Blaze's Second Chance (The Sinclair Men) (5 page)

“I think they were right to tell her to get a divorce,”
Trent
said behind them.

Chris and Blaze rounded on him.  

“Do you really blame her? Twenty-five years in a marriage where her husband continues to mourn the death of his first wife. To you guys she is just Molly. To me, she’s my mum. I was ten when Dad married her. She’s my mum. Dad spends most of his time saying how we don’t forget our first love, that we never love after that first one. Molly would always be second best. I don’t know about you guys, but I’d never live being second best. I hope she gets a divorce because then she could find a man who loves her rather than a dead wife.”
Trent
walked past his brothers and into the house.

Chris and Blaze watched him go.

“Did you know he felt like that?” Blaze asked.

“I think that’s the first time I’ve heard him speak for longer than one sentence. It looks like this summer could be quite interesting,” Chris said.

Blaze admitted that he had never heard
Trent
speak like that before. He usually gave a one word answer. He barely spoke or gave his opinion. He was quiet and withdrawn from everyone. Everyone, that is, except Molly. He excelled at school, staying at home and studying instead of going out partying. He never joined Blaze or Chris on nights on the town. Blaze didn’t even know if
Trent
had any lady friends. In fact, with regards to his youngest brother he had no idea what he liked or who he was as a person. He was never interested in Blaze or his business. What he had to say, though, made sense. Francesca had said she felt the same way. Had Molly finally given up on the love she had for his father? Blaze didn’t know how he felt about that. Molly had become a permanent feature in his life as well as his son’s. Blaze Jr. adored his Grandma, and he would be devastated if anything was to change.

“So, Matchmaker, how do you intend to help Molly and Dad?” The rumour that had started in the offices of Sinclair Industry had stuck and become Chris’s nickname at home as well.

“I’m starting to wonder if I should help. Dad is stuck in his ways, and Molly deserves more.” Chris’s voice had a hint of defeat.

“Don’t, Chris. Dad loves Molly. You know it. I know it. It’s just the two adults who don’t know it.” Blaze felt desperate.

“We know this, but is the love deep enough for Molly? I don’t want to add to that hurt.”

Blaze had no idea what Chris was talking about. Love, any love, was worth fighting for. If Molly truly loved his father then anything from him would be the world. Blaze had felt the love of a woman. A sexy, voluptuous receptionist for a very short hour had shown him love. His heart had opened that day, only to die in a phone call, a phone call that had led him to use that woman in the most despicable way.

Blaze starred up at the sky, relishing the brightness of the sun. Looking into that sun made him wonder about Cassie.

He wondered about how she was and what she was doing.

The sun shone on his face, warming him.

The sound of an approaching car had him turning.

No, it couldn’t be.

****

Molly watched her husband. He made her heart ache. For years now he’d made her heart ache. After the death of his first wife, watching his pain and suffering had hurt her deeply. She would come around to his house and babysit for his three boys. She was ten years younger than he,  so when he was thirty-five, she had been twenty-five and spreading her wings. After helping him with his sons, and nurturing
Trent
, he’d asked her to become the boys’ nanny. He’d paid her to stay at the house, working with the boys, creating a homely lifestyle.
Trent
had attached himself to her, following her whenever he was allowed and waiting patiently for her return. Blaze and Chris had not seemed at all bothered by her presence. In some aspects they were indifferent to her.

For five months she’d been on cloud nine, having a family to call her own, even if it was silently. Then one night her life would change.

That night David had come home, drunk and mean. He blamed
Trent
for the death of his first wife.  Molly had sent Trent and the boys to bed. Taking charge she’d stormed out to the shed outside, taking David as far away as she could from the children.

They had yelled and cursed each other, and then on the hard rough floor they’d had sex. At the time she had called it making love, but now to her it was just sex. David never made love. He saved that for his first wife. The one he loved the most. The worst aspect about that night had been that they had unprotected sex.

Three months later, three months of absolute silence between them, Molly had discovered she was pregnant.

His words to this day she would never forget. “I’ll marry you. No child of mine will be born outside of the Sinclair name. But, Molly, I’ll care for you, but I’ll never love you.”

His words had hurt then, and they still hurt now. They had married, and six months later Luke had been born. Three years after that John followed. She loved her children. They were the reason for living in limbo, always being second best. She could no longer do this, though, live without love. Her boys were older and had left home. They had even encouraged her to leave their father.
Trent
had told her he loved her, and no matter what he respected her decision.

Two months ago, she had been shocked to the very core of her being when David had raged and screamed at her.

No divorce. He wouldn’t allow it.

Coming to a compromise, she would wait it out and see if they could work through their problems.

****

David watched Molly helping his grandson. The woman he’d been married to for twenty-five years. Who’d born two of his children and who’d helped love and cherish all five of his boys. Molly was a fantastic woman, full of love and life.

He had killed that love. She no longer wanted to be with him. She didn’t want a marriage, a relationship, or to make love. Two months ago after the shock of her demands he’d gone to their bed and tried to seduce her, to win her over by loving her body, but she had turned from him whispering the words that would scar him forever if he didn’t win her back.

