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HER SECRET 23
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2023-03-19 17:43:51
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YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) HER SECRET 24
‘Sometimes I just feel things. Don’t you ever wake up in the morning and know it’s gonna be a good day or a bad day?’‘No. I’m always surprised.’She shook her head. Matt studied his sister’s face. Beneath the forced brightness, her face was laced by dark lines of fatigue. This was the first evening he could remember that she hadn’t gone back to the hospital.‘Don’t take it so lightly. That’s the trouble with you. You see signs and ignore them. The morning of Jerry’s accident, I woke up dreamin’ I answered the phone and it was the hospital callin’ to say he’d been hurt. All day I tried to shake it off, you know, disregard it as nonsense like you’re doin’. Then that evenin’ it really happened. I kept hopin’ I’d wake up again and find I was still dreamin’.’He set a hand on her shoulder. She flashed him a strained smile.‘Ma was right about there bein’ some things in life that control us and we can’t do nothin’ about them. But I keep thinkin’ if I’d believed, made Jerry stay home . . .’
Last Updated : 2023-03-19YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) HER SECRET 25
‘After you left, I never really saw Sierra around town until her baby was several months old. Odd, that Ben’s family was so hot to announce their son’s engagement in the newspaper yet never sent in their grandson’s birth announcement.’‘Maybe you just missed reading the paper one day. Leeann, that boy is not my son. I would never have run off if he were. I never wanted kids, but I’m not that much of a coward that I would have abandoned Sierra and let another man pretend to be my kid’s father.’‘I don’t believe you would have, either. Maybe she just neglected to tell you so you wouldn’t interfere with her marrying Ben. How can you be so sure?’‘Sierra would never have lied to me about that.’‘After all she’s done to you, you trust her so much? Why did she marry Ben so quick? Maybe she used your baby to get Ben to marry her. Some women do things like that.’‘Not Sierra. She was young and beautiful and smart and rich. She didn’t have to trick anyone into marrying her.’‘If you’re so sure
Last Updated : 2023-03-19YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) HER SECRET 26
With her hair at such an awkward length, she hadn’t been able to do much with it. After extensive experiments, she’d shaped a mass of curls at the top, allowing them to frame her face. She couldn’t help remembering how she’d once worn her hair, flowing long and free down her back. Matt had always loved it that way. He used to delight in running his hands through her tresses. But Ben had preferred the more sophisticated look of a shorter haircut. She had decided to let her hair grow out again.She couldn’t help wondering if she hadn’t made a terrible mistake, telling Matt she loved him. But pretending she didn’t was too hard. Let him go if he must, but this time he’d know exactly what he was walking away from.She heard rustling behind the curtain, teachers’ hushed voices, and she knew the young actors were taking their places for the opening scene. By now, she thought she knew every movement, every lineby heart. Turning again, she scanned the back of the auditorium, hoping to catch M
Last Updated : 2023-03-19YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) HER SECRET 27
‘Yeah.’‘I’ll bet they’re kids who didn’t have parts in the play.’Will nodded. ‘I’ve been trying to ignore them like Mom says, but it’s getting tiresome. And when I ignore them, they do it more.’‘Sometimes you’ve got to hold your ground and not walk away.’Will nodded soberly. Matt clasped the boy’s slim shoulder. ‘See you later,’ he said.‘Bye, Matt. Will you be here after the show?’‘Sure.’Walking back through the hallways. Matt pondered Leeann’s charge that Will could be his son. Damn her for planting the suggestion in his mind. As usual, his- sister was over reacting to a series of innocent coincidences. But Matt had to admit, he’d found himself looking at the boy a little harder. Because he’d never considered siring a child, he’d never contemplated what his offspring might be like.In some aspects, Leeann’s notion wasn’t as farfetched as it first sounded. The boy had affected Matt’s demeanor, his walk. But Matt attributed that to the kid’s impressionable age and the fact that
Last Updated : 2023-03-19YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) HER SECRET 28
Dylan pressed it into his hand anyway. ‘Take it just in case. You do know what to do with it, don’t you?’‘Course I do. Just can’t imagine some girl I barely know wantin’ to do it with me.’Dylan laughed. ‘Boy, don’t you know you’ve been blessed with the kind of good looks drives girls mad? Now me. I’ve got to get by on charm and wit, but all you’ve gotta do is wink at ’em. Ma even seen it, that’s why she’d always carryin’ on about you being born with the rising sun and that crap. Daddy hates it that he accidentally gave ya somethin’ better than what he ever had. A couple years from now, you’re going to have your pick of women. I bet you could even have one of those snotty rich bitches from up in the hills rubbin’ all over you.’‘Come on, Dylan. I ain’t plannin’ on spendin’ my whole life chasin’ women who think they’re better than everybody else. Or chasin’ women, period.’Dylan shrugged. ‘Have you ever even kissed a girl?’‘Sure.’‘Just wonderin’. Look, what you do is your business,
Last Updated : 2023-03-19YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) HER SECRET 29
