Scorched

“Were you safe?”

“Oh, yes. We never were alone and learned where we could and couldn’t go. It was a time of learning for me and I grew much stronger, but I was always safe. By the time I left the group, a full year had passed. I was almost sad to see that time end. I grew stronger, more independent, and learned to never take my own life and its privileges for granted again. I also learned to fight for what I wanted and what I believed in.”

“I’m so proud of you, Mom. Why didn’t you suggest that Rachel, Rafe or I do something like this?”

“The world is different now. Yes, there are some great programs to expand the horizons of young people, but with the wealth that your father had accumulated, we worried someone might try to kidnap you for ransom. That’s why we volunteered through local programs instead,” Rosabella said.

“I guess I understand that,” Lia said, though her mother’s tale had showed her how much she’d missed.

“Remember that summer we all built a home with Habitat for Humanity. Shane fell off the roof while he was showing off in front of the girls who were there,” Rosabella said with a laugh.

“Yeah, Shane is always showing off or taking off,” Lia muttered.

“I think you are too hard on Shane. He’s a good man, Lia.”

“He’s lied to me over and over again. I never even knew he was a part of the military,” Lia defended herself.

“Don’t hold it against Shane that he cares about others’ safety,” Rosabella told her.

“You knew?” Lia asked. Was she the last to know everything?

“Of course I knew, darling, but it wasn’t my information to give out. Shane keeps his secrets because it’s his way of protecting himself. You need to understand that and forgive him for not always sharing. The life he led before meeting Rafe wasn’t a pleasant one.”

“I know. I met his mother,” Lia said, feeling a little shame at what he’d gone through. She’d been so mad at him, but if she’d grown up the way he had, wouldn’t she be leery of showing vulnerability to others? Maybe she’d judged him too harshly.

“The first time he met our family, he had quite a chip on his shoulder; his anger at everyone and everything was really weighing him down. He and your brother had become close friends before they ever entered college, but Shane was still very suspicious of strangers’ motives. When he came to our home and saw the kind of money Rafe had grown up with, he became even more suspicious. He automatically assumed that your father and I wouldn’t want Rafe associating with him. He was wrong. I loved him from that first day. It took him a while to let us in, but when he did, we learned what a truly big heart he had. He wants to share it, Lia. He’s just afraid that his gift of love will be thrown back in his face. After all, it has been, many times, and by people who should love him more than any other.”

Lia felt like squirming beneath her mother’s knowing gaze. Is that what she’d done? Had she thrown Shane’s gift away? But he’d lied to her, she tried to reason.

Hadn’t she protected herself, too, quickly judging him so she could be the first to run when the relationship didn’t work out? This was a man she’d wanted for so long she couldn’t remember a time of not yearning for his touch. Yet at the first sign of rejection, or of seeing him threatening to pull away from her, she’d rushed to pull away first.

She had a lot to think about.

“I’m afraid,” she admitted, not knowing what to do now.

“If you aren’t scared, then you probably don’t have true feelings for him, Lia. You are a passionate girl, and that will carry over into every aspect of your life. Just don’t be so afraid that you pass up a good thing. Nothing truly worth having comes to us easily.”

Lia thought over her mother’s words as the three women had afternoon tea and waited to hear from Rafe. Soon, they would go see Rachel and one worry would be alleviated. Then Lia needed to focus on how she felt about Shane and what she was going to do about their relationship.

The afternoon passed, and still no answers came to Lia. This wasn’t easy — not easy at all. But if it were easy, would she want it? She’d always been up for a challenge, always wanted what she was told she couldn’t have. Was that her problem? Now that Shane wanted her, was she losing interest?

She ruled that out with a definite no.

She could never lose interest in him.

That left her with the challenge of trying to figure out what her next move would be. As of now, she still didn’t know.

Chapter Twenty

Rachel had been a little sad to leave the safe haven of Adriane’s castle on his private island. She’d hated the place at first, felt trapped and left with no choices, but then the castle had grown on her. She’d enjoyed the peacefulness there.

It didn’t make up for the fact that Adriane hadn’t given her any choice but to stay in his country, but she would enjoy showing the island to her children one day when they were old enough to visit.

“What do you think of Corythia?” Adriane asked quietly, then continued speaking before she could answer. “It is quite beautiful. I’m still hopeful you will fall in love with my country and won’t be in a hurry to leave.”

Rachel looked at Adriane across the table and didn’t know what to say. Yes, Corythia was beautiful, and she was enjoying the small cafe he’d brought her to, their table sitting on an open deck overlooking the ocean. But this wasn’t her home, and it never would be.

Add to that the fact that she was still in shock after learning a few days ago that she was going to have not one but two babies, and in less than six months — she couldn’t seem to process anything at the moment. Even Adriane’s words were taking longer to filter through her head.

Still strongly against the idea of marrying a man for the sake of children, she was confused beyond that point. Should she try to get to know Adriane? They were both going to be parents whether they were ready or not.

If she left Corythia now, she would know virtually nothing about him. Yes, he’d been wrong in taking her from her home, but he hadn’t done so out of malice; he’d acted out of loyalty to the child — or children — she carried in her womb.

If he’d been monstrous toward her, then she’d have her answer. But he hadn’t been. He’d pushed her, and tried demanding marriage and talking her into having sex again, but he hadn’t actually forced her to do anything besides stay in his castle.

It was time to get to know him. That wouldn’t happen if she were focused only on escape.

“I’m not going to marry you, Adriane, but I have decided to spend one month with you — not in a sexual way,” she hastened to add when he began to smile. “I believe it’s important for me to know the father of my children. When the time comes, I will be leaving, though, either with your blessing or under fire from your guards. I will not be held against my will any longer.”

Rachel didn’t take her eyes from Adriane; she wanted to watch his reaction. She was hoping she would be able to trust him at some point. There was no way she’d allow her children to spend time with him if she feared she wouldn’t get them back.

“I can agree to a month,” he said, and from the expression on his face, she had no idea whether he was speaking the truth or not.

Only time would tell.

“So you will stop with all this insistence on marriage?” she asked, needing his promise.

Adriane grimaced, but he didn’t turn away from her.

“I will stop speaking of it,” he said.

That wasn’t a good enough answer.

“Look, Adriane, on the jet you said you would back off on the marriage thing, but you haven’t honored that promise. If you want me to trust you, then you have to give me a reason to do so. You have to keep your word.”