flew over Washington State, the sun glittered on the water of the Pacific, and the city came into view. Sarah grinned at Isaac, kissed him.

“Did you sleep?”

“Some. I’ll catch up at home, I never could sleep much on planes.”

She stroked his face. “We’re home. It’s the start of our new life together.”

Isaac nodded. “Yup sure is. I can’t wait.”

 

Molly flipped the sign and unlocked the door to the coffee house. It was already hot outside, even this early, and she decided to open the huge windows of the building, let the air circulate. She didn’t see Dan follow her in and started violently when she turned and saw him behind her. He smiled at her.

 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Hello, Molly, it’s been a while.”

She put a hand on her chest to still her frantically beating heart. “That’s an understatement. How are you, Daniel?”

Her tone was hard but Dan grinned back at her guilelessly. “I’m good. A little sad – I hear Sarah got re-married.”

Molly felt irritation snake through her. Fucking Caroline. “Yes, she did and for once, she is truly happy. Isaac is the perfect fit for her.”

 

She knew she was being mean but she didn’t care. Now he was close, she was even more convinced that it had been Dan who attacked her here, in this very coffee shop. His presence, his build, his smell – her body reacted subconsciously, shrinking back from him. She surreptitiously glanced out of the window to make sure that other people were around; people she could call on if he attacked. To her dismay, there was no-one on the street outside the coffee house, no-one to come to her aid. Dan smiled at her, obviously enjoying her discomfort. Bastard.

“May I please have an Americano, Molly? I remember you were always such a good barista.”

It should have been a compliment, but in Dan’s flat tone, it sounded like an insult. Molly was determined not to let him get to her – at least not to show it. “Of course.”

She switched on the machines and got to work, always hyper-aware of where he was.

“Where did the billionaire take Sarah for their honeymoon?”

 

“I don’t know, it was a surprise for Sarah.” And I wouldn’t tell you anyway. She handed him a steaming cup of coffee. Drink it and go, please. She faked a smile. “You’d know all about surprising Sarah, wouldn’t you?” Dan smirked but didn’t rise to her taunt. “So, Dan, are you going to live in Sarah’s house? She told me you wanted to buy her out of it. I assumed you wouldn’t want to live somewhere with so many sad memories.”

Dan inclined his head. “I have a child on the way, right here in Washington State, on this very island. I don’t run away from my responsibilities. Maybe you should ask yourself if Isaac Quinn is the same.”

An incredulous bark of laughter escaped her then. “Are you kidding me?”

Dan put a great show of being offended but she saw right through it. He’s enjoying this.

“Molly, come on now. We were always such great friends.”

“Were we?”

“Yes, we were.” His tone had taken on a hard tone.

 

She didn’t back off. “Right up until the point where you tried to kill my best friend?”

His expression was sorrowful. “I heard I was the suspect in the attack. It’s ridiculous, Molly, why, I               , why would I want to hurt Sarah?”

She made a disgusted sound, her eyes sweeping over the coffee shop. They were alone. Dan followed her gaze and smirked. He stepped closer to her.

“All I’ve ever wanted was to protect Sarah, to love her. To be there for her. And ever since I came back, everybody has tried to insinuate my motives are less than pure. Without any other reason than jealousy. I’m sure your brother was the one pouring poison into Sarah’s ears for the two years I was away.”

“Away? Is that what you call it, you coward?”

Dan’s eyes went dark with anger. “Just like your brother, full of hatred and jealousy. You always wanted Sarah and Finn to be together, I’m surprised you embraced Quinn so readily.”

Molly walked around the counter and got in Dan’s face. “You are a scumbag, a bully, and a liar. Don’t come here and try to plead your case with me. And don’t try to intimidate me because you will never, ever, succeed. I’m not as nice as Sarah. She gave you far too many chances. You don’t get any more with me. Leave this island, Dan. Go far, far away and never come back.”

She stepped even closer to him and Dan looked amused. She sneered at him. “You realize, don’t you, that now she’s married to one of the richest men in America, Sarah will be the most protected person in the history of this city? You won’t get near her.”

“Molly, why does everyone assume I want to kill Sarah?”

Molly froze. “I didn’t say “kill”.”

Dan smirked. “My mistake. I thought that’s what you meant.” He moved away from her and sat down and studied her. “You know, I’ve been wondering something.”

“I couldn’t possibly be interested. Please leave.” Molly started to walk away.

“Are you in love with Sarah? Is that it?”

 

She turned, an incredulous smile on her face. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

Dan stopped smiling. “Your constant antagonism towards me, towards Caroline, even before I went away. The fact that, despite your obvious intelligence and talent, you choose to stay as a waitress in a coffee shop. Why else would that be, apart from the fact you get to spend hours every day with a beautiful, sexy, sweet woman? Oh yes, you realize she’s practically your sister but this the next best thing, isn’t it?”

Molly scowled at him. “You’re a freaking psycho, you know that?”

 

She turned away from him and then he was next to her. He put his mouth next to her ear. “Does it drive you crazy when she brushes past you? When you smell her scent, feel that soft skin against yours? Do you dream about kissing her, her mouth against yours? Going down on her? Or…”

He stopped talking and just stared at her. She tried to push past him but he put his arm out and trapped her against the wall. “Is it the image of Sarah and Finn together that turns you on? Do you like to watch, Molly? Would you like to watch them fucking? Or is it more? Was it the three of you together? You, your brother…”

She slapped him across the face. “Get out, you fucking asshole.”

He stepped towards her, his face contorted with rage. Afraid now of the violence in his eyes, Molly took a deep breath in, trying not to scream. Then she saw Finn, leaning against the open door of the police station across the street, watching them. She met his gaze and felt her whole body relax. He was there. Protection. He jerked his chin up in a silent question – you okay, sis? She gave him the tiniest of nods. Dan followed her gaze and, smirking, stepped away from her, returning to his table. He picked up his coffee cup and drained it in one swallow. “You’ll be seeing a lot more of me here, Molly. It would be nice if we could all get along.”

