by Faith Austen
“Okay. I shouldn’t, but okay.” Then, after an awkward pause, “Thank you.” He rewarded me with a brilliant smile.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
“And the second condition?” I asked, a little anxious.
“Stay here at the Drake.”
“What?” What? I couldn’t stay here. For one thing, it was a resort, not a place to live. Except he lived here. Which was part of the reason I couldn’t do the same. “I can’t live here,” I said, my voice loud and high pitched in the small space.
“Why not? You don’t have anywhere to go right now. And it’s going to take time to get the insurance settled. So stay here. In the cottage. I know it’s a little small, but why should you get a hotel or a short term apartment when I already own a hotel.”
“Drake Gardens is far more than a hotel, James. And I know that cottage costs over a thousand dollars a night. It’s inappropriate. And bad for your business” I said.
“What if I move you to a room in the resort proper? That’s not inappropriate. You’d have the staff around all the time.”
“I didn’t just mean inappropriate in terms of us being too close. I meant the cost.”
“I know. But I don’t care about the cost part. If it worries you so much, then move to a room. The cottages book up often but we always have a spare room. And I want you near by where I can be sure I’ll see you every day.”
“You’re freaking me out a little, James,” I confessed.
“No I’m not. You think you should be freaked out. You think this is too much. But if you take a deep breath, I bet you’ll realize you’re not actually freaked out. A part of you knows this is right. That we’re right together.”
His eyes on mine were intense, yet calm, as if he could will his own certainty into me. Closing my eyes to shut him out, I did what he’d suggested and took a deep breath, or as deep as I could in the tight bustier.
With nothing to see but the dark of my closed eyes, I tried to steady myself. Was I nervous about this because I was scared? Because I’d never imagined a man like James would ever be interested in me? Or because this was all sex and the thrill of adventure, destined to wear off as soon as we went back to our normal lives?
I thought of the past three days together. It had started with solving a problem. I’d needed a date. He’d needed to repair his reputation. That was the simple part. But our relationship had become so much more than just a way to help each other out of a tight spot.
There was so much about James that was wonderful. It wasn’t the shopping, though that had been fun. And it wasn’t walking into the rehearsal dinner and seeing jealousy on the other women’s faces. No, it was the conversation over lunch the day before. His hand rubbing my back in the hospital. The way he’d brought me to my house that morning, knowing I’d need to see the fire for myself, then brought me back home and tucked me into bed, already knowing I’d needed a nap.
It was his intelligence, his kindness, his sweetness. It was that beneath the movie star good looks, he was a man worth loving. And if he saw even a fraction of that in me, I really would be crazy to walk away just because I was scared. Still, I was nothing if not sensible, even when I was ready to take a huge risk.
I’d thought it through logically, but I still needed to talk to God. So often since God had become a part of my life I found that I only truly understood how I felt about something when I worked it out through prayer. God always had the power to untangle my messy emotions until I understood what he wanted of me. Taking a deep breath, I prayed,
God, I really need your help here. I like this man. I think I’m falling in love with him. But I don’t want to make a mistake. I don’t want to be swayed by the outside things - his looks or his money. I feel like I care for him just for himself and that he might feel the same way. Can I trust him? Can I trust myself? Please guide me in the right decision, Lord, so that I don’t mess up my life again or hurt anyone.
I should have prayed when I first started dating Greg. Then maybe I would have known to dump him before he could do so much damage. James was nothing like Greg. And God knew better than I. Taking another deep breath, I gasped as a warm, clean certainty filled my heart. James was nothing like Greg. He was a good man. A worthy man. And while life wasn’t always perfect, he wouldn’t ever deliberately hurt me. I knew what God wanted me to do.
Opening my eyes, I said,
“Okay. I’ll stay here. In a room in the main building. But once my insurance stuff is worked out, I’ll make other arrangements.”
“Deal.”
James’s arms came around me, drawing me close, the look in his eyes one of heated tenderness. His lips took mine in a gentle kiss of pure possession. I kissed him back, ready to be brave, to claim this man as my own.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Sara
I was trying to repair the edges of my lip gloss when James led us up the stairs and pushed open a set of double doors to reveal my mother, whose eyes widened for a moment before she let loose with a wide smile.
“I was wondering where you two were. Come on, we’re almost late. Though you know Christie won’t be ready on time. But we should be there. You look beautiful, Sara, just wonderful.”
She kept up a steady stream of chatter as she led us to one of the smaller of Drake Garden’s reception rooms. Taking in the elegant space, it was clear the resort did a big business in weddings and other formal events. We slid into our aisle after James scowled away the usher who tried to take my arm. Not too many minutes later, the music kicked in and the ceremony began.
Thankfully, it was a quick wedding. Neither the bride nor groom was particularly religious or spiritual, and they stuck with the basics. I found the service lacking without the presence of God, but I supposed it was a good fit for Christie and Tim. A few words, some back and forth on the vows, a kiss and they were done. I was ready to get to the reception and visit with my Mom while I enjoyed James’s company.
I was thinking about our conversation outside when my mother linked her arm with mine and drew me away from James. He caught my free hand in his and said, “Don’t leave my sight, not until Greg is in custody.”
