by Bobbi Smith
"I'm sorry I couldn't get away, but I had some business I had to attend to. I was just leaving when your note arrived, and it was quite late when I got back."
"I understand," she told him. "All that matters is that you're here now. Can you stay and perhaps have dinner with me tonight?"
"I'm afraid my visit will have to be a brief one today," Adam replied, glad that he'd remembered his promise to Alex to spend some time with him. "I have a business appointment this afternoon that I can't postpone."
"Oh," Suzanne pouted, wondering what was more important than their love. "You know, Adam, you don't seem very glad to see me. I wonder why you bothered to come here at all!"
Adam recognized his cue and took her in his arms with what he hoped passed for true ardor.
"You know why I came, Suzanne," he said fiercely. "How could I stay away?"
He kissed her then in a manner he hoped she would believe reflected his undying love, and when he broke it off, he felt decidedly jaded. No longer did his manipulations thrill him. No longer did he feel the tension of the chase.
"Oh, my darling, it's so good to be with you again," Suzanne panted. She gazed up at him adoringly, wanting him desperately, but knowing that they had to wait. "I just wish we could be together always."
"Our time will come," Adam mouthed the words she wanted to hear.
She went into his arms again, her mouth seeking and finding his in a deep kiss. Pressing herself against him, she caressed him as boldly as she dared. Adam suffered her advances, acting the part of the fervent lover, yet all the while he played his role, he was thinking of the night before and Lianne. He remembered the beauty of her nakedness and the creamy fullness of her breasts. He remembered the excitement aroused in him just by being near her. He remembered the sweetness of her kiss and the innocence of her passion. Then he remembered the ending of their momentarily idyllic scene and the reason for it —Suzanne. He wondered suddenly, dazedly, what in the hell he was doing there, kissing another woman. Lianne was his wife.
Abruptly, Adam broke off the kiss and moved away from Suzanne and her cloying embrace. She watched him in confusion as he stood up.
"I really have to be getting back to Belle Arbor," he declared edgily.
Suzanne thought that she'd aroused his passion to the point where he had to leave or make love to her right then and there. The idea pleased her. She had always considered herself something of a femme fatale, and she figured that Adam was the same as any other man. She rose and went to him, planning to tease him just a little more. Brazenly, she linked her arms about his neck and tried to draw him down for another kiss, but he resisted. Suzanne was stunned when Adam actually gripped her arms and loosened their hold on him.
"I have to go, Suzanne."
"Must you really go so soon?" she argued. "It seems that you just got here."
"I'll be back as soon as I can get away," Adam promised. He realized he might be jeopardizing his plan, but at that moment, he didn't care about anything except escaping her aggressiveness.
"I know you will." Though questions and accusations filled her, she tried to sound pleasant. Suzanne knew acting jealous would get her nowhere with Adam. He was a victim of their situation just as much as she was. "I'm just sorry that things have to be this way now."
"It won't be this way forever," Adam said, meeting her eyes forthrightly as he spoke. While he was saying it, he was hoping and praying that Shark would make an appearance soon.
Suzanne, however, read another meaning in his words, and she went to him impulsively, embracing him even when he would have refused.
"It's that thought that makes this all bearable for me, Adam," she confessed.
"Me, too," he vowed seriously as he kissed her one last time and then left.
Adam had traveled to Willow Bend by way of the bayou, and the quiet return trip on the waterway provided him with the time he needed to think things through. He loved Lianne. He had never realized just how much until he had tried to continue on with his act as Suzanne's lover. It had been next to impossible for him to keep up the pretense, and he was glad to be away from her clinging embrace.
Even though Adam was relieved to have gotten away from Suzanne relatively unscathed, the prospect of returning home to spend the rest of the day in Lianne's company left him feeling tense and on edge. She hated him completely. The thought left him feeling deeply troubled, and he wondered how best to handle the situation. He wanted Lianne, and he wanted her badly—there was no doubt about that. But until this thing with Shark was settled, he was trapped in his own deception. Adam knew that there was no way out other than to follow through with his original intent. Once Shark had been brought to justice, he could court Lianne as a true lover would and convince her of the real depth of his love for her. Perhaps when she learned the truth of his motives and came to understand the reason for his actions, she would see him in a different light. He hoped so.
