Falling for Sarah (11 page)

Turning again to the mirror, Sarah stared into sad blue eyes. Everything was such a mess.

She had no desire to be here any longer. If she could get out of this place without being mobbed again, she would go home to her baby and friend, but she didn’t dare try.

Stuck, she had no choice but to make the best of it. Sarah pulled her phone from her purse and cursed the time. Her limo wouldn’t be back for two hours.

Ethan would be in the ballroom, but she could easily avoid him. The elegant function space was massive. It would be best to keep her distance until she could find some sort of handle on the direction her life was taking.

She sent Hailey a text instead of calling. Kylee would be in bed.
Is everything okay?

Moments later, her phone vibrated.
A-okay here. Kylee is asleep. Ogle at least one hottie for me. I’ll expect a detailed report.

Sarah smiled and relaxed fractionally. She was so lucky to have Hailey, not only for Kylee but herself.
I’ll see what I can do. Be home later.

Steadier, Sarah stuffed her phone back in her evening bag. She stood taller, fixed a wisp of hair at her temple, walked from the bathroom ready to grin and bear the next couple of hours.

Ethan stood in the corner of the ballroom not far from Tatiana. He scanned the guests and doorways, constantly on the alert. He glanced toward the entrance just as Sarah walked through, clenched his jaw. Her beauty was so potent, it stunned.

The dress she wore accentuated her long, slender body. With every step she took, her smooth, sleek leg snuck from the slit in the black fabric, and he wanted her.

Her floral scent still clung to his jacket, torturing him. The torment was only worse as he remembered the way she’d wrapped her arms around him just minutes before, staring into his eyes. She had been seconds away from giving him everything he needed, everything he’d craved over the last week since he’d seen her.

Ethan came to attention when one of Hollywood’s most sought after men walked up to Sarah, giving her a hug and kiss on the cheek. She smiled as she spoke to him, nodded before he took her hand, and they strolled to the dance floor.

Ethan ground his teeth as he watched Brand Larson and Sarah move together effortlessly. Her laugh carried across the room when the muscled blond said something close to her ear. Ethan stepped forward and had to remind himself he was on duty.

Not even two weeks before, he and Sarah had been as casually comfortable with each other. Regret ate at him as he feared he’d ruined everything. He thought of their dance at Morgan and Hunter’s wedding, of the way they’d looked into each other’s eyes. Had things changed already? Would they have ended up here eventually anyway? He didn’t know.

He tore his gaze from Brand’s hand on Sarah’s naked lower back, focused on the door, watching people enter and exit. The chatter between his team of men buzzed in his ear. When the song ended and rolled into the next, Ethan flicked a glance in Sarah’s direction. She hugged Brand once more and made her way to the bar.

She ordered water with lemon and turned. With the glass halfway to her mouth, she froze. Her eyes met his, holding, before she pivoted away and walked toward a group of women.

Two hours later, Ethan moved to yet another location, standing in the background not far from Tatiana. He struggled to focus on his job as his gaze wandered to Sarah—again. He couldn’t help but smile when she discreetly pulled her phone from her purse, sneaking another peak at the time. She hated these events.

Sarah made her way in his direction, stopping next to Tatiana. Tatiana grinned and wrapped her in a hug. When Tatiana eased back, her brows furrowed. She said something to Sarah, who shook her head.

He couldn’t hear their conversation, but Sarah was close enough for him to get a good look at her. She smiled as she spoke, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She glanced in his direction, eyes full of misery and hurt, before she turned and walked from the room. He wanted to go after her, but they would solve nothing surrounded by a thousand people, so he stopped himself.

“Austin, everything’s all set here. Make sure Sarah gets home safely, will you?” Ethan said into his mike.

“You got it, boss.”

Zeke sat in his car two houses down from Sarah’s. With binoculars at the ready, he waited for her return. She’d been gone for
hours
, and he was getting pissed. It was after midnight, for Christ’s sake. He had to work tomorrow.

His hand flexed and bunched at his side as he worked himself into a rage. Was it too much to ask for her to get her ass home? He left her something, didn’t he? They always fucking
wanted
something. Here he’d gone and gotten her a present, and she couldn’t even hurry back to find it.
Some
bitches are so inconsiderate
.

The flowers were going to wilt at this rate. He brought her two—a symbol of sorts. Zeke figured by the time he left her half a dozen, he would be ready, especially if his practice sessions went as well as tonight’s.

Zeke discovered a neat little bonus he definitely wanted to explore further. If he liked it as much as he had this evening, he might add it to his repertoire—spice things up a bit.

The whore he chose had breezed by while he’d been stopped at a traffic light earlier in the afternoon. It’d been fate, just like the day at the beach when he found Sarah.

His ‘lady’ of the evening’s hair was darker blonde, almost too dark, but he couldn’t let trivial things like that stop his progress. Her eyes had been blue and that was what mattered. Their eyes had to be blue, like Margaret’s.

Fury spewed through his black heart as he thought of the woman who’d never given him a second glance, even after he’d sworn his undying love—but that didn’t matter anymore because he had Sarah. She was hotter than Margaret by a mile.

He wondered if Sarah would like the new twist he’d added in the bedroom. He’d let this bitch fight, and
boy
did she fight. In fact, she almost overpowered him at one point, but when he grabbed her by the throat and squeezed until her legs kicked and her arms thrashed, he’d cum in his jeans from the power.