“I won’t,” I said, letting my mother pull me toward the room’s exit.
“James can do without you for a minute or two,” she said, tucking my arm in hers as we walked. “I’ve never seen you look so beautiful, honey. You’re glowing. Is it love? Or just really amazing sex?”
“Mom!” I was a fully grown woman, but my Mom could still make me blush. She might have suspected I was still innocent, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask, and I didn’t want to talk about it with her. I wasn’t sure she’d understand my choices.
“I think it’s love,” she said with a satisfied smile. I remained silent, admitting nothing as she went on, “I knew you’d hook him, honey.”
“Mom, he’s not a fish,” I said, my need to defend James forcing me out of my mortified silence.
“No, he’s a whale.” She giggled. “Seriously, honey, I knew you’d get him. The way he looks at you. Whew!” She pretended to fan herself.
“I’m moving in to the Drake Gardens,” I admitted. She patted my arm.
“Good girl.”
“It’s not about that,” I protested, worried that she thought I was after James for his money.
“What?” she asked, “The money? I know you, Sara, so I know it’s not about the money. Anyway, greedy women don’t get men like that. The only way to get a man like James is just to be you.”
It was exactly what I needed to hear. I was lifting an arm to hug my Mom when I heard a shout off to the left. Curious, I turned to see Greg bearing down on us, wildly waving a gun in one hand.
I backed away in horror, shouting James’s name and trying to shove my mother behind me. I was taller and bigger, but she had a mother’s need to protect her child, and we ended up scuffling when we should have been running. All the while, Greg came closer, shouting in unintelligible bursts.
/>
I couldn’t see James in the suddenly screaming, milling crowd on the resort floor. From the sides of the lobby men in identical black suits melted out of the sea of people, some of them speaking into clear plastic earpieces, a few brandishing guns. They would have been comforting if they hadn’t been so far away.
In slow motion I watched Greg raise the gun and aim it at me, shouting, “I’m going to kill you.”
Out of nowhere, James launched himself through the air, catching Greg in his gut, taking him to the floor in a tangle of limbs. A blast echoed as the gun went off, followed by a crash as the bullet hit a chandelier above. The impact of hitting the floor jarred the gun from Greg's hand where it was picked up by one of the black suited security guards. Shards of crystal fell around us as I rushed toward them, heedless of the danger in my need to get to James. A hard arm caught me in the midsection, dragging me back. I struggled until I heard a familiar voice in my ear.
“Stay back Sara. James is fine,” Ryan said.
“How did Greg get in here?” I demanded.
“We’re working on figuring that out. The police are already here. He’ll be gone in a minute.”
I didn’t want to wait. I wanted to talk to him before he was taken away. Wrenching back from Ryan, I headed for James and Greg. Ryan was clearly unwilling to wrestle me down because he followed without further discussion.
James held Greg on the floor with a knee to his neck. Greg wasn’t struggling, but James scowled at me and said,
“Sara, get back.” Looking at Ryan, he growled, “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I want to talk to him,” I said.
“No,” James answered. “There’s nothing he has to say that you need to hear.”
“James, I want to talk to him. Please.” James scowled at me, but slid his knee back and pulled Greg to a sitting position. Ryan moved behind Greg, producing a set of handcuffs. He secured Greg's hands with the smooth skill born of practice.
“Why?” I asked Greg, finally meeting his enraged brown eyes. “You stole from me. You burned my house to the ground. Now you try to kill me.” Behind me, I heard my mother gasp. “Why?” I demanded. “Why me? What did I do to you?”
“This is all your fault. Everything was fine until your ten grand. That was the money that put me in the hole with Fedorov. I haven’t won a hand of cards since I bet that money. You killed my luck and then you couldn’t make it right. Burning down your house should have fixed it, but it didn’t. I need you dead.”
I stared at him, dumbfounded. “You did all this because you think I’m responsible for your bad luck at cards?”
“It’s you. It’s your fault. All of it.” He started to mumble under his breath. Now that I was closer, I could smell the sour scent of stale liquor coming off him. I looked over at James, who had come to his feet and moved to stand beside me.
“He’s insane,” I said, hearing the amazement in my voice. “Completely nuts. He tried to kill me because he had bad luck at cards after betting the money he stole from me? Is that what he just said? Seriously?”
“It is,” James agreed sliding his arms around me from behind. Abruptly the jolt of adrenaline from seeing the gun faded, and I leaned back into James’s warmth. Together, we watched five policemen separate the crowd as they headed for Greg. His prone body disappeared under the swarm of blue. They yanked him to his feet, escorted him across the main floor of the Drake Gardens, and out of my life.
I sent a silent thanks to God for protecting us in such a dangerous situation. I was sure I’d have to deal with Greg again when he went to trial, but for now I was free from the threat of further destruction.
“Don’t do that again,” I said to James, turning to brush a stray piece of carpet fluff off his sleeve. “He could have shot you.”
“He was going to shoot you,” James said. “Don’t try to stop me from protecting you again, Sara. I won’t do it. You’re mine. I’d take a bullet if I had to.”
