Her Heart's Desire (5 page)

 

 

Sara tallied her cash and credit card receipts and compared them to the daily report. She expelled a sigh of relief. Perfect. Right down to the penny, which was a surprise. The past eight hours had gone by in slow motion. She kept playing the amazing time she had spent with Cade and Reese last night over and over in her head. A woman could get used to that kind of loving. The only dark spot had been this morning. Sara understood why Aunt Helen needed to be told to back off so they could live their own lives. The only problem was Cade hadn't included Reese in the equation.

Sara went into the bathroom and washed her hands. She caught her reflection in the small mirror above the sink and stared. Her eyes were shiny and her cheeks were rosy. She looked content except for the slight wrinkle on her brow, and she knew exactly what that frown was all about. Her thoughts were on Reese. How did he feel about a spanking turning into an all- night love fest? Cade was much easier to read, but Reese had always been more of a joker. Did he view last night as a one-time thing? Oh God, she hoped not, but how could she expect otherwise? She had been the one to turn down their proposal of a life together.

Why hadn't she listened to Cade right from the beginning? He had assured her that he and Reese would take care of her and give her so much love, but she had been filled with hate at the disgusting picture her aunt had painted so many years ago. One woman shared between two men was a sin against God and the church. It was dirty. At a young age the image of two men having sex with one woman at the same time had been imbedded in her mind. Her aunt had left nothing to her imagination. Boys were like animals. Only whores spread their legs for a man, or men, and enjoyed it.

Her mother had been a whore
or
had she? Had her father beat her so badly that she had no other choice but to leave? Had she been a young girl frightened to death of her husband? Sara grew cold all over, and her palms felt clammy. Was it possible that her mother felt as if she had no other way out?

Sara turned off the light and stepped out of the bathroom. She made her way down the narrow hallway and went back to the table where she had left her purse. She unfolded one of the chairs stacked against the wall and sat down with a loud sigh. It was time she took Cade up on his offer to locate her mother, but first she needed to speak to him about her feelings for Reese. She looked up when the Employee door swung open. “Aunt Helen, you're not allowed back here.”

Crack.

Sara's hand flew to her cheek.

“Show some respect,” Helen admonished harshly. She snatched Sara by the elbow and yanked her to her feet. “Come with me now. I'll find a way to get you out of this marriage. Cade Dalton is not the man for you. He's as dirty as his brother. Thank God Reese Dalton is leaving for California. One Dalton in this town is enough.” Helen propelled her toward the exit sign.

Still clutching her cheek, Sara dug in her heels. “What do you mean you're going to get me out of this marriage? What's this about Reese?” Her temper flared. “I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on.” Helen was glaring at her, but Sara stood her ground.

“The secretary is packing his things at the office.” She grabbed hold of Sara's arm once again but Sara jerked back.

“I don't understand. What were you doing at the office anyway?” It couldn't be true. Reese couldn't be leaving, not after last night.

Helen huffed in frustration. She took Sara by the shoulders and shook her hard. “Listen to me. I went by your house this morning and saw Reese's car parked in the driveway.”

Sara's eyes widened with embarrassment.

“That's right, young lady. I know what you were doing last night. I doubt your brother-in-law visits
that
early in the morning. I went to the office to warn the secretary what type of men her employers were.” Helen pushed her away and Sara tumbled backward. “I tried to do my best, but evidently I have failed. You are your mother's daughter. I had successfully kept her away from you these past twenty-one years. It's all Cade Dalton's fault.”

Sara's throat went dry. “What do you mean you kept my mother away from me? What did you do, Aunt Helen?”

Helen's eyes took on a wild look. “Oh, she tried to get in touch with you, but I was always one step ahead of her. Mail, phone calls, I got them all. She wasn't good enough for my brother and she was a sorry excuse for a mother. My brother tried to beat her into submission but she was too sassy and bold.”

