Jake folded his arms across his chest and slid back in his chair, deep in thought. Who could have done this to him? After his head cooled down his heart told him it could not have been Sam. No, he had come to know her, and betrayal and deceit were not part of her make-up. But who else would have had access to such intimate details of his business?
And then it hit him. Jesus, how could he have been so stupid? There was only one other person he could think of, who had all the bits of information that had appeared in the article and who would have any incentive to leak information to the tabloids. Denise Marshall, his attorney’s new secretary. She’d been in the room when he’d mentioned Sam’s name and discussed the details of his will with Richard Connelly.
The Smith and Connelly law firm had handled Jake’s affairs for years and he’d had nothing but respect for them. On his last trip back to Long Island he’d visited the law firm – the day after he’d gone to Jessica to say goodbye – and that was when he'd been introduced to Miss Marshall. She was young, maybe in her early twenties, with a flirtatious demeanor that Jake hadn’t particularly liked, but he’d let it slide. He’d had other things on his mind – like taking care of a special woman who he wanted to be a permanent part of his life. But in taking care of that part of his business he’d laid himself unprotected and vulnerable to someone who was probably an opportunist, waiting for her big break.
He picked up the phone again. This time he’d be calling Richard Connelly. He would not accuse, not without proof. He would not make that mistake twice. But he would certainly get an investigation going. If the woman had sold his information to the tabloids he wanted to know about it. He was not going to take this lying down. And right after his call he would hit the road to deal with another urgent matter – Miss Samantha Fox.
******
Sam paused outside the office door, delaying the moment when she would go in. She was sure her dad and Meg had already heard she was in the news with Jake. They’d bombard her with questions the minute she stepped through the door. And what would she say? The bubble had burst, she wasn’t engaged anymore, and it was back to life as usual? Heavens, she was depressed enough already but to add humiliation to her list of troubles right now – she just wasn’t ready.
She turned round and was walking back to the car when the screaming of tires made her whirl round and hop out of the driveway. A black SUV screeched into the space beside her truck. It was Jake.
Sam’s heart leaped at the sight of him. He’d jumped out, slammed the door shut and was walking purposefully toward her. Then her heart sank. Was he coming to tell her in person what he’d told her over the phone? She almost felt like backing away and running for cover inside the office.
But she didn’t. She stood her ground, folding her arms across her chest and fixing Jake with a cool, determined stare. She loved this man with all her heart but she would not let him intimidate her. She drew in her breath and steeled herself for the attack.
But it never came. Instead of blasting her with more words of anger Jake came to stand before her, looking contrite. “Sam,” he said, then stopped and the look he gave her was so full of pain that her heart ached to see it.
“Sam,” he said again, “I wish I could take back the hurtful things I said. I can’t blame you if you were to decide never to speak to me again but…can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”
Sam stared back at him, confused. Was this the same man who had told her off on the phone? What had caused this sudden change of heart?
Before she could respond he reached out and took her hands in his. She did not pull away.
“Could we sit in my car for a minute,” he asked, “just so we can talk? In private.” He cocked his head to one side and looked pointedly at the front window.
That was when Sam saw Alvin and Meg peering out, obviously dying to know what was transpiring between them.
“Alright,” she said, although reluctantly, “but just for a minute.”
She followed him to his vehicle and climbed into the passenger seat. “Jake,” she said, even before he’d settled into the seat beside her. “I don’t know what made you change your mind but I want you to know I didn’t do it.”
“I know you didn’t, Sam.”
“But how?”
“I just know it. Which is why I feel so bad about what I did earlier." He sighed. “Will you forgive me, Sam? This doesn’t change anything about our plans, right? You will still marry me?”
Sam said nothing as she stared at his tortured face. Finally, she heaved a sigh of sadness. “Jake, I’m sorry, but I don’t know if I can.”