Sandra turned to Creighton and smiled. The lost look of what was happening around him echoed on his handsome face. She tightened her hand in his. Aunt Kissy had a way of making a person feel like they had just walked into the Twilight Zone.“Here ya go honey,” Kissy said a minute later, handing her two metal keys that read 210. “Ya go on up ta yer room and put yer stuff ‘way before ya go see yer Nana, that way she can’t convince ya ta stay at the farm.”“Thank you Aunt Kissy,” Sandra said. “Do you still accept cash only?”“No ma’am. Brandon done got us hooked up with that crazy inner-net and we can do plastic cards now, but don’t ya worry none. This is on the house. There ain’t nothing I wouldn’t do fer our lil’ Sandy.”“Thank you so much,” she said with another smile. “But my husband is very old fashioned and insists on paying our way.” Sandra leaned in and lowered her voice again, causing Creighton to actually turn pink. “He’s loaded, more than old Bessie Harper when she died. He ha
“I love how eager you are to satisfy,” she added with a wicked grin. “Now stop yer horsin’ ‘round and ride me.”“Ride you?” he laughed, stretching out across her fully.“Yer in Kansas darlin’,” she smiled. “Time fer ya ta accept a simpler way of life.”“If you want me to ride you, you’d better be ready and accept the consequences.”“Which are?”“As horny as I am, you’re going to be left frustrated and eager the rest of the day.”“We’ll see,” she said with a wide smile as he slipped into her.Creighton did exactly as he was ordered and began thrusting into her at a steady pace, but he seemed to forget that she too was on that plane the last twelve hours and was as desperate as he claimed to be. She closed her eyes, raised her legs around his hips and took him in deeper. Within a few ticks of the side table alarm clock, she found herself smiling when the dizzy sensation began to wrap her in its arms. Several seconds later and she clung to him, growling his name on the climatic wings of
“I thought you liked pasta?” Creighton frowned.“I do,” she said with a shocked expression. She hadn’t realized she was complaining until she saw the hurt look on his face. “I love it, I just like my grandmother’s cooking better.” Creighton didn’t say anything else as he turned back to his dinner in front of him. She knew she had hurt his feelings. He had been doing what he thought she wanted, and to be honest, she did want everything he had done, but she couldn’t explain or excuse away her words, now that they were spoken.“Tell us about your plans,” Papa suggested, diverting the tension from the room.The conversation took the safer path of the ideas and plans Creighton’s engineers and designers had come up with, and the timeframe in which they hoped to get the plant up and running. Sandra was thankful for her grandfather’s tact, but she knew she would have to address the subject back at the motel. At least for now, things were calm.“Please don’t be angry,” Sandra said as they dro
Sandra looked up at him and frowned as she took a drink of the juice, swallowing the pills. She brushed the tears from her cheeks as he drew a deep breath and pulled the curtain aside, sitting on the tub’s edge.“You’ve had a very long few weeks, and everything is finally starting to catch up to you. Plus, the new surge of hormones is making your body an incredibly beautiful battlefield.”“Well, you didn’t run back to England, so I guess that says something in my favor.” “I would never leave you over an argument,” he told her. “I’m in this for the long run.”“But you hate running,” she teased, using the washcloth to wipe the stray tears from her cheeks again.“I’ll run after you anywhere you want me to. I’m not going to be frightened away with a few words spoken in the heat of the moment.”“I really am sorry,” she said again, this time leaning back in the tub. “I don’t like getting angry and I don’t like yelling at people, especially those who are only trying to make me feel good.”“
“If it’s all the same to you, I’d really rather not know the details to your contract with him,” she said softly. “Would you mind if I went to the library? I have some personal things I’d like to pick up from my old office and see how Ray is enjoying his new position.”“I’ll drop you off on the way.”“Will you be long?”“Only about an hour at the most. Once your grandfather has agreed to the contract and the changes I made, then we’ll have to get it notarized. I’ll fax everything to my solicitor and have the money wired into his account by end of business.”“The library notarizes, so you can pick me up there when you’re finished. You can even fax the papers from there if you’d like. We can come back here together and maybe catch a quick nap - or something - before we have to meet Nelson.”“Sounds good,” he said with a half grin as he took a drink of his coffee, his mind thinking of the type of something she had in mind. “I’m just glad your mayor agreed to meet us later. I really want
She smiled through the window to him and waved, then turned and walked in through the glass doors and back into the world she had left behind.Creighton pulled away from the curb. His heart felt much lighter than it had last night. It was amazing how the light of day seemed to make everything right again and gave him hope for a future he was dreading just a few hours before.“I cannot believe you’re married,” Barbara Baker said a short while later as Sandra sat in her old office surrounded by her former co-workers and friends.“Not just married, but happily married,” Sandra said with a wide smile as the other women inspected her wedding rings. “What’s it like?” Kelsey Dale asked, leaning her elbows against the desk and staring at her former boss with dreamy eyes. “Is he really as wonderful as everyone says he is?”“Yes, Creighton is an amazing man. Very handsome, very kind and an incredible lover.” Sandra wiggled her eyebrows as she said the last of her sentence, making the other gi