Maneuvering the skiff into the dock at Belle Arbor, Adam tied up and then jumped from the craft. He had just started up the path toward the main house when he heard Alex call out to him, and he spotted the boy running toward him.
"Adam!"
"Hi, Alex," he greeted him.
"You ready to go for our ride?" Alex asked enthusiastically.
Adam glanced up toward the house, thought about the possibility of a confrontation with Lianne, and then quickly agreed. "Let's go."
"I got this great idea where we can go today since it's so hot," the boy told him in a confiding tone.
"Oh? Where's that? The south fields to check on the crops there?"
Alex slanted him a conspiratorial look. "No. This is some place you've never been before." They reached the stable and went in to get their mounts. "It's a secret place where Mark and I used to go whenever we could sneak off. You're gonna like it," he told him with confidence as they rode out.
Adam realized then that this was some place very special, for he knew how much Alex had loved his older brother.
Alex's secret place was a small, secluded swimming hole a goodly distance from the house. As it was shrouded from view by the grove of trees that surrounded it, privacy was guaranteed. Several limbs of the larger trees hung enticingly out over the water, and a strategically placed rope gave testimony to the hours of boyish fun and frolic that had gone on here before.
"What d'ya think, Adam?" Alex asked eagerly.
"I can see why you like to come here, Alex." He grinned at him as they tied up the horses and walked down to the water's edge. "I'll bet you've had a lot of fun here, haven't you?"
"I used to," the boy began slowly, suddenly doubting that it had been a good idea to come back to the place he'd shared so intimately with Mark. It had been their place, and their place alone. He hadn't swum there since his brother's death, and he almost felt as if he was somehow betraying him by bringing Adam here.
"What's the matter, Alex?" he prompted, sensing his sadness.
Alex lifted his troubled gaze to Adam's as he wondered if he should tell him everything he was feeling. Adam saw the pain, hurt, and bewilderment reflected there. He didn't speak, though, for he knew the youth would have to open up to him on his own.
"I haven't been here since . . . since Mark died." He stumbled over the words.
"You came here a lot together?"
"Every summer we'd spend hours here every chance we could! We used to have so much fun!" he answered, remembering all the happy times he and Mark had shared, swimming, swinging from the rope and diving from the low-hanging tree branches. Despite the vast differences in their ages they had been as close as any two brothers could be. Until . . ."But it hurts to be here now, Adam," Alex confessed as tears filled his eyes, forcing him to look away.
"Do you want to go? We can leave if you want to," Adam offered. He waited, watching the tortured expressions flit across Alex's face as he wrestled with his feelings. "Or, if you want, we can stay and have some fun on our own?"
His eyes danced with joy, and he re
acted spontaneously, throwing his arms about Adam to give him a big hug. "I'd like that, Adam."
"Good." He hugged him back, thinking of how defenseless Alex was against the power of life's sometimes overwhelming misery, yet thinking how well he had done in coping with all that had happened to him in the past year. Adam found himself wondering if his own child, the child that Lianne now carried, would be as brave and as strong as Alex.
"Last one in . . ." Alex laughed in delight as he started to strip down with wild, youthful enthusiasm.
They raced to shed their clothing, but Alex had a head start and was the first one in the water. Adam followed him only moments later, diving in next to him with the biggest splash he could make. Time was forgotten as they cavorted with carefree, male abandon. Adam tossed a gleeful, shrieking Alex from his shoulders into the cool depths time and again as they wrestled playfully. Their play was a relaxing diversion for the both of them, and they lost track of all except the joy of their revelry.