My heart swelled. James was sweet and terrifying at the same time.
“Okay, how about I just stay away from crazy men with guns, and then you won’t have to go near any bullets?”
“That works for me,” he said, pressing a kiss to my lips. As I leaned into his arms I heard my sister’s shrill voice say,
“Is the drama over yet? I’d like to get back to my wedding!”
Typical. I almost get shot and she’s worried about it interrupting her party. Any other day she might have bothered me, but not today. Not when I’d just decided to move in with an amazing man who’d saved my life.
“Come on,” James said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders in a possessive hold. “Let’s go. I want to dance with you at the wedding.”
That I could do. Though the way he said ‘wedding’ made me a little nervous. Three days and I’d kind of agreed to move in. He wasn’t going to get any ideas about weddings, was he?
Mentally, I shrugged. I was done worrying about the future, at least for now. Life was too good to worry. Instead, I was going to hang on tight to James and enjoy the ride.
Epilogue
Sara
Two Months Later
I sat at the bar studying my glass of water and waiting for James. I hadn’t been back to this place since the night I’d met James here. Tonight, another Thursday, it wasn’t crowded. I was even wearing another navy blue dress, though Jessica had picked this one out, and it looked much better on me than the dress I’d been wearing the night James had swept into my life.
It was funny to be here, sitting on the same stool, remembering how miserable I’d been until James sat beside me and asked about my day. Since we’d met I’d known happiness I hadn’t believed possible, even in those first few days with Greg's video and my house burning down.
I hadn’t yet moved out of my room at the Drake. Though it was more than just a room. I should have known when James had agreed to me leaving the cottage that he wouldn’t have put me in a simple room like the one I’d originally booked. Instead I’d been living in a suite and eating most of my meals in one of the resort’s restaurants.
By the time the insurance was finally settled, and I had a big fat check to spend on a new home, I’d been at Drake Gardens for a month and couldn’t imagine wanting to leave. It wasn’t the luxury of the suite, though I didn’t mind that. It was being so close to James. We saw each other almost every day.
It was a rare evening that we didn’t eat dinner together, or at least take a walk in the gardens. When I moved out I knew finding the time to see him would be that much harder.
I’d worried that he might be ready to have his space back. After all we’d originally gotten together to heal his reputation. That was taken care of. The papers carried the occasional picture of us when I accompanied him to an event, but for the most part they’d decided that James had settled down and lost interest.
What if James had lost interest as well? A part of me had wondered if he really could want to be with me all of the time. That small, doubting voice in my head couldn’t quite believe I’d gotten so lucky.
James had solved that problem in his typical straight forward way. He’d run into me at the front desk when I was collecting my mail and seen the envelope with the insurance check in my hands. He’d immediately known what it was. Not wasting time, he’d taken my arm and steered me through the lobby and out to the garden path.
“Is that the check for your house?” he’d asked, his green eyes examining my face. I’d nodded. “And?”
“And what?” I asked, stalling. My stomach twisted in a queasy knot.
“What are your plans?” he asked.
“I’ve looked at a few apartments.”
“Any close to here?”
“Not too far. There isn’t really anything that close to Drake Gardens.” I was sure James already knew that. Drake Gardens was surrounded by large residential lots and a few spots of commercial development, but no large apartment complexes or rentals.
“Will yo
u wait before you do anything?” he asked, surprising me.
“James, I can’t just keep living here at Drake Gardens. Not now that the insurance is settled. For one thing, I don’t like taking advantage of you. What will your parents think?”
“My mother will try to send me to my room if I let you leave,” he said, laughing. “You know she loves you.”
It was true, his mother and I adored each other. I loved my own Mom, as different as we were. But James’s Mom was something else. We understood each other. Well, except that she was a little more forceful than me.
After our first Sunday dinner at her house I’d found myself agreeing to help with the dinner she was arranging as a fundraiser with their family’s church. I didn’t know quite how it happened, but I hadn’t minded. I’d had fun and we’d done a lot of good. And she’d surprised me by showing up while I was volunteering at the shelter and pitched in. I suspect she was trying to take the measure of the woman her son was seeing, but she must have liked what she saw because she’d been nothing but welcoming since.
“I know she likes me,” I’d said to James, “But that doesn’t mean it’s okay for me to live in the resort and take from the company without giving anything back. I’m not comfortable with it.”
“I understand.” He’d stopped our walk and turned to me, tilting my face up to his. “Then will you just hold off for a little bit? Not forever. Will you trust me and just wait?”
Unable to speak, I simply nodded my head.
So I had. That had been a month ago. I’d tried raising the topic at dinner the other night, but he’d shut me down. I was getting a little frustrated, but he’d asked for trust and I was going to give it to him.
My phone beeped in front of me and I checked the screen.
On my way. Got held up on a call.
James. I’d learned that, as I’d suspected, that first weekend aside, he worked a lot. But I rarely had to ask him to make time for me. He always remembered our plans and kept me posted if he was late or had to reschedule. I did my best to be understanding, aware that when tax season rolled around, he’d be the one getting texts and rushed phone calls about me working until midnight.