Lauren had obviously waited for hers, as well. He couldn’t be more proud of her. She’d stunned him on many levels, not the least of which was her strength-of character, of body and of heart.
It was her heart that scared him most of all. A classic case of be careful what you wish for-the woman he loved also loved him back. And she’d gone on to prove it, tackling her sister in an effort to save him.
Love.
At one time he’d thought it was enough. The Perkins-Corwin differences hadn’t bothered him. His family’s negative feelings about Lauren and her sister had never mattered to him. Not even the Corwin Curse had been an issue. Lauren wasn’t her sister or her grandmother. They might share the same genes but she was her own unique person-giving, warm and special.
And therein lay the problem. She deserved a man who was her equal. Once upon a time he would have believed he was that man. Now when he looked in the mirror, he saw a man adrift and without goals. After the highs of competitive snowboarding, merely earning a living in his contracting business wasn’t enough. Neither was living off Lauren’s money and future successes.
He needed to redefine his own goals and dreams. Only then could he give Lauren what she deserved.
LAUREN PUSHED DOWN her sleeve and reached for her coat. Her blood pressure was fine considering the ordeal she’d just been through. She didn’t need oxygen. They’d escaped the fire in time. And though her cheek was sore from where Brody had slapped her, she had no other physical scars.
The emotional ones were another story.
Her sister was certifiably insane. Crazy. Why hadn’t Lauren seen it before? Why had she insisted on believing the best of a woman who had already demonstrated violent tendencies? At least she knew the answer. Because they were related by blood and someone had to believe in Beth if she were going to get better.
But what had Lauren’s Pollyanna attitude gotten her? She had no money left in her bank account, her beloved car belonged to a beautiful model in New York, and she had been finally and irrevocably disillusioned by the remaining family member she’d tried to have faith in.
She took little consolation in the notion that in Beth’s twisted mind, she’d believed she was protecting Lauren. They were family. But when she looked at the devastating consequences, it didn’t seem enough anymore.
“You’re good to go, Ms. Perkins,” the paramedic said.
Lauren nodded. “Thanks.”
She stepped to the edge of the ambulance. Outside, reality awaited her. The burning house, police interrogation and prying eyes.
She drew a deep breath and stepped into the cold night air. It had been too much to hope she wouldn’t have to face anyone. The entire Corwin clan had gathered around Jason.
With her house surrounded by police and firemen, she had nowhere to go in order to escape.
“Lauren, there you are!” Clara’s voice sounded first as she broke through the crowd and headed Lauren’s way.
Her red wool coat stood out from the rest of the group in dark jackets and she ran to Lauren, pulling her into a warm embrace.
At the motherly hug, tears Lauren hadn’t known she was holding back began to flow.
“There, there,” Clara said, sensing the extent of her turmoil. Clara patted Lauren on the back, comforting her in a way she’d never experienced.
She couldn’t even remember her own parents hugging her when she was upset. They subscribed to the
“Honey, do you want to come back to my house?” Clara asked.
Lauren stepped back, dabbing her damp eyes on her sleeve and probably smearing what was left of her makeup. “Thanks for the offer but I don’t think Edward would appreciate my company.” She forced a smile.
“You might have a point, but he’s getting there,” Clara said, reassuring her.
Lauren glanced around. “Is he here with the rest of the family?”
Clara shook her head. To the other woman’s credit, she didn’t try to explain away or excuse his absence.
Lauren didn’t want Clara to feel badly so she pulled herself together, standing up straighter.
Amber and Gabrielle swarmed her next, greeting Lauren with warm hugs.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Gabrielle said, looking her over.
“Why aren’t you at your book signing?” Lauren asked.
Gabrielle shook her head. “We heard about the fire and turned right around! Family’s more important.”
“She’s right,” Amber said. “We came to make sure you and Jason were okay.” She peered at Lauren. “You
“Other than the smeared makeup, I’m fine. Just a little shaky.” Lauren forced another smile, comforted by the outpouring of support offered by these women.
The men joined their wives, checking on Lauren’s welfare and expressing their sympathy about the house before stepping away, leaving her with breathing room and time to think.
“Did you happen to hear what happened to…the accomplice?” Lauren asked them.
She hadn’t had a chance to find out if Brody Pittman had survived the fire.
“I heard the firemen rescued a man who was unconscious but breathing-they took him to the hospital,” Amber said.
“And they think he’ll survive,” Derek added.
“Don’t stress yourself out about it, okay?” This from Mike, the cop cousin.
Lauren nodded. “Thanks.”
To her relief, they’d let her avoid the subject of her sister and her role in the fire, and for that Lauren was grateful. She’d never accept or understand her sister’s actions. Nothing was worth hurting other people, especially not money or power. Or diamonds. All she could see in her sister’s eyes was greed. And that made Lauren sad.
She glanced at Jason’s family, grateful they’d let the topic go. She lacked the will to defend Beth, and she definitely didn’t have any reserve energy to cope with Perkins bashing.
Which was too bad, since Thomas started to walk toward them. Lauren looked around for Jason. He stood at the end of the driveway talking to the police who’d remained after her sister had been taken away.
She steeled herself to face the older Corwin man alone.
“Lauren, I’m so glad you’re okay,” Thomas said.
“Thank you,” she said to Jason’s father.
“I heard it was quite an ordeal,” he said diplomatically.
She nodded. “At least no one was badly hurt.”
Reaching out, he pulled her into a brief hug and released her just as quickly, leaving her speechless.
Pleased, but speechless.
“Thomas!” Hank Corwin rushed up to them. “I heard the cops say that they’ll push for maximum security for the Perkins broad this time!” There was glee in his voice.
Nausea rose in Lauren’s throat. Before she could stand up for herself and inform Hank of how inappropriate and thoughtless his comments were, the rest of his family surrounded him.
Gabrielle and Derek, Amber and Mike, and Thomas faced him. “Shut up!” they all said at the same time.
Hank looked confused. “I was just telling you what I heard.”
“Just think before you speak,” Thomas said. “She may be simply a Perkins to you, but she’s Lauren’s sister and you’re hurting her every time you open that big mouth!”
Lauren’s own mouth opened but she couldn’t manage a word. She wanted to thank Jason’s father, but she was stunned and suddenly too exhausted to even stand.
Almost miraculously Jason appeared. He came up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist, supporting her at a time when she needed it most.
JASON TUCKED Lauren into his bed back home, in the barn behind his uncle’s house. She’d managed to shrug off her coat, kick off her shoes, and shed her pants and top before crawling into bed and passing out.
He undressed and climbed in beside her, pulling her warm body close to his. Cocooned like this, he could almost forget the rest of the world existed. And for the remainder of the night, that’s exactly what he did. Attuned to her every movement, he slept when Lauren slept, awoke when she tossed and turned, and basically kept an eye on her
