‘I should have told you Liam was my twin.’
‘Why on earth didn’t you?’ she demanded.
Jake turned to look at her. ‘It’s caused problems before.’ His mouth twisted. ‘I was going to tell you before Sunday, obviously.’
‘Sunday?’
‘When I introduced you to my parents and my family, including Liam.’
Past tense, noted Sarah in alarm.
‘Have you changed your mind about that?’ she asked with care.
He met her eyes. ‘No. Have you?’
She looked away. ‘I bought some new shoes.’
Jake moved a little closer. ‘A pity not to wear them, then.’
‘And Davy would be desperately disappointed.’
‘So would I,’ he said huskily, and closed the space between them to take her in his arms. ‘Is this allowed, or will you call the police?’
‘No.’ She let out a deep, shaky breath, her knees suddenly giving way as she sagged against him, and Jake picked her up and sat down with her in his lap.
‘That,’ he said roughly, as his arms endangered her ribs, ‘was the worst couple of hours of my entire life.’
‘It’s been a lot longer than that since I saw Liam,’ she said, shuddering. ‘When I saw you—him—with another woman I was heartbroken!’
Jake swore with colourful violence and tipped her face up to his. ‘I’ve had a word with my little brother about making an exhibition of himself in public places.’
‘Little brother?’ she said, diverted.
‘Half an hour younger.’ For the first time that evening Jake’s smiled appeared. ‘I gave him hell for fooling about with Serena in full view of passers-by.’
‘Not your style at all,’ agreed Sarah. ‘But you can see my mistake. It was your car, Jake.’
He nodded grimly. ‘Liam still brings his car down here to be serviced—won’t trust London garages. After he’d dropped it off he borrowed mine for the day. Liam’s also used to city anonymity. He tends to forget that we share a face well known in these parts. But I prefer to keep my love life private.’ Jake bent his head and kissed her, and with a sigh of thanksgiving Sarah responded with fervour fuelled by relief.
She sat up suddenly, biting her lip as she pushed her hands through her hair.
‘What now?’ he demanded.
She groaned. ‘It just struck me that your brother must wonder what on earth you see in me. I look such a fright!’
‘Is that all?’ Jake let out a snort of relief and pulled her back against him. ‘Actually, my darling, I like the dishevelled look so much I could eat you.’ He kissed her by way of illustration, and went on kissing her, until they were hot and breathless and in need of a great deal more than kisses. ‘I suppose your grandmother’s due home any time now,’ said Jake, breathing hard. ‘I want you like hell, darling, but in the circumstances I’d better go home while I can.’
Sarah licked the tip of her tongue round her lips, her eyes glittering with invitation. ‘Take me with you?’
‘Oh, God, yes,’ he said fervently, and in minutes they were in Sarah’s car, a few things thrown in her overnight bag and a note left for Margaret. With Jake at the wheel they arrived at his apartment building with a speed which should have had them stopped by the police. He parked the car, took Sarah by the hand and rushed her through the foyer into the lift, his hands under her shirt and his mouth on hers before the doors closed.
When they reached the flat Jake kicked the door shut behind him, dropped Sarah’s bag and yanked her up on her toes against him. She gasped against his mouth as he cupped his hands around her bottom, the proof of his need hot and hard against her through two layers of denim. Their kisses grew wilder, her thighs parted involuntarily, and he lifted her against him so she could lock her legs about his hips. He held her cruelly tight against his erection and strode to the bedroom with Sarah clasped close in his arms, her head buried against his shoulder.
They collapsed together on the bed, Jake hard and heavy on top of her, and Sarah lay under him, returning his kisses feverishly, revelling in the weight and feel and aroused male scent of him. When the urge to mate grew overpowering he got to his knees on the bed and pulled her up with him, to undress her, both of them on fire with such desperate need they tore at each other’s clothes with rough, impatient hands until they were naked together. And then he was over her and inside her and he gave a hoarse, visceral groan of satisfaction as Sarah’s hands dug into his lean hips to draw him deep into her innermost core.
Their impassioned loving was too wild to last long, but so overwhelmingly sweet in its intensity Sarah’s cheeks were wet when it was over.
‘Tears?’ whispered Jake, kissing them away.
