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“Sweetie, John doesn’t hate you,” the other woman promised. “He could never hate you. He may be angry, but he gets over the anger if you face him. You should have faced him rather than running. ”
She didn’t need anyone to tell her that now. She had actually known it at the time, but she had been too hurt, too raw, to do anything else.
He’d passed out on her even as he took her virginity. In all the messages he’d left on her cell phone not once, not even once had he mentioned what they had shared. As though he didn’t remember it, hadn’t seen the handkerchief she had used to clean them both.
No, each message had contained references to Marlena, Gerard, and the fact that Sierra wasn’t answering her calls. Not a single message had been tender. Not once had he implied that he wanted to speak to her over anything other than the breakup of his engagement.
And nothing had changed. The thought of facing John now terrified her, just as it had the year before.
“We’re landing, Sierra. ” Thomas’s broad hand covered hers where it lay on the armrest of the leather seat. “Remember. Don’t back down. Stare him in the eye and stand strong. ”
“He’s not an animal, Thomas. ” Candace’s amused chiding brought a smile to her husband’s face.
“Sweetheart, all men are animals. Feed us, pet us, and use a firm hand, and we’ll worship at your feet. ”
Thomas worshipped at his wife’s feet, but it was clear Candace cherished him just as deeply.
“Don’t put up with his temper, Sierra,” Candace advised her softly. “And remember, at the very heart of it all, John would never harm you. You are truly important to him, or he wouldn’t have spent so many months chasing after you. ” A twinkle in her eye indicated that perhaps he had chased after her for reasons other than the ones he had.
They simply didn’t know the truth.
But it didn’t matter. John Walker Sr. had made it clear that the only way to protect her was to send her here, where no one would suspect he would send her.
His hatred of Kentucky was well known. His hatred of its people went even deeper.
The wheels of the plane touched down, the slight jolt doing nothing to cover the little whimper that fell from her lips.
She wanted to cry, but did she have any tears left? She’d shed them all when John had left Boston. When she had realized that what she had done had forced him from his home, and took him from her forever.
As the plane rolled to a stop, Thomas rose and unclipped her seat belt and helped her from her seat.
The copilot opened the door and lowered the steps while Candace and Thomas flanked her.
Lights blazed up at her from a vehicle as a dark, shadowed shape materialized. There was no mistaking that form. Strong, bold, and broad. He was the living personification of every dream and fantasy she had ever harbored.
“Come on, brat. ” Thomas lifted her in his arms rather than allowing her to walk down the steps.
He’d done that two other times. He’d carried her from the hospital, and he’d carried her into John Sr. ’s home hours afterward.
Like her father had always carried her.
And then he was moving down the steps, growing steadily closer to the silent form standing below.
Sierra thought he would set her on her feet once he reached the bottom. She hoped he would. She was certain he would. But men were conspiring against her in this lifetime.
Instead, he handed her to the tall, coldly silent male waiting for them.
“Take care of our girl, John,” Thomas ordered lightly. “And remember, she bruises damned easy. ”
Sierra winced, but she didn’t speak. She didn’t stare up at the man that fate had conspired to throw her back with. She stared straight ahead, all too aware of the bruises that still covered parts of her body, and the knowledge tha
t she rather doubted John Walker Jr. would really give a damn.
She’d had a chance to think about it. He wasn’t stupid. He hadn’t been stupid a year ago. He had known what Marlena was and he had asked her to marry him anyway. She should have thought of that before she had furiously decided to reveal their duplicity.
She had struck at his pride by throwing it in both of their faces. He had wanted that marriage of convenience or he wouldn’t have put that ring on the other woman’s finger.
Still refusing to speak to him, Sierra remained stiff in his arms as he turned to the vehicle and moved to the passenger side. Thomas opened the door and a few seconds later John was setting her carefully on the luxurious leather seat of the SUV.
