Beyond the Consequences

by Aleatha Romig

Tony shook his head. “Well, fine. He’s living in North Carolina near his daughter and in a relationship. I know I’ll sleep better tonight.”

  Claire tilted her head to the side. “Wait a minute. How did you know about his daughter?”

  “You knew too. Didn’t you tell me?”

  “Noooo.” She elongated the word. “I didn’t know anything about him being married or having a child until this afternoon.”

  Tony shrugged. “I’m not sure then.” He feigned a smile. “He’s happy, you’re happy, I’m happy—we’re all happy.” He lifted a brow. “Now, where were we? Oh, yes, you wanted to get me lotion.”

  Claire’s neck straightened. “Don’t do that. You asked me a question and I answered it. Now I want to know how you knew about Harry. I was shocked when Emily told me that he’d been married. Obviously, you’ve known it for a while but never felt the need to tell me.”

  “Why would I tell you that? What possible reason do I have to bring up your ex-boyfriend?”

  “It was a long time ago. You know how upset I was when I learned he was FBI.”

  “Roach told me.”

  Claire contemplated his response. “Phil told you I was upset? Because yes, he was with me when I found out. Or… Phil told you about Harry and has kept you up to date on him.”

  “Claire, you’re making this into more than it is. Emily shouldn’t have—”

  “Don’t you dare turn this around on her. Answer my question. If you don’t, I’ll ask Phil tomorrow.”

  “Yes,” Tony admitted. “Roach has kept me up to date on Mr. Baldwin as well as Ms. McCoy. She’s still in prison, by the way.”

  Claire crossed her arms over her chest. “Is there anyone else you two are investigating? Any other secrets you’d suddenly like to share?”

  “Yes,” his tone mellowed. “I have a burning secret I’d like to share.” As he spoke, he inched closer. “Are you ready?” When Claire didn’t answer, he lowered his lips to her neck. After a few butterfly kisses, he breathed heavily with each word. “Here’s. My. Secret.”

  Goose bumps materialized as Claire waited for his revelation.

  “I love you more than life itself.” His kisses moved from behind her ear to her collarbone. “I didn’t investigate Mr. Baldwin for any other reason than curiosity.” His lips continued to roam. “I’m insanely jealous of the time you two spent together, but…” He brought his head up and looked directly into her eyes showing her the chocolate swirls of desire and regret. “…I don’t blame anyone for the pain you were in when the two of you met, other than me.”

  This was more than Claire wanted to hear. She looked away, knowing she too was guilty.

  “Look at me.”

  Slowly, she turned.

  “Tony, stop. I’m not innocent.”

  “Nor am I. We’ve moved beyond all of this. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want to have this conversation, for no other reason than when it comes to that man my feelings are irrational.”

  Giving up her pretense of anger, Claire reached for his cheeks. The warmth of his face as well as the abrasiveness of his five o’clock shadow electrified her hands, sending shockwaves through her body. “I’m sorry. I admit that I thought it was cute that you were jealous. I shouldn’t have baited you. I haven’t thought about Harry in years. That may make me a terrible person, but I haven’t. I’m too happy and satisfied with everything that I have right here to spend my time thinking about the past.” her eyes filled with tears. “I’ve lost too much time in the past. I want the now.”

  AS TONY CARESSED Claire’s cheek her eyes closed causing a tear to fall. Shit, this wasn’t what he wanted. When would he learn to keep his mouth shut? Without thinking, Tony leaned nearer and kissed away the salty moisture.

  “We both have. I’m sorry.”

  “Stop apologizing. I should’ve answered you. I knew you’d want to know.”

  Tony looked down into the sea of emerald green. “How? How did you know?”

  A slight grin materialized on his wife’s face. “I saw it when you opened the door.”

  “Am I that easy to read?”

  Her hands on his cheeks pulled his lips toward hers. “You are to me,” she answered. “You have been for as long as I can remember.”

  As their lips united, their bodies molded together. They were like pieces of a puzzle: one made especially to fit the other. They moved in sync, their caressing hands sending warmth and energy from one to the other. Their tongues danced, creating a waltz of give and take. Within minutes Claire’s nightgown was gone, lost to the abyss of the carpet below only to quickly be accompanied by Tony’s shorts. Tucked safely behind the security of their locked door, it was only the two of them moving as one.

