The Promise of Change - By Rebecca Heflin Page 0,96

Don’t panic, she told herself. Spotlight be damned, remember? This presented the first test of her new resolve.

Her eyes were wide as she looked into his angry face. He knelt on the floor beside the sofa. “I am so sorry. I can only guess who leaked this.”

“Brooke.” They both said it at the same time, his voice angry, hers flat.

He took her cold hands, chaffing them for warmth. “I’m sure there’ll be more. Once these piranhas have their teeth in something, they don’t let go.” His voice was apologetic.

“At least it isn’t a headline—”

“Yet. It’ll make headlines if they get photos. I’m glad we’re leaving for the states next week. I doubt the U.S. tabloids will pick it up since I’m a relative unknown over there.”

He looked down at their entwined hands. “Sarah,” he whispered her name. “I know how you feel about the spotlight, and I wouldn’t blame you if you decided once and for all it’s not for you,” he finished, his voice gruff with anger and frustration.

“Alex, you remember the sonnet you recited to me in the hospital? ‘Love . . . is an ever-fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken.’ I’ve given all of this a lot of thought, and I’ve decided I can handle it. As long as you’re beside me.”

She continued with a determined smile. “An obnoxious tabloid journalist wanna-be can’t scare me off. If you can put up with my sometimes irrational behavior, I can certainly deal with the minor annoyance of having my name in the papers.”

Before he could speak, she took his face in her hands. “I fell in love with a charming, handsome, sexy, warm, funny, kind man, who also just happens to be a wonderful actor, a very eligible bachelor, and, oh yeah, and according to Robert, reformed playboy. I guess it comes with the territory.”

“I love you, Sarah Edwards.” His face wore a suggestive grin. “I’d kiss you now, but I’m afraid where that might lead, so I’ll settle for this.” He kissed the back of her hand before replacing it against his cheek.

Chapter 11

“There, I think that’s everything.” Sarah sighed as she collapsed onto the bed in exhaustion. She’d just finished packing the clothing that would be shipped home. The remainder would go in her checked luggage for her stay in Atlanta.

Aside from short walks around Knightsbridge, it was the most physical activity she’d had in almost two weeks. If packing a couple of suitcases exhausted her, what would an international flight do, she wondered in frustration.

“Are you happy to be going home?” Alex turned from his own luggage to look at her.

“Well, it’s not exactly home, but I am looking forward to finishing in Atlanta and getting home to see Becca and Ann. I’ve really missed them.” She’d spoken to them both every day since the accident, texting or e-mails not enough for them, they had to hear her voice. Not that she minded. She just cringed when she thought of the phones bills at the end of the month.

He smiled indulgently. “It must have been very difficult to be away from them all this time. You three are extremely close.” He sounded a little envious. He and Robert had had another heated exchange on the phone the day the tabloid article came out.

Sighing, she turned back to her luggage so he couldn’t see the concern on her face. As long as Alex remained grist for the gossip rags, Alex’s relationship with his brother would be a troubled one.

Attributing her sigh to cabin-fever, Alex wrapped his arms around her waist, his lips nuzzled her neck as he whispered in her ear, “How would the invalid like to go on a real outing, not just a walk around the block?”

She spun quickly in his arms. “Really? Where? Oh, it doesn’t matter. I think I’d be happy to go just about anywhere at this point.” Her words poured out, thwarting any attempt on his part to answer her questions.

He laughed. “How would you like to meet my mother?” he asked a little hesitantly.

Her eyes widened. Meet his mother? Wow. That sounded like one of those next steps. An enormous one. She was torn between excitement and worry. What if she doesn’t like me? she fretted. What if they couldn’t find anything to talk about? Of course that was silly. They would have Alex as a popular topic of conversation.

She needed to answer him before he recognized her apprehension. “That sounds great.” Did that sound plausibly