Sara fumbled behind her and managed to grab the chair she had been sitting on earlier. All this time she had wondered why her mother never tried to get in contact with her and it had been Aunt Helen's fault. The woman she thought was more of a mother to her than her own had screwed with her life. Sara stared at her in disbelief. “You need to leave now. I don't ever want to see you again.”

“That's utter nonsense. I'm the only family you have.”

Sara was shaking her head even before Helen was finished talking. “You're nothing to me.”

“I'm everything to you,” Helen shouted. “You owe me.”

“She owes you nothing.” Cade stood in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, his voice low and deadly. Sara had never seen her husband this angry before. He looked capable of snapping her aunt in two. “You took away a part of Sara's life that she can never get back.”

* * * *

Cade's gaze zeroed in on his wife. She was holding her cheek and looking so pale he was afraid she'd pass out. He reached her in three long strides and pulled her hand away from her face. Her tender skin was beginning to bruise and he felt as if he had been punched in the gut.

Cade stormed toward Helen Martin and didn't stop until he stood right in her personal space. He fought his rising temper. “Out of respect for my wife, I'll let this pass. Consider yourself lucky. There will not be a next time.”

He was seething. The better part of the morning had been spent talking with Caroline and learning just how manipulative Helen Martin could be. After promising his mother-in-law he'd be in touch he hung up the phone and wanted to drive his fist through the wall.

Caroline was just sixteen when George Martin had gotten her pregnant. They married and after Sara was born he began beating Caroline. Helen had been there insinuating that every bruise had been her fault. She needed to be a more obedient wife. With no family to run to Caroline began drinking. Helen had basically moved into the house and took total control. Caroline tried to take care of her daughter but Helen just pushed her away. Finally she ran away and met up with two men at a local bar. She had pretended to be all alone with nowhere to go and the men had taken her in.

Luck had been on her side. Zachary and James Sanchez were decent men. They had been concerned about a young woman's well-being. Eventually they had fallen in love with her and Caroline had become their woman. Later on she told them the truth and they persuaded her to get in touch with Sara. When there had been no response to her letters she had given up.

“Cade.”

He shot Helen a steely glare before moving back to Sara. “Yes, honey, what is it?” He twined Sara's fingers with his and raised her hand to his lips.

* * * *

“Let's forget everything that just happened.” Sadness welled inside her, but it didn't matter anymore. It was simple regret for the past. “My life is with you now.” Both she and Cade looked up when the door was pushed open and Reese stepped inside.

“Hey, everything okay in here?” His obvious concern was directed solely upon Sara. “Your aunt just flew past me as if the devil was nipping at her heels. Do you want me to go after her?” When Sara shook her head, he added, “Works for me.”

Sara sighed. “Aunt Helen was out of control when she came back here. She admitted to me that she threw out all of the letters my mother sent home over the years. At least I have the comfort of knowing that my mom did try and get in touch with me.” She wiped away a tear and focused on Reese. “I thought you'd be gone by now.”

“Where was I supposed to be going?” Reese asked, confused.

“Aunt Helen said you were moving back to California.”

Reese chuckled. “I'm not going anywhere.” He moved further into the room, stopped directly in front of her, and brushed her cheek with his finger. “The thought did cross my mind, but then this little angel I've known since she was ten years old gave me the most precious, sweetest gift last night and I was toast.”

The intensity in his expression and raw desire in his eyes made her feel giddy.

Cade tucked an errant curl behind her ear. “You belong to the both of us now, Sara. If that's what you want.”

Sara couldn't believe her ears. Reese was staying, and all three of them were going to be together. “Yes, oh yes, that's exactly what I want.” She threw her arms around Cade's waist. “How is it that you know me so well? Better than I know myself?”

Cade ran his hands up and down her back in a soothing gesture. “That's because it's my job to know exactly what you want and need, and that is why, Sara Jane Dalton, when we get home we are reading through our HOH contract again very carefully. You've been allowed too much leeway these past few months. That's a problem which needs rectifying.”

