The possibility of being pregnant with another man’s child, gave her the strength she needed to push away from her fiancée’s embrace. It was a movement that left them both gasping for air as he clung to the back of a chair for support.“We can’t,” she insisted, her breath escaping her lungs in short pants as she quickly adjusted her clothing.“I’m sorry,” he assured her with a tone that was more aggravated than disappointed. He adjusted the front of his pants over his erection, then looked up into her eyes with an expression that warned her, he was near his pressure point. “I know I promised, but you look so damn good, I couldn’t help it,” he said at last, hoping to soothe her from questioning his motives.“It was my fault,” she told him, sitting down in the chair before she fell over. “I should have stopped you.”“Maybe I’m not the only one who is suffering here,” he teased, taking up the seat across from her. “I think we need to get this wedding over with, as quickly as possible,
Andre reached out and gripped her upper arm hard, causing her to flinch in pain.“Please, Andre, you’re hurting me,” she whimpered.“You can’t have us both, Sabrina,” he argued, as if she hadn’t said anything, his grip tightening as he glared into her blue eyes. “I won’t share you. You’re my fiancée, and I will not let you go that easily. Just remember that, Sweetheart, while you’re playing games with this other guy.” Sabrina stumbled backward when he released his grip abruptly, forcing her to lean against the door frame. She watched as he started to walk away, then turned in the hallway to look at her. Anger shined in his eyes as he locked his gaze with hers again.“There are reasons the past is called past. It helps keep us from repeating our mistakes,” he said, then walked to the elevator and disappeared from sight.With a heavy sigh, she closed the door and locked it, wiping the tears away with her hand as she read the note Andre handed her, for herself. They were the same words
“The conference was so boring I fell asleep twice,” Irena said with a laugh as she and Sabrina sat in front of the fireplace, coffee in hand and a plate of pastries on the table in front of them.“So, that’s the only reason for you being here?” Sabrina asked with a suspicious grin.“Not really. Why?”“I just figured Sandra and Creighton would have sent you to see if I’d changed my mind about Andre.”“No, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they try. Truth is, I haven’t spoken to anyone from home since Dad’s birthday. I’ve been too overwhelmed with school and work to call.”“What other reasons bring you to Paris?” Sabrina asked with a relieved smile. Irena was quiet for several long moments as she continued to snack on the pastry, then glanced up to the eyes that watched her with interest.“This is my last year of school,” she began softly. “Peter and I have been wanting to join a humanitarian group after we graduate. We’d be able to finish our residency while we travel around to impoveris
“That’s just it, I don’t know. I am so damn confused, Irena. I can’t sleep, I’m having a hard time concentrating, and I’m so damn frustrated I don’t know if I should cry, or scream.”“Then tell them both to back off until you make up your mind,” Irena suggested. “Take a few months to decide on your own. Get your shows over with, and once you can breathe again, then choose.”“There’s another potential problem,” Sabrina said, looking down at the éclair in front of her. “Giovanni and I spent the night together on Creighton’s yacht.”“Spent the night, or spent the night?” Irena asked.“We had the best, most incredible sex I can ever remember having. I was happy, and content, and Andre wasn’t even in my thoughts. I just went with my feelings and followed my desires for the first time in my life. The problem now is…” Sabrina’s voice trailed off as she looked up to her sister. She wanted to cry, but she didn’t feel sorrow for her actions, and that only added to the confusion.“I’m not on th
The Ashford men sat at the patio table of the restaurant where they had met for supper, arguing about their favorite football teams, while the girls sat around and listened. It was a typical argument that never seemed to end when the men of the family got together. The night was warmer than it had been in several days, and the sound of crickets outside made for a pleasant ending to an unusually fun day. Sabrina looked at her phone, anxiously waiting for the text she sent Andre to be answered. A part of her hoped he decided not to come after all, while another part wanted him here beside her. Everyone in the family had someone. Derek had Kristin, Andrew had Cathy, then there were Creighton and Sandra, and even Peter managed to make it by dessert. Everyone had someone except her. Guests from New Hope Technology’s Australia plant were already arriving, and the guests from New York would be there in the morning. Those from Paris would come and go at leisure, with only a handful of worke
“I really want to sleep on it,” she told him as he wiped her tears away with the back of his knuckles. “I love you, but I thought I loved Andre too. I have to make certain I still feel the same tomorrow.”“I’ll give you all the time you need,” he told her with a half grin. “Just don’t turn away from me, please? I can’t bear going through that again.”“I won’t, I promise,” she told him, leaning her head against his shoulder again as he wrapped her in his arms.They sat on that bench for a long time, offering and accepting the love and support the other needed, until the air began to cool and Olivia silently snuggled closer to Sabrina’s chest for warmth.“We should put her to bed,” he said softly.“I’ll walk you to your room.” Sabrina stood up and turned to leave when he stopped her, his arms around her waist.“Stay with me tonight?” he asked, brushing a loose strand of hair out of her face.“I can’t,” she whispered. “You know I can’t.”“I promise not to make love to you or even ask. I
Sabrina glanced at the clock next to the bed and sighed. Eight seventeen. That meant Andre was just finishing up his photo shoot and would be back to his flat in an hour, provided he didn’t stop for supper on his way. That would give her enough time for a leisurely soak before she anticipated him calling her.Taking her toiletries to the bathroom with her, she filled the tub with steaming hot water and poured in a generous amount of her favorite scented oil. A thick coating of conditioner on her long hair and a thin layer of green mud on her face and she was ready for a little self-pampering. Maybe it was a good thing her phone was dead, she thought as she sunk into the hot water. She really wanted to talk to her parents before she called Andre, and she didn’t want thoughts of regret or an argument to interfere with the sweet memories of Giovanni’s last kiss.The warmth seemed to help relax every muscle in her neck and shoulders and she sighed contently under the layer of green concre
“Now?” he asked in a surprised, hopeful tone. “I’m not exactly prepared for it.”“I don’t care,” she assured him. “I wouldn’t care if we had twins. I just want you to make love to me. I want it to be like it was before your brother ruined our lives.”For a brief moment, Giovanni forgot they weren’t alone, until Olivia tumbled off the side of the bed and landed on her backside on the floor. Sabrina was on her feet in an instant and hurried to her side, gathering the child in her arms before her father could react. Somewhere inside him, Giovanni felt a twinge of jealousy begin to encompass his heart. He had always been there for his daughter. He was the caregiver, the friend, the protector. Besides Anna, Olivia had never known another woman and he liked it that way. He liked the life they shared, but in a flash, there she was, embraced in the arms of the woman who should have been her mother, hopefully would be very soon, and he found himself confused by the feelings he was having. He