Stolen (20 page)

“Hey sugar, you ready for today?” He grins that million dollar smile at me.

“I guess so, be nice on me hey?”

“I’m always nice.”

“I hope so.”

“How much do you think we will reel in from this one?”

“I would imagine it won’t be a bad amount. At least thirty grand right?”

“We are two lucky people baby.”

“I think so yeah.” I laugh.

“So Nessie called before, she wants us to go for dinner tonight.”

“She does?”

“Yeah. I told her we would be there, charming old thing she is.”

“Alright, well let’s just go and get this over and done with shall we?”

He takes my hand, and we walk out to his hot little convertible and zoom off towards the shoot. We have been told many times that we are the perfect looking couple, with our blonde hair and tanned skin. We arrive at the shoot early. It is set up amongst the rocks on the beach; I am
modeling
a new bikini line. I sit for hours in hair and make-up before dressing in the hot pink bikini I am representing. I walk down to the set; Mike is setting up.

“So how do you want me?”

“Wow! You look incredible.” He breathes.

“Don’t I always?”

“Of course. I want you down on the rocks, give me some sexy shots. Drape yourself over them a little, let the water splash you just a smidgen.”

I lay across one; the water splashes up gently on my back.

“Put your left leg out a bit further Em, flick your hair a little.” Mike grins as he clicks the camera button over and over.

“Now come up onto the sand a little, lay on your belly. Give us a bit of a grin baby girl!” He laughs as I lay on the sand, winking at him

“That’s my girl, nothing changes. You are the top!”

When we are done he shows me the photos, they are unbelievable; he is a good photographer.

“Wow Mike. Amazing.”

“Thanks baby. If you want to go and clean up, I will be back at the house soon.”

“Alright.” I smile.

When I get in; I decide to ring Nessie and see if there is anything we need to bring.

“Hey Nessie, I
was just checking if you want
us to bring anything tonight?”

“OH Em! How are you love? How did your shoot go?” She says really loudly; that is weird.

“I am good Nessie. It went great.”

“That’s wonderful. No you don’t have to bring anything, just that darling man of yours.”

“Okay we will see you soon.”

“I can’t wait.”

“Bye.” I say hanging up the phone; she is acting very strange.

I spend the afternoon getting ready and waiting for Mike to come home; finally he does. He comes rushing in the door.

“We are sold baby. The man who was selling the bikini’s loved my shots, he wants to use you for the magazine and the commercial.”

“Oh my
God
!” I squeal and rush over to hug him, he swings me around and then he plants a kiss on my lips.

“You’re amazing!” He says, kissing me again.

“So are you.”

“Alright, I will have a quick shower, and we will head to Nessie and Bill’s.”

“Alright.” I smile as he rushes up the stairs; I am so proud of our effort.

When he is ready he makes his way downstairs. He looks amazing; his hair is brushed back and then shaken up from his hands; it sits a little scruffy and a little neat. He is wearing a white singlet which makes his skin look olive. He is wearing a pair of faded denim jeans. He looks fantastic. I glance down at my black dress; it is tight at the top and then fans out loosely at the bottom before cutting off at my knees.

“As usual, you look great.”

“As do you princess, let’s go.”

We get in the car and make our way out to Nessie's house, when we get there it is just getting dark. I don’t think twice about jumping out of the car and rushing in, it is what I always do, nothing is different tonight. I was wrong; everything is different. I bound up the driveway, and up the stairs, I can see Bill sitting on the swing chair. Jock is here and I beam. It has been so long.

“JOCK,” I laugh hugging him “You are home!”

“I am.” He chokes out and looks strongly at me.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, and he looks over my shoulder nodding his head a little.

I turn to see what he is looking at and there he is, Blade sitting alongside of Cassie. He is set back in the balcony a little, so I hadn’t seen him; he looks exactly the same. Nothing has changed. My heart goes wild. Cassie has put on a fair amount of weight and still has the same sour expression.

“Oh my
God
.” I stammer, leaping off Jock
’
s lap.

“Hey.” Blade smiles but I am so blown away, my face just drops.

“What are you doing here?” I choke.

“I came to visit mum.”

“Oh
God
…” I whisper, but before I can say anymore Mike walks up.

“Mike, my good man!” Bill grins shaking his hand. I notice Blade staring hard at Mike, is that jealousy?

“Bill old Fella, how have you been?”

“Good mate, just sitting about doing the usual, how did your shoot go?”

“Mate she nailed it but with a face like that who wouldn’t?” He smiles grabbing me around the waist; my heart hasn’t stopped pounding. This isn’t happening.

“Mate these are my boys, this is Jock,” He says indicating Jock next to him “And this is Blade and his wife Cassie.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Mike smiles and shakes Jock’s hand; he is happy to be friendly with Mike. When he shakes Blade’s hand, however, I see his face clench a little, I think Blade squeezed a little hard.

“Pleasure.” He mutters.

“So Em, a model, relationship. You have gone up in the world girl.” Jock grins but I am still frozen.

“Are you okay?” Bill asks.

“No actually, I’m sorry, but I need a minute.” I breathe before rushing inside.

“Em, hi love, how are you?” Nessie smiles nervously.

“How could you Nessie. I trusted you, and you let me come here knowing he was here. After everything he did to me!” I cry.

“He didn’t want me to tell you, he wanted to see you. He begged me.”

“No one had this right. No one should have made this decision for me.”

