FullDisclosure (9 page)

“Well it’ll have to be enough.” Evan glanced at his watch, then back to Jake. “For now.” But Jake was horribly afraid what he really meant was “forever”.

Sadie applied a final coat of lip gloss and fluffed her hair again. The shoulder-length cut was much shorter than she was used to, but the wispiness and the hint of burgundy that the salon had added was much softer and more flattering to her delicate—if not downright gaunt—features. She stood back and evaluated herself more thoroughly in the full-length mirror that hung on the back of Jake’s bedroom door. She fought the urge to bite her freshly French-tipped fingernails. She looked good…didn’t she? It had been so long since she’d dressed up for anything, let alone any
one
that she felt a little lost. And a lot nervous. When she considered it a little more she realized why.

She was nervous because she
cared
. It mattered very much to her what Jake thought. She wanted to impress him, wanted to take his breath away, and didn’t know how she’d cope with it if she read disappointment in his eyes.

She had begun to have feelings for Jake Maynard, feelings like she hadn’t experienced in a very long time. In fact, after Philip’s betrayal, the shock of his death and the horror that followed, she hadn’t been sure if she could ever feel anything like that again. Her time in prison, no matter how painful and scary it had been, had given her something though. It had given her a new perspective on life. It had taught her in no uncertain terms what was important and what wasn’t. And designer labels and expensive handbags did
not
fall into that category. Freedom was important, and happiness. And, of course, love. She just didn’t think she’d ever be fortunate enough to find that again. Not that she’d ever really had it in the first place, she realized now. She’d thought she loved Philip but that had been more of a sense of awe and infatuation for who he was and what he represented. It wasn’t true love. The closest she had come to that before going to prison had been—no. She couldn’t go there. Couldn’t even think about him. She had someone else to focus on.

She smiled as she thought of Jake again. He had dashed every image and every stereotype of the “ambitious male” that she’d ever had. He was successful and dedicated to his career and his business, and yet despite being devilishly handsome and, no doubt, able to land any woman he desired, he’d remained sweet and giving and so blessedly
not
full of himself. He was so generous, in fact, that it almost scared her. She would pay him back for all this, she resolved again. She would find a way.

“Okay, enough,” she said to her image. “Enough procrastinating. It’s time to get this over with.” She’d done all she could, pulled out all the stops and used every trick in her bag. She’d even learned a few new ones down at the beauty salon that day. Who would’ve guessed that so much could change in the world of makeup in five short years?

She sighed. Was that really all it had been? Sometimes it felt as if an entire lifetime had passed since she’d lived in a mansion and sipped wine with every dinner. Then again, in some ways, it had been.

With one final adjustment of the black silk halter and flowing skirt, with one final wiggle of her perfectly plum toes in her new silver slingbacks and a glance to make sure her faux pearls hung just right…she stepped out of the bedroom and into Jake’s appraising gaze.

He stood by the patio doors, gazing out across the water toward the blooming sunset. Caught in the golden half-light, he looked so handsome in his tan sport jacket and chocolate-brown slacks. And so sophisticated with that glass of pinot noir cradled in his palm.

He stared at her, wide-eyed and unblinking. Damn, but a girl could lose herself in those eyes.

She pursed her lips together and fiddled with her skirt. “Is it…or I mean…am I all right? Do I look okay for the restaurant?”

“Okay?
Okay?
” He set down his glass and crossed to her, taking her hands in his and spinning her around as if she were a doll. “You do have a gift for understatement.” He laughed and she relaxed instantly. “You were beautiful before, but now…now you’re breathtaking.” Suddenly he slipped his hand around her waist, hugged her in tight and then it was she who was having trouble finding her breath. His face was so close to hers, his eyes so intense that for a moment she almost thought he was going to kiss her. And she realized at that moment that she wanted him to—desperately.

But then he took her right hand in his left and raised it high and began to waltz her around the living room. “In fact you look so amazing that I don’t think dinner will be enough. How would you like to go dancing?”

She laughed aloud, a sound that had become far too strange to her ears. “I’d love to.”

“Good.” He waltzed her over to her purse and the lightweight silver shrug that he’d bought her as a surprise. Much to her disappointment he released her, but only to help her on with the jacket.

As they headed to the door she was pleased to feel his hand slip around her waist once again. She’d missed that, the feeling of a man’s warm, strong hand on her body. The sensation of being cared for and protected. The sense of being wanted and desired. She missed that more than she could say.

“You’re going to spoil me,” she observed as he opened the door for her and ushered her through.

“Baby, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

Evan stirred the pot of spaghetti sauce for the umpteenth time and glanced at the clock for the thousandth time. Rachel was late—much later than she’d ever been before, and contrary to his advice to her mother, he was beginning to worry. A lot.

He told himself it was silly, she was barely a half an hour past their usual dinner time and chances were she had just lost track of time while shopping and everything was fine. But the truth was the time for their chosen movie of the evening was quickly approaching and she had been so eager to see it. It didn’t make sense that she would forget about that so casually.

He sampled the sauce again and, just for something to do, decided it needed more mushrooms. He opened the fridge and had just pulled out the paper bag full of button mushrooms when the condo door swished open, and in burst an uncharacteristic bundle of energy.

“Dad!” She slammed the door behind her and rushed headlong toward the kitchen. “Oh my goodness, Dad. I’m so sorry. My phone died and I lost track of time and…” She gave him a huge hug, which concerned him even more than the fact that she hadn’t called. Rachel had been decidedly reserved with the physical affection—understandably so considering she barely knew him—and this was the first hug she’d ever given him without his offering one first. “You must have been so worried.”