  Claire’s back arched as they united, inviting him not only to enter her warmth but also to tease her taut nipples. Each time he sucked or taunted her hard nubs, moans of desire filled the suite. Their rhythm increased as the room around them disappeared.

  She had been right. Too much time had been lost in the past. Their eyes were rightfully set on the present, and as they settled into one another’s arms and the night air stilled, Tony’s mind was not in their history, but filled with what he had in the here and now: his family, his wife in his arms as well as his children sleeping soundly in their rooms.

  Though many may question the choices they’d made, as Tony and Claire neared sleep they both knew that every second of their past had been worth it. They wouldn’t spend their lives rehashing it, but they also wouldn’t regret it. For without their past, they wouldn’t have their present, including the two young Rawlingses who would change the legacy of the Nichols-Rawls families forever, because tomorrow held the possibility for only the best of consequences.

  Theirs was a long, complicated story with a monster and a knight. What made their story unique was that these two players were the same person.

  —Aleatha Romig, CONVICTED

  Dear Reader,

  Your love and appreciation for Tony and Claire’s story made this book possible, as well as each one post-Consequences. I’ve tried too many times to say that I’m done writing about this family. I won’t say that again.

  What does that mean? I make no promises. Someday I may explore the lives of Nichol and Nate. How did they grow up? What did they become? How did their parents influence them? What was it truly like to grow up Rawlings? Perhaps Phil will want a story of his own or maybe Harry?

  However, for now, I’m content in knowing that Claire and Tony overcame their impossible beginning and love prevailed through impossible odds. I hope you’ll not only allow me that reprieve, but perhaps also join me if the story ever decides to continue in my mind. For if that happens, for my own sanity, I must share it with you.

  Thank you for spending your valuable time reading BEYOND THE CONSEQUENCES. If you’ve enjoyed this peek into the future, please tell your friends, leave a review, and shout it from the rooftops!

  If you’d like to take a different dark journey with a little more heat, I recommend my new TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE series. Each book in the series is a stand-alone. INSIDIOUS, my first erotic thriller, is now available and DUPLICITY, another stand-alone dark tale, will be available in 2015.

  All my books are listed following the Consequences glossary and timeline.

  Thank you again.

  Sincerely,

  ~Aleatha

  -Primary Characters-

  Anthony (Tony) Rawlings: billionaire, entrepreneur, founder of Rawlings Industries

  Anton Rawls (birth name): son of Samuel, grandson of Nathaniel (birth name)

  Claire Nichols Rawlings: meteorologist, bartender, woman whose life changed forever, wife and ex-wife of Anthony Rawlings

  Aliases: Lauren Michaels, Isabelle Alexander, C. Marie Rawls

  Nathaniel (Nate) Sherman Rawlings: son of Claire and Anthony Rawlings

  Nichol Courtney Rawlings: daughter of Claire and Anthony Rawlings

  Brent Simmons: Rawlings attorn
ey, Tony’s best friend

  Catherine Marie London (Rawls): housekeeper, friend of Anthony Rawlings, 2nd wife of Nathaniel Rawls, Anton Rawls’ step-grandmother

  Courtney Simmons: Brent Simmons’ wife

  Emily (Nichols) Vandersol: Claire’s older sister

  Harrison Baldwin: half-brother of Amber McCoy, president of security at SiJo Gaming

  John Vandersol: Emily’s husband, Claire’s brother-in-law, attorney

  Liz Matherly: personal assistant to Amber McCoy, love interest of Harrison Baldwin

  Meredith Banks Russel: reporter, sorority sister of Claire Nichols

  Phillip Roach: private investigator hired by Anthony Rawlings

  -Secondary Characters-

  Amber McCoy: Simon Johnson’s fiancée, CEO of SiJo Gaming

  Derek Burke: husband of Sophia Rossi, great-grandnephew of Jonathon Burke

  Eric Hensley: Tony’s driver and assistant

  Nathaniel Rawls: grandfather of Anton Rawls, father of Samuel Rawls, owner-founder of Rawls Corporation

  Patricia Miles: personal assistant to Anthony Rawlings, corporate Rawlings Industries