He turned and walked out and Molly let out a long breath. Finn was at the door of the coffee house in a flash, his face creased with annoyance. He frowned at his sister. “You okay?”

“A-Okay,” she smiled at her brother, “it’ll take more to get to me than that asshole. God, he’s repellent. I don’t remember him being this creepy.” She grinned at her brother. “Guess you did, huh?”

 

Finn sighed. “That’s why I kept my distance unless you needed me; every time I see that smug face of his, I just want to blow the fucker’s head off.”

“Good move. Although I think you scared him off. Dan is just like any other bully – a coward. Maybe it’s just women he likes to try to intimidate – the idiot thinks we’re the weaker sex.”

Finn smiled at his sister. “He’s a fool if he thinks that.”

Molly was indignant for a second longer then she met her brother’s gaze and she faltered. “Sarah is safe now, right? Isaac can keep her protected?”

Finn hugged his sister. “I hope so.”

Neither of them believed it.

 

Sarah groaned as Isaac woke her and he chuckled at her rumpled form staggering to the bathroom. She looked utterly adorable as she came back, her toothbrush stuck in her mouth, her hair tangled up, her divine curves in a crop top and shorts. Isaac, bare-chested, lounged on the bed. She waved her toothbrush at him.

“See,” her mouth was full of toothpaste foam, “you woke me up and now you’re not even getting dressed.” She glanced at the clock and scowled. “We don’t even have to be at the coffee house until noon.”

 

Isaac, unrepentant, shrugged, grinned. “We have some sexytime stuff to do before that.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled. “You are insatiable. Come do me in the shower then”

Isaac was still laughing as he followed her into the shower. “I do love your potty mouth.”

“Be quiet and fuck me hard, husband.” He grinned as they stepped under the hot spray and she reached for his cock, stroking it between her hands, cupping his balls, squeezing gently. He slipped his hand between her legs, felt the bare silky skin there and slipped his fingers between her labia to caress her. As the water pounded over them, he took her nipple into his mouth, biting gently down on the tip, sucking at it until she was begging him not to stop. His cock, engorged and heavy, ached to be inside her and he lifted her easily and thrust into her, pressing her back against the cool tile of the shower, grinding his hips against hers. As his pace quickened, they lost their footing and tumbled, laughing, to the floor. Still erect, he scooped her up and carried her back to the bedroom, dropping her onto the bed, not caring that they were soaking the sheets. He pushed her legs apart and entered her, smiling down at her then kissing her so deeply she had to gasp for air. He felt her body trembling, her back arch as she came, and his own orgasm ripping through him a moment later as he shot hot semen deep inside her.

 

They made love all morning, reveling in the aftermath of their extended honeymoon. Tomorrow they would go back to their jobs – in Sarah’s case, just for a short time whilst Molly hired and trained new staff for the Varsity.

 

On the way to the island, Sarah looked at Isaac with suspicion. “You’re up to something, Iss, I know you. What is it?”

“Nothing.” He insisted but his wide grin belied him and she giggled.

“Dude, you have the worst poker face.”

Isaac looked over at her. “Didn’t figure out where we were going on honeymoon, though, did you?”

Sarah muttered, conceding he’d won that one. “Paris was like a dream. I can imagine living there, hanging out in one of the cafes until late at night, walking along the Seine on rainy Sunday mornings.”

“There’s no reason why we can’t go live there, even if it’s just for a while. I can work from home.”

Sarah smiled. “Whilst that might seem like heaven, you’d get bored of me.”

“Would never happen.”

Isaac pulled the car off the gangway to the ferry and headed to Main Street. Sarah felt strange coming back – she realized, that with her marriage, she’d said goodbye to this place in more ways than one.

She frowned when she saw the shades of the Varsity drawn. “That’s weird. Is it closed?”

Isaac peered out of the car window. “Nope, I see people moving around in there.”

Sarah grinned. “Have you got x-ray vision?” But she got out of the car. Isaac held out his hand to her and together they went into the Varsity.

 

“Surprise!” The cacophony of cheers made Sarah skitter backward into Isaac’s solid body, her hand clutched to her chest.

“Holy fuck balls,” she exclaimed to the laughter of the gathered crowd. “What the hell is this?” She started to smile as she recognized her friends from the island, her family.

Molly came forward to hug her. “It’s your surprise thank you party. For the Varsity.”

Sarah was touched beyond words. “You shouldn’t have.” But Molly and Isaac shared a look – they knew she was delighted. Sarah looked around.

“Where’s Finn?”

Molly looked awkward. “He’s working, sweetie. Sends his love.”

Sarah smiled, her heart aching for her absent friend but soon she was chatting to everybody, getting the gossip, enjoying herself. Isaac watched her with a smile on his face.

 

Damn, you’re a lucky man, Quinn

.

Molly gave him a friendly poke in the side and he turned to her, smiling. “Good honeymooning, soldier?”

Isaac laughed. “The best. How have things been here?”

Molly’s smile faded and she pulled him away from the throng of people. “Dan’s still hanging around…no, don’t worry, nothing’s happened, it’s just…he scares me. He just reminds me of someone who hasn’t finished what he came here to do, who hasn’t let go of the past…of Sarah.”

She told him about the strange scene the night of the wedding; Dan screaming silently into the empty coffee house.

Isaac frowned. “That’s messed up.”

“Right? A part of me is so glad that Sarah’s going to live in the city with you and your very helpful security team. Although I’ll miss her, I’m happy that she’ll be away from him.”

Isaac considered in silence. “Do you think it’s worth trying to pay him off? Getting him to leave? Would that work?”

“I don’t think money is his end game.”

Isaac looked over to Sarah. She looked so happy, so much more than in recent months. Isaac turned back to Molly. “I’ll have him followed. If he comes anywhere near her, I’ll deal with it.”

Molly nodded unhappily. “Please,” she said in a low voice,” I don’t want any more violence but keep her safe. Whatever it takes.”

 

It was when the party was in full swing when Caroline Jewell showed up. Sarah rolled her eyes but told Molly not to bother when she offered to throw her out. “I honestly don’t give a crap about her anymore. She made her own bed.”

