“I just don’t understand why this had to happen to Grady,” Jade sobbed
as Diane hugged her trying to calm her friend’s tears as it seemed that
Jade couldn’t pull herself out of the dark place she’d buried herself
in from the moment she’d caught word of Grady’s condition. Even
now as night turned into morning, she felt more guilty and miserable
than ever as she silently prayed that the man she loved would have the
strength to make it through the day--to come back to her again as she
wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around him and hold onto him
forever.
“He’s going to pull through this honey,” Diane wiped at Jade’s tear
stained cheeks, “you have to believe that.”
“How can I when I feel as if this is all happening because of me?
Because of what I’ve done?” Jade sobbed harder than before unable to
control the misery that engulfed her, “If only I’d given Cameron what
he wanted then maybe just maybe…”
“No,” Diane cut her off abruptly, “Cameron is a sick bastard and you
did the right thing in running away. If you’d let that creep hurt
you anymore than he already has, then you’d be hating yourself far
worse than you are right now.”
“But Grady would be okay,” Jade argued with her, “If I had given
Cameron what he wanted, then Grady wouldn’t be in there fighting for
his life and on death’s doorstep. If I’d only…”
“Jade, you did the right thing. What Cameron tried to do to you
was sick and horrible and he should be the one in jail for his
actions,” Diane insisted firmly as she saw the guilt eating away at
Jade, “Grady wouldn’t have wanted you to give yourself to Cameron and
he’d be proud of you for not letting that man and his madness rule your
life.”
“But if Grady dies…” Jade insisted.
“Jade, you have to hold out the hope that he’ll pull through
this. Grady’s a stubborn, impossible man and you’ve said it
yourself that he’s got more fire in him than anyone you’ve ever met in
your life. He’s got this amazing resolve when he’s got his mind
set on something and that’s part of what you love about him,” Diane
reminded her as he pushed Jade’s dark hair from her features.
“Even so, this is different. This isn’t a situation that he can
control. I mean before that was so trivial compared to the battle
that he has ahead of him. He might not be able to come back to me
and then if I lose him…” she trailed off overcome with the horrible
sinking feeling of what might be in a world without Grady.
“You can’t think like that Jade. It’s self defeating and it’s
only going to bring you down to a place that you won’t be able to pull
yourself out of. Grady loves you and you love him and that love
is going to be the one thing he’s holding onto in that operating
room. He’s not about to give up on you after all you’ve been
through. You fought like hell to get him to notice you and once
he did, he was hooked.”
“Diane…” Jade threw her a look.
“Trust me on this girlfriend. Grady Denton knows how good he has
it with you and he’s not going to let something like a life or death
situation keep him from being with you,” Diane tried to encourage her,
“despite the ups and downs you two have had, you have something real
and I know he’s going to keep pushing to come back to you.”
“I wish I had your confidence Diane, but things just feel so bleak,”
Jade sniffled.
“Even if it seems that way love has a strength that we tend to
undervalue most of the time because we’re not really seeing it for what
it truly is, but it’s the strongest bond in the world. If you
believe in that power that love can hold, then anything is possible
Jade. Your love can be the thing that keeps Grady with you.”
“Sometimes love isn’t enough Diane. We both know that…” Jade
argued unable to believe that something good could happen from the
tragedy that had fallen upon the man she loved.
“Jade, honey you can’t stop believing that fate will give you a good
hand. I just know in my heart that Grady’s going to wake up and
want you there to hold him--to tell him how much you love him and when
that moment arrives, I’ll be right there reminding you I told you so.”
“I so hope you’re right, but after everything that’s gone so very wrong
in my life, I’m just not sure that’s an option anymore Diane,” Jade
sighed heavily unable to find the courage to believe the best would
happen as she looked up to see Doctor Raines standing before her,
entering the waiting room area.
“Doctor, how is my brother,” Russell questioned rushing over to the
woman before them as Jade too found herself drawn up from her chair her
breath caught in the back of her throat as she feared for the worst.
“He’s in recovery as we speak,” Elizabeth explained as her tired
features seemed strained as if she was holding something back.
“But?” Jade questioned impatiently, “Why do I sense a but coming on?”
“We were able to stabilize him and get his heart rate going again, but
given how long he was under, there’s no telling what will happen when
he wakes up. There’s still a strong possibility of brain damage,
but we won’t know more until he wakes up,” Elizabeth continued as Jade
felt a whimper rise in the back of her throat.
“Presuming he wakes up that is,” Jade blurted out doubtful for what may
be as she thought of the menacing expression Cameron had in his eyes
when she’d pushed him away.
“I’ve done everything that I could do, but it’s in God’s hands now,”
Elizabeth confessed with a sigh as she turned her attention to Russ
again, “I’ll let you know if there are any updates.”
“Thank you Doctor,” Russell nodded accordingly holding onto Avery as
Jade stood frozen in the moment, unable to think of anything other than
the image of Grady that her mind had painted upon the doctor’s words.
“Jade,” Seth stepped forward reaching out to his sister as she stepped
away from him.
“No, please,” she choked up on emotion unable to muster up the courage
to keep up the strong front as she looked between her group of friends,
“I just…I need some air,” she finished racing out of the waiting room
down the hallway as Diane gave the group a quick look.
“I’ll go check on her,” Diane promised leaving the rest of the group to
their prayers that somehow Grady would pull through the disaster that
had come upon him.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Brant stepped into the Ashford dining room looking around the well lit
area realizing that while the bright and sunny morning held an air of
promise and the right kind of atmosphere for a productive day, it
seemed that there wasn’t another face to be found at the dining room
table. Sure the Ashford family wasn’t exactly traditional by any
means, but usually he’d found Ken reading a paper or Blake shuffling
around with the latest drama that had surrounded her life. Today,
however, things were unusually quiet and that left a rather unsettling
feeling inside of Brant as he opted to take a run to the kitchen in the
hopes of catching his brother or sister before they left for the
morning. However as Brant entered the kitchen, it too was empty.
“Hmm, well I guess I’m the only one with too much free time on his
hands,” Brant grumbled to himself hearing the faint sounds of Peanut’s
shuffling on the floor from behind him as he spun around to see Annie
coming in with Peanut after their morning walk. Smiling he
stepped toward Annie greeting her brightly, “Good morning Annie.”
“Good morning Brant,” she smiled brightly greeting him in response with
a small wave, “I’m surprised to see you still around here.”
“Is it really that late,” he gave her a strange look, “as I thought I
was getting an early start on the morning.”
“Hmm, well I suppose it’s not late at all, it’s just that with your
brother getting such a hurried start, well it made the day seem like it
started much earlier than normal, yet my body hasn’t quite adjusted,”
she confessed taking Peanut off of her leash before the small dog raced
over to her water bowl to take a much anticipated drink after her
morning walk.
“So what kind of trouble has Ken gotten himself into this morning,”
Brant questioned casually making his way over to the fresh bagels that
were awaiting his attention on the kitchen countertop.
“He’s actually going out of town for a few days,” Annie sighed in
confession as she brought her fingers up into her dark hair, “It was
really a surprise that he decided to up and leave so quickly, but given
the nature of the accident…”
“What accident,” Brant spun around to face her, worry evident in his
features as he clenched his bagel tighter, “What’s happened to Ken?”
“Oh Ken’s fine,” Annie began apologetically realizing that she’d
sparked the wrong response in Brant, “but poor Caitlin, well as if that
girl doesn’t have enough to deal with in having been released from the
hospital only to have something like this hit her family. It just
isn’t right.”
“Caitlin huh?” Brant questioned in a bored tone clearly disinterested
before he thought twice of it and leaned up against the counter eyeing
Annie with a newfound interest, “Okay, I’ll bite. What’s going on
with Caitlin?”
“Why it’s her father--the poor man was injured in a work related
accident. Something about a construction site he was visiting and
there being some kind of commotion,” Annie explained briefly, “Ken said
that there wasn’t any severe damage after the accident, but it was
enough to scare the life out of poor Caitlin and she and Ken decided to
go out west for a while to check up on her father’s condition.