  Aliases: Melissa Garrison, Charlotte Peterson

  Sophia Rossi Burke: adopted daughter of Carlo and Silvia Rossi, wife of Derek Burke, biological daughter of Marie London, and owner of an art studio in Provincetown, MA

  -Tertiary Characters-

  Abbey: nurse

  Allison Burke: daughter of Jonathon Burke

  Amanda Rawls: Samuel Rawls’ wife, Anton’s mother

  Ami Beech: office manager of the Diamond law firm in Olivia, Minnesota

  Andrew McCain: pilot for Rawlings Industries

  Anne Robinson: Vanity Fair reporter

  Becca: Vandersols’ nanny

  Bev Miller: designer, wife of Tom Miller

  Bonnie: wife of Chance

  Brad Clark: wedding consultant

  Caleb Simmons: son of Brent and Courtney Simmons

  Cameron Andrews: private investigator hired by Anthony Rawlings

  Carlo Rossi: married to Silvia Rossi, adoptive father of Sophia Rossi Burke

  Carlos: house staff at the Rawlings’ estate

  Dr. Carly Brown: Claire’s primary doctor at Everwood

  Cassie: Sophia’s assistant at her art studio on the Cape

  Chance: associate of Elijah Summer

  Charles: housekeeper, Anthony’s Chicago apartment

  Christopher Simmons: son of Caleb and Julia Simmons, grandson to Brent and Courtney Simmons

  Cindy: maid at the Rawlings estate, adopted daughter of Allison Burke and her husband

  Clay Winters: bodyguard hired by Anthony Rawlings

  Connie: Nathaniel Rawls’ secretary

  Danielle (Danni): personal assistant to Derek Burke

  David Field: Rawlings negotiator

  Elijah (Eli) Summer: entertainment entrepreneur, friend of Tony’s

  Elizabeth Nichols: wife of Sherman Nichols, Claire and Emily’s grandmother

  Elizabeth (Beth) Vandersol: daughter of John and Emily Vandersol

  Dr. Fairfield: research doctor at Everwood

  Agent Ferguson: FBI agent

  Francis: groundskeeper in paradise, married to Madeline

  Mr. George: curator of an art studio in Palo Alto, California

  Agent Hart: FBI agent

  Officer Hastings: police officer in Iowa City

  Heather: co-worker at Diamond Law Firm in Olivia, Minnesota

  Hillary Cunningham: wife of Roger Cunningham

  Ilona (Baldwin) George: ex-wife of Harrison Baldwin, mother of Jillian

  Agent Jackson: FBI agent, Boston field office

  Jan: housekeeper, Anthony’s New York apartment

  Jane Allyson: court-appointed counsel

  Jared Clawson: CFO Rawls Corporation

  Jerry Russel: husband of Meredith Banks Russel

  Jillian (Baldwin) George: daughter of Harrison Baldwin and Ilona (Baldwin) George

  Judge Jefferies: court judge, Iowa City

  Jim: therapist at Yankton Federal Prison Camp

  Mr. and Mrs. Johnson: Simon Johnson’s parents

  Jonas Smithers: Anthony Rawlings’ first business partner in Company Smithers Rawlings (CSR)

  Jonathon Burke: securities officer whose testimony helped to incriminate Nathanial Rawls

  Jordon Nichols: father of Claire and Emily Nichols, married to Shirley, son of Sherman