Sam broke into a grin. ‘You’re not holdin’ up here on my account, are you?’‘Don’t get a swelled head over it,’ Matt joshed. ‘I’ve got some other business to take care of. And it’s not like I’m staying forever.’‘You could, you know. This is your home.’‘Sam, about your will . . .’‘I’m not changin’ it. And I’m not goin’ to tolerate any more arguin’. Don’t you think it’s about time you got a break? You deserve your own hunk of land. If you wanna hang around, that’s one thing, but don’t spend your time hasslin’ me about my will.’‘I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I know what you’re trying to do.’‘Well, ya do belong here. And don’t be so sure you can read my mind. Maybe I’m just doin’ this to ease my conscience about all the trouble I caused you and your ma. I don’t have any inclination to squabble about it.’Matt chuckled. ‘Sorry. Sam, you’re the only person besides my ma who’s ever done anything for me. I guess I really don’t know what I should do.’‘Humph. Just say thanks and be do
Last Updated : 2023-03-19YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) HER SECRET 30
‘Sierra, you have told me everything about what happened, about why you married Ben, haven’t you?’‘What else do you want to know?’Matt felt her holding her breath, tensing in his arms.‘Whatever you want to tell me,’ he said, skating his fingers across her shoulder.Sierra was sure Matt must be close to guessing the truth. But she couldn’t bring herself to confess now and ruin everything. She kept feeling time was running out for them as it was.She buried her damp face in his chest. ‘No,’ she lied. ‘There’s nothing else.’Matt suspected she was holding something back. Lord, but he wanted to trust her. He told himself his funny feelings stemmed from his own inability to trust anyone.‘I’m glad we came out here,’ he said.She rolled over on her back. ‘God, I love you.’His hand grazed her bare breast. ‘I plan to spend the rest of the weekend erasing any doubts you might have as to how I feel about you. You might be begging to go home soon.’Smiling through her tears, she slipped her
Last Updated : 2023-03-19YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) HER SECRET 31
She wished Matt were here so she’d at least have a comforting hand to hold on to. She had to tell him she didn’t blame him for confronting her father. This was her fault. She should have told him Matt was back.As the ambulance had raced away. Matt had merely told her to go ahead and be careful not to drive so fast she killed herself, assuring her he’d see about Will.Amidst all the commotion, she’d nearly forgotten about her son. She told herself he should have been her first concern. He’d come rushing downstairs at the noise, and seeing his grandfather lying there on the floor must have conjured up terrible images about Ben for him. What would she have done if Matt hadn’t been there? But then, if he hadn’t . . .No, she couldn’t blame him for this. He didn’t have to hide from her father or anyone else. Her father had over-reacted, brought this upon himself. She still stung from his calling her a whore. Matt was the only real man she’d ever slept with. The only man she’d ever slept w
Last Updated : 2023-03-19
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YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 23
‘G’day Kerrien, my darling girl, had a nice time?’ She was nodding and smiling encouragingly but Kerrien could say nothing. ‘Lovely day, thank you. It’s good of you to feed me again,’ she added. “Come on in. Make yourself at home,” she urged. ‘Must use the bathroom, if I may,’ Kerrien asked. Brett shoved his mother out of the room and Kerrien could hear the whispered voices rising and falling. ‘For heaven’s sake boy, do I get the champagne out or not?'*I don’t know Mum, she hasn’t given me an answer yet.” Kerrien listened in growing discomfort. She was beginning to feel coerced, trapped. If she said yes, it was going to be for all the wrong reasons. If she said no, she might just be acting foolishly out of some misplaced sense of romanticism. She went slowly back to the family room, where Brett was waiting for her. ‘Do I get my answer yet?’ he asked. The blue eyes were shuttered and she could read nothing from them. “Yes Brett, yes I will marry you.’ She wondered why she didn
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 22
Sleep was impossible and Kerrien paced her room for much of the night. Ashton was evidently going through some personal crisis which seemed to exclude both herself and the children. What was he talking about with her and Brett? News? Excited? He could only think that they were getting engaged. She wondered where he had got that idea. It was the very last thing she would have wanted him to think, when all the time she desperately wanted jum. She also wished that his future with Martine was less certain. Double wedding indeed! Ashton said little the next morning before rushing off to work. She caught him staring at her a couple of times, as if looking for some clue in her face. If he believed something special had recently happened to her, he did not voice his thoughts. ‘I won’t be home for lunch and don’t wait dinner for me tonight. I may be out. Have you decided when you’re going out at the weekend?’ he asked. ‘Saturday, if that’s OK,’ she replied. ‘I'll organize things before I go
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 21
‘I haven’t felt this way about anyone before,’ Brett said. She drew a quick gulp of air and her reeling senses came back to earth. ‘And you’ve had plenty to choose from, I suppose.’ The harsh words hit him like a slap across the face. “I’ve never tried to pretend anything different,” he defended, a hurt expression in his eyes. “Look, you may be innocent or try to give the impression of being innocent but I know a true response when I feel it. Yes, OK, call it experience. Tell me, do you intend going through your entire life celibate and end up a sour spinster?’ ‘I think I'd better go,’ she said, bristling at his accusation. ‘Kerrien, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it. I want you Kerrien, on whatever terms you insist on making. Think about it. I can offer you everything you’ve always wanted.’ His face looked almost child-like in its pleading, like Ben or Jodie begging for just a few minutes longer, before going to bed. She almost smiled at the thought. They may want to stay up longer, Br
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 20