‘Only because I’m happy.’ She gave a deep, unsteady sigh. ‘It’s almost worth quarrelling to make up like that.’
‘Almost,’ he agreed. ‘But not quite. In future I vote we pass on the fight and cut straight to the good part.’
The rest of the week went by on wings. Margaret Parker, rather to Sarah’s surprise, made it plain she was relieved to see her grandchild so happy again, and astonished Sarah by indicating, as delicately as she could, that she quite understood if Sarah wished to spend every night with Jake until Davy came home for the weekend.
‘Actually, I don’t,’ said Sarah. ‘But last night it was late by the time everything was sorted. We just needed more time together to recover.’
‘Does Jake find my presence in the house inhibiting, by any chance?’ said Margaret dryly.
Sarah grinned. ‘Probably. Though going back to his place last night was my idea, not his.’
‘In my day, of course, officially one had to wait until legally shackled before sharing a bed.’
‘Officially?’
Margaret gave her a wry smile. ‘This may come as a surprise, Sarah, but sex isn’t a modern invention. It was all too popular with some in my day too.’
The following Saturday Davy had her wish and Jake joined them for a swim and lunch and a trip to the cinema. Then, because it was a beautiful evening, Sarah suggested a stroll in the park before going home.
‘Just like a real family,’ said Davy with satisfaction as the three of them walked through the sunlit park. ‘Can I have an ice-cream?’
Sarah gave Jake an apologetic smile. ‘She’s a bottomless pit.’
‘Which will please my mother enormously,’ he said, handing over the money. ‘She’s been cooking for days.’
Davy thanked him, then spotted one of her school-friends with a dog on a lead, and asked permission to run off to talk to her.
‘I’m nervous about tomorrow,’ said Sarah, watching Davy with the other little girl and her family.
Jake halted and took her hand. ‘Don’t be, darling. Liam heartily approved, by the way.’
‘Even though I had glasses on and looked a mess?’
‘Right. So imagine what effect you’ll have when you’re all dressed up to impress.’
Sarah shook her head. ‘I don’t want to impress, Jake. Just to reassure your parents that their firstborn isn’t making a great big mistake by marrying me.’
‘Which I’m going to do as soon as humanly possible, whatever their verdict,’ he informed her.
To round off the evening they went back to supper at Jake’s flat, which Davy liked so much it was an effort to get her home afterwards.
‘Are we going to live here with you, Jake?’ she asked.
‘Not big enough, sweetheart. Mummy and I are going to find a house with a special room in it just for you,’ he said, ruffling her hair.
When they got back to Campden Road it was uphill work getting Davy to bed.
‘It’s a big day tomorrow,’ said Sarah firmly. ‘Lunch with Jake’s family, then back to school. So sleep now, please.’
Jake held up his arms when she got back to the sitting room. ‘Come and tell me you love me.’
‘I love you,’ she said promptly, and curled up against him on the sofa. ‘So
you haven’t changed your mind about being a stepfather?’
‘No.’ Jake kissed her. ‘I like Davy. And she obviously likes me. And I know very well that life isn’t all swimming and fun, like today, and later, when she’s a teenager bristling with hormones and attitude, things may get rocky now and then. But because she’s a little duplicate of you in every way it’s easy to think of her as mine already, Sarah.’
‘Thank you, Jake.’ She breathed in deeply. ‘This is all so perfect I keep thinking something will go wrong.’
He tapped her cheek gently. ‘That part’s already happened, due to Liam. From now on it’s plain sailing.’
‘Is he bringing Serena tomorrow?’
‘No fear. She’s just an old flame. Serena was in school with us. Since then she’s been married and divorced twice. Liam sees her now and then, when he’s down, but he wouldn’t dream of bringing her to a family get-together. That’s strictly for serious relationships, like yours and mine, darling.’ He smiled. ‘At time of going to press Liam is firmly unattached.’
Sarah kissed him, then with regret stood up. ‘I’m sorry to see you go, darling, but I need an early night so I can scintillate tomorrow.’
Jake returned the kiss, then reluctantly let her go. ‘I’ll come for you at twelve tomorrow. If you bring Davy’s school gear I can drive you straight back to Roedale.’