It was a quarter hour before Caroline made her way over to Sarah. She raked her red-rimmed eyes up and down Sarah’s body.

“I try and try but I cannot see what everyone sees in you. Your billionaire, Dan, Finn – have you got a magnetic vagina? Do you fuck in seventy different positions?”

Sarah suddenly noticed Isaac behind Caroline with a grim look on his face. She grinned at him then looked back at Caroline.

 

“Eighty and yes, in fact, I do have a magnetic vagina.”

Behind Caroline, Isaac grinned. Caroline narrowed her eyes at Sarah, clearly trying to figure out why she wasn’t rising to the bait.

“You gone soft, Bailey?”

 

Sarah sighed. “I don’t want to fight anymore, Caroline. Not with you, not with anyone. You got handed the poisoned chalice, Caroline. Finn didn’t love you, he told me that a long time ago. But you didn’t love him either, did you? You made each other unhappy; I had nothing to do with that. Let’s just call it quits.”

Caroline smirked, running a hand over the growing bump in her belly. “Well, at least I have this to look forward too.” She met Sarah’s gaze. “Shame about you though. Can’t give your free ride a son and heir? Wow, that’s got to impact the prenup.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Sarah had paled and now Isaac stepped between the two women.

“It’s time for you to leave, Caroline.”

Shamelessly, Caroline grinned up at him. “What about you? Surely you want kids, Mr. Billionaire?”

Isaac’s face was hard. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve never even considered it.”

 

“Really?”

Isaac took hold of Caroline’s arm and propelled her towards the door. Caroline dug her heels in. “Tell her, Isaac.” Isaac ignored her so Caroline raised her voice above the noise of the party. “Tell her! Tell your barren wife about your son!”

Her screech brought a halt to the party chatter. Isaac was looking at Caroline in abject horror. “What the hell are you talking about?” he asked in a low voice. Caroline looked directly at a frozen Sarah.

“Your son, Isaac. The one you abandoned when you met Sarah.”

Sarah gasped - a broken-hearted sound.

Isaac closed his eyes. The room was utterly silent for a moment before Sarah finally spoke, her voice broken. “Isaac?”

 

Before Isaac could answer her, Caroline, laughing, clapped her hands together. “You know what I’ve always loved? Reunions.”

Isaac stepped towards her but Caroline darted to the door and pushed it open. “You can come in now.”

Sarah’s heart was failing, her breath coming in short, shocked gasps. A blonde woman stepped into the coffee house carrying a baby boy, not older than a year. He had dark brown curls and wide, curious green eyes. There was no doubt whose son he was.

Sarah looked, finally, at her husband, tried to formulate the questions she had whirling through her mind but nothing would come out. He’d said it had been years…and not once had he ever mentioned his child. His child.

 

Isaac, barely acknowledging the blonde woman, turned to Sarah, desperation in his eyes. “Sarah…” He reached for her but she pushed his hands away.

Finally, she spoke, a low growl filled with hurt, betrayal, pain. “You bastard. Get away from me.”

She stumbled backward and pushed her way through the party guests, all standing around in awkward silence. Sarah almost threw herself into the back room and locked the door behind her. So many feelings swirled in her that she couldn’t process them all. Instead, she just concentrated on the one realization that was breaking her heart.

 

Isaac was a liar.

 

In the coffee house, Molly finally sprang into action. She pushed Isaac towards the blonde woman and his child. “You go. You deal with that, I’ll see to Sarah. Go.”

Dumbly, pain etched on his face, Isaac obeyed, leading the blonde woman outside. Molly hesitated for a moment before turning on Caroline.

“You fucking bitch,” she said, not caring what other people thought, “you low down piece of human scum. You couldn’t do it, could you, you couldn’t let her be happy. What the hell is wrong with you?”

Caroline smirked and Molly stepped towards her. Mike darted forward and locked his arms around his wife. “You,” he snarled at Caroline, “get out of here and don’t come back.”

Caroline glanced around the room, her smile fading when she saw the hatred on the faces of Sarah’s loved ones and friends. Her chin lifted.

“Bitch got what she deserved – at least for now.”

The moment Caroline was gone, Molly darted to the kitchen. “Sarah? Sweetheart?”

No answer. She turned to look at Mike. “Call Finn,” she said of her absent brother, “I’ll go around the back.”

People were starting to drift out now, embarrassed by the way the party had ended. Molly pushed her way through them to the street outside. Isaac and the woman and child were nowhere to be seen. Molly went around the back of the Varsity to the back door and stopped. It was open. She instantly knew what she would find when she went into the back room.

Sarah was gone.

 

Sarah had run out into the rain, sobbing, blind with pain. She kept walking, not caring that she was soaked to the skin, not paying any attention to where she was going. She felt her reason, her peace of mind, her sanity slipping. A darkness came over her. If I keep walking, I can just disappear and then there won’t be any pain…

After a few minutes, she heard a car approach from behind. Please, please don’t be Isaac, she prayed. She turned to face the car as it pulled alongside her, the window whirring down.

“You’re soaked.” Dan got out of the car and pulled his jacket off. He wrapped it around her and she let him steer her into the passenger seat. He said nothing more as he drove to her home – their old home. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and opened the door. The house echoed with emptiness.

 

Dan grabbed a blanket from the dryer and wrapped it around her. “Go upstairs and get out of those clothes. There’s a robe hanging in the bathroom. We’ll dry your clothes down here. I’ll make you some hot chocolate and we’ll sit and talk – like we used to, remember?”

Like an automaton, she obeyed, almost catatonic with grief and shock. She barely registered that it was Dan looking after her, Dan being kind. She trudged upstairs, stripped down to her underwear and pulled the robe around herself. It smelled of pine soap.

Dan met her at the bottom of the stairs. Now she tried focusing on his face, dragging her mind back from Isaac – god, even thinking his name was painful. Dan was smiling, his eyes kind, holding a mug of steaming chocolate.