The five of them came over earlier while Ken made arrangements for the
trip…”
“Five of them?” Brant arched a curious brow.
“That’s right,” Annie nodded quickly, “Ken, Caitlin, her poor, poor
mother, her brother and his lady friend, which reminds me it was a good
thing that Blake was over at the hospital while they were here or else
she might’ve been truly upset about seeing him with his latest
companion.”
“Blake’s at the hospital,” Brant’s jaw dropped in horror, “Annie,
please don’t tell me something’s happened to her.”
“No, not to her, but a friend of hers is going through some hard times
right now, so she and Seth went over to try to help out,” Annie tried
to assure him realizing that she’d given Brant quite a scare already in
their brief conversation.
“Why is it that I know nothing about this family these days,” Brant
grumbled in response wondering how it was he was so out of touch with
the world around him.
“Perhaps it’s because you’ve been making yourself scarce,” Annie
suggested stepping in towards him, “or perhaps it’s because it’s the
first time in a long time that you’ve actually taken any real interest
in it.”
“Ouch, that hurt,” Brant frowned bringing his hand up over his chest in
mock offense, “Do you really think so little of me Annie?”
“Of course I don’t,” she offered up in an apologetic tone, “but what I
was merely trying to convey in my message is that you’ve always been
surrounded by so very much drama that you’ve been far too busy to pick
up on the smaller things around here. However, lately you’ve been
more of a homebody, yet you’ve kept your distance, which worries me
Brant.”
“Don’t let it worry you Annie,” he urged throwing out a soft smile, “as
it’s not something else you should stress over.”
“How can I not be concerned when you aren’t being yourself,” Annie
reached out to touch his arm gently, “Brant, I want to see you happy.”
“I’m working on that,” Brant promised with another half smile, “and hey
weren’t you always the one that was telling me that I was spending far
too much time chasing around the wrong women when I needed something a
bit more worthwhile to devote my attentions to.”
“When I said that to you, I didn’t mean that you should cut yourself
off from the world around you and those who love you Brant,” Annie’s
eyes flashed with worry, “as I’d hate to see you bury yourself so
deeply on the inside that you can’t share all the wonderful things you
hold inside from those who are waiting for that opportunity to see you
as you truly are.”
“Eventually they’ll see what they need to see,” Brant offered up a
quick kiss on her cheek before winking down at her, “besides, I figure
I’m not in a hurry to get out there on the market again with the whole
dating chaos since there aren’t any women out there as special as you
are Annie.”
“Oh see now there’s the Brant I know and love,” Annie swatted at his
chest in a playful fashion, “and one day you’re going to find a woman
who can’t wait to eat all of you up.”
“Well actually, if eating me up is what you’re really concerned about,
then I can assure you that plenty of women have already…” Brant began
proudly as Annie reached out to place her hand over his mouth to
silence him.
“I think it’s far too much information for me dear as I’m not as young
as I used to be,” she couldn’t help but laugh as Brant reached for her
hand offering up a gentlemanly kiss upon the top of her hand.
“Even so, you’re as beautiful as ever,” he confessed smoothly.
“And you’re such a flatterer,” she shook her head at her, “and that’s
bound to get you into some kind of trouble soon enough.”
“Isn’t that what you’re hoping for,” he winked again.
“I’m almost sorry I started this conversation with you,” she couldn’t
help but laugh in response.
“Yeah, well hey, before you know it, the women will come flocking in to
see me once again,” he boasted hearing the doorbell ringing as his face
lit up with a sly grin, “See, here they come a calling.”
“In that case, I think Peanut and I are going to head on out to the
gardens for a while,” she threw out one last wave leaving him to the
latest arrival at the mansion as Brant let out a hearty laugh enjoying
his brief conversation with Annie.
Whistling a tune, he made his way to the door realizing that perhaps
Annie was right. Maybe it was time for him to get back in the
swing of things and with Avery so very close, maybe just maybe he could
find that way in that he’d been seeking out for quite some time.
Sure, he still had a way to go, but there wouldn’t be a problem in
turning up the heat a little bit to remind Avery of just how amazing he
could truly be, he reasoned opening up the front door to see Susan
standing before him looking as irate as ever as she pushed her way into
the mansion.
“It took you long enough,” she scowled up at him tapping her foot on
the flooring impatiently as her dark eyes continued to launch their
penetrating glare.
“Well hello to you too Susan,” Brant swung the door to a close breezing
past her as he headed back towards the kitchen area to return to his
bagel he’d left behind in the jaunt from the kitchen.
“Where do you think you’re going,” Susan frowned chasing after him, “We
have some serious problems here.”
“Even so, you know it’s best to work through them over breakfast as
things seldom get done over an empty stomach,” Brant glanced back at
her casually, “can I get you a bagel or something to drink?”
“Just like a man to think with his stomach instead of the small cluster
of brains that God gave him,” she rolled her eyes as her frown
deepened, “Do you have any idea what I’m up against this morning?”
“It’s not really that hard of a choice to make Susan,” Brant blew her
words off, “would you like orange or apple juice? If you can’t
make the choice, then I can do it for you if you’d like.”
“I’m not talking about the damned juice. I’m talking about the
situation we have going on with Ken,” she glowered finding her fingers
balling up at her sides in tight fists, “I stopped by the hospital and
saw that twit was released so then I called Ken’s office to get into
contact with him today and his secretary informed me that he’s out of
town on personal business.”
“That’s right,” Brant nodded in confession, “he is.”
“And?” she questioned impatiently, her heels clicking harder on the
floor beneath her.
“And what,” he shrugged his shoulders innocently.
“And this is where you tell me where he’s at so that you and I can find
a way to make sure that he and his precious Saint Caitlin don’t find a
way to strengthen this ridiculous thing they have going with one
another,” Susan continued her voice full of a determined sneer.
“Fearing the competition now?” he arched a curious brow, “And here I
thought you were quite confident about your sexual prowess where Ken
was concerned.”
“I am confident, but I just don’t want that twit using every sob story
imaginable to appeal to Ken’s good guy side,” Susan rolled her eyes as
she folded her arms in front of her chest, “While I realize that’s a
tactic some women use, I find it to be terrible overrated.”
“And yet you feel threatened by it,” Brant noted opening the door to
the refrigerator and pulling out the cream cheese for his bagel,
“Interesting.”
“What’s interesting is that you keep pushing me off when I want answers
Brant…although I wouldn’t quite call it interesting. I’d more so
label it as irritating,” she marched up behind him ready to lash out at
him as he knelt before the refrigerator with the door open, but as she
grew close to him he stood upright and spun around to face her with an
exaggerated movement.
“Irritating or not, give me one good reason why I should tell you
anything,” Brant challenged as he stared her down feeling her anger
burning beside him.
“Because we’re partners Brant,” she reminded him with a huff.
“Ah yes, that’s an interesting word you’ve used Susan because partners
generally implies an equal working relationship and up until this point
I think our association for our cause has been anything but equal,” he
stated plainly pushing his way past her as he stepped in over towards
the counter once again.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean,” she followed after him, “We
both want the same thing where Ken is concerned.”
“True, but I also wanted another thing in our partnership Susan and
thus far you haven’t made an inch worth of effort in helping me obtain
what I want,” Brant reminded her with a scowl, “so in that sense, I’d
say that we are anything, but partners.”
“Oh please,” she rolled her eyes, “I’ve been doing a lot where Ken is
concerned…”
“I’m not talking about Ken. I’m speaking about Avery,” he cast a
sharp glance in her general direction, “You haven’t helped me make any
steps closer to what I’ve wanted from her and that was part of the
arrangement.”
“Can I help it if Russ keeps an eye on her like a hawk,” she groaned
shaking her head at him, “and besides the bitch is already wrapped up
in a world of trouble on her own that won’t let us penetrate her little
happily ever after.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?” Brant questioned with obvious
curiosity.
“If you want me to tell you, then you tell me where Ken’s gone off to
and we’ll call ourselves even,” Susan decided firmly standing her
ground as Brant moved in towards her.