Her face was flushed and she was breathing hard. But her smile was big and her arms were still latched around him. He returned the hug tentatively. “Maybe a little. But obviously you’re okay, so—”

“Oh Dad, I’m so much more than okay.” She released him and stepped back, positively beaming. “I’m…I’m…” She whirled around. “I’m so excited. Beyond excited, actually. More like…ecstatic.”

Evan laughed. “I can see that. But before you tell me all about it, tell me just how hungry you are. I’ve been waiting to put the pasta into the pot until—”

“Oh. I’m sorry, Dad. It smells wonderful but I couldn’t possibly eat. My stomach is in knots.” She grasped his hands. “And I have to ask something else of you. I hate to ask because I know you’ll be disappointed but…” She chewed her lower lip.

“Come on. Out with it. You’re not eloping, are you?” He laughed when he said it, but to his surprise she didn’t laugh with him. “You’re not!”

“Oh no. No. Nothing like that. But…it is about a man. I met someone today.”

Well, this was welcome news. “Someone special it sounds like.”

There was that smile again. “Oh yes. Very special. His name is Noah. Isn’t that a perfectly wonderful name?”

“Perfectly,” he agreed, but she wasn’t really listening to him.

“Noah Sachs. And he likes to go to the same coffee shop I do. We met this morning and we talked so long I was late for work. But then we met for lunch and then we just
had
to meet up after work so that he could take me down to see his church.”

Evan’s eyebrows arched. “Church?” But of course, she would never consider a man who wasn’t as committed to his spirituality as she was. “What church is that?”

“It’s the Wellesley Street Chapel, and it’s absolutely beautiful.”

Evan blinked, digesting this information. “Really,” he said slowly. “The Wellesley Street Chapel.”

“Yes. Why? Do you know it?”

“I’ve…heard of it.” He had no intention of filling her in as to how or why he knew of this very special little chapel. It would be best for her to find out all on her own. “And you’re right. I’ve heard that it’s lovely.”

“Oh yes. It’s filled with candles and wood carvings. There’s none of that gaudy gold or silver, just a few simple stained-glass windows and a cross at the front. I really love it. It reminds me a bit of the chapel back home.”

Believe me
, he thought,
it’s nothing like the chapel back home.
Aloud he said, “Well, I’m thrilled you found a friend.”

She squeezed his hands. “He is, Dad. I think he’s going to be a good friend.” He could tell by the continued flush on her cheeks that he was likely already quite a bit more than a “good friend”.

“But you said something about disappointing me. So far none of this falls into that category.”

“It’s about our plans for this evening. Would you be horribly upset if I skipped the movie?”

“Oh I think I could live through it.” He touched her cheek. “If it’s something that will make you this happy. Why, what have you got planned?”

“It’s actually a retreat. I’ll be gone the entire weekend.”

That
did
surprise him. “A retreat? With Noah?”

“Yes. He was booked to go already, and apparently there’s still room for a few more, so he invited me. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“Where is this retreat?”

“It’s at a retreat center a few hours north of the city. In the Muskokas. It sounds lovely, don’t you think?”

“Definitely. The Muskokas are beautiful. But they’re also far away. If you run into trouble, or just feel uncomfortable or want to come back, it’s not like I can hop in the car and be there in twenty minutes.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Dad. I’ll be fine. Noah would never do anything to hurt me.”

Actually it wasn’t physical harm that worried Evan. From what he knew of the Wellesley Chapel it was a completely respectable group of people and Evan had absolute trust in their ability to care for Rachel and respect her boundaries. But his daughter could be in for some brand new experiences—experiences that she wasn’t necessarily prepared for. Not that he was complaining. She needed these kinds of experiences. The only question was, how would she react to them?

“Okay, well as long as you understand that. I certainly have no intention of standing in your way.”

“Wonderful! Thanks, Dad.” She pulled him down to give him a huge smacking kiss on the cheek. “Now I’ve gotta go pack. Noah is picking me up in the lobby in a half an hour.” She was already out of sight on her way to her room.

Evan looked after her and sighed, shaking his head in wonder at the energy and exuberance of youth. Not to mention the unexpected twists and turns that a young life could take. But the surprises were what made life worth living.

Then he glanced at the pot of sauce bubbling on the stove. His stomach was growling and a really good Italian meal would certainly fit the bill. But then he reconsidered. He’d see Sadie soon enough. There was someone else he needed to talk to first.

He picked up the phone and dialed a very old but very familiar number.

Jake watched as Sadie took a long, slow sniff of her Chianti and then sampled it carefully. He loved watching the way she moved, the way her fingers cradled the glass, the elegant lines of her jaw and the way the muscles of her throat worked as she swallowed. He’d thought she was pretty before, but when she’d stepped out of his bedroom in her new dress and new hairdo…he’d been absolutely stunned by her beauty. And here, illuminated by the gentle glow of candlelight, with violin music playing softly in the background and the spicy aromas of authentic Italian home cooking as a backdrop she was positively radiant. That was the word. Radiant.

He didn’t know if he’d ever been so absolutely captivated by a woman before, and it wasn’t because he felt sympathy for her situation, or because he felt protective of her. At first he’d told himself that was all it was, but now he knew there was more to it. There was a…genuineness about her. She was still a bit shy, and yet strangely completely unguarded. She had this sense of wonder about her. This wide-eyed way of looking at the world and appreciating every moment she was given.

No doubt that was all thanks to her experiences over the past few years. But spending time in prison could just as easily lead someone to feel bitter and angry, and as if the world owed them something. But instead Sadie had chosen to savor her freedom and make the most of it. Perhaps she didn’t have a lot right now, but instead of feeling victimized by her situation she’d chosen to grab life with both hands, turn it upside down and shake it until the change fell out of its pockets. And damn, but he found that refreshing. Not to mention exciting.