That had settled her right down. She’d gagged and coughed when he removed his hands. When he knew he had her full concentration, he’d forced her to play with him until he’d been good and hard and ready to go again.

He’d plunged into her until she cried out. She didn’t exactly cry out in ecstasy the way the others always did, but it had worked. He’d put his hand on her throat and applied pressure until she gasped and her eyes had gone huge. He’d seen fireworks while he filled his condom. Fuck yeah, he couldn’t wait to do it again.

Zeke had plans for the next one, wherever she happened to be. He was going to up the ante. He wasn’t sure if she would like the new game, but who the fuck cared. He sure as hell would.

The black limo pulled in Sarah’s drive and she got out. Zeke pressed the binoculars close, whistled as the beam of headlights accentuated her slender build and the creamy skin of her back. “Hot
damn
, I can’t wait to get my dick in you.”

He reached for the door handle. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad if he got a little closer. Maybe he could rub one out by her bedroom window while she changed. He shook his head, put his hand back on the binoculars. Good things came to those who waited, and he’d waited a very long time. Besides, he could rub one out in the comfort of his own bed while he
thought
about her getting undressed—just for him.

The limo pulled away and Sarah walked to the door. She bent down, picked up the flowers. A thrill coursed through his veins when she put them to her nose and smiled. Instantly, he was in love—a love more powerful, more all-consuming than he’d ever felt for Margaret.

“Oh, Sarah, it’s going to be perfect. You wait and see.”

Zeke started his car and drove off as visions of just how it would be began to take shape.

Chapter 8

A
USTIN PULLED INTO THE DRIVE and knocked on Sarah’s door. She answered holding blue roses. He zeroed in on the flowers, immediately remembering what Ethan had told him about the one he’d found a week before.

“Hey, Sarah, where’d you get the roses?”

She beamed down at the delicate blooms. “They were at the front door. I think Kylee and Hailey left them for me. I’ll have to thank them in the morning.”

It didn’t feel right. Unsure of how to handle it, Austin gave her a small smile. “Uh, can I use your bathroom?”

“Of course, go right ahead.”

“Arm the panel, okay?”

“I always do.”

Austin shut the bathroom door, twisted the lock. He took his cell phone from his pocket, dialed the office number, careful not to move around too much in the small, feminine half-bath. Within seconds, dispatch patched him through to Ethan’s earpiece.

“Cooke, it’s Casey.”

“I can hardly hear you. Speak up.”

“I can’t. Listen harder. I’m in Sarah’s bathroom.”

“Austin, if you called to talk while you’re on the shitter...”

The laughter of six men on duty bounced through Austin’s cell phone.

“Screw you, Cooke. I didn’t call to joke around. There were two more flowers at Sarah’s door. She thinks they’re from Hailey and Kylee, but I don’t.”

Any remaining chuckles died away.

“What color and type?” Ethan’s voice tightened with tension.

“Blue roses.”

“Don’t leave until I get there. I’ll have Michaels come cover me here. It’ll probably be a good half hour before I can get up to the house.”

“What am I supposed to tell her? She’s going to want me to leave so she can go to bed.”

“Tell her I told you to stay. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“But—” Ethan disconnected. “Shit.” Austin put the phone away and followed the dim light to the kitchen. He focused on the roses in a glass budvase on the counter. Sarah sat at the table, wrapped in her pale blue robe, with a cup of tea. Her eyes, usually so vibrant, were dull and sad as she stared off at something.

He wondered if it had anything to do with earlier that evening. The boss man had been in the bathroom with her for several minutes. When Ethan yanked the door open and stalked away, he’d looked just as unhappy as Sarah did now. Interesting. He’d been curious as to why Ethan tensed up every time Sarah’s name came up in conversation, and why he’d been handling her security instead of Ethan himself.

Austin cleared his throat and Sarah glanced up. A small smile touched her lips. “Thanks for coming all this way to check on us.”

“Hey, no problem.” Desperate for an excuse to stay, he honed in on the steaming mug she held between her hands, shuddered.
How does anyone drink that stuff?
“Would it be any trouble if I made myself a cup of tea? It helps me relax. I’m sure you want to get to bed. I can let myself out when I’m finished.”

“Not at all. Make yourself at home. I always have such a hard time winding down after an event. I’ll get it for you.”

“If it’s no trouble.”

“None.”

In no time, tea and a plate of double chocolate chip cookies were set in front of Austin. He bit into the moist center of gooey chocolate as Hailey walked into the room dressed in vivid pink pajama pants covered in maniacally grinning bunnies. Her ponytail bobbed with each step.

Austin glanced at her small perky breasts accentuated in her white, spaghetti strapped top while she yawned and stretched. “Hey, guys. Did you have fun?”

Flitters of desire sparked to life as he met her friendly honey brown eyes. He stared down at the table as guilt drowned any remaining embers. She was a college kid, for Christ’s sake.

“If you consider almost getting trampled to death and spending the night listening to actors and actresses talk about their craft fun, then yes, I think we both had the best time of our lives. Not to mention the hour-long ride through traffic.” Sarah grinned at Austin, then Hailey.

“Well, I can’t wait to hear all about it, especially the trampled part, unless you spoke to any really hot actors. I’ll want to hear about that first.” Hailey took a glass from the cupboard, filled it with water. “Pretty flowers. Please tell me they’re from a Hollywood hunk and he’ll be picking you up for dinner tomorrow night.”

Sarah frowned. “I thought they were from you and Kylee.”

Hailey sat down at the table. “Nope.”