 

She let him tuck her into the corner of the couch, hand her the drink. The warm sweetness felt good in her hollow stomach. Dan sat opposite, not crowding her, not touching her. She wondered why he didn’t ask her what had happened then she remembered. Caroline must have called him to gloat.

“Did you know she was going to do that?”

Dan shook his head. “She called me after. When I saw you on the road, I knew I had to help. You looked so lost.”

Sarah looked away from him, sipped her drink. How strange it was being back here, with Dan. It was as if the last few years had melted away. Except for the platinum wedding ring that shone on her finger.

She was married. To Isaac, the man she loved, the man who had lied to her about something monumental, something so extraordinarily important, she couldn’t see past that lie.

“I don’t know what to do.”

Dan raised his eyebrows. “About what?”

 

She gave a short laugh. “About anything. Everything I was so sure about this morning has gone. Ended. I was so sure…” Her face crumpled and she turned away from him. He watched her shoulders shaking for a moment, then got up, sat down next to her and took her in his arms.

“Ssh. It’s all right, baby girl.” He tightened his arms. She sobbed quietly into his chest and then took a deep breath in.

“I’m sorry, Dan. I don’t mean to burden you with all of this. It’s not your job to listen to my problems anymore.”

He smiled down at her. “We’ll always be family, Sarah, of course, it’s my job. It’s the least I could do after what I put you through.” He brushed her hair away from her face, swept the tears from her cheeks with his big thumbs. He gazed down at her and smiled. Sarah leaned against him for a moment. Dan bent his head and, for a second, she thought he was going to kiss her. Panic streamed through her. Please no, I don’t want this. She let out a breath when Dan merely brushed his lips against her forehead.

“Okay now?” His voice was soft.

“Yes. Thank you.”

She pulled away from him and grabbed a tissue. Dan moved away again, sat back in his chair.

“Tell me what you need, Sarah. Anything. I’m here now. Let me look after you.”

A wave of exhaustion flooded over her. She looked out of the window. It was only early evening but the sky was dark with rain clouds. Her head swam and she closed her eyes.

“Are you okay?”

 

So tired. So tired. “I think I…” Her voice drifted away. She felt him drape a blanket over her, settle her head on a pillow. From outside, she thought she heard a car roaring away down the dirt road to her house. Dan’s voice echoed in her ears.

“Sleep, darling. You’ve had a terrible day. Just rest, baby girl, rest.”

His voice sounded a million miles away…finally, Sarah let go and let the darkness come.

 

Isaac drove until he was almost at her house and then killed the lights. He sat in the car for a moment, arguing with himself. This is so fucked up. He dropped his head into his hands but after a beat, got out of the car and walked the half mile or so to Sarah’s old house. When one of the coffee house regulars had told him that he saw Dan pick her up and drive off in the direction of the house, his heart had clenched with every emotion. There were no lights on at the front of the house but he could see light spilling out from the back door. The muscles in Isaac’s jaw clenched. He walked slowly around the side of the house but stopped when he saw the light in the living room. Dan was there, with Sarah. He couldn’t see her face but from Dan’s reaction, she was talking to him. About you, schmuck, he told himself. Isaac swallowed down the anger in him but couldn’t tear his eyes away. God…what he would give to turn back the clock, to tell Sarah about the kid right at the start. When Clare had told him she was pregnant, he had been straight with her. He would pay generously for the child’s support, give him a substantial trust fund – give Clare money for herself – but he didn’t want to be a part of her or the child’s life. When he saw the child – Billy - today, all he could think was – you should be Sarah’s child – Sarah’s and mine. The look on Sarah’s face when she realized the truth he would never forget. He’d broken her heart, her fragile trust. He gazed at her through the window, her back to him, the dark hair tangled down her back, the slumped shoulders telling him she was crying. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…

 

Then Dan seemed to look straight at him. Isaac’s stomach lurched as he watched Sarah’s ex-husband smirk, reach out and stroke Sarah’s cheek tenderly, possessively. Isaac wanted to beat the shit out of him right there but the next moment his heart cracked open as Sarah lay down and Dan followed her, covering her body with his. Isaac lurched away from the scene but not before he saw Dan’s hands in her hair, his mouth against her skin. Isaac stumbled back to his car and sped back into town, blinded by pain. He stopped the car outside the Varsity and let the grief take over. He sobbed into his hands, not caring if anyone saw him

 

Dan could have laughed out loud. The dumb billionaire had been sneaking around outside the window, watching them, and then the drug kicked in and Sarah had passed out into his arms. What it must have looked like! He’d played it up, kissing her, hiding the fact she was out cold. The anguish on Isaac’s face. Dan smiled. He listened to the faint sound of Isaac’s car starting and speeding away. Sarah was limp in his arms. He picked her up, kissing her gently and carried her up to his bed.

 

For a time, he just sat with her, watching her then he returned to the living room. He picked up Sarah’s half empty mug of hot chocolate and took it into the kitchen. He washed it carefully, making sure the residue of the drug was gone. Ketamine. He smiled to himself. Everything had gone perfectly. It had been such a finely balanced plan but one he knew that if they pulled it off, it would feel victorious. It did. He grabbed his cell phone and texted Caroline. You did well. I won’t forget it.

A second later. What now?

So impatient but Dan grinned. Now I give you your greatest wish.

He couldn’t wait for the next part.

 

Caroline let the drape fall back over the window. She’d heard his car screech to a halt outside the Varsity. She watched Isaac Quinn sob and smiled. Enjoy your misery, you bastard. She rubbed her belly. The baby hadn’t been part of her plan but now it was coming. Caroline Jewell wasn’t used to feeling like this for someone else. Her baby. Dan’s baby. And the added bonus of the look on that bitch’s face when she’d announced her beloved husband’s love child to the whole coffee shop. The look on Quinn’s face. It had been almost as if she could hear his heart breaking. Caroline went into the kitchen and grabbed the bowl of popcorn from the microwave. She put a kernel in her mouth, rolling her tongue around the salt, feeling the nausea of pregnancy fade. Walking back into the living room, she pulled the curtain back again, sat down on the sill and watched as Isaac Quinn wept for his lost love.