“He has already held his own press conference this morning, that’s why those reporters were at the restaurant,” Creighton explained. “He’s using all of this as a platform for his re-election campaign.”“Doesn’t surprise me,” she said with a frown as Papa’s phone rang and he began talking to someone on the other line, very briefly.“Cathy said to hurry up,” the older man said, slipping the phone back in his pocket. “She said there has been a reporter following Nelson around all day.”“Good,” Creighton growled softly. “This may be the first time I will be happy to see one.”“I’m coming too,” Sandra said quickly, gathering her satchel from behind the counter and hurrying to where Creighton waited for her by the door, slipping her hand in his.The drive to city hall was short, barely five blocks away, but the tension inside the small car was stifling. Everyone was consumed with their own demons and Sandra found herself actually excited to see the man she used to dread visiting. Creighton
“I will not have you pushing your influence into obtaining the permits needed for this project. It will happen in the appropriate amount of time and I will allow construction to begin, only if and when, everything is ready. I will in no conceivable manner allow my company to become a side show attraction.”“Then this is a real reason for celebration,” Michael said with a smile, patting Creighton on the shoulder. “The people of this town have been preparing for today’s festivities since we learned you were coming back. It would be a shame to disappoint them. Please accept my invitation as my guest. There are a lot of people who would love to shake your hand.”“And what do you gain from all of this?” Creighton asked, turning his gaze to him, his jaw clenching when he finished speaking.“Absolutely nothing,” he said with a shake of his head. “I am a part of this town and I too have been looking forward to your arrival. Your company will benefit the town in many ways, and I support your d
Sandra hung up the phone with a slam, then glanced to her grandparents who were sitting at the kitchen table. She was starting to get angry with all the rejections and dead-end avenues. She called Davies and told him she wanted him to get the plane ready to go to France, only to be told the police had restricted his flying. They were concerned that whomever it was that had killed her husband would try and sabotage the jet.She was getting frustrated and felt like she was being held back. If she didn’t know better, she would think she was being placed under lockdown. She could understand the police’s concern, but she had more men around her then they had at Fort Knox, and she would be willing to take all of them with her if she needed to.“I can’t leave the house, I can’t go to France, I can’t even gather eggs,” she grumbled as she joined the older couple. “What am I supposed to do? I can’t sit here and wait until doomsday to find out what happened to my husband.”“Honey, you’re going
The room was warm as the setting sun shone through the blinds. Two detectives sat on the sofa, watching as the man continued to pace the floor. Trying to keep him calm was growing increasingly harder with each hour.Creighton could only assume the horror his family was going through, not to mention Sandra. They had been having difficulties, but this made all of that seem trivial. He had to call her, he had to contact her somehow and let her know he was alive, but the police were refusing to allow him the chance. They had to keep him concealed for the time being, though it was steadily becoming impossible. The man was acting like a caged animal, anxiously trying to find a means of escape.“How much longer do we have to sit here?” he growled, looking to those gathered around.“We need you to remain patient for a little longer,” a bald-headed man told him. “Monsieur Ashford, we understand what you’re going through…”“Like hell you do,” Creighton snapped. “I have a pregnant wife at home w
“I know she’ll be happy when it’s over,” Emma said, returning to the room, her eyes red from the tears she’d been wiping away. “She can’t let Brandon go to school, and she has to keep the children inside instead of letting them go out to play.”“I’m sure they are going stir crazy,” Cathy said with a frown. “Especially Grace. That little girl is used to having the freedom of the farm to run and play.”“The only good thing is the weather,” William told them. “It’s been really wet, and she doesn’t like getting her dresses dirty.”“Sounds like her aunt,” Andrew said with a soft chuckle.“Maybe we should take this meeting over to my sister’s,” Cathy suggested with a sideways grin.“Let me call Derek and Kristin,” William said, standing and walking to the phone on the wall. “They wanted to know what you found out.”“Just have them meet us at Sandra’s,” Andrew told him. “We can discuss this all there.”“I thought Sabrina and Irena would be here,” Cathy said, looking at Emma who was wrapping
Parker and Harvey held off the reporters for as long as they could alone, then eventually had to call NHT’s security. Within a few short hours, there were enough burly looking men to scare off anyone trying to get near the house. Sandra kept her children inside, though it really wasn’t difficult. The rain had eased by supper, but just like the past several days, it picked up again this morning.Max growled as he laid of the entry. The noise of cameras clicking, and the soft hum of voices mingled among the breezes of the day. She had tried to watch television, but every station was reporting on the accident. Eventually, she had no choice but to surrender and put on Grace’s favorite princess movie. At least it kept them from listening to those who insisted that there was no hope in finding any answers this soon.Sandra drew a deep breath as she wiped the moisture from her forehead. She had decided to keep herself busy and baked two apple pies, along with nearly a hundred sugar cookies.
