Secrets (39 page)

Angie refrained from sighing out loud. She would not let him see how he got to her. That was always his main goal, to get to her. In a crisp, well-modulated voice she answered, “Hello, Sean.”

He leaned back against the car door. “Sarah didn’t mention you were coming to town.”

“Sarah doesn’t know. It was spur of the moment, unplanned.”

His arms crossed over his chest. He stared harder, making her want to fidget, until he finally snorted. “What really happened? You never do anything unplanned or spur of the moment. Especially when it involves coming back to Seaclusion.”

She bristled, hating he knew that of her, that he knew anything at all about her. “It’s none of your business why I’m here.”

“I used to know everything about you. A long time ago. Remember that? Or have you banished all that along with this town?”

“Of course, I remember. Like I could forget it. But anymore? You don’t know anything.”

He straightened off the car. Shrugged. “Sure, believe that. All I have to do is ask Scott or Sarah.”

“They don’t talk about me.”

“I’m family.”

“You’re not my family.”

“Hate to tell you but we kinda are. They don’t think twice about mentioning you to me.”

She wished they didn’t. She hated, hated, hated Sean Langston knowing anything about her. He smirked and pushed past her. “I’ve got work to do. Looks like I’ll be seeing you around.”

She knew he would, but she desperately did not want to. She didn’t want to see anyone. But she had nowhere and no one else to go to. Despite the fact that the Delanos had three kids of their own, ranging from ages one to six, they still considered her their surrogate daughter.

And right now she longed for the unconditional love and support only they provided her. She hated Seaclusion, but here she was back, and with the intent to stay for a prolonged period of time. Something she never dreamed she’d willingly contemplate. But she had no extra money and so few options. Squaring her shoulders, she turned and walked to the front door, ringing the doorbell. Sarah Delano opened the door, then squealed with delight and squished Angie in a tight hug.

Angie burst into tears. She hadn’t expected to, but there was no helping the flood of grief that Sarah’s embrace released. She had screwed up so many times in her past, but this time, it felt bigger and more frightening than ever before. Sarah was the only woman in the world she could let her guard down with.

She’d spent her adolescence in Seaclusion miserable, and now her life had come full circle, bringing her, perhaps permanently, home. She had never intended to come back beyond a brief visit, and certainly not this way, for she was, yet again, pregnant when she didn’t plan to be. It was naïve of her to believe she could escape the mistakes she’d spent her late teens and early twenties trying to escape. Why would she be different than her mother? For hadn’t her mother warned her all those years ago that she would end up back here, no matter how hard she tried to get away?

The only thing she’d proven by leaving was that she was coming back no better than the mother she always swore she’d never be.

I live in the rainy area of Seattle, Washington, and spend as much time as I can getting away from the rain by traveling to destinations all across the state where my family and I do tons of camping, boating, fishing, and horseback riding. Many of the locations we camp become the basis for my books. Most of my settings are fictional but are based on real places.

I earned my business degree from Western Washington University. I worked for several years in the construction management field before turning to writing and being home with my kids.

I live with my husband, two kids and our newest addition, Willie, our English springer spaniel.

I love to hear from readers! Please contact me at [email protected] or through one of my sites:

Website:
http://wwww.leannedavis.net

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https://www.on.fb.me/10Ff8AN

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Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed
SECRETS
, and will check out the rest of the
Seaclusion Series
.

Other Leanne Davis titles

POISON

NOTORIOUS

SECLUSION