The incessant beeping of her cell phone broke through the heavy veil of sleep. Sarah, eyes closed, pawed about the bed trying to locate it and closed her hand around her purse. She opened her eyes and stared up at the familiar ceiling. For a second, she was discombobulated then she remembered and the pain flooded back.

 

To distract herself, she flicked her phone on. Big mistake. Every text was from either Isaac begging her to talk to him or Molly, frantic, asking her if she was okay. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and pulled the robe on over her underwear.

Sarah went downstairs and into the kitchen. Her eyes were wary when she saw Dan sitting at the table, reading the paper. He looked up and smiled.

“Hey, look who’s up.” He stood and kissed her cheek. “How are you feeling?”

She gave him a small smile. “Better. Dan, I don’t understand what…what time is it?” She looked out of the window at the dusk.

He laughed and glanced at his watch. “It’s nearly nine p.m. Wednesday.”

She sat down with a bump, astonished. “Wednesday?”

He smiled and got up to pour her some coffee. “You were exhausted and I think you caught a virus. You threw up a few times. You didn’t want me to call a doctor so I just stayed here and looked after you.”

She sipped the hot coffee. “Thank you, that was very kind. I don’t remember any of this.”

She didn’t see the smirk on Dan’s face; when she looked up, his expression was one of concern.

She tried to smile at him. “Dan, this is wrong…I shouldn’t be here. Of all places, I shouldn’t be here. I need to talk to Isaac. Need to sort this out one way or another.”

Dan nodded. “As you wish.” She studied him, trying to gauge whether he was being genuine or not. He smiled at her. “Can I ask one favor?”

“Of course.”

He took a deep breath in. “Get well first, get strong. Spend the next couple of days with me. We’ll just talk things out. End things between us the way I should have handled it two years ago. I need closure, Sarah. Then go back and try and sort out what you want.”

Sarah was bemused. This Dan…she’d never seen him like this. His wild swings in personality should concern her, she knew, but at this particular moment, she’d take this conciliatory, friendly version. It was one less battle to fight.

“Okay,” she said slowly. “Deal. But I need to phone Isaac at least. And Molly. She’s probably going crazy. God…my clothes.”

Dan smiled. “There’s some boxes with your stuff that you must have forgotten in your haste to get away from me – I mean – the house. They’re in the guest room.”

She stood. “I guess I’ll go shower.” She hesitated before leaving the kitchen. “Thanks, Dan. I mean it, thanks for being…a friend.”

He raised his coffee mug to her and she smiled.

Upstairs, she found her clothes in the guest room – and saw that the bed was rumpled. So Dan had slept here. Sarah let out a huge sigh of relief. Thank God. She had been so out of it that she didn’t know how she got to bed – and if he had slept beside her. She was touched he hadn’t crossed that line.

She showered, changed into an oversized t-shirt and washed out her underwear in the sink.

Going into her old bedroom, she shut the door and grabbed her phone.

Molly answered straight away. “Are you okay?”

Even hearing her voice made Sarah want to cry. “I’m okay…I just got sick. Needed some space.”

Molly let out a long breath. “Isaac’s staying here, with us. He’s a wreck, Sarah.”

The tears did fall then. “Mols…I just…” A sob escaped.

“Oh sweetheart.” Molly sounded upset. Sarah took a deep breath in.

“Am I making too a big a deal of this?”

“The fact your husband chose not to mention the child he had with his ex-wife? The child that’s still in diapers?” Her voice had a hard tone even though she’d lowered it. “No, Sarah, you have every right to be angry. After everything you’ve been through in your life, you thought Isaac was the steady rock you needed.”

“But…” Sarah finished for her.

“But yes, you need to talk. Don’t get me wrong, I want you two to sort out your problems and I might be mad as hell at Isaac but I do love him – because I know he loves you. Avoiding the issue isn’t helping. And, Sarah, what the hell are you thinking staying with Dan, of all people? Jesus…” Molly bit off her words.

Sarah waited a moment before speaking softly. “Mols…Dan’s been…kind. Really kind.”

Molly half laughed. “Sure we’re talking about the same Dan Bailey?”

Sarah had to chuckle about that. “I know. He’s like how he was when we met.”

Molly sighed. “That Dan didn’t last that long, remember? Just be careful. Look, I think I need to come see you and then we can work on getting you and Isaac in the same room. You need some time alone.” She lowered her voice again. “There’s a billionaire on my couch. Mike says that’s the start of a really bad reality t.v. show.”

Sarah laughed. “I love you. Yes, come, in the morning. I can’t wait to see you.”

“What shall I tell Isaac?”

The mere sound of his name made her want to cry. “Tell him…we’ll talk soon. I can’t say more than that.”

“That’s enough for now, sweetie. He’ll be glad to hear anything.”

Sarah squeezed her eyes shut. “I love him, Mols, I just don’t know if I can forgive him.”

Getting into bed a few minutes later, she heard Dan come up the stairs. She heard him pause outside her room, saw the shadow of his feet in the strip of light under the door. A second later the light went out and she heard the door to his room close. She let out the breath she’d been holding, realizing she’d been so tense all evening, her whole body ached. She stared up the ceiling trying to clear her mind. Molly’s words came back to her. You need some time alone. She realized then the feeling of release those words had given her. She loved Isaac and whatever their problems, they would sort them out. Tomorrow, she decided, tomorrow she would begin to change her life, to get back to who she wanted to be, not who everyone thought she was or thought she should be. What she was scared of becoming, terrified of becoming. A woman who ran away from her problems. A woman like her mother. She pushed that thought away as she let the hammering rain lull her into sleep.

 

“Fucker wouldn’t let me see her.” Molly told him the moment she drove back from Sarah’s house. She’d driven to the house as soon as Mike left for work and had returned almost immediately, angry.

“What?” Isaac, drawn, exhausted, wasn’t paying attention to what she was saying. He hadn’t slept at all. Molly had seen him sobbing in his car outside the Varsity and had come to him, leading him gently into the house. She could think of nothing to say that would comfort him. He’d apologized over and over to her, told her the whole story, and berated himself for screwing up so badly.