“Don’t push me Susan because I’m not in the mood to be toyed with,” he
warned his tone darkening with the moment as his dark eyes penetrated
hers.
“Neither am I which is why I’ll tell you what I know when you tell me
what it is I want to hear,” she replied stubbornly as she took a step
in towards him.
“No, you’ll tell me what I want to know now,” he ordered watching the
twisted smile spread over her viscous features as her lips curled in
response.
“No,” she spat out watching his reactions carefully as Brant stood nose
to nose with her in a long, intensified moment of silence between
them. They continued to eye one another with malicious intent
until finally Brant broke the silence.
“Fine, then to hell with you,” Brant pushed her aside making his way
over to the kitchen table, “See if I lift a finger to help you with
Ken.”
“Fine, then you’re screwed where Avery’s concerned as you know you need
me to get what you want,” Susan challenged as Brant sat down in one of
the empty chairs.
“Not that badly I don’t,” Brant stated casually biting into his bagel
as he didn’t even bother with looking in her direction.
Susan frowned wanting to ring his neck as she watched him chewing on
his bagel. She glared at him as he took each carefully timed bite
of the food he’d prepared for himself. While she hated to admit
it, what she had was nothing compared to what he could do for her and
for the moment, she knew what she had to do.
“Fine,” Susan blurted out in defeat making her way over to the table to
take a seat across from him, “I’ll tell you what you want to know, if
and only if you promise you’ll clue me in on where Ken is.”
“It’s a deal,” Brant’s eyes snapped up to meet hers as he took another
nibble of his bagel, “but only under one condition.”
“What’s that,” Susan frowned already hating that she’d pulled herself
into a partnership of any sorts with Brant.
“You do me one favor first--one that will certainly raise a few
eyebrows around town,” Brant explained watching her features scrunch up
with the moment as he could sense her heavy displeasure in being at his
mercy.
“Why do I have the distinct feeling that I’m going to loathe whatever
it is you have in mind,” she grumbled back at him grudgingly resigning
herself to what he had brewing behind his mischievous brown eyes.
“Oh come on, you might find you enjoy this more than you think,” Brant
tried to assure her ready to unveil his latest plan to capture Avery’s
interest once again.
“Somehow I seriously doubt that,” Susan muttered under her breath
hoping that whatever Brant required of her that somehow it would lead
her one step closer to getting everything she wanted with Ken as
soon--very soon he would be hers all over again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tension mounted up over the back of Heather’s neck and shoulders as she
spent most of the morning pacing around her bedroom awaiting Cameron’s
return. Nightfall had come and gone leaving way for the morning
to take it’s first breath of life and Heather found herself far more
wired than ever as she reflected upon the previous day’s turn of
events. As if running into Brant wasn’t bad enough, her evening
guest had just about sealed the day as having been one of the worst
she’d experienced in as long as she could remember. Sure, she was
certain she could deal with almost anything, but last night had thrown
her for a loop--one that she could certainly go without.
“Don’t think about it Heather,” she muttered under her breath not
wanting to let the woman who’d paid her a very unwelcome visit get
under her skin. Still there was no avoiding the way that the
woman’s arrival had shaken her world up in far more ways than she’d
thought possible. Clearly there was enough pressure with Douglas
Mahoney breathing down Heather’s neck, but with the woman in town, well
if those two ever crossed paths…
“Oh Heather what are you worrying about,” she thought aloud as she cast
a brief look in the mirror before her, noting how her lack of sleep had
left her far too tired looking for her liking, “No one is going to ever
know about her. She’s not going to do those horrible things
you’re afraid of. You’ll just get rid of her.” And get rid
of her she would, Heather vowed fingering a strand of her blonde hair
as she tried not to worry herself with things that could be
fixed.
Still as Heather had spent the rest of her night alone after her
guest’s exit, she couldn’t help but wish that Cameron had been there to
share the rest of the night with her. She needed a distraction
and maybe a night with her husband could’ve provided that--that was if
he’d bothered to return to their estate. She’d called his office
a few times, but there hadn’t been anything but the service there to
take her message. Now as Heather paced around her room she wished
that Cameron would just come walking through the front door doing
something to alleviate the intense bundle of nerves she’d become in her
wondering where he‘d been.
“Cameron,” she hissed, digging her perfectly sculpted nails into her
sides when the sound of the roaring engine of his sports car filled her
ears. Not bothering to look out the window as she raced out of
her bedroom, Heather made her way down the long, winding staircase
ready to meet Cameron head on as she thought to the long hours she’d
spent wondering where in the world her husband could be while she was
dealing with the stresses that had come her way in his absence.
However, as Heather thought to her eager approach, she slowed herself
down to a slow, structured pace as she reached for one of her fashion
magazines hoping to come off as being casual as he stepped through the
front doors. Seating herself down on the sofa in one of the front
sitting rooms, she spread herself out in a leisurely fashion in the
hopes of making it appear that she’d been perched there for a while
absorbed in the latest issue of Vogue that had graced her doorstep
while taking in a slow breath. She let out a sigh hoping to come
off as appearing bored and disinterested as Cameron’s heady footsteps
made their way down the hallway.
“Cameron,” she lifted her nose out from behind the magazine she’d
haphazardly thrown open as she caught a glimpse of him rushing beyond
her, clearly in a world of his own at the moment, “there you are.”
“Heather,” he spoke her name in a bit of a winded tone, appearing
rather rushed and distracted as he forced himself to stop and pay her a
brief visit, “how are you?”
“I’m alright I suppose,” she tossed the magazine aside onto the leather
sofa while sliding her legs down to the ground again in an obvious
seductive fashion as her lacy black nightgown slid up over her body’s
contours with just enough devilish intent to raise the interest in any
man. However on this morning, Cameron was ready to do anything,
but take the bait as his eyes drifted out into the hall again with
obvious distraction. “Is something wrong Cameron?”
“No, of course not,” he answered in a shifty tone, unable to stay
focused as his eyes fell upon her once again, “Need something?”
“Well, I was kind of hoping that perhaps we could discuss some of these
figures I’ve put together for the agency since you’re the one putting
forth the financial backing for the business,” Heather explained
flashing him a sexy smile as she tossed her hair back behind her
shoulders. Tentatively, she slid her hand out over the sofa
patting it gingerly before easing her lips into a subtle, inviting
curl, “Care to join me?”
“Actually, why don’t we get into that later as I have a few things to
attend to this morning,” Cameron began dismissively before pondering it
for another moment longer.
“Well I suppose it could wait, but we’ve kind of put it off a while
already and you’d mentioned wanting to get a head start on our
business,” Heather pouted batting her eyelashes at him once again.
“Heather, I really don’t…” he stopped himself letting out a heavy sigh,
“On second thought I’ve got a better idea.”
“I knew that you’d see it my way,” Heather rubbed the smooth texture of
the sofa sliding her fingers over it’s contours as she waited for her
husband to join her.
“How about you just work up the figures and I’ll approve whatever it is
that you think you need?” Cameron suggested not bothering to take a
step in towards her as his thoughts were straying to another situation
at hand.
“I…I suppose that would work, but Cameron,” she lowered her voice to a
tiny whimper of longing, “I missed you last night.”
“Look Heather I was busy with my…” he started seeing the way in which
she allowed her robe to fall off her shoulders onto the sofa behind her
as she stood upright making a confident stride towards him. He
could see the expression on her face that clearly meant trouble was on
her mind as she licked her lips allowing one of the straps on her sexy
nightgown to drop down her shoulder with her movements.
“It was a very cold night last night all here by my lonesome,” Heather
dropped her head enough to offer up the look of a wounded woman as she
stepped in before him, letting him see just how much his absence had
effected her, “I was really hoping that you’d come back home and warm
me up a bit.”
“I would’ve, but I…” Cameron began as she pressed her index finger to
his lips to silence his words of explanation.
