She pulled her hair free of the ponytail holder and set it down. “We eloped and had a small wedding on the beach.” Her voice was pensive with a hint of sadness. “Ben hired someone to hear our vows, and they were witnessed by the resort owner. I thought it was so romantic at the time.”
Alec waited for her to continue, and when she didn’t, he prompted, “Did you ever sign a license?”
She shook her head. “He said he’d taken care of that already, and all I had to do was show up.”
“And the marriage certificate?”
“I signed a piece of paper, but for all I know, it could have been printed off the Internet.” With a weak smile, she added, “I was twenty-two years old and in love with a powerful man. I didn’t know any better.”
Sarah reached for one of the cookies and snapped it in half. “I suppose Ben fed me lies so I would be his mistress, completely under his command.” Her mouth tightened. “I was stupid and believed him.”
“Did he ever introduce you as his wife?”
She seemed to think about it for a moment. Then at last, she shook her head. “Sometimes he brought clients over for dinner, but Ben paid more attention to them than to me. He gave them my name, but he never called me his wife.”
“And he never took you out in public?”
“No.” He said it was because I wasn’t ready to face the media.” Her face flushed. “I know what he was doing now. He was hiding me. He probably wanted to see how long it would take me to figure it out.” Her fingers dug into the cushion. “How could I be so stupid?”
She directed her attention back to the cat, smoothing Marigold’s ears. “I guess I really was as dumb as he said I was.”
“You weren’t dumb,” he corrected. “Only too trusting.”
“I loved him,” she admitted. “Or, at least, I loved the man I thought he was. Until this past year when I could never do anything right.” Her fingers moved up to her bruised cheek, and he decided to redirect the conversation away from her pain.
“What do you want to do now?” he asked.
She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “What can I do? I can’t divorce a man I was never married to.” There was a slight catch in her voice, as if she blamed herself for what had happened.
“You can leave him,” he said. “And you can get a restraining order if you need one.”
“I might.” Her eyes gleamed with unshed tears, but she gathered her courage and turned off the television. “I do want to thank you for your help, Mr. Harrow. You’ve been very kind.”
“Alec,” he corrected. He knew he had trespassed more than he should, but he’d wanted her to have a safe place to go. “And I want you to know that you’re free to come and go as you like. I won’t bother you in any way—I would only advise you not to return to the hotel for the time being.” It wasn’t safe for her there.
“Thank you,” she said. Marigold nudged at her fingers, seeking attention, and she seemed to be grateful for the distraction of the cat. “I need to find a place to live,” she admitted. “Somewhere I don’t ever have to see him again.”
He understood her desire to escape and asked, “Do you have family anywhere?”
“Florida,” she answered. “My brother lives there.” With a sigh, she flipped the blanket back and stood from the couch. “But Christopher hasn’t spoken to me in the past year. I don’t know if he’d let me come and stay with him.”
Alec studied her, wondering what would help her the most. She was so vulnerable right now, her eyes holding back tears. Her blond hair was pulled back from her face in a ponytail, and he saw the faint traces of flour on the blue silk shirt. Flour that she’d spilled because she’d taken the time to bake cookies for him.
He couldn’t remember a time anyone had done something like that. Eva had died when he was eleven, and his father had gone to jail. The foster families that he’d lived with over the years had been kind, but none were really the cookie-baking kind.
“If you want to stay here, I have three other bedrooms,” he offered. “Or I’ll call a cab to take you to a hotel of your choice.” He knew he shouldn’t get involved with Sarah. And yet, it dug into his conscience that any man could treat her the way Ben had. She was a beautiful, kind woman who didn’t deserve any of this.
“Why did you stay in the hotel if you had your own place?” she asked as she sat down on the couch again.
“When one of my hotels isn’t turning a profit, sometimes I can find out why if I stay on the property,” he answered. He had tried to keep a low profile, and Dawson hadn’t spread the news of his presence around.
“The hotel isn’t bringing in many guests, except when there are conventions in town,” he said, leaning forward. “We’re in a good area, but they tend to choose other hotels. Our prices are competitive, but we can do better.”
She thought a moment and suggested, “It’s the food. The complimentary breakfast is nothing special.”
“I don’t know if a hot breakfast would help the profit margin. Our restaurant is meant for fine dining, and it’s only open in the evening.”
She shook her head. “You don’t need a hot breakfast, necessarily. You just need something unique. Something different from an ordinary continental breakfast.” She leaned back and thought a moment. Then she stared at the cookies and picked one up, studying it carefully. “What about doughnuts?”
“We already offer doughnuts and pastries,” he answered, but she shook her head.
“No, you need something more interesting than what you already have.” A smile suddenly broke over her face. “I know what you could try. A doughnut bar.” She held out the cookie. “Warm up some plain doughnuts and have a station with different flavors of frosting. Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry. And sprinkles for the children. Let people decorate their own doughnuts. Kind of like an ice cream sundae bar, only with doughnut toppings. Or you could do something similar with the waffles. You can build the cost into the room rate. Let people feel like they’re getting something extra.”