He’d lain on her couch for the last few nights, not wanting to go back to the apartment in the city – not without Sarah. He kept picturing Dan Bailey touching her and wanted to go back and punch the crap out of him. When he came into the kitchen that first morning, Mike and Molly had made him welcome, kept the talk light in front of their kids who stared at Isaac as if he were an alien. He knew he must look scary, he felt like crap. Mike had taken the kids with him when he left for work and Molly had volunteered to go talk to Sarah.

Isaac got up, pushed the chair back. “I’m going over there.”

Molly body-blocked him. “No. That’s a mistake. Sarah’s not ready to see you.”

Isaac threw up his hands. “Then tell me what to do! I don’t know anymore. The one thing I want in this world is to see her, apologize, and get her back. Get back to our lives. Saul is covering for me again at work.”

“Then go back to work. Make that part of your life run normally. Don’t mope. You’re Isaac Quinn, for the love of God. Let Sarah see that you’re keeping the fabric of your lives together. She’ll feel more inclined to come back to a life that hasn’t fallen into tatters.”

Isaac gave her a warm smile. “Molly, I wish you had been my sister.”

She rolled her eyes, flushing. “Lord god, I don’t need another brother.”

“Where is Finn? I haven’t seen him since our wed…” He broke off. Molly rubbed his arm.

“Finn’s regrouping. As should you. Go, get out of here. It’ll be okay in the end.”

“You think?”

“I know.”

 

Sarah called Isaac three days later. They talked in halting voices, both scared to say what they really felt. They arranged to meet a day later, in the city, at a bar they both loved.

When she saw him, so handsome in his dark suit, her stomach hurt. He looked tired, exhausted and she wanted to run into his arms. His smile when he saw her was wary but still the most beautiful thing to her.

“Hey,” she said as he stood to greet her. Without speaking, he wrapped his arms around her and held her. God, it felt so good to be in his arms but Sarah made herself step out of the embrace. She smiled to soften the slight. “Let’s sit and talk, Iss.”

She almost cried when his eyes lit up as she called him by her nickname for him. It had slipped out but it had felt right. He was her Iss, her partner, her love. He was a million miles from the billionaire businessman portrayed in the papers.

“I missed you,” she said, “And I know I have no right to say that because I ran away. I’m sorry I didn’t give a chance to explain about…the child.”

Isaac took her hand. “You don’t have to apologize for anything. It was my screw-up. Yes, the child, Billy, is mine, Clare didn’t tell me that she was pregnant until after he was born. I took a paternity test to confirm it. I told her I would support her and the child but that I had no intention of being in her life. It sounds heartless but…I had just met you. If I was going to have kids, I wanted them to be with you. I was selfish and stupid. Sarah, before you came along and showed me what was really important, I lived the life of a billionaire. Any problems went away with enough money thrown at them. Clare was one.”

Sarah sucked in a deep breath. “I guess there’s a ton of stuff we didn’t know about each other.”

Isaac smiled wryly. “Not true. You were always very open with me – about some painful, horrific stuff too. You deserved better.”

She nodded. “You screwed up.”

“I did and I’m sorry.”

“Me too.”

There was a long silence. Isaac looked down at his hands. “Sarah…are you and Dan..?”

“God, no,” She interrupted, her tone one of horror. “No, definitely not. Isaac, I swear. Nothing happened between me and Dan.”

She saw his shoulders relax and he smiled a little, but still he frowned.

“Sarah, I have to ask. What the hell are you doing back there with him? After everything that’s happened?”

Sarah shrugged. “I needed to be away. He was kind.” Then it hit her, the ridiculousness of her staying with her ex-husband – the same ex-husband who only weeks ago, she’d thought wanted to hurt her. She started to grin.

“What am I doing?” She shook her head. “God, what a fucking mess.”

He laughed. “Look, I’ve been an idiot most of my life. Time to grow up.”

“Same here. Jeez.” She made a face and he laughed.

He held her hand to his cheek and closed his eyes. “Sarah, for the next minute, I’m gonna say what I feel, no holds barred, because it’s killing me. I need to say it. Fuck the consequences.”

He opened his eyes and met hers. She nodded, trembling. “Okay.”

Isaac sighed. “I love you. I love you so fuckin” much. God, I’m so, so sorry for everything that I’ve done, that’s happened, because in a world that’s fair we should be together and hell, Sarah, I’d never let you go again. Ever. I’d spend every day trying to make you happy. So…” he faltered. “I don’t know any more ways I can express how much you mean to me. I could tell you I love you a million times and it wouldn’t come close.”

She had tears in her eyes as she took his face in her hands. “You are the reason my heart beats, the reason I breathe in and out every day. You have been since the day you came into the Varsity.” She laughed but her eyes were serious. “Whatever’s has gone on between us before this moment, right here, right now I want you to know that I love you. I have always loved you, even when I’ve been so mad at you I could spit.”

They both laughed then. “I’m serious…these past few months have been, damn, horrifying, sickening. But when I think of what we have all lost… …I won’t lose you, especially not over past mistakes. Please just…never lie to me about anything again, even if you think it will hurt, or scare, or anger me. Please. Promise me that and I’m yours.”

“God, yes, I promise, Sarah, I promise…”

He kissed her then, pouring every ounce of longing into the embrace. She pulled him closer wanting to sink into him, never let him go. Finally, gasping for breath, they broke apart. For the longest moment they just stared at each other.

“Come home,” Isaac said softly. “Please. Let’s fix this together.”

She shook her head. “Not yet. A couple more days. I don’t want to crap all over Dan’s goodwill and you need to see your kid.”

“I…”

She nodded. “You do. Meet him, see if you want him in your life. If you do, I will be there one hundred percent. It’s not his fault. For me, please. I know what it is to have a parent reject you. And I need to close things out with Dan. I know we’re living here now but I’d rather have him on my side than not, I still have to go to the island and see Molly.”