“That’s not important right now, but what is, is that you’re home,” she
whispered sliding her palms in over his chest before pushing his jacket
off of his body, easing it down over his arms before she took a step
back her blue-green eyes penetrating his, “as all that really is
important is that you’re home now.”
“Heather I…” Cameron felt his throat go dry as she leaned into him once
again, her lips hovering in over his just long enough for the warmth of
her to capture another fraction of his attention as she ran her tongue
along his bottom lip tracing the soft, sensitive flesh for a lingering
moment before drawing back. She smiled at him seductively before
reaching for the straps on her gown and teasing them off of her body as
she shimmied out of her nightgown revealing temptation in it’s purest
form for her husband in the hopes of capturing his attention.
“I think it’s time you come over here and savor the morning with your
wife,” Heather threw out boldly shaking her head as her blonde hair
cascaded around her face emphasizing the vision of beauty Cameron had
standing before him. His eyes widened with obvious interest as
she stepped backward, sliding down over the sofa and patting the
cushion once again as her grin expanded, “so what do you say?”
“Heather I just think that…” Cameron’s voice came out in a muted raspy
tone as she traced her index finger over her breastbone drawing
attention to her other finer attributes before letting out a slow,
anticipatory moan.
“Don’t think Cameron. Just come over here and show me how you’re
feeling at a time like this,” she opened her arms, stretching them out
to him in invitation as Cameron seemed all the more tempted to sink
into the desire she’d laid out before him. She watched as he took
one step closer to her--then another, his eyes drinking up every inch
of her as Heather found herself silently thinking of the victory she’d
scored with her husband as he hovered in over her, ready to take his
first taste of temptation as she closed her eyes ready to indulge the
perks of being Mrs. Cameron Stone, but as she felt his lips just above
hers, the obtrusive sound of his cell phone brought her back to the
same cold reality she’d been stuck in before.
“I’m sorry Heather,” Cameron apologized from across the room as he bent
over to pick up her nightgown tossing it over to her before he headed
to the room’s archway once again, “this can’t wait.”
“But your wife can, huh,” she grumbled folding her arms in front of her
chest as she wondered what was so damned important that it kept Cameron
from succumbing to her charms. Whatever it was, she was about to
find out as this blowing her off wasn’t about to be tolerated.
That much she was certain of.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“So how are you feeling this morning Mum,” Guy questioned taking a seat
beside his mother as he set down the bag of goodies he’d brought over
for her from the pastry shop, “Better I hope?”
“Oh I’m surviving,” she sighed heavily, “as the doctors keep telling me
that I’ll be able to get back into the swing of things soon enough, but
you never can tell it seems with the way things tend to go.”
“All I know is that I want you to start feeling better soon,” he
replied uneasily, “as I hated seeing you in such a horrible condition
and with your hurting yourself like you did with that ankle. I
still think that you should get a second opinion on that after the fall
I heard you take before.”
“I’m sure it’ll be just fine as I’m really getting back into the swing
of things and before you know it, it’ll be business as usual,” Brooke
boasted eagerly, “I just spoke with your father not long before you
arrived and he’s planning on coming over to spend some time with me so
that Brant doesn’t feel he has to baby-sit me.”
“I’m sure Brant doesn’t feel that way as he’s been very hospitable with
our family after all he’s done for us in such a short time,” Guy
replied thinking to all the selfless actions Brant had put out where
the Morrison family was concerned, “In fact, I happen to think that he
rather enjoys your company.”
“And it’s a good thing too as I find myself rather fond of him as
well,” Brooke admitted with a bright smile, “although right now I’d
really rather focus on the handsome young man beside me here.”
“Mum,” he felt a bashful smile creep in over his features, “there’s not
much to say.”
“Oh I’m sure there’s plenty considering that I noticed you’re alone
this morning when you weren’t the last time we saw one another.
Am I to assume that there’s trouble in paradise between you and Miss
Carmichael?” she questioned hopefully as Guy felt a hint of distain
creep in over him.
“Mum…”
“Guy, I’m just saying as I know you were with that girl before and
things turned out horribly. Can I help it if I’m a mother who
would like to see her son avoid that same kind of fate twice in a
lifetime?” she questioned reaching for his hand, “You deserve better
son and we both know that girl really isn’t where you want your future
to be.”
“Mindy’s a wonderful woman Mum and I care about her a great deal,” Guy
started feeling nervousness settle in the pit of his stomach as he
pondered whether or not now was the time to be open with her about
where his heart truly was as it seemed that she was sensing that things
weren’t exactly as he’d pretended them to be with Mindy.
“Guy, I want you to find someone who makes you happy--someone who loves
you unconditionally and with all of their heart so that you won’t ever
have to feel as if something is missing from your relationship,” Brooke
continued with an impassioned tone, “I’ve had such high hopes for your
future son…”
“You mean you don’t want to see me in something like what you and
Richard have had with one another,” he arched a speculative brow as he
pondered her words.
“I’ll be the first to admit that your father and I have had some
problems over the year Guy, but the truth to the matter is that he and
I have finally reached that point with one another where we’re finally
ready to move beyond all the trivial things that have been keeping us
apart and we can see into where our hearts truly lie,” she couldn’t
help but smile as hope filled her features, “Your father and I are
exactly where I’ve been longing for us to be for so very long and I
have a wonderful feeling about things Guy.”
“Yes, but I know how he tends to break your heart each and every time
you’re feeling optimistic mum,” he sighed heavily hating to see his
mother get her hopes up for something that would never happen.
“Guy, don’t you worry yourself with what’s happening with your father
and I as I’m sure that things are back on track. You on the other
hand have some work to do as I really don’t get the feeling that you’re
lost in the whirlwind of romance you want to lead me to believe has
come upon your life.”
“Mum, I am really rather happy,” Guy took in a deep breath feeling her
squeeze his hand gently.
“That’s all I could ever want for you son and I hope you realize
that. Regardless of who you choose to share your life with, I
just want that happiness for you and that’s really all it amounts to.”
“I’m glad that you said that Mum as there’s something that I do want to
share with you--something that I really think you should know as I’ve
kept it to myself for far too long already,” Guy admitted taking in a
slow breath.
“Oh?” Brooke arched a curious brow, “and what might that be?”
“Well actually, it’s just that, well I haven’t exactly been honest with
you about a lot of things, but now that I’ve had time to really think
about them--to put things into perspective, well I think you deserve to
know the truth,” he paused feeling his heart racing in his chest.
“That sounds pretty serious,” she noted eyeing him intently as he
prepared to tell her the one secret he’d kept buried inside for so very
long.
“It is and I really don’t want to keep it from you any longer,” Guy
confessed as he lifted her hand to his lips offering up a tender kiss
before speaking once again, “as the truth is that I’m in love
Mum. I’m happy and I’m in love with the most amazing person and I
know if you give it a chance, you’ll see that this is where I’m meant
to be in my life and I hope that you’ll still support me and be there
for me in this.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Guy all I’ve ever wanted for you was for you
to find some happiness in your life,” Brooke reminded him with a simple
smile, “Don’t you know that by now?”
“Yes, but, well I guess I was just afraid and…” he let out a nervous
laugh, “I’m being silly, aren’t I?”
“It’s okay,” she offered up supportively, “just tell me what it is
that’s on your mind son.”
“Well, it’s just that I’ve found someone that makes my life feel
complete and…” he started ready to share the truth about where his
heart was when the sound of the phone ringing on the dresser broke
through his words.
“And what?” she questioned noting his hesitance as the phone continued
to ring, the caller clearly not giving up on their quest to reach out
to someone at the mansion as Brooke held up her finger to silence him,
“Sorry about this--it’ll only be just a minute.”
“Of course,” Guy nodded losing himself to his thoughts as he pondered
the time and energy he’d wasted in not being open and up front with his
mother. Now it seemed almost foolish as he realized that he
should’ve been honest with her from the start. She would
understand how he felt and she would accept that he was in love with
Gabe--she had to and when he told her the truth, he knew that she would
support him as that’s what she’d been saying. She was a changed
woman and she was ready to have a new lease on life. It was going
to work out as he could finally be himself without anything to keep
that true part of him in the dark any longer.