‘I think we’d better come home first, so she can have a bath before going back to school.’
‘Probably a good idea,’ Jake said, chuckling. ‘You may have had enough of the Hogans by that time.’
The fateful Sunday dawned so bright and sunny Sarah gave up the idea of a formal dress and high heels. When Jake arrived he grinned when he found Sarah and Davy in identical white T-shirts Margaret had brought as presents from Florence, Davy’s worn with embroidered jeans and Sarah’s with the raspberry linen skirt.
‘You both look gorgeous,’ he said, and eyed Sarah’s flat white sandals. ‘What happened to the new shoes?’
Sarah smiled sheepishly. ‘The heels were a bit much for a hot day like this.’
‘You look nice, too, Jake,’ said Davy, eyeing his pale linen trousers and blue shirt.
‘Thank you, sweetheart,’ he said, touched. ‘I’ll just say hello to your grandma, then we’ll be off.’
The Hogans lived the other side of Pennington, in a house set in two acres of beautifully kept garden. When Jake turned into the drive it was already full of cars. Children could be heard shouting in the distance, and Davy looked suddenly anxious.
‘Are they bigger than me?’ she asked Jake as he helped her out.
‘Not much. Don’t worry. They won’t bite.’
A man with greying fair hair came hurrying towards them, familiar blue eyes bright with welcome. ‘Hello, son. Introduce me to your beautiful ladies.’
Jake put an arm round them both. ‘Dad, this is Sarah Tracy and her daughter Davina. Only she prefers Davy.’
‘Welcome to the family, Sarah,’ said John Hogan, and to her surprise kissed her on both cheeks. ‘My wife’s Italian,’ he explained, eyes twinkling. ‘I’ve acquired the habit.’ He turned to Davy, who was watching him expectantly. ‘Am I allowed to kiss you too, pet?’
She smiled and held up her face, and after planting a kiss on her cheeks he took her hand and led the way into the house, where his wife came rushing through the hall, smoothing back her greying black hair.
‘Jacob!’ She clapped her hands together as she saw Davy. ‘Bellissima, how lovely to meet you.’ She swept Davy into a hug, then whispered in her ear. ‘Now introduce me to your mamma.’
‘Her name is Sarah Tracy,’ said Davy, reassured by the warmth of her reception.
‘How do you do, Mrs Hogan?’ said Sarah. ‘It’s very kind of you to invite us.’
She was immediately folded into a scented embrace. ‘You shall call me Teresa,’ said Jake’s mother, kissing her warmly. ‘And the little one is Davy, Jake tells me.’
‘After my father, David.’
‘Ah!’ Teresa patted her cheek. ‘I know about your parents—so sad.’
‘Mamma,’ said Jake hurriedly, ‘are the others in the garden?’
‘Can’t you hear?’ said his father, smiling. ‘Your mother shut them out there so she could meet Sarah first. And Davy, too,’ he added, taking her hand. ‘Come on, pet, let’s go and find someone for you to play with.’
Sarah tensed, but Jake put a comforting arm round her as the little girl went off with his father.
‘You must be so proud of her. She is so sweet,’ said Teresa fondly, and turned smiling black eyes on Sarah. ‘And so like her mamma.’
‘Is Liam here yet?’ asked Jake.
‘No,’ said his mother, with an ominous flash of eye. ‘He is late.’
‘He’ll be here, don’t worry.’
‘Come,’ said Teresa, taking Sarah’s hand. ‘I must introduce you to the rest of my family. They want so much to meet you.’
Jake’s sisters, Maddalena and Paula, a handsome vivacious pair, took after their mother, both in colouring and the exuberance of their welcome as they introduced their husbands and children.
‘You boys,’ Paula told her sons, ‘must look after Davy. She’s a guest.’
‘And you two, no squabbling for once,’ Maddy told her daughters. ‘This is a special day. Your uncle is going to marry this lovely lady, and Davy will be your new cousin.’
Sarah watched the children take charge of Davy, who, far from being dismayed by the prospect, was soon absorbed into the gang as they planned how to pass the time before the meal.
‘She’ll be fine,’ Jake assured her, then looked round with a smile as a familiar figure came strolling from the house. ‘At last, the prodigal. Now we can break out the fatted calf.’