“I cannot bear your touch,” she’d whispered, her eyes red and blood-shot. She now slept in the spare bedroom.

He missed her at night, her heat, her body, the way she used to welcome him. He missed her smile, her touch, even her nearness.

For twenty-five years he’d become accustomed to certain actions and ways of living, and now they were being completely blown out of the water.

He wouldn’t be able to live without her. She was his world.

He loved and adored her with all of his heart.

She could not leave him.

Molly was his woman.

His woman.

Chapter Six

“Do you think we’re here, Whiskers?” Cassie asked her cat, glancing quickly down at the printed map.

She eased the car down the driveway. It looked abandoned and beautiful. Private and secluded, Chris had told her. A footpath would lead directly to the beach. The sun beat down, the air-conditioning doing nothing to stop the heat. The sun blinded her, and she brought the car to a slow stop.

Cassie unbuckled her seatbelt, gathered her purse and exited the car. She moved round to the back where she pulled Whiskers out. Cassie made her way out of the glaring sunshine, smiling at the male figure. Chris must be waiting for her. She smiled, waving her hand. When she stepped out of the glare of the sun, Cassie came to an abrupt stop.

No, it couldn’t be. It wasn’t possible.

There in all his male glory stood the one man Cassie had never gotten over, the one man she’d been mourning for the past three years.

Blaze Sinclair, the man who owned her heart and soul.

They stood – a small distance between them – staring at each other.

Cassie felt tears gathering in her eyes. She couldn’t take her gaze off him. She was eating him up, devouring him. Whiskers became impatient and pulled out of her arms, charging into the house.

“Cassie, you made it.” Chris came down the steps, walking towards her. She saw his amusement, and in that moment, Cassie hated him. How could he do this to her?

She stood frozen as he pulled her into a bear hug. She couldn’t find the will to move her muscles. She felt frozen inside.

“You have a good trip?” Chris pulled away, turning her face to stare at him.

“How could you do this to me?” she asked, her voice hoarse with the tears only just staying at bay.

“It’s time, Cassie,” Chris told her, gathering her close and walking with her towards Blaze, his brother.

“Blaze, you remember Cassie.”

Cassie stared into the eyes of the man she loved and almost flinched at the anger she saw in his.

“What is the meaning of this, Chris?” Blaze asked. His voice was hard and firm, clearly showing his anger at the situation.

“Cassie’s a dear friend of mine, and I wanted her to be with me for the summer.” Even to her it sounded dubious.

“How
dear
a friend?”
Was that jealousy she heard?

“We’re just friends,” Cassie said, taking control. “If you or your wife has a problem with me being here then I could leave.” She went to move away, almost praying for her car to come and gather her up and take her away from this embarrassing situation.

“No—”

“No—” The brothers spoke in unison.

Cassie didn’t know whether to be disappointed. It would be easier and less painful to be sent home. Would she be able to deal with watching Blaze and his wife together? A stupid question because there would be no way for her to deal with that. The pain would be like walking over broken glass with no shoes on, painful and dangerous.

“I’m not married anymore, Cassie. Francesca and I have agreed on a divorce, and it’ll be finalised in a few weeks.” Cassie looked at Blaze. His words penetrated the wall around her heart, but it was not enough. Instead of relief she felt afraid. She couldn’t allow herself to let go. They may have only had sex the one time and over his desk, but to her it had meant more. She wouldn’t survive another trampling on her heart.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she whispered.

“Come on, sunshine. Let’s show you to your room. I’ve a feeling Whiskers may have already found and claimed your bed though.” He laughed. Chris rested his arms around her shoulders. “I’ll show you to your room, let you freshen up, and then take you to meet the rest of the family.” Chris steered her down the hall and up some stairs. She couldn’t take in the surroundings. Her mind was racing.

“And here is one of the most amazing rooms in this house. Apart from the parents’ room of course. You’ve a little balcony, so you can watch the sunrise and the sunset.” The room was lovely. A huge king-sized bed dominated the room, and there was an en suite bathroom and a room to store her clothes. The colouring was nice and light. She tested the edge of the bed. She sank into the covers. The bed had to be good, as Whiskers was snuggled in the centre, purring happily.

“Why?” Cassie asked, staring around her before looking at him.

“Cassie—”

“No. No, don’t ‘Cassie’ me. Just tell me why,” she said, her voice sounding a little hysterical even to her.

“Look, just trust me all right.” Chris went and stood in front of her.

“I trust you, Chris, but this is not something you should be meddling in.” She stood up from the bed, not liking him towering over her.

“I have never done you wrong in the past,” Chris said.

Frustrated, Cassie hit him square in the chest. “This is not about picking out clothes, or a basket for Whiskers, Chris. This is about messing with someone’s heart and feelings. Not just mine, but also your brother’s.” She stood toe to toe with him, arguing.

“If I don’t, who will?”