“So where were we,” Brooke interrupted his thoughts of hope for the
future as Guy looked at her once again noting the change in her
expression.
“Mum, who was it? Is something wrong,” he inquired watching as
she shifted restlessly in the bed.
“No not at all,” she rose from the bed much to his surprise, “as that
was Marc Ashley and he’s coming on over with his daughter Cathy to
discuss the arrangements for that party we had to reschedule.
He’s bringing his plans for the party with him and he was on his cell
phone which means he could be here any second, but still…”
“Oh,” Guy’s eagerness faded as he watched his mother hurrying to pull
herself together as the thought of company soured his mood, “Well I
suppose that’s a good thing.”
“It’s better than good Guy as it gives us a chance to really get
focused on the latest Beholder Campaign which I’m sure is going to be
incredible to say the least. I can feel it in me that it’s going
to be the thing that sets us on the map all over again,” she continued
pulling out a few of her things as she cast a glance over at him from
in the mirror. Setting her blouse down, she turned around to face
him, her giddy spirit fading for a moment, “Oh I’m sorry, what was it
you were trying to say?”
“It’s not important right now,” Guy decided regretfully rising from the
bed and approaching her, “we can talk about it later, but right now how
about we work on getting you looking glamorous for our company?”
“I knew I could count on your help son,” she grinned from ear to ear as
Guy tended to assisting his mother, vowing that he would find another
time to share with her the truth about the man in his life.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The sunlight crept it’s way into the hotel room despite Gabe’s attempts
at shutting it out. While he’d never been one to shy away from
the morning, it seemed that this particular day was one that he’d much
rather just keep under wraps--at least for another hour or so.
Rolling over in the king sized bed only to feel the cool sheet beside
him, his eyes lazily opened and a frown touched over the corners of his
mouth as this scene was becoming all the more familiar since his
arrival in Coral Valley. No longer did he awaken to the comforts
and warmth that his love provided, but he found himself all the more
accustomed to the generic impersonal beginnings that the hotel seemed
to provide him with. Not that the hotel wasn’t luxurious in it’s
own way, but it just wasn’t the same as his place in Europe--the place
where he and Guy had shared a great many memories with one
another--memories that were seemingly non-existent in the small town of
Coral Valley.
With that thought came the harsh jolt of reality, as Gabe sat upright
scratching his head as he looked around the hotel room seeking out some
kind of connection to something other than being the odd man out.
Even now after not having spoken with Guy in a couple of days Gabe
could feel the distances growing between them and it left him with a
very unsettling feeling in the pit of his stomach. How could two
people go from having it all and knowing one another inside and out to
waking up the next morning strangers and far more distant than anyone
who’d shared any kind of feelings between them should be? It
didn’t seem right to care so much for someone who was so ready to push
those feelings aside on a whim and yet here Gabe was wondering if this
was a sign about the state of their relationship. Could this time
in Coral Valley be the true test to their relationship as it seemed
that they were heading down a road to nowhere with each other losing
ground more and more with each passing day.
“This is ridiculous,” Gabe chastised himself forcing his tired bones
out of bed as he vowed not to continue with the self-defeating train of
thought. Certainly things were happening for a reason, he decided
and when the time was right it was all going to fall into place for him
and his lover--he was almost certain of that. Though his worries
were taking control--more and more by the day as it seemed that the
worries by far outweighed that security that he’d carried with him from
the moment he and Guy first encountered with one another.
Back in Europe, things had been so easy--so readily falling into place
as Gabe had found himself falling harder than he’d ever dreamt possible
upon encountering Guy. The two had simply crossed paths in a
local café, but what came next became something far deeper than
either man had expected or anticipated. It seemed like it was the
real thing--the kind of love that Gabe had kept himself shut off from
for so very long, but just when the two men had been prepared to take
their commitment to another level altogether, it seemed that fate was
calling Guy back into the shadows of denial he’d been caged within in
Coral Valley. He was forced to hide his heart and deny the love
that existed between the two men and now as Gabe thought of the step
backward his lover was making, he wondered if Guy would ever be able to
surface beneath the mask of deceptions he’d buried himself within.
“Just call him,” Gabe urged himself wishing that he could shake this
fear that had been building inside of him as his gaze lingered over in
the direction of the telephone. If only he could just find the
right words--the courage to give onto Guy as Guy faced his own inner
demons, then maybe just maybe they could come to an
understanding. Maybe then Guy could stop hiding from the man that
he was supposed to be and start living the life that had called out to
him time and time again. It was going to be the only way for the
two men to ever recapture the magic of their romance and with each
passing moment of silence between them, the hope for that love to keep
flourishing was fading away--slipping just out of reach as they’d
started to drift apart.
“Oh Guy,” Gabe sighed feeling absolutely pathetic as he stared at the
phone wondering if his lover was thinking about him nearly as much as
Gabe was dwelling on not having Guy around. It seemed that Gabe’s
doubts were about to consume him, but just before that point reigned
supreme, the phone began to ring sparking the hope that Gabe was
desperately clinging to as he reached for it trying to steady his voice
as he answered, “Hello.”
“There you are,” Noelle hissed into the phone, her voice as poisonous
as a viper as she started her verbal assault upon him, “What the hell
is this crap about your not taking calls through the night? What
if Brittany had an emergency? What if we needed you?”
“Then they would’ve put you through,” Gabe sighed heavily, feeling an
ache building in his temple, “I just wanted to catch up on some sleep
as I’ve been seriously lacking that lately…”
“Well maybe if you’d stop screwing around with that lover of yours then
you’d have the time to do the important things in life--like be a
father to our daughter when she needs you,” Noelle continued in an
uproar.
“I’m always there for Brittany,” he argued with her, “I’ve been there
for everything she’s needed and…”
“Oh the hell you have. You’re useless Gabe and this garbage you
have your lawyers pulling on me proves that. Did you really think
by having your lawyer talk to me that it would make me change my mind
about Brittany going to boarding school?” she snapped once again, “To
think that you care so little about our daughter’s education when the
place I want to send her only hosts the finest and most refined young
ladies…”
“She’s too young for that Noelle and even if she wasn’t, I don’t think
I’d want her to go,” he confessed feeling the same tired argument begin
again.
“You’re only saying that to spite me, just like you always try to
do. As if it wasn’t bad enough that you left Brittany and I to be
with your disgusting lover, but now, well now you’re turning your back
on our daughter when she needs you the most--when she’s been given a
pivotal opportunity in her life to make something of herself,” Noelle
charged back at him.
“Noelle, she’s six years old for heaven’s sake. Clearly the
decision not to send her away isn’t going to ruin the rest of her
life,” he snapped back in response.
“Oh believe me it could as she’s already older than half the girls who
have been going there and she’s going to be behind already in the
curriculum so the school is really taking a chance on her and…” she
ranted.
“It’s not happening Noelle. I’m not letting you send our daughter
away like that. She deserves stability and structure in her life
and…” he began his fury simmering as their conversation continued.
“And she really gets that from having a flaming queer as her father,
now doesn’t she? How do you think it effects her knowing that her
daddy is off screwing other men while I’m here to deal with the
aftermath of your life of sin?” she lashed out at him, “You destroyed
our family when you ran off with your lover Gabe. You’re the one
who turned your back on us so don’t you dare accuse me of trying to
hurt Brittany when you were the one who caused her all of the pain
she’s been through over the years.”
“Brittany understands how things are Noelle and my sexuality isn’t
something that will hurt her because she’s a smart child and you and I
both know if I’d stayed with you, it would’ve only been worse for us
all…” he began feeling the sting of her words over the line.
“No, the only one who it would’ve hurt was you because then you
wouldn’t be able to gallivant around with your lovers flashing all your
disgusting, twisted affairs in my face without consequence.”
“Noelle, that was never my intentions for us as I never meant to hurt
you, but please don’t take this out on Brittany. I love my
daughter and I would do anything to keep her happy,” Gabe pleaded with
her feeling the sharp venom in her voice, “Don’t push her away to hurt
me.”