“I have made a mistake haven’t I?” She sighs.

“Yes, I am sorry Nessie, but you have. I can’t breathe properly; I need a moment. I will be in the room if anyone is looking.”

I rush in the room and put my head in my hands; I can hardly breathe. How dare he come back here after what he did, even worse how dare he use Nessie to get what he wanted. I am deep in thought when I hear the door open. There he is, the most gorgeous man in the world. My heart still does the same flip flop, over and over again.

“Em, I am sorry. I shouldn’t have come.”

“You are right, you shouldn’t have come.”

“I had to see you were okay.”

“Why? You wanted to make sure you didn’t scar me for life when you left me the day I buried my family. No, you did no damage Blade, I moved on. Or can’t you see that?”

“Angel
.”

“Don’t you ever call me that,” I hiss. “You have no right to try and talk to me or be my friend. You broke my heart and left me with nothing, I nearly died, and now you think
you can come back and expect things to be okay? They weren't okay the day you left and they never will be.”

He winces and looks down. All I want to do is hold him,
God
Dammit.

“I am so sorry. I made a mistake; I know that now.”

“Well, it is too late for that.”

“I just wanted to see how you are Em, can’t you give me that.”

“I am fine, thank you very much.” I mutter sarcastically.

“I saw your pictures, you look gorgeous.”

“Thanks.” I mumble.

“Come back outside? Please.”

“I will, but I am doing it for Mike. He doesn’t need this.” I mutter brushing past him.

We walk back outside, and I walk straight into Mike
’
s arms. Blade glares through me.

“So, how have you been Em?” Cassie asks, was that a joke?

“Fine thanks. You?” I answer simply.

“Okay, we are in the midst of trying for a baby.”

“Yeah I heard about your other baby. Sorry to hear.” I mutter.

“Thanks we are trying hard now.”

“Wonderful!” I smile with a high pitched voice, my
God
this is hard.

I spend as much time as I can away from Blade, we all sit inside where we laugh and talk. Mike pulls me onto his lap, running his hands all over me. I don’t mind; he did that often in public. I notice Blade storm off outside, I figured he would come back in but after a while he doesn’t. Cassie is chatting away with Jock and hasn’t noticed, so I excuse myself to go and find him. He is standing out front, just staring into the darkness.

“What are you doing out here?”

“I can’t stand it anymore!”

“What can’t you stand?”

“Seeing you with him! Running his hands all over you, I can’t sit in there and watch it.”

“Well, you are going to have to live with it Blade. It wasn’t my choice to move on; you forced my hand. It has been two years.”

“I know, and I regret it every day of my sad, little life.”

“Aren’t you happy Blade?” I ask gently.

“No. I am beyond being unhappy now; I am just downright sick of my life.”

Wow, I hadn’t realized he was struggling so much.

“Do you want to tell me about it?” I offer leaning against the fence.

“I just can’t do it anymore Em. Cassie is pushing so hard to have a baby; I don’t even know if I want a baby. She won’t have sex with me anymore, unless its ovulation time and then I can’t perform because it is like a chore. Not only that but you are on my mind day and night, I see your
photos
and my heart tears in two. I had to come here, had to see you, but now I see that was a mistake.”

“It wasn’t a mistake.” I whisper gently.

“I am so sorry I hurt you. I wish I could go back two years and undo everything; I would have chosen you and not her.”

“Well it is too late for that now. You made your choice, and now you have to live with it, I have moved on now.”

“I know you have.”

“Do you still love me Blade?”

“I never stopped. I can’t just turn my feelings off like you can!”

“I didn’t have any other choice. You gave me no options; I had to get over you.”

“I know, I have to live with that believe me. I know what I did.”

“I am sorry things are so bad.”

“I just need to be with a woman, it is killing me. I want to be with you Em; I want to feel you against me.”

“You know I can’t.”

“Just once, please!”

“Blade!”

“You are right, sorry.” He mutters storming inside.

I drop my hands by my side and sigh, if only I could tell him what it is I really feel. Sometimes the truth is better left hidden. I walk back inside; the cool breeze brushes my neck as I open the door. It creeps in and makes everyone look up. I smile weakly, suddenly my happy mood is gone.

“Mike?” I say quietly.

“Yeah baby?”

“Can we go home?”

“Is everything okay?” He asks, and I look towards Blade.

“No.”

The tone of my voice confirms my pain; everyone turns to face me. Anxiety flickers in Blade’s face.

“What has happened?” Mike asks, taking my cheek in his hand.

“Nothing. I just don’t feel well.” I sigh, my eyes closing harshly together.

“Well come on, let’s get you home.”

Tension is thick in the air; everyone can feel it. I can tell by their expressionless faces. Cassie glares hard at Blade; it isn’t hard to tell what she feels. Nessie stands, wearily walking over to me. I feel the coolness of her hand as she grabs mine.

“Is everything okay?” She whispers.

“Not really.”

“Come.” She says pulling me outside; Blade follows, this is far from what I need right now.

“What is going on?” She asks looking at us both.

“Nothing.” I sigh.

“That is a lie Em. Now you two need to tell me what is happening here?”

“I told her I missed her and loved her.” Blade pipes up. Nessie turns cold eyes towards him.

“You have no right to do that, you made your choice Blade.”

“Yes I know I did mamma, but it was a mistake. I love her”

My heart feels like it is being gripped by two giant hands, that are squeezing it hard.