“No, it’s about assuming you knew what I would want. You did this, claiming it was for us when it was for you. You can’t stand the idea that your little sister has something you never would. It was bad enough when I felt like I was competing with Creighton for your attention, but now I’m watching you compete with Sandra for the mother of the year award.”“Stop comparing me to Sandra!” Cathy screamed. “It’s not my fault she’s perfect. She’s always been everyone’s favorite. I can’t tell you how many boyfriends I’ve dumped after I found out they were using me to get close to her. I didn’t want Creighton, but after he chose her over me, it made me angry. I was competing with her again, and she was too stupid to realize it. He chose that simple, no makeup, no fuss girl over me. She shares his bed, when I’m a better lover then she would ever be. She has his money, his admiration, your parents’ admiration, even my grandparents enjoy spending time with her over me. She even has a perfect body
“Maybe Michelle heard from him,” the boy said hopefully.“I haven’t spoken with her, but I want to call in the morning. She may know something more than the police do.”The two were silent for a long time as they considered their own thoughts, until Sandra realized the tea was gone. She looked to Brandon who looked like he was finally able to fall asleep, then stood and took the cups to the sink.“Come on, son,” she told him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders. “Let’s see if we can get some sleep.”“Mum, can I come sleep with you?” Brandon asked once they reached the second floor of their house.Sandra smiled and hugged the boy, nodding as he looked up to her.“You can sleep on your daddy’s side,” she told him. “Just don’t tell him I let you in our bed. He may get jealous.”Brandon smiled as he walked with her into the bedroom. Sandra helped him between the covers and tucked him in, then left to check on Grace. The house was silent and soft snores of her little girl could be heard
Sandra paced her bedroom trying to stop her mind from racing through the events of the day. Derek had come home after his mother called him, insisting on picking up Brandon from school. Sabrina called to say the reporters were going crazy with the news of the Tornado’s fire and that she and Giovanni would be home as soon as they could get there.Irena spoke with her parents and insisted on calling in a prescription for Sandra’s nerves, though she refused to use it. She needed to stay alert and concentrate in order to determine what was going on. The last thing she needed was to surrender to the effects of a drug.After speaking with Andrew, William informed the rest of the family about Cathy’s surgery, though he wouldn’t go into detail. He assured them he would check into the reports from his end and stay abreast of the investigation. Once Cathy felt like traveling, they would drive out to Yorkshire to be with the family.Nana tried to get Sandra to let her stay overnight, but she was
Sandra opened her eyes and looked around. She was in her bedroom, yet she couldn’t remember laying down. The house was silent and the soft pattering of rain outside reminded her that the dog had made a muddy mess of the entry. Then she remembered her grandfather and William coming over, and slowly began to piece together the last thing she remembered.There had been an accident on the Tornado and three bodies were found. She knew in her heart it wasn’t Creighton. She couldn’t even begin to guess who would have been on their ship, or how it ended up at sea, but she knew her husband wasn’t the one killed. Now all she had to do, was convince the others into believing her.Sandra stepped down the stairs to hear Grace talking to her great-grandfather, the dog running from one room to another as he chased his rope and the smells of food drifting out of the kitchen. She stepped into the living room and saw Papa sitting beside Grace, one of her own books open in front of him as he listened to
Sandra stared at the two men for a long moment as their words began to sink in. When she spoke with her husband earlier that morning, he was still at the hotel. He didn’t mention having plans of returning to the yacht. Why would he go back there when he told her he was packing to come home?Then she thought about the bodies found. One was female. Who was it? Did Creighton lie to her about not being involved with Garcon’s assistant? Had he gone there to meet with her, perhaps a final rendezvous before coming home to his family?“Did you hear what we said?” Papa asked her.“It’s impossible,” she began, her anger taking over her words. Sandra looked down at Grace who was trying to wipe the muddy water from her little dress. She hadn’t understood what her grandparents were saying. All she cared about was her soiled outfit.“Sweetheart, go upstairs and find a clean dress,” Sandra told the little girl. “Put that one in the hamper and warsh your hands. We’ll make lunch when you’ve finished.