“I’m just trying to give her the world and if you can’t understand
that, then to hell with you,” she finished slamming down the phone on
her end as Gabe felt the vibration all the way into his hotel
room. Suddenly he was left with a sick feeling in the pit of his
stomach as he reflected upon the situation that had taken place over
the line between him and his ex-wife. While he’d tried to do the
right thing in being honest with Noelle, it seemed that she still was
ready to tear him apart, using Brittany as a tool for her methods of
torture in the hopes of getting a reaction out of him. However,
in this particular instance, it seemed that along with guilt, she’d
awakened all those other feelings of anger and frustration as he picked
up the phone once again calling his lawyers as he realized that it was
time to take action. While Noelle might want to do something that
would send Brittany across the world and away from her for the next
twelve years, Gabe refused to let go of his daughter that easily as
while life might not be working out the way he wanted in other areas of
his life, the last thing he wanted to do was lose the best thing that
had ever happened to him as saving his daughter was his top priority at
the moment even if it meant pushing aside his concerns for his future
with Guy.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Russell blurted out unable to
shake the unnerving feeling that had accompanied his already mixed
emotions as he thought to Dr. Raines prognosis on Grady’s
condition. While he realized that Grady had been stabilized that
meant nothing in the grand scheme of things as at any moment, Grady
could take a turn for the worst and he feared of what that could mean.
“I know baby, but we have to keep praying that Grady will pull through
this,” Avery offered up supportively reaching out to embrace him as she
could sense the inner turmoil that was clouding over him, “Grady’s
always been a fighter and he’s not going to give up on fighting just
yet. He’s got far too much to live for and…”
“And what if Cameron comes back to finish the job he started,” Russell
questioned harshly pulling out of her reach as his own frustrations
mounted, “then what Avery? How the hell is anything going to be
okay if that’s what happens?”
“Russ, I’m sure that we can get someone to post a guard on his door
and…” she began desperately.
“A lot of good that did him as we both saw what happened down at the
police station,” Russell’s jaw clenched with anger as his eyes skimmed
over the hospital corridor spotting Dave Warner as he stepped off of
one of the elevators. “Speaking of which…”
“Russ wait,” Avery pleaded with him watching as her husband headed down
the hallway ready to lash out at anyone he could get his hands on as
his fears for his brother’s life overwhelmed him.
“There you are,” Russell sneered at Dave, marching in closer to him as
his fists were balled up at his sides, “it’s nice to know that you took
the time to check in on my brother after someone damn near killed him
under your watch.”
“Russ, I had no idea that something like this would happen
considering…” Dave began apologetically.
“That’s bull and you know it. Avery told you what could happen
once Cameron was involved, but as usual you and your other inept
officers stood back and let that man waltz into the station and do his
worst where my brother was concerned,” Russ continued on a rampage.
“No there’s no evidence tying Cameron into what happened last
night. I have the CSI team working on assessing the crime scene
as we speak and as it stands there’s nothing conclusive at the present
time…” Dave began in his best professional tone despite his own shaky
feelings about the situation.
“You don’t need a CSI team to tell you that you and your men screwed up
by allowing Cameron a chance to get at my brother…” Russ continued
raising his voice with each passing moment, “If you would’ve done your
job in the first place, you would’ve seen that the man who is really
causing all the menace in town is Cameron, not Grady.”
“Russ, enough,” Avery stepped in between the two men as she felt her
husband on the bring of losing what little control he’d had inside of
him, “Dave was the one who found Grady and saved his life. Ria
spoke with one of the paramedics that brought him in and they said if
it wasn’t for Dave, then Dr. Raines wouldn’t have had a chance to bring
him back to us.”
“That doesn’t mean anything Avery. We could still lose him and
I’m not about to pretend that I’m not mad as all hell at what’s been
done to my family,” Russell continued furiously, “It’s bad enough that
the police let a serial killer run around town on the loose, but then
to allow a man like Cameron Stone to run the jail on top of things.”
“I’m doing the best that I can Russ. I’m just as suspicious of
Stone as you are, but I can’t just burst through his offices and place
him under arrest for this without evidence,” Dave snapped back at him,
“you know it doesn’t work that way.”
“Yeah, well from the looks of things it’s not going to work any way,
but the one that Cameron wants it to as he’s pulling all the strings
and there’s nothing you can do to change that Dave, can you?”
“I’m doing the best that I can,” Dave repeated once again, “and I’m
going to make it my priority to find the man who did this to your
brother.”
“Yeah sure, just like you were going to make finding Bruce Mathis job
one as well,” Russ shook his head with heavy discouragement, “At this
rate, my entire family will be wiped out before you make any kind of
difference Dave,” he finished sourly spotting his mother and father up
ahead as he walked away from the police chief.
“Dave, he doesn’t mean that,” Avery began to apologize for her
husband’s violent reaction, “he’s just hurting because of what’s
happened to Grady and…”
“And he’s right Avery,” Dave sighed heavily feeling his own guilt
eating away at him, “Had I just listened to what you and Grady were
telling me, then maybe we could’ve all avoided this. I knew that
Stone wasn’t on the up and up with me, but I had to abide by the rules…”
“Dave, I realize that you’re trying your best at doing your job, but I
meant what I said before about things not being on the up and up at the
station. I have no doubt in my mind that Lieutenant Sharpe is on
Cameron’s payroll and I wouldn’t doubt that he or some of your other
officers played a hand in what happened to Grady,” Avery continued
thinking about the horrifying situation that had taken place, “I can’t
put my finger on it, but there’s something about Cameron that has me
certain that he’s far more dangerous than Bruce could ever be.
There’s things he’s done--things that he’s still doing and he’s out to
get Grady. That much I’m sure of and the longer that he thinks he
has the chance to do it, then I have this strong feeling that it’s only
going to get worse. Last night he wanted to make sure that Grady
didn’t live long enough to make it to trial, which means he’s terrified
of what could happen. He knows that it’s only a matter of time
before the rest of the world sees him as the monster he truly is and
when he finds out that the attempt on Grady’s life failed…”
“Then we’ll be back to where we started,” Dave concluded as a frown
touched over his lips.
“Which means that Grady’s in far more danger than he was before the
attack,” Avery insisted urgently, “which is why I’m making a plea with
you to help me find a way to keep Grady safe. My family has
already been through so much and with Grady fighting for his life like
this--Dave, I’m not sure what will happen as Dr. Raines was trying to
put a positive spin on things, but I’m almost afraid that if Grady
doesn’t get the chance to recover without any kind of intrusions from
Cameron, well I don’t know what will happen to him.”
“I’m sure that here at the hospital he’ll be safe,” Dave started again
as Avery frowned up at him.
“Dave, Bruce worked here at the hospital for nearly three years using
it as means of keeping his dark, dirty secrets hidden. Now if
Bruce can do something like that, then do you really believe that a man
like Cameron isn’t going to be able to slip in and have his way with
Grady undetected?” she gave him a pointed look.
“Well, then what do you propose Avery because you know my hands are
tied until the trial. If Grady makes it through this, well I
can‘t just pretend that the charges against him aren‘t there. You
know that,” he continued with a heavy sigh.
“I do, but maybe there’s another option,” Avery suggested as a thought
sparked in her head. “In fact, now that I think about it, maybe
this is exactly what we need for the situation to work out in our
favor.”
“Okay, what am I missing here,” Dave gave her a puzzled look, “What are
you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that we need to have a word with Russ because if this
goes like I think it might, we may be able to beat Cameron at his own
game,” she boasted ready to take things to the next level as the
thought of saving her brother-in-law’s life took precedence in the
moment.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“I should go look for Jade,” Seth decided after Jade hadn’t bothered to
return to the waiting room area. While he’d tried to be patient
and give Jade her space, he couldn’t help but worry about her as she
hadn’t been this upset in such a long time. It was almost as
though she was reliving the horrors of the rape all over again as her
emotions were so very familiar to that time when Seth had seen her
falling apart at the seams.