She put her hand on his chest.

“I will come back to you, Isaac, I will. But please, just for a few days, leave me to sort everything out here, tie up the loose ends. Go see your kid. You’ll hate yourself if you don’t. Then come back and I’ll be waiting.”

 

“I have a gift for you.” Dan said later, before she could say anything. He had been hyperactive since she had gotten back to his house and it was with frustration that she now sat in his kitchen, waiting for him to give her an opening. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small black velvet box. He put it down on the table. “This is my…well, it’s the only thing I own which means anything to me. Open it.”

Sarah sat down at the table but didn’t touch the box. Dan laughed, frustration obvious on his face, and grabbed the box. He opened it and handed it to her. Inside, a pendant, a teardrop shaped ruby the size of a dime hung from a delicate gold chain. Sarah admired it despite herself.

“It’s beautiful, Dan. She peered at it closely. “Is it antique?”

He nodded. “It was my mother’s. The only thing I have of hers.”

“It’s lovely.”

Dan smiled and topped up her champagne. “I want you to have it.”

“Absolutely not.” She was horrified but Dan reached across the table.

“I don’t mean as a token of my affection, for want of a better word. I mean it as something to remember me by – something from my real mother. And there is no-one who deserves it more. I mean, I can hardly wear it, can I?”

Sarah took a deep breath in. “Dan, I appreciate that sentiment, I really do but I can’t accept.”

Dan’s eyes tightened but he inclined his head. “As you wish.” His tone was mocking but Sarah was relieved all the same. Dan nodded towards her champagne. “Drink up, and I’ll leave you alone.”

 

Isaac waited for Clare to open the door, shifting from foot to foot. She had been amazed when he’d called, asked to see the boy. Now he stood outside her hotel room door.

She opened the door carrying the child and for the first time, Isaac stared down at his son. The little boy gazed back and reached out with a chubby hand towards him. Isaac let him wrap his tiny fingers around his thumb. Clare beamed. “Hey, Billy boy,” she said softly, “this is your daddy. Say hello.”

The child’s face suddenly lit up and he grinned at Isaac, who felt a shift inside his soul at the boy’s innocent smiles.

This was his son. His boy. And finally, Isaac began to smile.

 

It was happening again. The fog in her mind descending, the exhaustion dragging her down. But this time, Sarah made the connection, the reason, the cause of the blackness. It was too coincidental. How the hell didn’t I realize this before? She looked over to the bottle, frowning, then back to the man across the table. She saw it in his eyes then, saw the anger at work in him. She tried to keep her body taut, upright but she could feel her head starting to whirl and spin. Dan sat in silence, watching her, sipping his drink, his jaw shifting as he ground his teeth. Sarah swallowed, cleared her throat, trying to push the fear aside.

“Dan, did you…”

 

“I know you were with him. Today. I saw you. I saw him. He was touching you.”

Sarah felt her face burn. She stood up, swayed, and gripped the kitchen counter. She felt Dan’s hands on her waist, guiding her back to her chair. He put his hands on the arms of the chair, leaned in so his face was close to hers.

“I don’t understand, Sarah. I don’t understand your obsession with that man. He’s hurt you so many times, yet you return to him again and again.” He glanced at the necklace on the table. “I wonder if Isaac had given you such a gift, would you refuse it? I don’t think you would.” His voice was low, tender but her chest twisted with terror. He was stroking her face, her neck. He moved his hands lower, his thumbs brushed her nipples through her dress.

 

She tried to stand, to escape the cage of his arms but he put his fingers against her stomach and pushed her back into the chair. All she could hear was her blood pounding in her ears, her breath shaking. Dan smiled, brushed his lips against hers, once, twice. “Don’t fight me, baby girl. Please. Don’t make me…” He trailed off and touched her face again. “So pretty.”

She didn’t want to ask, didn’t want to contemplate the consequences if her fears were realized. It was so horrific, the mere thought of it. She asked him the question anyway.

“Dan…did you put something in my drink?”

Dan said nothing, just smiled. “You’re tired. Let me take you to bed.” He pulled Sarah to her feet and walked her out to the hallway. At the foot of the stairs, he moved her so they were reflected in the huge antique mirror she’d left behind when she”d left. He stood behind her, forcing her to look at herself. His lips were at her ear.

 

“Look how beautiful you are.” A whisper. His arms snaked around her, his hands roamed over her abdomen, her breasts. Sarah couldn’t focus, her limbs held not an ounce of strength, propped against him, slack, fighting unconsciousness. Dan’s hands were at her neck then, just briefly and when he took them away, the pendant gleamed crimson against her throat.

“See? The color of blood. It was made for you, my darling.” His voice was a whisper but his eyes were alive with desire. Their eyes met in the mirror and his expression terrified her. He pulled her dress from her shoulders, letting it drop to the floor. Sarah felt the cold of the evening on her skin, felt his fingers stroke her stomach, her belly, slipping into her panties, between her legs. He buried his face in her hair and moaned.

“Please…don’t…” Sarah felt a tear drop down her cheek when just as she gave into unconsciousness, she heard him speak.

 

“I had to have you, Sarah, do you understand? You had to be mine.”

 

Sarah sat a pool of water stained red by blood. Her voice, a disbelieving, breathless, raw howl carried away in the wind that whipped the ocean into a frenzy, the roiling, boiling water battering the rocks.

She flinched at a touch, looking around with wild, confused eyes, her face streaked with tears and blood. Isaac stood behind her. He was smiling but his eyes were flat black and in them, she could see desire and hatred in equal measure. “You can’t be saved, Sarah.” He tilted his head to the side, flicking his eyes to the sky then back to her.

“Can you hear it, Sarah?”

 

The wind. But it wasn’t wind, it was a voice, a woman’s voice rising and falling with the sound of the waves, discordant and horrifying.

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart.

“No…no…” Sarah screamed into the sound, trying to drown it out. Isaac laughed and looked beyond her, Sarah turning to see her mother, naked, the blood from her torn throat pouring down her body. She was walking towards her, smiling. Sarah couldn’t breathe. She felt a movement in her hands and looked down. Isaac was smiling at her but it wasn’t the smile she knew, that she loved. It was a twisted, contorted rictus.