  Julia: Caleb Simmons’ wife

  Kayla: nurse

  Keaton: love interest of Amber McCoy

  Kelli: secretary, Rawlings Industries, New York office

  Kirstin: Marcus Evergreen’s secretary

  Mr. Leason: administrator of Everwood

  Dr. Leonard: physician

  Dr. Logan: physician

  Madeline: housekeeper in paradise, married to Francis

  Marcus: driver for SiJo Gaming

  Marcus Evergreen: Iowa City prosecutor

  Mary Ann Combs: longtime companion of Elijah Summer, Tony’s friend

  Maryn Simmons: daughter of Courtney and Brent Simmons

  Michael Vandersol: son of Emily and John Vandersol

  Sergeant Miles: police officer, St. Louis

  Monica Thompson: wedding planner

  Naiade: housekeeper in Fiji

  Chief Newburgh: chief of police, Iowa City Police Department

  Officer O’Brien: police officer, Iowa City Police Department

  Miss Oliver: Jillian (Baldwin) George’s teacher

  Patrick Chester: neighbor of Samuel and Amanda Rawls

  Paul Task: court-appointed counsel

  Quinn: personal assistant of Jane Allyson, Esquire

  Judge Reynolds: court judge, Iowa City

  Richard Bosley: governor of Iowa

  Richard Bosley II: son of Richard Bosley, banker in Michigan

  Roger Cunningham: president of Shedis-tics

  Ronald George: second husband of Ilona (Baldwin) George

  Ryan Bosley: son of Richard II and Sarah Bosley

  Samuel Rawls: son of Nathaniel and Sharron Rawls, husband of Amanda Rawls, father of Anton Rawls

  Sarah Bosley: wife of Richard Bosley II

  Shannon: Nichol Rawlings’ nanny

  Sharon Michaels: attorney for Rawlings Industries

  Sharron Rawls: wife of Nathaniel Rawls

  Shaun Stivert: photographer for Vanity Fair

  Sheldon Preston: governor of Iowa

  Shelly: Anthony Rawlings’ publicist

  Sherman Nichols: grandfather of Claire Nichols, FBI agent who helped to incriminate Nathaniel Rawls. FBI alias: Cole Mathews

  Sherry: assistant to Dr. Carly Brown

  Shirley Nichols: wife of Jordon Nichols, mother of Claire and Emily

  Silvia Rossi: married to Carlo Rossi, adopted mother of Sophia Rossi Burke

  Simon Johnson: first love and classmate of Claire Nichols, gaming entrepreneur

  Dr. Sizemore: obstetrician and gynecologist

  Sue Bronson: Tim Bronson’s wife

  Taylor Walters: member of Rawlings’ estate security

  Judge Temple: court judge, Iowa City

  Terri: nurse

  Tim Bronson: vice president, corporate Rawlings Industries

  Tom Miller: Rawlings attorney, friend of Tony’s

  Tory Garrett: pilot for Rawlings Industries

  Valerie: assistant to Dr. Fairfield

  Dr. Warner: psychologist at female federal penitentiary

  Judge Wein: court judge, Iowa City

  SAC Williams: Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco FBI field office

  -1921-

  Nathaniel Rawls—born

  -1943-

  Nathaniel Rawls—home from WWII

  Nathaniel Rawls marries Sharron Parkinson

  Nathaniel begins working for BNG Textiles

  -1944-

  Samuel Rawls—born to Nathaniel and Sharron

  -1953-

  BNG Textiles becomes Rawls Text
iles

  -1956-

  Rawls Textiles becomes Rawls Corporation

  -1962-

  Catherine Marie London—born

  -1963-

  Samuel Rawls marries Amanda

  -1965-

  FEBRUARY 12

  Anton Rawls—born to Samuel and Amanda

  -1975-

  Rawls Corporation goes public

  -1980-

  JULY 19

  Sophia Rossi (London)—born/adopted by Carlo and Silvia Rossi

  AUGUST 31

  Emily Nichols—born to Jordon and Shirley Nichols

  -1983-

  Sharron Rawls exhibits symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

  Marie London starts to work for Sharron Rawls

  Anton Rawls graduates from Blair Academy High School

  OCTOBER 17

  Claire Nichols—born to Jordon and Shirley Nichols

  -1985-

  Nathaniel Rawls begins affair with Marie London

  Marie London loses baby

  Sharron Rawls dies

  -1986-

  Rawls Corporation falls

  -1987-

  Anton Rawls graduates from NYU

  Nathaniel Rawls found guilty of multiple counts of insider trading, misappropriation of funds, price fixing, and securities fraud

  -1988-

  Nathaniel Rawls marries Catherine Marie London

  Anton Rawls graduates with Master’s degree

  -1989-

  Nathaniel Rawls—dies

  Samuel and Amanda Rawls—die

  -1990-

  Anton Rawls changes his name to Anthony Rawlings

  Anthony Rawlings begins CSR-Company Smithers Rawlings with Jonas Smithers

  -1994-

  Anthony Rawlings buys out Jonas Smithers and CSR becomes Rawlings Industries

  -1996-

  Rawlings Industries begins to diversify

  -1997-

  Sherman Nichols—dies

  -2002-

  Claire Nichols—graduates high school

  Claire Nichols—attends Valparaiso University