“No Seth, give her some time,” Blake urged reaching out to touch his
arm as she saw the concern press in over his features, “She’s with
Diane and I’m sure that Diane will be there to give her what she needs
right now.”
“Even so, I hate that she won’t let me be there for her. I hate
how Cameron has hurt her and if Grady doesn’t pull through than this is
going to kill her,” Seth confessed feeling his heart ache for his
younger sister as his thoughts of Cameron caused him to tense up.
“He’s going to pull through this and when he does, I’m sure Cameron
will get what’s coming to him,” Blake insisted hopefully as Ben nodded
in agreement.
“Blake’s right. Men like Cameron get what’s coming to them sooner
or later. While he might’ve evaded the law this long, his lucky
streak is about to end,” Ben promised thinking about the pain Cameron
Stone had inflicted upon those he cared about. “In fact, maybe we
can work on making that happen.”
“Believe me there’s nothing I want more right now than to tear that
guy’s head off for the way he’s hurt my sister,” Seth added with a
darkness in his tone.
“But you can’t go about doing it as that’s only going to put you in a
bad place Seth,” Blake squeezed his arm feeling his body tight beneath
her touch, “Violence isn’t the answer.”
“That seems to be the only thing that Cameron responds to and if he’s
going to try to destroy Jade, I may have no other choice,” Seth
continued lost in his thoughts as Blake threw Ben a pleading look
hoping to have him help her out with this conversation.
“Blake’s right Seth. You don’t want Cameron to find another way
to get at Jade by hurting you. What that needs is to be taken
out, but in such a way that he doesn’t get another shot at hurting
anyone else,” Ben piped in as a thought occurred to him, “In fact, the
more I think about it, the more I realize that maybe we can find a way
to do just that.”
“How so,” Blake questioned eager to hear what Ben had in mind.
“Men like Cameron screw up and it’s up to us to find out when and
where,” Ben continued as his mind reflected upon what he knew about
Cameron, “He might think that he’s holding all the cards by digging up
everyone’s secrets, but a man like that has secrets of his own that are
waiting to haunt him. We just need to get on top of the game and
find a way to see to it that we get the information we need to bury
Cameron forever.”
“And just how do you propose we get around doing that Ben?
Clearly you can see that even the law in this town yields itself to
Cameron’s influence and power,” Seth remarked sourly.
“Even so, I know a few people who don’t and for starters my father is
one of them. Given his time in the FBI, my father has made a lot
of friends with power and influence,” Ben decided thinking about how
his father could assist in their mission to take down Cameron, “he has
ways of getting information that most of us wouldn’t even think of and
he’s very effective.”
“Ben, this isn’t something that we could bring your father into
considering that…” Seth started to argue.
“That what? That Cameron is set on hurting Jade who happens to be
a good friend of mine?” Ben arched a curious brow, “Or that Cameron is
trying to sue the pants off of Blake’s family’s company--which I might
add is my place of employment? I’m telling you Seth, if there’s a
way to get the dirt on Cameron, then my father’s the man to do
it. He’ll find out what we need to know in order to ensure that
Cameron isn’t allowed the opportunity to destroy anymore lives
again. We’ll push him beyond the point he’s tried to push
everyone else to and then when he’s all out of options, we’ll destroy
him.”
“You make that sound easier than I know it’s going to be,” Seth added
with the beginnings of a frown as he thought to what his sister was
going through, “but if we can make it work and we can spare Jade some
of the grief that Cameron’s been putting upon her, then count me in.”
“Me too,” Blake added as the three made a pact to do everything in
their power to take down the one man who dared to shake things up for
the lives of the citizens in Coral Valley.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Brooke, you look sensational,” Marc Ashley reached out to kiss Brooke
upon the cheek after taking in a moment to admire her appearance, “and
who says that kidnappings don’t do wonders for a woman? You look
simply dazzling. Doesn’t she Cathy?”
“Absolutely,” Cathy nodded, her gaze glued upon Guy as she licked her
lips as if contemplating which way she’d like to eat him up.
“Well, thank you Marc as you know flattery will get you everywhere with
me,” Brooke waved her hand at him with a tiny giggle.
“It would seem that you’ve been everywhere as well as I still can’t
believe that you’re staying at the Ashford estate like this. Why
after the way your daughter so callously shunned Brant I would’ve
thought it would have left a sour taste in his mouth where the
Morrisons were concerned,” Marc added with a hint of cattiness in his
tone as Guy stepped forward already finding himself agitated with the
man before him.
“Mum, if you’d excuse me, I think I’m going to go downstairs and check
on that thing I’d told you about…” Guy cleared his throat trying to
find any excuse to get out of the situation as Cathy’s lecherous gaze
was enough to make him nauseous.
“But Guy, wouldn’t you like to stay and see the projections that Marc
has planned out for us,” Brooke pleaded with her son watching him make
his way towards the door to exit.
“I’m sure you’ll do just fine and beside I was having the cook put on
some tea for us, so I’ll just bring that back up in a few,” Guy added
opening the door to exit.
“I’ll go with you,” Cathy piped in eagerly jumping up from the arm
chair she’d been seated in as she pranced over to Guy.
“That’s not really necessary,” Guy tried to dissuade her from joining
him.
“Oh darling let her go with you as I’m sure you could use all the help
you can take,” Brooke waved her hand at him dismissively as she turned
to Cathy, “as my son is far too proud to ask for help especially when
he could use some.”
“I’d be more than happy to assist him with anything he should need,”
Cathy licked her lips following Guy out into the hallway as Guy closed
the door behind them spinning around to face her with a flicker of
irritation behind his eyes.
“Look Cathy, I can do this on my own,” Guy snapped back at her in a
hushed whisper after he was certain that they were out of earshot from
his mother’s room.
“Things tend to be much more entertaining when they aren’t a solo
affair,” she mouthed in a low, sultry tone stepping in towards him as
she began to ease her arms around his body, “even you must admit to
that.”
“What I can admit to is that I’m not interested in us spending any time
with one another as I’ve made it painfully obvious that you’re not
someone I want to get involved with,” he wrinkled his nose at her
taking a step back before heading down the staircase and leaving her
behind him chasing at his heels.
“Could you be any more rude,” she frowned with a huff feeling her anger
mount as she followed him to the kitchen area, “as I’m really not that
bad you know. Most guys actually enjoy my company and are
thrilled when I’m interested in giving them any kind of attention as
I’ll have you know I could have just about any man I’ve wanted in my
life.”
“That’s refreshing,” Guy rolled his eyes as he reached for the tea
kettle opting to put some tea on after his tiny white lie he’d spoken
to his mother, “why don’t you go find one of them?”
“What is your problem Guy? I mean why are you so bent on ignoring
me?” she continued to push the envelop with their conversation, “Do you
hate sex so very much that you’d rather close yourself off from the
world of excitement that I could bring to you?”
“It’s not sex that I hate Cathy, but more so I’m not into cheap,” Guy
remarked sourly glancing over at her as he took note of the hot pink,
high cut shorts that clung to her body leaving nothing to the
imagination as they were topped off by a sheer, lacy white half top.
“You say that now, but I think it’s got more to do with the fact that
you’re far too repressed,” she strode in towards him sliding her
fingers over his arm as she dropped the other hand down to squeeze his
bottom in a tentative movement. “Come on Guy. You know you
want to give this a try--to have a taste.”
“Sorry Cathy,” he reached down to remove her hand from his bottom
before stepping aside and tending to the tray of teacups he put
together for his mother’s informal meeting with the infamous Marc
Ashley, “but I’m not into spoiled goods that the rest of the world has
sampled.”
“Then you’re a fool Guy Morrison,” she stomped her high heel on the
floor beneath her, “as I could be the greatest adventure of your life
you know.”
“Hmm, well if you really want to get a rise out of me Cathy, there is
perhaps something that you could do for me,” he paused slowly giving
her a once over as her eyes lit up with eagerness.
“Yes? What is it?” she leaned in against him again, pushing her
slender frame against his chest as her fingers tapered off over the
center of his shirt, “Just tell me and it’s yours.”
