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’s 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 – ‘ and 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 t
o 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.’
Billionaire’s Quarry: A Billionaire, Bad Boy, Romance (An Alpha Billionaire Romance Boxed Set) Page 106