The doughnut bar was an intriguing idea, and he could envision children getting excited about the concept. “We could try it over the weekend to see if it’s successful.” He would have to make some calls to arrange it.
“You also need better seating in the breakfast area.” She outlined suggestions for different table layouts, and he found himself making notes on his phone. Her ideas were strong, and he welcomed the suggestions.
When the cookies were gone, he asked, “Do you want to get some dinner?”
“I should probably go.” She stood up from the couch and glanced outside. The snow had returned, and he didn’t want her venturing out into the storm. Not to mention, she had nowhere to stay.
“You don’t have to leave,” he offered. “We could order a pizza and stay in. I wouldn’t mind having company while we watch Christmas movies. And there are plenty of spare bedrooms. It’s up to you.”
Sarah adjusted a flyaway strand back into her ponytail and tucked her feet beneath the blanket. He could tell she was thinking it over, but she seemed wary of the idea. “I don’t want to intrude. You probably need to work.”
“I’ve worked enough over the past few days,” he countered. “I’d rather stay in, watch A Christmas Story, and eat pizza and cookies with you.”
He hadn’t meant to add the last two words, and he wished he could take them back. More doubts shadowed her face. He could easily tell what she was thinking, and right now, her heart was hurting from the discovery that she had never been married. He wanted to soothe her broken feelings, though he knew it was all too raw just now. But he didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable or threatened in any way. She’d just learned that her so-called husband had betrayed her. The last thing she needed was involvement with someone else—and that wasn’t his intent.
“I’d enjoy the company of a friend,” he finished. She still seemed uneasy, so he added, “What kind of pizza do you want?”
She hesitated a moment, as if trying to dec
ide what to do. “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea, Alec.”
“Same,” he answered. “But you were nice enough to bake cookies. The least I can do is give you a place to stay. You may have to lock the cat out. She’s overly friendly and might try to take over your pillow.”
A faint smile seemed to relieve the tension. At last, she sighed. “Okay. But just for one night.”
“Fair enough. Now, what kind of pizza?”
“Anything really. Whatever you like.”
He realized she was downplaying her own preferences, so he rephrased it. “If it were your last day alive during the zombie apocalypse, what kind of pizza would you want before you die?”
A slight smile tugged at her lips, and she admitted, “Pepperoni with extra cheese.”
He placed the order on his phone and said, “Got it. Now we’re prepared if the zombies come tonight.”
Her expression softened. “Thank you, Alec. And not just for the pizza.”
She was grateful to him for his understanding. It felt as if her entire world had split apart, ripped asunder by the lies. Right now, she felt numb, almost in disbelief at what Ben had done. The very foundation of her marriage had crumbled, and she didn’t know what to say or do. The shock seemed to encase her in a sheet of invisible ice, until she forced herself not to think of it.
And despite it all, Alec had stood by her, offering her a place to stay.
Was there an underlying reason why he’d helped her? After all this, she was afraid that Alec would want something more—something she wasn’t able to give. The last thing she wanted was a romantic involvement with anyone. And though Alec Harrow was a gorgeous guy, she wasn’t ready for anything beyond friendship.
“You didn’t deserve what Carnell did to you,” he said. “Glad I could help.”
“I should have known better. Nothing was normal about that marriage.” He’d been so controlling, and unless she obeyed him without question, he lashed out. But she wondered why he had even bothered to “marry” her. He was a wealthy businessman who could do whatever he wanted. Was it all an elaborate joke? He’d kept her as a mistress, letting her believe she was his wife. Even when she’d mentioned wanting to change her last name to his, Ben had refused.
“You don’t need to change your name,” he’d said. “We can deal with that later.”
“We’ve been married almost a year,” she had argued. “I’ve waited long enough to be Mrs. Carnell.”
“Then you can wait longer,” he’d sneered.
After that, she hadn’t argued any more. To Ben, any argument was about winning, and it was pointless to voice her own thoughts. Now, she understood the real reason. There was no marriage certificate and never had been any true wedding. Part of her wanted to lash out, or even break something. How could she have been so naïve? She’d let herself trust a man who had only used her. The anger rose up so strong, she closed her eyes a moment, trying to tamp it down. Once again, she let the cold denial freeze out the emotions. It was easier to handle the rage when she didn’t think of it.
Alec sat down in the chair across from her, and Marigold hopped up on his lap, snuggling beside him. The sight of the cat eased her tension and was a welcome distraction.
“Don’t worry, I won’t stay too long,” she said. “As soon as I can find another hotel or an apartment, I’ll be out of here.” The words were as much to reassure herself as him. Though she had no idea where she would go, she didn’t want him to feel obligated to help.
“I’m leaving for France in the morning,” he reminded her. “I intend to inspect the Paris property over the Christmas holiday. If you want to get away for a while where Ben can’t find you, you’re welcome to stay here if you like. I’ll be gone for a week.” He paused a moment and then added, “Or if you’d rather go to Florida to see your brother, I can help you get there safely.”