Lianne was frowning as she sought out Sarah in the kitchen. "I've been trying to find Alex, Sarah. Have you seen him?"
"Not since early this morning. Whatever he's doing, he must be keeping himself pretty busy."
"Why do you say that?" she asked, curiously.
"He didn't even come back for the lunch," Sarah answered, "and it ain't much like that boy to skip a meal."
"You're right about that, Sarah." Lianne gave a light laugh.
"Alex was saying at breakfast that he and Mr. Adam were going to be out riding together today. Could he be with him?"
"No," Lianne snapped more harshly than she'd intended. The memory of the night before and Adam's betrayal was still too fresh in her mind to think of him with anything but a flashfire of hate.
"Then you've spoken with Mr. Adam?" Sarah pried. She knew she shouldn't, but she wanted to get to the bottom of what was troubling Lianne. Sarah had never seen her so strained and on edge. Something was terribly wrong, and she thought if Lianne talked about it, it might help her.
"No, I haven't seen him," she bit out tersely.
"Well, why not?" Sarah faced her, hoping that she would open up and talk to her. Lianne was not about to speak of Adam's infidelity. It hurt her too much even to think of it, let alone talk about it.
"Look, I'm getting worried about Alex. I've got to go look for him." Lianne fled the kitchen needing desperately to get away from Sarah's knowing look. Sometimes she regretted that her servant knew her so well.
"Lianne?" Becky was coming down the stairs as Lianne started out the front door. "Where are you going?"
"I'm trying to find Alex."
"Is something wrong?"
"No. It's just that he seems to have disappeared and I was getting a little worried about him. I haven't seen him all day, and it'll be dinner time soon."
"I saw him around midmorning. He said he was going to find Adam so they could go for the ride he'd promised him."
"I'll be down at the stables, then. Maybe someone down there can tell me where he's gone. It's not like Alex to just take off and not let me know where he's going."
"Well, I wouldn't worry too much. He's probably with Adam."
Becky's voice trailed after her as she went out the door, but the thought lingered and she grew angry as she headed for the stables. Just because Alex might be with Adam was no reason for him not to let her know where he was and what he was doing. She was his sister! She was the one responsible for him!
The news she received from the stablehands only added to her irritation. Alex and Adam had ridden out several hours before. No one knew for sure exactly where they were going, but they'd over heard Alex telling Adam something about his "secret place."
Lianne knew immediately where Alex had taken Adam, and she grew furious. The swimming hole had been Mark and Alex's place. Adam had no business going there! How dare he try to insinuate himself into her little brother's life! Hadn't Alex suffered enough with Mark's death? How dare Adam befriend him when he knew damn good and well that he would be leaving them just as soon as he could?
Lianne was painfully aware that their marriage was a farce. She knew he didn't love her and that he wanted out as soon as possible so he could marry his sweet little Suzanne! Directing one of the hands to saddle her a mount, she rode out after them.
Adam and Alex were floating easily in the pool, just enjoying the sunshine and the quiet. Alex knew now that he'd made the right decision in staying. He had had a wonderful time with Adam, and he wanted to come back here with him again just as soon as they could manage it.
"It's getting a little late, Alex. I guess it's time to start back," Adam said as he reversed his position and started to swim lazily back toward the bank.
"Do we have to?"
"What do you think?" Adam asked him, his eyes alight as he remembered his own boyhood days and how much he'd always hated to go home after an afternoon of fun.
"You're right. Lianne's gonna be mad enough as it is," Alex grumbled as he paddled after him.
"Why's that?"
"I didn't tell her when I left. I'm supposed to tell her where I'm going so she doesn't worry about me," he explained.
As they talked, they were unaware of Lianne's presence in the grove of trees. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop. She'd meant to make her presence known and to scold Alex immediately for his negligence, but when Adam reached the shallow end and started to stand up, she found herself standing in rigid silence, holding her breath in anticipation of his next step out of the water.