Liam embraced his parents, then with a grin at Jake kissed Sarah on both cheeks. ‘Welcome to the family, Sarah. He’s a good guy,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘Only don’t tell him I said so.’
The meal was an exuberant affair, with everyone helping themselves from a table groaning with good food. The adults took their plates outside, where chairs of every description were set close together on the paved area outside the dining room window. The five children sat on a groundsheet on the lawn to eat theirs, Davy so obviously enjoying herself Sarah relaxed enough to eat everything Jake put on her plate as she answered questions from his sisters about her grandmother and Davy, where they were going to live, and what she was going to wear for the wedding.
‘Forgive my wife’s enthusiasm,’ said Sam, Maddy’s husband. He grinned at Sarah. ‘She’s been trying to get her brothers married for years.’
‘I don’t mind,’ Sarah assured a rather heated-looking Maddy. ‘I’m afraid we still need some fine tuning on the details.’
‘House-hunting first,’ said Jake, and took Sarah’s hand. ‘And as far as I’m concerned a wedding date as soon as possible.’
She smiled at him with a look of such glowing agreement Teresa Hogan clapped her hands in appreciation and urged everyone to eat more food and drink more wine.
Jake got up, taking Sarah’s plate with his. ‘I’ll bring you some of my mother’s famed ice-cream,’ he promised, and went over to Davy to ask her preference.
‘My parents are very pleased with Jake’s fiancée,’ said Liam, taking the chair next to Sarah.
‘I’m glad. They’re very kind.’ She smiled at him, but the familiar blue eyes were very serious.
‘I’m sorry for what happened the other day, Sarah.’
‘You weren’t to know I’d see you.’
‘But anyone else passing by could have seen me and made the mistake you did.’ His mouth twisted. ‘In London I’m anonymous, of course. But here in Pennington the Hogan twins are well known.’
‘Not to me they weren’t,’ she said tartly. ‘If I’d known about the twin part it would have saved me a lot of grief that day.’
‘And it was grief,’ he said penitently. ‘I could see that when Jake m
arched me to your door that evening. I could have kicked myself for causing him any more problems.’
Sarah would have liked to ask what he meant, but at that moment Jake came out from the house with handfuls of ice-cream cones, and the younger members of the party rushed to meet him, Davy included. He was laughing and licking his fingers as he came back to Sarah.
‘Sorry. I saw to the small fry first. I’ll bring some for you right away.’
‘Sit down,’ said Liam, jumping up. ‘I’ll do it.’
‘You two getting on well together?’ asked Jake, watching his brother walk away.
Sarah nodded. ‘Liam’s very fond of you.’
‘Of course he is. We’re twins.’
‘Now he tells me,’ she said dryly, and handed him some tissues. ‘Mop yourself up.’
‘I was rather hoping,’ he whispered, ‘that you’d offer to lick me clean.’
‘What on earth are you saying to make Sarah blush like that?’ demanded Maddy. She looked round suspiciously. ‘It’s very quiet. Where are the children?’
‘Gone to play hide and seek in the shrubbery,’ said Paula, and lay back, relaxed. ‘Sheer bliss. Don’t have any boys, Sarah. Little girls like Davy must be so much easier.’
‘Don’t you believe it,’ said her sister with feeling.
‘Are you two trying to frighten Sarah off?’ demanded Jake wrathfully.
‘Now then, girls,’ said Liam, handing Sarah a crystal dish full of different kinds of ice-cream. ‘I brought two spoons. You can share with her, Jake.’
Sarah had such a happy time with the Hogan family she was sorry she hadn’t brought Davy’s school things, as Jake had suggested, so they could stay longer.
‘You will stay longer next time,’ said Teresa firmly, ‘when you bring your grandmother. We would so much like to meet her.’
‘I like your family, Jake,’ said Davy on the way back to Campden Road. ‘Josh and Michael said I can go and play computer games with them some time, and Nina and Chloe asked if I can go to their house for a sleepover in the holidays, Mummy.’
‘How very nice of them,’ said Sarah, from the depths of the pink cloud she was occupying. ‘It’s been such a lovely day.’
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