She stopped in front of the glass windows, staring out at the night sky. From this vantage point, the skyscrapers were beautiful, silhouetted with golden light. The heavy glass windows of the penthouse muffled the sounds of the city streets, and she could see the trees of Central Park from here.
“Alec, why are you helping me?” she murmured. “And don’t say it’s about that woman you used to know. I’m a stranger to you. A nobody.”
His mouth set in a grim line, making her feel as if she’d been acting whiny. That hadn’t been her intention. She just wanted to understand why he’d felt the need to do so much for her.
“The woman was my mother,” he admitted. “I was too young to do anything, and she told the rest of her family that everything was fine. There was no one to help her. I’m only doing for you what I wish someone had done for her.”
A weight seemed to lift from her shoulders, for it did seem that he wasn’t expecting more in return. If that was the case, then she could accept his help and repay him later.
She was almost afraid to ask but couldn’t help herself. “What happened to her?”
“My father killed her after he beat her to death. They took him to jail.”
An icy chill ran through her skin. She’d never expected his life to be so dark. And yet, it explained so much. He was using her to atone for his own regrets. “I’m so sorry,” she said. There were no words that could heal such a painful experience, but it was all she could manage. Without thinking, she started to reach for his hand before she pulled it back.
Alec didn’t seem to notice. “All my life, I’ve felt like it was my fault. If I had told a guidance counselor at school, or if I’d tried to tell Mom’s family, maybe it would have been different.”
He leaned back against the couch. “The thing is, Dad could be friendly and charming when he wanted to be. He could say all the right things and make her family believe that Mom was just clumsy. He’d joke about it. And then he’d send them something in the mail—something we couldn’t afford—as a gift to prove what a great guy he was.”
It sounded like an echo of her own experience. “And then you start to think that you were just overreacting,” she said softly. “That he didn’t really mean to say what he did. He would be charming and good for a while…until it started again.”
Alec gave a nod, and he turned to face her. “I always used to think that if my father was truly abusive, it would be that way all the time. But he strung Mom along over the years until she was too afraid to leave him.” His gaze turned more intent. “You got out. I know how hard it was for you to leave. But you don’t know how lucky you are to find out that Carnell never married you.”
She fell silent, knowing that he was right. But at the moment she felt bewildered and tossed about, not knowing which direction to go. She had to find a job and a place to live…and she wasn’t so certain she wanted to stay in New York. And every time she tried to envision her future, the feelings of anger and panic threatened to drown her.
“I suppose it’s easier that I don’t have to divorce him,” she agreed. “But it’s hard to make so many decisions during the holidays. You’re lucky you can escape to France. I imagine it’s very beautiful there.” The idea of leaving the country filled her with such envy, but she kept those thoughts to herself.
He came to stand beside her. “If you have your passport, you could come with me to Paris. Stay in the hotel and take a vacation while I conduct my business.”
The envy tightened into a true wish. She knew she shouldn’t even consider the idea. But then he added, “It wouldn’t cost you anything, if that’s what you’re afraid of. I have a private plane, and I’m staying at the Harrow Suites in Paris. You could have your own room and spend your days shopping or sightseeing.”
“No, that’s too much. I couldn’t,” she protested. It was far too generous, but even more than that, she still had the fear that he would want more from her. Or worse, that she would want more from him. Even beside her, she could feel his body heat. A part of her wanted to turn and rest her head against his chest. There was no denying that she was attracted to Alec. And s
omehow, it was worsened by the knowledge that she wasn’t married and never had been.
It was strange to suddenly realize that she had choices. She owed Ben no loyalty whatsoever. He had groomed her, chaining her to a life that was only an illusion. If she wanted to cast off those shackles and go somewhere else, she could.
He regarded her with sincerity. “Again, it costs me nothing. If you change your mind and want to get away, it’s no trouble.”
“You just want me to ignore my train wreck of a life and come to France with you?” She shook her head. “There’s nothing I can give you in return, Alec. I can never repay you.”
He shrugged. “I don’t expect anything from you. That’s not the sort of man I am, Sarah.”
She colored, realizing that she’d offended him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It’s just that…it’s what I’m used to. Ben never gave anything without a price.”
He reached out and took her hand. “You can stay in the hotel and give me your opinions.” With a wry smile, he added, “Maybe it needs a doughnut breakfast bar.”
She wanted to smile but didn’t. The heat of his palm burned through her, making her conscious of his nearness. He smelled good, like a hint of cedar and cinnamon. She faltered at his touch, though it was nothing out of the ordinary.
And yet it was. His kindness, his generosity beckoned to her, drawing her nearer. She liked this man, though she knew very little about him. He had given her hope again, a chance to escape the nightmare of her past.
“All right,” she said. “I’ll come with you to France.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Alec stretched out his feet on the ottoman while Sarah was curled up asleep on the opposite side of the leather couch. His cat Marigold was snuggled beside her, and he didn’t have the heart to wake either of them. Earlier, they had eaten pizza, and Sarah had boxed up the leftovers, helping him wash the dishes. He’d reminded her that he did own a dishwasher, but she didn’t see any reason for it when they’d only used two plates.
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