Lianne told herself that she should look away, that there was no point in torturing herself this way. Adam would never be hers, and she had to accept that. Yet, she couldn't tear her gaze away from the sight of him.
She stared at him, mesmerized. The sun was glinting off his dark hair, making it seem almost blue-black in color, and when he smiled down at Alex, his teeth flashed white and perfect in his tanned face. There wasn't an ounce of extra flesh upon him. His chest was broad and his shoulders looked strong and powerful. Lianne found herself longing to run her hands over those firm, corded muscles.
As Adam stepped up on the bank out of the pond, she still couldn't bring herself to look away. Lianne had no doubt that Adam was a glorious example of manhood in its prime. His lean waist and long, straight legs only enhanced his very evident maleness.
Lianne thought of the night before and of how intimately they had lain together on the loveseat in the study. Her heartbeat quickened as she remembered his kisses and caresses. A pulse of heavy desire throbbed to life deep in the cradle of her womanhood as she watched him pick up his clothes and begin to dress.
They were still ignorant of Lianne standing nearby as Alex came to join him and began to dress, too.
"Adam, can I ask you something?" After the pleasant afternoon they had shared, he felt close to Adam, and he felt sure he could ask him the question that had been troubling him all day.
"What is it?" Adam asked him.
"How come you went to over to Willow Bend today?"
"I went to see Suzanne," he answered, a bit taken by surprise by his question. Adam had not known that Alex was aware of where he'd gone.
"I know that." Alex gave him an exasperated look. "What I want to know is, now that you're married to Lianne, why do you still go to see her?"
Alex's innocent, but challenging gaze pinned him, demanding an honesty that he wanted to, but couldn't, give.
"It's like I told you before, Alex. Suzanne is a friend. Just because you get married doesn't mean you stop having friends." He tried to make it sound acceptable.
"Then you're going to keep on seeing her?" Alex pressed.
As much as Adam wanted to tell him that he wouldn't, he knew there was no point in lying. He was going to have to continue seeing Suzanne until Shark returned. "Yes, I am," he told him bluntly, and he turned away from the sight of Alex's crestfallen expression.
Lianne had remained motionless, not wanting to draw any attention to herself as she'd listened to th
e exchange. At Adam's harsh answer she turned and rushed soundlessly away. Her throat ached as she struggled to hold back the cry of sorrow that threatened.
Suzanne was the only woman he loved. Lianne knew that the love she felt for him would always have to remain a secret. She could never bare her soul to him, for the humiliation would be too great. She had only known the bliss of Adam's love twice, and the memories of those nights would have to last her a lifetime.
Chapter Twenty-eight
"I'm sorry," Alex muttered as he stood before his sister an hour later, his head down, his eyes averted.
"I was worried about you. No one knew where you'd gone," Lianne reprimanded him.
"It's just that I was having so much fun with Adam that I—"
Alex's words cut her to the quick. He liked Adam and even trusted him. In his innocence, he had no idea of how much, how greatly, Adam could hurt him. Lianne wanted to warn him not to care for Adam too deeply, but she knew she couldn't without having to explain. Alex thought their marriage was a love match, and she didn't want to ruin that for him. He was too young to know the disillusioning truth.
"Next time think before you go running off, young man. Just let me know where you're going to be."
"Yes, Lianne." He sighed contritely. He knew he'd been wrong and that he deserved the scolding he was getting.
Lianne hugged him impulsively. "Good. I don't like having to worry about you. You're all I've got left."
"That's not true. You've got Adam," Alex said as he hugged her back, then gazed up at her with questioning, brown eyes. "You do love him, don't you, Lianne?"
"Of course," she answered, knowing it was no lie. "I married him, didn't I?"
"I know, but there's something I don't understand."
"What is it, sweetheart?" Lianne kept a supportive arm about his little shoulders as he struggled to find the right way to ask her.
"Well, why does Adam still have to go see Suzanne, Lianne? He says she's his friend and that's why he goes, but I don't like it. I don't like her!" The words exploded from him.