‘I thought you had something vital to tell me,’ Ashton said at lunch. ‘Something that couldn’t wait a moment longer.’ ‘Perhaps I’ve got things in perspective a little better,’ Kerrien replied, twisting her fingers together in her anxiety. ‘What I have to talk about is important but something has come up that I must deal with and quickly. I have to see Brett and the sooner the better.’ He stared at her, peering into her eyes as if he could read something in them, as if he could somehow see into her mind to know what she was thinking. She was an enigma to him. One minute bursting with some news she needed to discuss urgently with him and the next, planning an evening out with her boy-friend. He had no doubt as to the reason for her sudden need to meet Brett. She had to give him an answer to the vital question and having made her decision, she obviously couldn’t wait to tell him. ‘Look, I know it isn’t really my evening off but things have been hectic lately and I am still owed some t
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 19
Kerrien sipped a cup of hot chocolate in the cafeteria, her hands wrapped round the comforting mug. She hoped that Kate and her friend didn’t have the same idea. Kerrien had no prejudices about people’s right to choose their sexual partners but somehow, Kate’s whole attitude to life suddenly seemed to have become clearer. All these nasty, sometimes spiteful . remarks were probably made because Kate didn’t know how to cope with the cards that life had dealt her. She did genuinely seem fond of the children but perhaps felt that Ashton would be less than understanding if he knew that his sister loved another woman. It took some getting used to but Kerrien was convinced that she was not mistaken. The way the two women had looked at and spoken to each other showed quite clearly that they shared a deep relationship. It may also explain why Kate was so resentful of Kerrien. Her easy going manner with people was something of a contrast with Kate’s own more restrained nature. She wondered if
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 18
“So what do you say Kerrien? Will you stay with us, for as long as you can?’ His deep, soft eyes were pleading with her. She felt again that urge to wrap her arms round him and hug him better but she knew that any physical contact with him would spell disaster to her own strength of purpose. ‘Think of the children,’ he added, knowing this was his trurmp card. She genuinely loved them and would never let them suffer. Besides, it would mean that she would still be around in his life and that meant a great deal more than he cared to admit. ‘I need to think about it. I’ll stay for a while, certainly. At least until you have made whatever arrangements you plan to make. Don’t worry.’ Her heart was near breaking as she spoke. She desperately wanted to be gone once Martine was living here. She couldn’t bear to see the other woman doing all the things she wanted to be doing, having the exclusive love of the wonderful man she herself loved so much. If he should ever find out how she felt, she
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 17
Once Ashton had left for work, Kerrien decided that she simply couldn’t face another evening staying at home. She dialled Brett’s number and swallowing her stubborn pride, asked if he was free that evening. She was taking a slight risk that she wouldn’t have to babysit but as she hadn’t taken any time off for ages, it was not unreasonable to expect a free evening. His response was very positive. If he had made other plans, it was not obvious. He suggested a movie and then a meal out. It sounded exactly what she needed to take her mind off things here. When Kate eventually turned up, sometime after eleven, Kerrien had started the lunch preparations. She made some coffee for them both. Kate seemed edgy and moody. Things were evidently not going as well as she would have liked. But, she obviously controlled her wandering thoughts and agreed to mind the children for the evening, if Ashton was out. The woman seemed subdued and uncommunicative, so Kerrien left her alone and went to play wi
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 16
The next few days were difficult. Kate bad only one topic of conversation — the wedding — and seemed totally unaware of the discomfort of those around her. The children were silent and withdrawn, reminiscent of the time when Kerrien had first arrived in Australia. Kerrien herself was thoroughly sick of hearing about the fabulous designer wedding dress Martine was planning, and whether Ben should be dressed in green or cream velvet. Either was equally revolting, or so Kerrien thought and she instinctively knew that Ben would agree! 'I think you should start looking around for another job,” Kate suggested brightly one morning. 'I see. Your idea or Ashton’s?’ Kerrien asked. ‘It must be obvious even to you that this situation can’t go on. Once they’re married, I expect they will be starting a new family and Martine is sure to want someone of her own choice, to look after the new baby as well as Ashton’s two. Besides, Ben will be at school and you surely wouldn’t want to be hanging arou
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 15
It was nearly lunch-time when Kerrien returned from her trip to drop Brett home. A quick hallo to Margaret and a coffee before she had left, made her later than she intended. She’d then taken a couple of wrong turnings, her mind pre-occupied. The journey took longer and longer, it seemed. There was strange feeling of unreality about everything, as if she was in the middle some sort of dream that would end when she awoke. The house was quiet and Ashton’s car was missing from its usual place. He must have gone to work, even though she’d thought he wasn’t on duty this weekend. Perhaps he had gone out — to be with his fiancée she thought miserably. She had to keep experimenting with the words, so that she would get used to it. How could he want to marry someone who was so negative towards those two lovely children? It was obvious to anyone with half a mind, that Martine couldn’t care less about them. It was equally clear that the children also felt the same way about their father’s fiancé