“You’re going to die, baby girl.” His voice was like that of a whispering ancient.

She tried to move but found she was frozen. Her mother and Isaac grabbed her now, their touch burning cold. They pushed her down, down. She tried to scream, her mother smiled. Sarah watched as she drew a knife, taking Sarah’s arm in her icy touch, drawing the blade across her wrists. Pain. Isaac’s hand were on her face, holding her eyes open, forcing her to watch as her mother carved deep crimson gashes into her daughter’s wrists. Sarah was pleading now. Her mother, still singing, surveyed her work then handed the knife, with a smile, to Isaac. He raised it, hand gripping the handle, his once handsome face now a mocking, quivering mask of madness. Sarah stared at him, trying to find the man she’d loved but found in his eyes only death.

 

“Please,” she whispered, “the baby.” She slid a bloody hand over her stomach. “It’s all I have now. Please.”

Isaac looked at Mother. For a beat all was silent except for the beating of her unborn child’s heart, then, as her mother started to sing again, Isaac drove the knife into her again and again and again…

 

Sarah woke, gasping for air, screaming for help. She stumbled out of bed, crawled to the bathroom, holding her ears, willing it to stop.

The singing. The tormenting song. Her mother’s voice.

Please please please….

Her stomach contracted and she collapsed in agony, gasping. The singing was no longer in the dream.

It was in the house.

 

All around the singing

pleasepleasestopstopstopstopigotthejoyjoyjoyjoy….Sarah screamed, a visceral breathless keening howl. Dan was there in an instant, gathering her up in his arms.

“Hey hey hey hey….it’s okay, I’m here baby girl, I’m here…”

The singing got louder and Sarah couldn’t understand why Dan wasn’t shouting to be heard. She watched his mouth moving but she could not hear anything above the noise of Mother singing. She didn’t understand.

“Can’t you hear it? Can’t you hear it?” Her voice was a desperate shriek of panic. Dan frowned shaking his head.

“What?” she saw him mouth at her, “hear what?”

Then all at once it stopped. She could only hear his even breathing, her panicked gasps, and the relentless rain outside. His arms tightened around her.

“Can I hear what, baby girl? What?” Confusion. She was losing her mind. She started to cry, heartbroken sobs of pain, of despair. He began to rock her gently. She cried herself out, leaning into the protection of his arms, his lips against her temple.

Her tears shuddered to a stop. “I’m sorry…” she whispered. He brushed the dampness from her cheeks. She met his gaze, saw something in his eyes she couldn’t identify. He held her gaze as he lowered his head and covered her mouth with his. She closed her eyes as the kiss deepened. She felt him lift her into his arms, carry her into the bedroom.

 

She felt completely out of it. For a brief moment, it was Isaac touching her, the same big green eyes, and the crooked smile. His long fingers pulling gently at her underwear now, she sighed when she felt his mouth on her throat. She ran her fingers through his hair. But it didn’t feel right. It was course, rough. She opened her eyes and a wave of terror shot through her. The man above her smiled. Dan.

She panicked. “No. No. Stop, Dan, stop.”

She tried to push him off of her but he pinned her hands above her head.

“I know you want me, baby girl.”

He crushed his lips against hers, she tried to move her head away.

“It’s okay, Sarah, it’s okay. I’m here, I love you. This is meant to be.”

Stop this.

But she didn’t. She let him undress her slowly, eyes still shut, feeling his touch, the smooth pads of his fingers sliding softly across her skin of her throat. She felt his weight as he moved on top of her. His mouth was at her ear.

“You’re so beautiful…” He kissed the tender skin below her ear, his hands tracing the curve of her breasts. His mouth on hers again, his tongue probing.

“Open your eyes,” he whispered and she complied, seeing the intensity, the fierce desire in his eyes. She let her hands slide around his back, felt the solid muscles that rippled in his arms. He smiled.

“I love you, baby girl. You know that, don’t you?”

She didn’t answer him, barely conscious now. He pushed her legs apart and thrust into her; she gasped at the suddenness, the violence of his movements. His arms were either side of her now, his face focused but distant. He drove himself into her, controlled, brutal strokes, groaning softly as he neared completion. His expression was exhilarated, jubilant. Triumphant.

It hit her then, what she was doing, what she was allowing, was complicit in.

Stop it. Please.

But she couldn’t speak, couldn’t tell him to stop. As he came, grunting and calling her name over and over, she tried to smile, pulling his face down to her chest so that she didn’t have to hide the tears. She waited until he had pulled away, gone to the bathroom before she let the tears flow, burying her face in the pillow to soak them up. When she heard the toilet flush, the bathroom light click off, she turned quickly onto her side and pretended to be asleep. She felt him get into bed, pressed his warm, damp skin to hers. He slid his arm around her, stroked her belly with his thumb. She tried to make her breathing even.

“I love you, Sarah, thank you for tonight” he whispered and laughed softly. She kept up the pretense and soon heard his breathing become softer. When she was sure he was asleep, she slid silently from his arms, pulling on her nightshirt, a sweater, and crept silently down the stairs. She grabbed her cell phone from her purse and shut herself in the pantry. She crawled into the darkest corner and pressed the speed dial.

 

“Hello?” Molly’s voice was sleepy, somewhat annoyed. Sarah opened her mouth to speak but instead the tears came again and she sobbed quietly into the phone.

“Honey?” Molly’s voice was softer now, concerned. “Sweetheart, are you okay?”

Sarah gathered herself. The pantry had a small window, high up, and outside she could see the light from the crescent moon, distorted through the rain on the glass.

“No,” she managed eventually, “No. I’m not okay. I made a mistake, Molly. I made a terrible mistake and I don’t know what to do. God, Molly, what the hell do I tell Isaac? How the hell do I tell him this? Oh god…”

Her own words hit her and she started to cry again as on the other end of the line, Molly frantically called her name.