I’m going to lose everything because of some floozy? You think I’m going to hand everything over to her and go in live in some shoddy flat? Because that’s all she’s after. The money. And you’re falling for it. You haven’t heard the last of this.”
He didn’t chase after her. No point trying to talk to her now. He despised it when she made threats like that but he should have known she’d bring up custody of Connor.
Jake slumped into a whicker patio chair and leaned forward, his head in his hands.
His life had changed inexorably when Rachel entered it. And now there was no going back. She was everything he ever wanted, a woman beyond his wildest dreams.
More than that, he didn’t want her to be some small part of his life. He wanted to see her head on the pillow beside his when he woke in the morning. Her face smiling every evening when he kissed her goodnight. A casual relationship wouldn’t fulfil him. Wouldn’t even come close.
Jake recalled the evening at his house when Rachel confronted him about his marital status. Despite everything, she’d been wonderful with his son. And to think he’d believed she didn’t like children.
The next day Connor had told him how she’d tucked him in and assured him there were no monsters under the bed. The child had trusted her instinctively.
If only Rachel would do the same for him. Trust him. Love him. Like he loved her.
Jake wanted her more than ever.
He had to have her.
No matter the cost.
* * *
Samantha trudged into the office, placed a take-away coffee container on Rachel’s desk, then cupped her own coffee in both hands.
Sam must have read her mind. Sometimes Rachel didn’t know how the girl did it.
“Thanks.” Rachel reached for the cappuccino and ripped off the plastic lid. “Great way to start the working week. You had a breakfast meeting, didn’t you? How did it go?”
“Fine.” Samantha slumped into her chair and spun around to face Rachel.
“You don’t look fine.”
Samantha’s eyes were lowered, there were dark rings under them and she couldn’t bring herself to smile.
“No, the meeting was fine,” Samantha said. “It’s not that. I’ve been so stupid.”
Rachel sipped her cappuccino. “Something to do with Marcus?”
“You know what I’m going to say, don’t you? I was so terrible to you on Friday night. I didn’t even say goodbye.”
Rachel’s face flushed pink. Having left early without saying goodbye to anyone, she hadn’t known Samantha had done the same thing.
“That’s not important,” she said. “Why are you so upset?”
“Marcus came home with me.” Samantha looked up as if expecting Rachel to be scowling. That was never going to happen.
“That’s not exactly surprising.”
“Oh no, if you already know where I went, then probably so do lots of other people. That makes it worse.”
“Honestly, I didn’t know anything until you told me. Don’t worry about other people. What they think doesn’t matter.”
Samantha shook her head. “Rachel, you’re always so sensible and I’ve been so stupid.”
“You’re not stupid. What happened?”
“He seemed so nice, and I’d drunk so much champagne. Not that I’m blaming the alcohol. I knew what I was doing. He was keen on me and I was keen on him. It didn’t seem so complicated at the time. And I thought why not? Why not have a bit of fun?”
“So you spent the night with him?”
“I jumped straight into bed with him,” Samantha said. “There’s no denying it.”
“Is that what upset you?”
“We’d finished…you know…and I assumed he’d stay the night. It’s not like I sleep with every guy I meet but most guys stay the night. They don’t up and leave. Instead he grabbed his stuff and left. No kiss. No goodbye. No nothing.”
“Could he have had some reason to go so quickly?” Rachel asked.
She rolled her eyes. “Like what? Do you think he’s turned into a pumpkin?”
“I don’t want to make excuses for the man but maybe something happened. I think maybe you need to talk to him.”
“That’s a bit hard when he won’t speak to me.” Samantha’s eyes welled up with tears. “Darn it, I promised myself I wouldn’t cry any more.”
“Cry as much as you like.” Rachel got up to put her arm around her friend, then perched her bottom on the desk. “Did he call you?”
“No. I kept calling him but he wouldn’t pick up his phone. Then when he did, he said he hoped I hadn’t read too much into the other night.” Samantha dropped her head into her hands. “And we’ve