“How about you start by taking the tea upstairs,” he suggested pushing
the tray into her arms as a smile spread over his features, “as you
said you wanted to help.”
“Oh you,” she scowled in protest as she clenched onto the tray feeling
her anger bubble over, “You’re a tease Guy Morrison, but mark my words
one day you will be mine.”
“Not in this lifetime,” Guy muttered under his breath hearing her exit
the room as he felt himself filled with a moment of relief in her
absence. Now as he thought to the group awaiting his return
upstairs, he felt the tension returning to him as he wished that he
could find a way to get out of the situation without having to deal
with Cathy all over again. Suddenly an idea sparked in his head
as he reached into his pocket to take out his cell phone ready to call
upon Mindy and ask yet another favor from her that he was certain he
shouldn’t be asking. However, as he fished through his pockets,
he realized that he’d left his phone in his car and he quickly made his
way to the front of the mansion ready to collect his phone to make a
phone call he’d have to make it up to Mindy for later.
Opening the door to exit however stopped him in his tracks as he came
face to face with the man he’d been avoiding for the last few
days. Now as he saw Gabe’s loving eyes before him, he felt his
heart flutter with anticipation and the tension that had surrounded him
melted away in the moment as his lover was well within arm’s reach.
“Gabe, what are you doing here,” Guy questioned in a hushed whisper as
he stepped out onto the porch with his lover.
“I needed to see you. Guy, this distance between us is killing me
and I can’t take it anymore. Things have been so tense and I just
couldn’t bear being away from you,” Gabe admitted unable to refrain
from revealing his feelings for the man he loved, “I tried the
apartment, but when I discovered that you weren’t there, I came over
here just on a whim that maybe I’d catch you.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” Guy confessed in a soft ton reaching out to
touch Gabe’s arm briefly before pulling back, “even though you really
shouldn’t have come over here.”
“I needed you Guy and I wasn’t about to pretend that you haven’t been
on my mind--that you aren’t the one thing that keeps haunting me day in
and day out. Noelle called me today and she’s threatening to send
Brittany away again and…” Gabe began thinking to his ex-wife’s threats.
“She can’t do that. I mean I know she keeps saying it, but we
both know that without your permission she can’t send Brittany away and
besides I thought you had that lawyer working on it,” Guy frowned
thinking about Gabe’s situation, “I thought that he said there was a
chance that you could see to it that Noelle didn’t pull anymore of
those stunts…”
“He said that, but with how she was carrying on today,” Gabe stopped
himself shaking his head in refusal to let Noelle spoil this stolen
moment, “Guy, that’s not why I came over here. I needed to see
you--to be close to you if only for a moment. I know that I’m
taking a huge risk here, but since I haven’t heard from you.”
“I’m so sorry that I’ve been putting a distance between us. You
deserve so much more than what I’ve been giving you and I just wish
that there was some way that I could make it up to you. Some way
that I could…” Guy began to apologize feeling his words come to an
abrupt halt as Gabe threw his arms around him unable to contain himself
as Gabe’s mouth dropped down over Guy’s kissing him with the
unrestrained passion that had been lingering beneath the surface
between them during their time apart.
Unable to comprehend anything, but the taste of Gabe’s kiss, Guy slid
his arm around Gabe’s muscled torso, savoring the sweetness of his
lover’s embrace as the two men shared a long overdue moment with one
another. Slowly they separated as Gabe pressed his forehead in
against Guy’s as a shuddering exhale spilled over his
lips.
“I’ve missed you so very much,” Gabe confessed, his words coming out in
a shivering emotion as Guy’s response mirrored his own.
“It’s been far too long,” Guy agreed thinking about he rouse they’d put
on for his family since they’d returned to Coral Valley.
“Let’s not let it be like this again,” Gabe pleaded with him touching
Guy’s cheek tenderly, “Let’s just go away for a while and get things
back into perspective between us.”
“I want that. I really do and now that my Mum is getting better,
well maybe I can afford a little time away,” Guy decided ready to leave
his family’s issues behind long enough to spend some time alone with
the man he loved, “She’s expecting me to be upstairs right about now so
I can’t just up and vanish, but perhaps you can come up with me.
You could say you came over to check in on how she was doing as you
were passing by and you heard the news.”
“And then we can make our escape for a little while,” Gabe questioned
with a hopeful expression as Guy nodded eagerly.
“I’m sure we can arrange it,” Guy reached out to touch Gabe’s cheek for
one last, lingering moment, “Just give me a few minutes to collect
myself before you come upstairs.”
“I can do that,” Gabe smiled at him reaching out to kiss him one last
time before Guy stepped back into the mansion throwing out one last
longing look before Gabe took in a slow breath trying to control his
racing pulse as it seemed that they would have to pretend just a little
bit longer before they could be free to be with one another.
Still if it meant pretending a little while longer, then Gabe was
prepared to do what was necessary to get those few moments of bliss
with the man he loved.
“This explains a lot, now doesn’t it,” A voice called out to Gabe as
Gabe stiffened on the front porch of the Ashford mansion. Slowly
spinning around he turned to see Marc Ashley standing before him
looking like the cat who ate the canary as he puffed on his European
cigar, “It would seem that Brooke Morrison’s son is just full of
secrets, now isn’t he Gabriel?”
“Marc,” Gabe stiffened as Marc approached him with a smooth, solid
stride. The two men maintained eye contact as Marc stepped up in
front of Gabe his dark eyes filled with devilish intent.
“It would seem that there are a great many tales of torrid desires
taking place in this small little town,” Marc chuckled with obvious
amusement, “and here I thought that young Mr. Morrison was just shy as
he rebuffed my daughter’s advances, but it would seem that he’s immune
to the feminine persuasion--a trait that I’m certain his mommy dearest
is oblivious to, correct?”
“It’s none of your business,” Gabe answered tightly clearly upset to
have been spotted with Guy by a man he’d grown to detest over the years.
“Oh Gabriel,” Marc shook his head with obvious disappointment, “How
many times have I told you that you should never play with
children? They tend to have attachment issues that men like us
have little patience or tolerance for.”
“This isn’t your concern,” Gabe remarked sourly giving nothing away
about his position in Guy’s life as Marc gave him a brief once over.
“That little scenario spoke for itself,” Marc added with a knowing
look, “although it seemed to pale in comparison to what we had back in
the day Gabriel.”
“That was a lifetime ago,” Gabe answered flatly, “long before I knew
what I was meant for.”
“You mean back when you were still pretending to be something you
weren’t with Noelle?” Marc raised an introspective brow, “Speaking of
which, how has she been doing lately?”
“Noelle is Noelle,” Gabe replied adjusting his tie as he turned to
focus on the front door to the Ashford mansion, “Now if you’ll excuse
me.”
“We’re not done just yet,” Marc stepped in between Gabe and the door to
prevent his entrance, “as we have a few things to discuss here.”
“I have nothing to say to you,” Gabe pushed Marc aside ready to dismiss
him as he reached for the door handle.
“Oh I think we do otherwise I might be inclined to inform Mommy Dearest
of just what her little boy was doing on the porch with you a few
moments ago,” Marc threatened causing Gabe to stop dead in his tracks.
“You wouldn’t dare,” Gabe spat back at him spinning around to face him
once again.
“Oh you know I would and I might rather enjoy it considering how you
broke my heart back in the day,” Marc’s eyes divided with the twisted
sense of pleasure he was deriving from the situation he’d happened
upon. He stepped in closer to Gabe reaching out to finger his
lapel as his voice deepened with cryptic undertones, “although given
our history with one another, perhaps we can work out an arrangement to
keep your lover’s secret in tact for the time being.”
“So now we’ve resorted to blackmail,” Gabe wrinkled his nose at him,
“That’s a new low for you Marc.”
“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” Marc shrugged his
shoulders simply, “So tell me Gabe, what will it be? A little
game of blackmail or shattering your lover’s image in his mother’s eyes
forever? The choice is yours.”