Sara sighed and grabbed her handbag. “I know. Let's go out the back way. My shift is over. I'll call Mel later and ask if I can have a few days off. I need some time to digest all this.”

Once outside, they walked to their vehicles with Sara tucked safely between Reese and Cade.

“Reese will drive your car back to the house,” Cade said. “After you talk to Mel, we can go on another honeymoon, or we can visit your mother, or we can do both.”

Sara stopped dead in her tracks. “You found her?” She searched his face. Uncertainty furrowed his brow which was highly unusual. If anything Cade was a man of precise decision. A trickle of apprehension slid down her spine. “Cade, is there something you're not telling me?”

He blew out a breath. “Let's get you home first.”

Sara shook her head. “Look, I know I need to obey you as Head of the Household, but I've had enough blows today to last me a lifetime. Another one isn't going to make a difference. Tell me, please.”

Reese slipped his arm around her waist. Sara welcomed the warmth and strength his body provided. Now she could bear whatever Cade had to say.

Cade ran a hand through his hair. “Your mother has an inoperable brain tumor.”

Dear God, that was the last thing she had expected to hear. “Is it cancer?”

Cade nodded. “I'm afraid so, my dear.”

Her entire body trembled. Her emotions were all over the place. Her mother was dying. She knew she should feel sad but instead she felt nothing. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't summon up enough grief for the woman who had left her so long ago. As for her aunt, she doubted she'd ever be able to forgive her for keeping so many secrets. It seemed the only constant in her life had been Cade and Reese.

“Of course we'll visit Mom and then I would like that honeymoon you suggested. I'm really sorry for doubting you. I was just so confused about everything. I was so worried about what my aunt would say and how she could ruin things for you that I didn't think.”

Cade smiled. “Everything's going to be all right, Sara. You need to let me and Reese do the worrying from now on. No more feelings of guilt. Is that understood? All we want is for you to be happy.”

Suddenly, Sara felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders and her entire body went limp with relief. Reese tightened his hold and drew her close against his chest. “No more worrying, is that understood?” Sara loved the vibration of his voice pulsing against her ear and longed to tell him so, but before she knew what was happening he had spun her around, swatted her ass, and pushed her into Cade's waiting arms. “Your aunt will never bother you again.”

Sara's mood became somber as she stepped into her husband's embrace. “I can't believe she kept all Mom's letters and cards from me. Why would she do that?” Confused by her aunt's spiteful manipulations she tilted her head and gazed earnestly up at Cade, hoping he could provide an answer. “She told me that she loved me as if I was her own daughter.”

“Your aunt is the type of person who enjoys making other people miserable. Whatever comes along, we'll all handle it together.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and set her away from him. He eyed her sternly. “You are never ever allowed to just walk away from any given situation and hide things inside. You will tell us what is bothering you. Do you understand?”

Sara was near to bursting with happiness and pride. “Yes, sir. Now I have two hot guys to call my own.” Her eyes welled with tears. “Everything
is
going to be all right. I love you both so much. There will be double of everything from now on. Double gifts on holidays and my birthday.” She grinned mischievously. “And double lovin' too.”

Without a word, Cade caught hold of her elbow and steered her toward his car. Reese had already reached her vehicle and was lounging against the driver's side with his arms folded across his chest and wearing a wicked grin.

“That's right, my sweet little wife,” Cade finally replied. “From now on, you'll be getting
double
of everything.”

Reese's devilish expression and Cade's emphasis on the word ‘double' had Sara's heart thumping wildly in her chest. These two were up to something and she wasn't moving until she found out what it was. “What exactly do you mean by that remark, Cade Dalton?”

One dark brow lifted in question. “Double everything, right?”

Sara nodded.

Cade threw back his head and laughed. He went to the car, opened the door, and threw a sly wink in Reese's direction. “Sounds like our little Sara just agreed to double spankings as well. Come on, woman, let's go home.”